One question, what exactly is the point of releasing a rom that everyone who owns the calculator already has. Obviously there are no bug fixes in it or it would 1.01. So, why???

1. So TI can brag.
2. So TI-89 users can send it to their calc if they are very bored.
3. So TI can use up webspace.
4. So it can use up memory on your computer.
5. So I could write this.
6. So I could make a fool of myself.
7. So I could stop here

you're right, you did make a fool of yourself

You're both wrong!!!!
It's for people who have overwritten their original fuckin rom you dumbass

Probably for archive purposes. Presumably they will release newer versions in the future, probably with some functional changes. If you want to test a program with older ROM versions (and older functionality), you can download the original ROM and flash it over your newer one. Why does Netscape still keep Navigator 3.0 on their FTP sites? Same story. Only TI's getting a head start.

so you can practice installing a rom

if you install a crap rom that some weirdo made, you can go back to the original rom

If you've crashed your calc, you can put the rom back on it !
For example : I've interrupted the product code linking.... My ti-89 doesn't work !
I must repare it ! Or put the rom back

ta da daa !

let the unauthorized hacking begin!!!

I think it would be better for TI to release the full source code to version 1.0 than the compiled object itself. Let people who want to make the calculator better submit possible fixes, or simply make their own personal hack...

Unfortunately, TI isn't going to work that way (proprietary issues with the source...)

already started hacking. i'm currently trying to figure out the tokens used in the .tib file header.

Well, I agree it is stupid for TI to release the 1.0 Flash ROM. The source coding should be released SO someone other than TI can mess around with it and possibly improve an area of the coding

Isn't the ROM coded in C++? Anyone who would want to modify the code would have to have TI's M68k C++ compiler. I don't think I've seen another one.

-Miles Raymond

I would expect much of it to be written in Assembly. Since it requires direct interfacing with the hardware, any high-level language would be difficult to use. And much of the calculation side was probably just copied from the 92's ROM.

And if they used ANY high level language, I would expect that they would use C, NOT C++.

dahh... i think c++ can be converted to assembly...

can you flash an 89 with a (home made) parallel link cord????

sure, if you make sure your wires are correctly connected. backup all your files before you try it

thank god i thought you needed the graphlink how would you do it?

I think he is incorrect in saying that you do not need TI's GL to do the flash upgrade. The flash upgrade comes in the form of a Win16 executable, and not an .89b or whatever the backup file format is, so the linking is done inside the executable, which leads me to believe you either need to get a TI GL or get it from another 89.

-Miles Raymond

the executable is a self-extracting zip which contains, in addition to the .tib ROM image, the flashd.exe link program. it is possible (at least in theory) to create a replacement flashd.exe program that uses the parallel link.

anybody willing to take up the project for me?

I may be mistaken, but I don't think that this is correct. No one has made a prgram to do flashing with the paralell link, and TI obviously won't support it.