Spectaculator 5.0 released!

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What’s new in version 5.0

  • Spectrum +3 emulation:
    • Full implementation of NEC µPD765A command set.
    • Emulates up to 2 disk drives (the maximum the +3 can take).
    • Automatically switches the drive emulation between a +3 3″ (CF2) drive and a standard 3″ DSDD drive depending on the type of disk image inserted.
    • Accurate emulation to load all those disks with copy protection schemes such as Speedlock +3, Alkatraz +3, Three Inch Loader, Hexagon etc.
    • Fast disk access mode. Significantly reduces load and save times.
    • Autoboot disks feature. Inserting a bootable disk into drive A: will cause the Spectrum to automatically reset and start loading from the disk. Hold down Shift to override.
    • Disk drives window for easy management of disk images. Disk images can be write protected, formatted, ejected and inserted.
    • Disk image formatter. Allows formatting of 3″ disk images to their full capacity (720 KB) which +3DOS cannot do. Also allows 3″ (CF2) disk images to be formatted with the Amstrad CPC SYSTEM and DATA formats.
    • Disk images are automatically saved and restored when using zx-state (snapshot) files.
  • Interface 1 enhancements:
    • RS-232 serial port emulation. Spectaculator can use files for serial I/O or a free serial (COM) port on your computer. Using a suitable cable, it’s possible to connect Spectaculator to a real Spectrum and transfer data between them quickly and easily.
    • Microdrives window allows opening cartridges from zip files. Previously, you needed to use Open from the File menu.
    • Added a toolbar to the Microdrives window to allow quick formatting of cartridges.
    • Added authentic generation of the Microdrive motor noise (both with and without a cartridge inserted).
    • Fixed a bug when restoring the Microdrive state from a zx-state file that could possibly cause a crash.
  • Cassette Recorder enhancements:
    • Improved accuracy of loading noise generation. High frequencies (especially turbo loaders) sound much nicer – no buzzing or other aliasing artifacts. Real Spectrums now like them too.
    • Added boost volume of loading noise option. With this enabled, it’s possible to use the cassette recorder to play cassette files directly into a real Spectrum (depending on the output levels of your sound card).
    • Added Stop at end of tape option. This was needed to stop certain multiload programs like Defenders of the Earth from trying to load the second side of the tape before you could insert the TZX of it.
  • New Enable writes to Multiface ROM option. Required by certain programs such as SoftCrack.
  • Added a Generate NMI option which triggers an NMI even if the Multiface is disabled.
  • Added context-sensitive help that was previously missing from some dialog boxes.
  • Revised the online help to include the new features in this release.