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Omnimaga => News => Topic started by: critor on September 14, 2011, 05:21:45 pm

Title: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: critor on September 14, 2011, 05:21:45 pm: Some days ago, TI publised a 3.1 firmware update for the TI-Nspire LabStation cradle.
The TLO file was including a Nspire compatible OS (can be run on Goplat's emulator but won't show anything on the screen) and a Boot2.
More details were published on TI-Planet:
http://tiplanet.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8169
So the TI-Nspire LabStation cradle is a true TI-Nspire calculator, but with no screen and no keypad.

And the question was... Do other TI-Nspire peripherals work the same way?

I have discovered that the TI-Nspire ViewScreen panel uses an OS. And I have proof that it also uses a Boot2, a Boot1, and a diagnostics software. And guess what? The Boot2 and the diagnostic software are flashable too!

So the TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true TI-Nspire calculator, but without the keypad. Opening it should reveal an Nspire-like PCB.

We should now try to find out how to dump it, as no firmware update was ever released publicly by TI.

Check the exclusive photos on TI-Planet:
http://tiplanet.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8201
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: Spyro543 on September 14, 2011, 07:51:27 pm: oh wow. That is cool!
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: Camdenmil on September 14, 2011, 09:38:30 pm: Why didn't ti just put hardware to push the lcd contents through the usb port like they did with the 84. A full nspire in a viewscreen seems like overkill, could mean interesting possibilities though.
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: Lionel Debroux on September 15, 2011, 02:25:07 am: Quote
Why didn't ti just put hardware to push the lcd contents through the usb port like they did with the 84+
Even on the more powerful Nspire, for performance reasons, it makes sense for them to put some hardware on the Nspire side for accelerating the copy to the USB B port, connected to the A (host) port of the ViewScreen.

Chances are that reflashing occurs through the USB B (device) port of the ViewScreen.
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: Jim Bauwens on September 15, 2011, 03:32:05 am: Interesting :)
Maybe the TI Nspire navigator is also a Nspire calculator.
I know that the TI Navigator (non nspire) runs Linux, so maybe there is a little change that its an nspire platform (hardware), but the software is Linux.
That is at least what I'm wishing :p
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: ExtendeD on September 15, 2011, 03:48:49 am: How about nDOOM on the ViewScreen ? :) But maybe 2 buttons aren't enough.
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: ralphdspam on September 16, 2011, 12:10:15 am: Wow! Great find! While it does make sense that they use similar hardware on the viewscreen side, it seems like a bit of overkill. :P
Hopefully this will give us new insight on the Nspire hardware and or boot code. :)
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 17, 2011, 02:07:29 pm: Interesting stuff Critor. :)
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: critor on September 17, 2011, 05:23:35 pm: Thank you all for your enthusiast posts :)

Another minor discovery: the Nspire ViewScreen is only able to handle 4-bits screen data.
When connected to a CX (16-bits data), you're getting garbage. Check the photo:
http://tiplanet.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8212
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: ralphdspam on September 17, 2011, 10:24:37 pm: Wow, that is also a very intriguing discovery!
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: Munchor on September 27, 2011, 09:54:46 am: Nice discovery right there, thanks!
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: critor on October 02, 2011, 04:49:34 pm: Quite strange.

The TI-Nspire ViewScreen has 2 USB connectors: USB(A) & USB(B).
And if plugged on a computer, it is detected as a "TI-84 Plus Presentation Link"...

Check the test:
http://tiplanet.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=116702#p116702

Any idea?...
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on October 17, 2011, 12:44:06 am: Hmm weird. Have you found any more info on this?
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: Freyaday on October 17, 2011, 01:31:46 am: interesting. I suppose this makes for less linking code? TI is lazy :P
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: critor on October 17, 2011, 02:27:13 pm: Quote from: DJ_O on October 17, 2011, 12:44:06 am
Hmm weird. Have you found any more info on this?

No sorry. As the device was lent to me by TI, I cannot dismantle it...
Title: Re: The TI-Nspire ViewScreen is a true Nspire too!
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on October 17, 2011, 03:11:13 pm: Oh ok, sorry to hear. It's cool that they lend you those stuff so you can test them, though.