The work in progress Nintendo DS emulator for the PC known as Neon DS is back and this time it gets revisions for its 3D rendering. The latest version, NeonDS v0.2.0 has been released and is yours for the taking via the download link below. Just make sure to check out the changelog after the jump to see what's been improved.

Download: Neon DS v0.2.0

Remember iDeaS, the Nintendo DS emulator for the PC from homebrew developer Lino? Linux users now have a chance to get in on the action as the program's author has released the updated Linux version of the application. More info in the full article.

Download: iDeaS v1.0.2.1 (Linux)

Martin's No$gba finally received an update that adds 3D rendering software to the nifty emulator. Running Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance games on PC should now be easier with proper 3D capabilities included in No$gba version 2.6. Head over to the full article for details.





Download: No$gba v2.6

Developer devkitPro is sending out word that the latest build for devkitARM is now available for download. For those asking, DevkitARM is a toolchain for programming homebrew software for Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. There are two versions available for use: One for Windows, and one for Linux OS. Here are the latest changes for devkitARM since version 19b:

• Upgraded to gcc 4.1.2
• Added gdb by popular request
• Now including libraries for ARM big-endian devices - this relates to a request from the winARM maintainers, not DS related.
• Newlib patches extended to allow time() to work on the DS
• argv has been added - this will require support from the homebrew launcher menu on various cards
• ndstool now uses the default arm7 core distributed with libnds in preference to an embedded one
• Now working on Vista/Vista64 - users who were impatient and modified paths should now remove those changes
  

Keep note that devkitARM will require libnds 20071023 to run properly. libnds 20071023 carries these latest changes:

• some freeBSD fixes to makefiles
• added RTC setup and sound initialisation to arm7 core
• corrected glViewport for openGL consistency ( old spelling was glViewPort) , correct angle for gluPerspective and corrected glFrustum matrix
• IRQ nesting now works properly
• other more general fixes detailed in the changelog on SF
• DS examples updated for latest libnds

Downloads for both software will be provided for here, although we strongly advise readers to visit the devkitPro website for further information regarding this developer's tool.

Download: DevkitARM v21 (Windows)
Download: DevkitARM v21 (Linux)
Download: libnds 20071023

It's been a very long time since we've heard from Martin, the German dev you guys may remember for creating the No$gba v2.3 programming tool for professional developers. In case you're wondering what martin's been up to, we're happy to report that he's recently finished work on No$gba v2.5.

As a point of clarification, this particular freeware release is for the gamer's version of the emulator. It will allow PC owners to run DS games on their computer. Take note, we strongly advise would-be users to view the included file readme for installation and usage instructions.

On a last note, if you happen to be a programmer, you may want to read up on the No$gba debug version that Martin's working on. That particular build - and No$gBA's full changelog -  can be read up on at the dev's main site, via the source link we provided for below.

Download: No$gba v2.5 freeware release

Check out the full changelog behind the Full Article link!

There seem to be some new surprises in store for the Nintendo DS Emulator known as NeonDS. It seems the author has released NeonDS v0.1.1 for people to try out, though it's still incomplete.

For those who haven't heard of it, NeonDS is a work-in-progress Nintendo DS emulator for Windows. NeonDS currently has no sound enabled because the author is busy focusing on 3D support first, but we do hope that sound support happens eventually.

There's a reason behind this release though. "In the next two weeks I'll be busying moving my home to another city," he writes on his website. "I'll have no time working on this emulator. So, here I release a version with incomplete 3D display engine support. Although the 3D support is not complete yet, there are already some games playable."

Here's the current changelog for v0.1.1. Enjoy the emulator!

• 3D display engine (incomplete yet)
• Replace D3D with OpenGL for display rendering
• Support 2x display zooming
• Fix some DMA bugs

Download: NeonDS v0.1.1

The DeSmuME development team is back with a new version of DeSmuME, its Nintendo DS emulator for PCs and Linux operating systems. In addition to bug fixes, 3D emulation was also introduced to DeSmuME version 0.7.0, as well as sprite rotation and scaling.

In any case, here is the changelog for DeSmuME version 0.7.0:

General:

• Added support for *.duc files [cyberwarriorx]

GPU:

• Added support for sprite rotation/scaling [shash]
• Added support for the 3D core (openGL and null plugins) [shash]

Windows port:

• A bunch of fixes [Dmitry Krutskih]
• Fixed a bug in sound that was causing it to still not work for some people [cyberwarriorx]

GTK:

• Added 3D emulation
• Added command line options.
• Added option to use OpenGL to render window (allows resizing).

GTK-Glade:

• Added 3D emulation

Give it a try, and don't forget to check the readme for more information. If you're interested in the Linux variants, don't hesitate to visit the team's website and drop the devs a line as well. Enjoy!

Download: DeSmuME v0.7.0 (Windows Port)

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), one of the leading manufacturers of processors and graphics technology, has recently announced that it will be developing and licensing graphics core technology to semiconductor manufacturers in the handheld industry.

This decision is a major move in advancing the company's plans toward its goal of developing "the ultimate visual experience". AMD has been providing its technology to PCs and gaming consoles for years now, so it has a solid background in the field.

STMicroelectronics has already licensed AMD graphics technology. Included in the deal are the 2D and 3D vector graphics engine and software which are compliant with OpenGL ES 2.0 and OpenVG 1.0. OpenGL ES is used for creating user-interfaces while OpenVG is used for rendering graphics, both of which are geared toward mobile handheld devices and cellular phones. STMicroelectronics has decided to integrate AMD’s handheld unified shader architecture graphics technology with its Nomadik platform.

AMD has been working with different fields involved with developing handheld platforms such as semiconductor suppliers, OEM, and application developers. They are hoping to push for improved graphics on handhelds through the use of their technology in conjunction with the latest APIs.