Cybiko
From Free net encyclopedia
Cybiko is a hand held computer designed for teenagers (although available and suitable for all ages, including adults). It has over 430 "official" freeware games and applications. In recent times people, including the leading developers, have lost interest in the Cybiko.
The CPU is an Hitachi H8S/2323 at 18 MHz and it also has an Atmel AT90S2313 co-processor at 4 MHz to provide some support. It came with 512 KB ROM flash memory and 1.5 MB RAM. It came with an add-on slot in the back, but the only hardware released was an MP3 player.
Software for the Cybiko can be programmed in either C, or CyBasic, a version of the BASIC programming language with extentions for the Cybiko. Greg Smith of DevCybiko.us created Basic-to-C (Cybiko B2C) - an implementation of the CyBasic language with extensions for floating point math, sprites, music, and 3d graphics (features left out of the very slow CyBasic interpreter).
Once the console is purchased, nothing else is needed, although accessories such as memory cards and MP3 players are available.
Cybikos can communicate with each other up to a maximum range of 300 metres (0.19 miles) (which can be boosted to 450 metres (0.26 miles) using a freeware program called UI Power).
The Cybiko Xtreme is the 2nd-generation Cybiko handheld. It boasts many improvements over the "classic" Cybiko, such as a faster processor, more RAM, more ROM, a new OS, a new keyboard layout and case design, greater wireless range, a microphone, improved audio output, and smaller size.
Support for Cybiko has been dropped almost entirely, though now that Cybiko, Inc. has been bought by DatorTech, it is being resurrected. There are several fan sites still in existence, and still a few programs being developed by third-party Cybiko developers. As of 2005, the Cybiko websites www.cybiko.com and www.cybikoxtreme.com had been taken over by a company called In-Fusio and no more games or applications were to be developed for it.
In 2003, Cybiko split into hardware and software groups. The hardware group eventually reformed into a company called TanCher. TanCher created new devices including the Planet Halo (a Handheld Messaging device) and C 4.1 (a Paging Receiver). T.I.M is Tancher's vertical market handheld which was not in production as of late 2005. The software group reformed as 'Cybiko' and made cell phone games. Cybiko created many hugely popular mobile phone games including Moto GP. In 2005, they were purchased by one of the worlds largest mobile phone games publishers, French InFusio. The remains of the Cybiko handheld hardware were sold by DatorTech at CybikoStore.com until mid 2005, when the Cybiko.com website finally went dark.
There were rumours in late 2004 of Cybiko creating a new device which was known as the Cybiko BT, which could have stood for British Telecom (the main telecommunications service in the UK) or Bluetooth, a wireless networking technology, used in many new Mobile Phones, PDA's and Laptops. However, by late 2005, it was clear that there would be no new Cybiko.
As of October 2004, there is a new kernel for the classic Cybiko called CyBorn that is intended to take advantage of many features in the Cybiko that have been neglected.
There have been recent experiments conducted on improving the US Xtreme's RF range. Due possibly to FCC regulations, the US version of the Xtreme is limited to a 500 foot (152.4 meters) outdoor range, while the UK model, at 300 meters (984.25 feet), is nearly double. A solution was found by flashing the US model to the UK firmware. This is not normally possible, but a bug in the PC-Cybiko sync app EZ Loader was found to allow it. Tests have shown a marked improvement in RF communication range after the flash. More Information
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