Hi µTasker users!

Wow - how time flies!! An update is long over due. The reason for the long delay since the last newsletter is not that nothing is happening but rather that too much is happening. New features, new projects, new tests, more users and of course more support... it is hard work but good fun!!

So what is happening with the µTasker project? First thing to say is that it is being well tested and this is a very good thing. More is being done with it and more is being asked of it and inevitably a few (small?) problems or restrictions have been found. This has resulted in them being corrected or improved in the latest development version, resulting in a better and more flexibly project base, which can benefit all users.

Various new features have been integrated. Some are specific to certain devices (such as DMA support for UARTs on some processors) and some are more general and open up new possibilities for all projects.

The short term goal is to wrap up the present development status ready for the V1.2.008 release which will merge all processor types to one version (again). A cross the board, the following stuff will be standardised so that it will be possible to switch a project between processor types without the effort of porting (as long as the supported services remain the same) - this gives the following list of features which will be standardised from the various releases available today:

- SPI EEPROM support for all devices (presently missing in the SAM7X package)

- LCD support for all devices (including integrated simulator - presently only in the NE64 package)

- Keypad support for all devices (including integrated keypad simulator for single keys and matrix keyboard connections - presently only available as rudimentary trial in the NE64 package)

- better and more flexible support of file system dimensioning (file system and also file size limits simply defined up to and beyond 64k)

- MIME support for the file system. The file system will optionally be able to work with file extensions (like .jpg, .gif, .js etc.) allowing improved support of more complex web pages. Keeping to the µTasker tradition, the additional resources needed to use it is quite minimum (one extra byte per file).

- HTTP POST support allowing uploads to the web server via Web Browser.

- Various other improvements resulting in cleaner code and easier configuration - and probable one or two other things which I can not remember just at this moment.

Why not go directly to the online demo http://84.253.57.46/ where I have just put the latest development version online. To show that a few new things are indeed already there you will find the following:

- a SAM7X running with File system in 32k SPI EEPROM (check out the web cam at http://84.253.57.46:8080 and you may recognise the little board connected to it which I put together some time ago).

- It has some new graphic support where you can upload your own (GIF) logo using the POST method in a formula.

You probably know that the µTasker project presently supports three devices: the M9S12NE64, the Coldfire M5223X and the ATMEL^TM AT9SAM7X. The M9S12NE64 was the first member since it was the first processor in this class with integrated EMAC and PHY so it really started the ball rolling. The M5223X is its big brother, although still fairly new. The SAM7X requires an external PHY but is also a very interesting chip in this class. But time does not stand still and there are new devices out there offering similar or their own specific advantages - specifically I am addressing two devices which are being looked at as additions devices to the µTasker portfolio: the ST^TM STR912F and NXP^TM (previously Philips) LPC23XX

I can not give much more info today apart from saying that I have just received an STR912F evaluation board and the LPC23XX one could be here by the end of the month. For any one with interest in the STR912F (an ARM9) I have bought an EVB from Raisonance based on the GNU tool chain (http://www.raisonance.com ). It is on special offer (less that 100Euro) from EBV - a promotion for the first 150 kits - and includes several processor daughter boards - so be quick!!

Many thanks for using the µTasker. I wish you success and fun with your own projects. If you have any views, ideas or problems just contact me, and do not forget to check out the new µTasker web site at www.uTasker.com.

Regards

Mark

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