HP 42S simulators on ipod touch--I answered my own question

[bill platt]

I have read this thread:

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/archv019.cgi?read=159080#159080

and so I think I understand that basically:

1. Thomas Okken wrote a stand-alone simulator of the 42S functionality (as distinct from an emulator which requires a ROM image) and compiled it to run on the iPod and iPhone, naming it "Free42". (also compiled to run on Palm, WinCE, and Windows under separate releases)

2. Byron Foster ported Thomas' Free42 to create an extension of Thomas' tool, adding some new ideas which are not strictly compatible in every case with an original HP 42S. He named it "42s RPN Calculator."

3. Another port of Thomas' Free42 appears on the ipod apps page: "RPN Calc 42S."

This last app seems to use text in the description which is mostly identical to Byron's version. Does anyone have any background on this? I now see that Thomas describes this at his own web-page, as being a release of one of Byron's earlier edits, by a third party. I guess this is something that can happen with GNU licensing?

Here is what the descriptions are:

http://appshopper.com/search/?cat=&search=hp+42s

and here is a screen capture if the link changes (what I saw):

As far as emulators go, I know Thomas knows all about emulators--and I though he had made some of them, but perhaps most of them all come from Christophe.
42S emulation: http://hp.giesselink.com/emu42.htm

Edited: 28 Dec 2009, 2:03 p.m.

[Egan Ford]

Quote:

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As far as emulators go, I know Thomas knows all about emulators--and I though he had made some of them, but perhaps most of them all come from Christophe.
42S emulation: http://hp.giesselink.com/emu42.htm

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Free42 is not based on Emu42. Emu42 emulates the Pioneer platform and requires the 42S ROM. Free42 is a cleanroom implementation of the 42S.

BTW, RPN Calc 42S is just a ripoff of 42s RPN Calculator. 42s (iPhone version) is GPL (open source). Any can take the source, compile, and publish. It's legal, however sleazy.

Thomas could grant Byron a different license to avoid this type of sleaziness.

[bill platt]

Hi Egan,

Thanks for the clarification. I know about the emulators being different from the simulators. I have the 27S and the 48GX emulated on my computer, and I run the light version of Hrastprogrammer's 41E on my 48GX.

This 42S simulator is the first simulator I have run. It is really amazing to be able to finally explore the 42S without having to buy one!

Very interesting about the licensing.

Edited: 28 Dec 2009, 7:50 p.m.

[Andreas Grund]

Certainly all these emulations, whether on a PC or Ipod/Iphone are nice toys - I enjoy them as well - but they are no substitute for the real thing...

greetings,

Andreas

[Walter B]

Quote:

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Certainly all these emulations, whether on a PC or Ipod/Iphone are nice toys - I enjoy them as well - but they are no substitute for the real thing...

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For sure. They are, however, significantly faster, and often you may edit programs in a more comfortable environment than on the "real thing". And you may save your programs on a mass storage device easily (ola Luiz ;). The best of both worlds would be a 43S with an SD or passive USB interface and real keys with tactile feedback.

Item ceterum censeo: HP, launch a 43S.

Walter

(Edited to correct a typo)

Edited: 29 Dec 2009, 11:29 a.m.

[Jake Schwartz]

Quote:

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The best of both worlds would be a 43S with an SD or passive USB interface and real keys with tactile feedback.

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Hi Walter,

Perhaps some enterprising and talented individuals who frequent this forum might wish to attempt to implement your 43S in an emulator as an experiment. I certainly would be one of the first to seek or purchase a copy. Perhaps HP could be shown how it should be done :-)

Jake