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Omnimaga => News => Topic started by: critor on July 07, 2013, 09:13:35 am

Title: Unlock/switch your TI-Nspire region code
Post by: critor on July 07, 2013, 09:13:35 am
Like DVDs, the TI-Nspire are using region codes.

The region code takes the form of a 2-5 characters language code (ISO 639 (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_codes_ISO_639-1) format) flashed in the NAND first pages ('manuf' zone, for manufacturer).
This code identifies the default calculator language and by extension its region.
For example, TI-Nspire CX-C calculators sold in China are flashed with the 'zh_CN' (simplified chinese) code, which lets the OS identify them correctly.
(http://tiplanet.org/images/nspirecxc2.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/uAFMrVC.png)



So everything is allready ready for a TI-Nspire CX.fr maybe someday ;)
The current TI-Nspire OSes are supporting 16 different language codes and so 16 zones:
Region codes are a digital rights management technique designed to allow to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region.
For example, Texas Instruments a released a chinese-english dictionnary which only installs on TI-Nspire CX-C.
But this can also be used the other way, removing some features for some regions. For example TI-Nspire CX-C and CM-C only let you select 4 of the 16 supported languages: both chinese languages and both english languages.
(http://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/13/23/13/53/08-08-17.png)(http://i.imgur.com/fPmxq7j.png)



Today, you become able to modify/remove your TI-Nspire region code thanks to the latest version of nsNandMgr, the TI-Nspire NAND utility, now updated with new features and TI-Nspire CM support.
You can unlock the region code of your TI-Nspire CX-C, allowing you to use all 16 supported languages.
Same thing is possible with the TI-Nspire CM-C, resulting into a supported but unreleased model - a TI-Nspire CM!
(http://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/13/23/13/53/cmcas10.png)

The other way, you can mod your TI-Nspire CX into a TI-Nspire CX-C, allowing you to install the english-chinese dictionnary.
(http://tiplanet.org/forum/gallery/image.php?mode=medium&album_id=13&image_id=2670)(http://i.imgur.com/c36dsdt.png)

As far as I know it's useless, but the same thing is possible with TI-Nspire ClickPad/TouchPad and you can mod your TI-Nspire CX into a TI-Nspire CX.fr or an arab TI-Nspire CX too, if those possible models are someday realeased with specific features.
(http://i.imgur.com/f5cJYZl.png)



Source & download: http://tiplanet.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12618&lang=en
Title: Re: Unlock/switch your TI-Nspire region code
Post by: Sorunome on July 07, 2013, 01:56:26 pm
UI, even more nspire hacking, but yeah, the only situation you need this if you want your calc in a wird language, right?
Title: Re: Unlock/switch your TI-Nspire region code
Post by: critor on July 07, 2013, 02:44:45 pm
Not exactly, as you can use all 15-16 languages if your calculator isn't flashed with the region code 'zh_CN'.

You can set the 'zh_CN' code on your TI-Nspire CX if you want to install the english-chinese dictionnary.

And you can remove the 'zh_CN' code on your TI-Nspire CX-C or TI-Nspire CM-C if you want to be able to use all 15-16 included languages.


For now that's all as far as I know.

But for exemple, the 3.3 OS with a 16th language (arab) which still hasn't leaked to the Internet might be installable only on TI-Nspire with the arab region code.
Title: Re: Unlock/switch your TI-Nspire region code
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 07, 2013, 11:19:51 pm
I didn't even know that Nspire calcs had regions too. O.O I hope, however, that this doesn't open the path to future region locks like on video games (for example, most American SNES games can't be played in European systems, so Europeans missed out on many great games as a result. Or another example was the Starcraft region locking preventing Americans from playing online with European friends or forcing them to buy a new game copy if they ever moved to Europe)
Title: Re: Unlock/switch your TI-Nspire region code
Post by: Sorunome on July 08, 2013, 04:22:42 am
I highley doubt that the nspire games will be locked down by region code, as they are for free and you don't need such protection stuff then :)
I mean, weren't regions initially invented to prevent e.g. somebody (almost wrote sompony O.O ) in europe to buy a game cheap in the us and ship it over to europe, even though in europe they cost more?
Title: Re: Unlock/switch your TI-Nspire region code
Post by: Juju on July 08, 2013, 11:52:00 pm
Well, that's just a convenience for TI when they ship calculators for different regions. They put it on en for American markets and on zh for Chinese markets and the calc configures accordingly. Like, if you set the region lock to fr, when you install a new OS, is French enabled by default instead of English?
Title: Re: Unlock/switch your TI-Nspire region code
Post by: Streetwalrus on July 09, 2013, 01:15:47 am
Nope you have to choose the language (it asks you about it). I've put mine in English. :P
Title: Re: Unlock/switch your TI-Nspire region code
Post by: Deep Toaster on July 09, 2013, 03:39:18 pm
Quote from: critor on July 07, 2013, 09:13:35 am
For example, Texas Instruments a released a chinese-english dictionnary which only installs on TI-Nspire CX-C.
But this can also be used the other way, removing some features for some regions. For example TI-Nspire CX-C and CM-C only let you select 4 of the 16 supported languages: both chinese languages and both english languages.
I wonder why they do that. It's probably to reduce clutter, but what if you're a native of some other country living in China?
Title: Re: Unlock/switch your TI-Nspire region code
Post by: critor on July 09, 2013, 05:00:31 pm
Quote from: Juju on July 08, 2013, 11:52:00 pm
Like, if you set the region lock to fr, when you install a new OS, is French enabled by default instead of English?

Yes.