Zero Day Update Is Here! – Oh yeah. It’s updated!

Zero Day Update. What does it mean?

It means that between the time the distribution went to SMS for manufacturing and now that your ZX Spectrum Next computers are shipping (yay!) there have been changes and further improvements on the Next Core, NextZXOS and support programs making it mandatory for you to upgrade.

I just want to play! Show me how to do it quickly!
(aka: Quick Start)

If you’re just receiving your ZX Spectrum Next and you want the quick-and-easy way of updating to the latest and greatest this is what you’ll need:

1. Feel free to watch this video showing the process in full (optional but handy).
2. Download the latest distribution by clicking here
3. Before plugging in your Next, get the Next SD Card (see the image below for how the Next Distribution SD card should look like) and insert it to your PC (or Mac). You may need an SD card reader; most laptops/notebooks have one already otherwise get hold of one
   
4. Navigate to the place you downloaded the distribution and double-click it to unzip
5. Select ALL files in the distribution and copy them to the root folder of your Next SD Card. If you’re asked about overwriting, reply “YES”
6. Using your PC or Mac’s EJECT option, make sure you EJECT the card before removing it from the reader
7. Insert the card in your Next. Normally you can wait until the TestCard appears like the picture below but it’s recommended that you force the selection of display after you power up by pressing D for Digital (DVI/HDMI). V for VGA or R for RGB (This requires an aftermarket SCART Cable):
   
8. Select a mode that suits your display by pressing Enter and your screen will change to the following:
   
9. Press U, until you see a prompt asking you to proceed. Type Y then wait until you’re told to power off your machine. .
10. Power off, disconnect all cables, wait a bit, then reconnect all cables and power on the machine again. That’s it, you are DONE!

The Hall Of Fame – Ultimate Backers!

Before we continue further; let’s all recognise these Ultimate Backers whose pledges helped us push this Kickstarter over the edge:

* Paul Edward Howes
* Bob Bazley
* Dan Birch
* Jake Warren
* Steve Brown (aka Gilby)

SD Card Images site

SD card images suitable to dump straight on an SD card as well as use in ZX Spectrum Next emulators (#CSpect and ZEsarUX) are updated and can be found here http://www.zxspectrumnext.online/cspect/(together with some other goodies)

Latest distribution is always found at https://www.specnext.com/latestdistro/

So here’s the latest distribution with everything you need to get your Next updated and running!

OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER: READ THIS POST IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE ASKING FOR HELP

KIND REMINDER

We also now have a git repo which means you can always find the latest and greatest changes to the distribution (sometimes things change by the minute too!) and also contribute (but first read the readme.md file in the git regarding that!)

Git repo is located here at gitlab.com :

In the links below you will find the System/Next v.1.2 SD card distribution containing the following changes over System/Next version 1.1:

System Software & Hardware Features

Let’s start easy shall we?

• New Firmware file 1.21 with several cosmetic enhancements and fixes all to make your booting experience much nicer!
• Updated NextΖΧOS 2.04 with full support for core 3.01! Several changes regarding compatibility with loading of legacy software and snapshots. You can now use your ZX Printer, Alphacom 32 and Timex Sinclair 2040 as Uncle Clive intended. Not only that but there’s full support via NextZXOS for ZX Interface 2, RamTurbo (with ROM port), Dandanator Mini etc. As always in two versions: one with Geoff Wearmouth’s Looking Glass v. 1.07 48K ROM and one with the standard ZX Spectrum 48K ROM.
• CP/M v.3! Yes Garry has done it and -as promised- he had CP/M ready for the RTM version but he has further enhanced it and fixed a few bugs on top of it making it work so much better!
• NextPI v.0.99D!!!!! Wot? NextPI? What is this sorcery? Well a custom version of DietPI handcrafted by the capable hands of D. Rimron-Soutter that not only plays TZX files (wha?), but also SID files, MOD files, XM files, supports XBOX gamepads (!!!!) and the list is endless! NOW supporting 2Mbps comms between Next and Pi. The process is straightforward but a tutorial will follow to help you upgrade
• Brand new 3.01 Core; a complete re-implementation of the ZX Spectrum Next Core from the ground up to improve on compatibility with older peripherals, 28MHz , moveable L2, 1bit and 4bit Layer3 (Tilemap), secondary UART for Pi comms, enhanced compatibility with Pentagon and legacy timings etc etc etc and yes fully working Expansion Bus!

Tools

• Updated TilemapEditor by Rusty Pixels
• Updated terminex terminal in dot command form for the Pi interface by David Saphier
• Updated Pi sound players for the Pi interface by David Saphier
• New Nextramon by Simon N. Goodwin. The old favourite from 1982 lives again in 100% pure NextBASIC supporting all new Z80N commands!
• New NextTest by Kev Brady (Yes that’s the actual program used to test your Nexts are in perfect health at the factory!)
• New .nxtp by Robin Verhagen-Guest in dot command form, which uses your ESP WiFi module to sync your RTC with the Internets. Take THAT Windows!
• New espupdate also by Robin Verhagen-Guest. This nifty little program allows you to update the firmware of your ESP WiFi module in-situ without having to take it out, send it to anyone or purchase any external device. No fuss no mess!
• New dispedge dot command by Peter Ped Helcmanovsky . This tool leverages the /etc/env.cfg infrastructure by Allen Albright and allows you to visually inspect your monitor for the maximum visible area, make adjustments and store the result so other programs can build upon that and automatically adjust to your particular display!
• New wifi.bas program by Tony Hoyle to help you quickly (and most importantly EASILY) configure your ESP WiFi module!
• New wifi2.bas program by Tim Gilberts that picks up where previous one by Tony Hoyle left off!

Games

• New Lords of Midnight/Next by Matt Davies with graphics by Simon Butler based on the original by Mike Singleton
• New Night-Knight by David Saphier. Sir Bernard is cursed so help save him! based on an MSX original by Juan J. Martínez 
• New Halls of The Things by Simon Brattel. A new old favourite, now updated for your ZX Spectrum Next
• New Santa’s Chimney Challenge by Paradise Games. A little out of season but hey, Xmas is coming again (eventually)! (With a nice addictive gameplay to boot)
• New Collection of Classic ZX Spectrum games by Ionut Ghionea and Adrian Chivu (https://www.youtube.com/workbenchstuff)

Demos

• New Parallax Demo by Mike Dailly, who (when not inserting bugs into Michael Ware’s code – Ed.), spends his coding time impressing us!

Installation

Prepare the card as per the instructions here. Firmware file will be replaced.

*****BIG LETTER WARNINGS******

USERS OF FlashAir CARDS are advised to perform ALL file copy operations locally on their PC/MAC and NOT over the air.

WARNING: Board-only backers should use the links marked “Board Only” as they carry a small modification in the config.ini file that sets up the PS/2 port as “Keyboard first” unlike the cased Nexts for which the PS/2 port functions as “Mouse first”

*******IMPORTANT NOTES**********

• If your current CORE is older than 1.10.10 you may experience issues with your keyboard and/or display. Please follow the expanded instructions in the previous versions of the TBBLUE distributions and the Quick Start guide here to flash your core or the quick instructions on step #2 below. (Try the instructions below first and if you get stuck check the previous versions)
• Default config.ini settings instruct the ZX Spectrum Next to enter “Testcard” mode. If your machine doesn’t immediately produce an image, wait (or press N on the keyboard) until an image shows..  YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT DISPLAY SETTINGS (Display modes 0 to 6 and 7 that is) TO ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS FOR YOUR DISPLAY. HDMI mode (7) ALTERS THE TIMINGS SLIGHTLY AND CERTAIN -OLDER- PROGRAMS MAY NOT DISPLAY PROPERLY (especially certain Demos). VGA modes (Settings 0…6) ARE  timing accurate although the user may experience faster execution as each setting with the exception of 0 makes things faster (but keeping timings relative)

Flashing the new core

Let the machine boot normally, then press and hold U on your keyboard, then press the RESET button on the left side of your computer (while still holding U) and release U when you see the updater module. Press Y, wait until all flashing is completed, then power down the Next and REMOVE ALL CABLES. Wait a little and then plug everything back up again.

Download the distribution

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update WITH source code files (zip format) (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update WITH source code files (7z format) (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update WITHOUT source code files (zip format) (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update WITHOUT source code files (7z format) (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update LITE VERSION (zip format) (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update LITE VERSION (7z format) (Download Here)

BOARD-BACKERS VERSIONS

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update WITH source code files (zip format) *BOARD BACKERS’ EDITION* (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update WITH source code files (7z format) *BOARD BACKERS’ EDITION* (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update WITHOUT source code files (zip format) *BOARD BACKERS’ EDITION* (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update WITHOUT source code files (7z format) *BOARD BACKERS’ EDITION* (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update LITE VERSION (zip format)
*BOARD BACKERS’ EDITION* (Download Here)

System/Next distribution v.1.2 Zero Day Update LITE VERSION (7z format)
*BOARD BACKERS’ EDITION* (Download Here)

NextPI Distribution

NextPi v.0.99D RTM (Download Here)

Credits

Core 2010-2018: Victor Trucco
Core 2019: Allen Albright
Contributors: Jim Bagley, Fabio Belavenuto, Garry Lancaster, Mark Smith

NextPi: D. Rimron-Soutter

Next CP/M BIOS: Garry Lancaster

Dreamworld Pogie: Lyndon J Sharp/Phoebus Dokos (WASP –  http://www.wearespectrumprogrammers.co.uk/) / Distributed under License
Orb Run: Matt Davies (https://github.com/next-dev/nx)/ Distributed under License
Spectron 2084: Robin Verhagen-Guest / Distributed under License
Nxtel2: Robin Verhagen-Guest / Distributed under License
nextDAW: Gari Biasillo (http://nextdaw.biasillo.com)
Warhawk: Michael Ware, Jim Bagley, Lobo Trans, Space Fractal / Distributed under License
The Hollow Earth Hypothesis: Lampros Potamianos  (WASP –  http://www.wearespectrumprogrammers.co.uk/) / Distributed under License
Nextoid!: Lampros Potamianos  (WASP –  http://www.wearespectrumprogrammers.co.uk/) / Distributed under License
Angry Bloaters!: Lampros Potamianos  (WASP –  http://www.wearespectrumprogrammers.co.uk/) / Distributed under License
3D Monster Maze, 3D Defender, Trashman: Malcolm Evans / Distributed under License
Hibernated1: Stefan Vogt (http://8-bit.info/) / Distributed under License
cave81: Marco Varesio / Distributed under License
Knight Night: David Saphier / Distributed under License
Halls of The Things: Simon Brattel / Distributed under License
baSnake: Marco Varesio / Distributed under License
Santa’s Chimney Challenge: Paradise Games / Distributed under License
Mouse driver: Tim Gilberts and Chris Cowley
UART driver: Tim Gilberts
RTC driver: Tim Gilberts
PAW (Disk version): Tim Gilberts / Distributed under License
ZEUS Assembler: Neil Mottershead and Simon Brattel (modified by Jim Bagley) / Distributed under License
SPED: César Hernández Bañó (with Tim Gilberts) / Distributed under License
Nextramon: Simon N Goodwin / Distributed under License (www.simon.mooli.org.uk)
PS/2 keymap: Phoebus Dokos  (WASP –  http://www.wearespectrumprogrammers.co.uk/)
NextZXOS: Garry Lancaster (http://www.worldofspectrum.org/zxplus3e/)
Looking Glass: Geoff Wearmouth (https://twitter.com/warmtoffee)
ZX80/81 Emulators: Paul Farrow (http://www.fruitcake.plus.com)
Demos: David Saphier (http://zxbasic.uk/), Geoff Wearmouth, Michael Ware, Jim Bagley, Gari Biasillo, Robin Verhagen-Guest, D. Rimron-Soutter,
Mike Dailly (http://www.cspect.org)
Utilities: Jim Bagley, Geoff Wearmouth, John M Kerr, (http://mycodehere.blogspot.com), Kev Brady, César Hernández Bañó, D. Rimron-Soutter, David Saphier, Simon Brattel, Robin Verhagen-Guest, Simon N. Goodwin, Rusty Pixels, Peter Ped Helcmanovsky
Dot Commands: Allen Albright, Tim Gilberts, Jim Bagley, Garry Lancaster, David Saphier, Gari Biasillo, Victor Trucco, Marco Varesio, D. Rimron-Soutter