Need help setting up go41cx emulator

[Ángel Martin]

I'm trying to setup the go41cx emulator on my android device. I'm stuck trying to upload modules, as the current list is EMPTY (but why would this be the default???). Not sure there's a proper manual available, all I can find is a revision history document, lacking a tops-down clarification of the s/w instructions...

Is it compatible with the standard /MOD files available for V41?
Is an SD card really required??

Any help will be appreciated... pointers, URL,s etc,

[MrSpock]

Those files need to be in internal storage.

Android/data/o2s.emul.hp41cx/files/

[Ángel Martin]

OK, after a few attempts (with device restarting required) I finally got it to recognize the changes.

Here are a few initial impressions after a couple of hours playing with the emulator.

I'm not very impressed with the way MOD files are managed by this emulator; the ports are only capable to handle one MOD file even if it is a 4k-Module, thus wasting away the other half. This is a serous deficiency that I hope Oliver addresses soon...

The U/I also took me a while to grasp. Apart from the choice of colors (make it very difficult to see for folks with visual impairments like myself), the support of the Library#4 is very peculiar. It seems to be the trigger that determines which type of OS/X and HEPAX modules are chosen:

1, If Library#4 is selected then AMC_OSX and HEPAX_4H
2. If Library#4 is not selected then CCD_OSX and HEPAX_1D

This may work for some but is very limiting and restricts the user to use the "canned" versions of those modules. For starters, how to change the Library#4 version?? And how to plug it in a different page/port? That also is missing.

And the HEPAX support is also somewhat funky, at times the emulator wouldn't turn on after the changes and I believe the wrong version of the HEPAX_4H is being employed, because is it a clear instance of the FileSys initialization failure. (I prepared two versions of the HEPAX_4H, one for the CL without the initialization polling point and another for the DM-41X with it - the emulator should have used the latter...)

Here too a way to choose which MOD file to use for HEPAX is not provided - of it it is I haven't found it.

I haven't tried the printer support, but it is bothersome that even if the printer is not selected page #6 cannot be used for other modules (such as AMX_OSX, etc.). For that matter, pages #6 and #7 cannot be used at all in the U/I.

I also tried the "tablet" version but after a little testing asked for a refund: the graphics did not fit within the screen dimensions (a Galaxy Tab A8), so the bottom row of the keyboard was partially missing (off screen). I found that very annoying, so I uninstalled it and requested a refund.

So in summary, the emulator is a good first step (it's a tall order after all) and would be a great shareware software, but for a paying product it was quite disappointing - perhaps I had too high expectations but it's got too many glitches. It's not in the same league as Antonio Lagana's i41CX emulator for the iPhone, sorry to say.

Hopefully these deficiencies can be addressed to make it more capable, it's close to being a great product with just a little more investment effort I believe.

[redglyph]

(07-21-2022 04:55 AM)Ángel Martin Wrote:  This is a serous deficiency that I hope Oliver addresses soon...

Have you tried to contact him? You stand better chance than waiting for him to see your post here.

[rprosperi]

(07-21-2022 09:24 AM)redglyph Wrote:  

(07-21-2022 04:55 AM)Ángel Martin Wrote:  This is a serous deficiency that I hope Oliver addresses soon...

Have you tried to contact him? You stand better chance than waiting for him to see your post here.

Sadly, attempts to contact Olivier go unanswered. I've tried to contact him several times in the past few years to no avail, there are simply no replies. I wanted to update the LIB4 to newer versions as required for other new modules, but I could get no answers. Every couple years he visits here and makes a quick post, but answers for issues like these are not forthcoming. While clearly incredibly gifted at creating products like this, it would seem building them is fun, but supporting them when problems are reported less so. I agree with Angel, this is disappointing for a paid product, and most frustratingly, I found this out only after purchasing several emulators. They are not too expensive so this is not a financial issue, but I would not have continued to support a developer that ignores his paid customers. Even a "I am no longer working on that product" kind of reply is more respectful than no reply at all. Such abandoned products really should be withdrawn from the Play Store.

[Ángel Martin]

Not being able to update the Library#4 or the HEPAX_4H is a show stopper. There have been subtle but consequential changes to those two in the last couple of years that are needed for the other newer modules, such as the DoubleDown, etc.. They don't work properly with the Lib#4 revision included in the go41CX build 1.9.1

[johanw]

(07-21-2022 12:15 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  Every couple years he visits here and makes a quick post, but answers for issues like these are not forthcoming.

Last time he posted here was november 2021, but then he did fix the issues I had with the go1x series on my new (much wider) phone. He even asked me for screenshots and resolution data when I reported buttons showing only half on the screen.

Before that I had more or less given up on those apps as abandoned as well.

Quote:Such abandoned products really should be withdrawn from the Play Store.

I hope definitely not if they are freeware, I still use some old, unsupported apps at the moment, and they are often difficult to find on apk download sites (if not infected with malware...).

[rprosperi]

(07-21-2022 02:46 PM)johanw Wrote:  

(07-21-2022 12:15 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  Every couple years he visits here and makes a quick post, but answers for issues like these are not forthcoming.

Last time he posted here was november 2021, but then he did fix the issues I had with the go1x series on my new (much wider) phone. He even asked me for screenshots and resolution data when I reported buttons showing only half on the screen.

Before that I had more or less given up on those apps as abandoned as well.

Quote:Such abandoned products really should be withdrawn from the Play Store.

I hope definitely not if they are freeware, I still use some old, unsupported apps at the moment, and they are often difficult to find on apk download sites (if not infected with malware...).

Such fixes that do come seem to be aimed at keeping the apps working in the most fundamental sense (i.e. they load and appear correct on initial startup) and are driven by the changing requirements of new Android versions, rather than reported problems.

And indeed I should have said Such abandoned PAID products really should be withdrawn from the Play Store.

If I were a cynic, I might conclude that only the minimal effort to keep new sales continuing occurs, rather than to make the products truly useful and up to date based on user feedback. If I were a cynic...

[redglyph]

(07-21-2022 12:15 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  Sadly, attempts to contact Olivier go unanswered. I've tried to contact him several times in the past few years to no avail, there are simply no replies. I wanted to update the LIB4 to newer versions as required for other new modules, but I could get no answers. Every couple years he visits here and makes a quick post, but answers for issues like these are not forthcoming. While clearly incredibly gifted at creating products like this, it would seem building them is fun, but supporting them when problems are reported less so. I agree with Angel, this is disappointing for a paid product, and most frustratingly, I found this out only after purchasing several emulators. They are not too expensive so this is not a financial issue, but I would not have continued to support a developer that ignores his paid customers. Even a "I am no longer working on that product" kind of reply is more respectful than no reply at all. Such abandoned products really should be withdrawn from the Play Store.

It's pretty bad.

Thanks for the feedback though, I was hesitating to buy more emulators from him but seeing this I certainly won't.

I understand it must be daunting to support several products for a single developer, but seeing the numbers I doubt there are so many customers for those. And emails should be answered eventually anyway, even if it takes some time to do so.