[NTLK] Global Newton Users Meetups #11, 9th Sep 2022, 16:00 UTC

[Matthias Melcher]

Thanks so much for the video. I am so sorry that I could not attend.

As for the ROM card, thanks for showing that. I still have an unpublished version of Einstein that can emulate the card, so we can finally write some software for it. 

The ROM card has space for the 8MB ROM itself. This can be any of the known US, German or French ROMs, or any customised version. 

Newton OS can read an additional 24MB on this card which can hold additional packages. Not all packages can be stored in ROM though for some reason. To write packets into the ROM card, we currently use the programmer that you saw in the video, but at some point, a program that runs on the Newton should allow users to move packages there from regular Flash or PCMCIA memory. This area can not be used to store other data unfortunately.


As for the year 2026 Problem, yes, the Newton will need a new patch every 16 years. Luckily, we have the source code and an idea how the formula works, and IIRC, we have the 2026 patch online already. It should be relatively easy to compile all patches for the next hundred or so years and put them online. I checked the Newton developer tools today, and I can still run them just fine on my Apple Silicon MacBook using "mosrun" (https://github.com/MatthiasWM/mosrun)


Einstein runs on the original MobiScribe at a speed of about 1000 iterations. It's quite slow and not very satisfying. I have a device here. Are the newer devices any faster? I doubt it. Maybe the screen refresh is?

I do have the receipt for a reMarkable 2, but I can't spontaneously find the machine. So no news on that front. If it is worth it and someone can point me to the developer information for that machine, I would try to find the thing and give it a go.


An e-ink display on the MP2x00 should be feasible since RaspberryPi released their Pico RP2040 chip. It can be inserted into the LCD connector, replacing the LCD with another display. I ordered one, wondering if I can grab the screen data from the panel. Does anyone know of a panel that would fit in the original case cutout? Not promising anything, don't hold your breath :-D . 

The chip in the MP that drives the LCD is programmable within limits. If we could find a similar display with a similar interface, the chip may be able to drive those. Minor differences can be compensated with an FPGA. However my extensive search found only one single LCD that comes from some medical device and is prohibitively expensive.

So if anyone likes o rummage the 'net: the original screens are Sharp LM48019K, specifically made for the MP with 480x320 resolution, 16 shades of gray, and a backlight. The resistive touchscreen is glued to the front of the display. The viewing area of the display is 129mm x 87mm (5" x 3 1/4") (115.17 X 86.37 accd. to datasheet). The screen diagonal is about 6.1 inches, but they are listed under 5.7". The display data is sent via a AWM 2896 80C VW 1 flatband cable (20pin). Backlight and touchscreen use additional wires.

We would need something with the same viewing area and same resolution, or something that is evenly dividable to avoid funny looking pixels. For example the Laibao S57001A112G56C1T5-LCD has the same resolution and size, but 300:1 contrast instead of our 6:1. But I have not the slightest idea how I could buy such a display. Anyone connected to China?


Anyway, end of blurb

 - Matthias