New Launcher possible to build?

[skeezix]

I wouldn't mind writing an app to replace the free launcher; even with somethign dumb like a list of apps and you scroll up/down to pick them.. except fit them all onscreen, and make scrolling faster. (ie: Hold down the d-pad!)

If it was easy to do, I'm sure someone would've done it already

The Free Launcher is crypted for each handheld. Presumably you can only launch crypted apps at first from the device Start menu (without using an alternate ROM).

Do we have any idea how ther encryption works? If we can crypt an app, then we can replace the free launcher :/

jeff

 

[Rambozo]

Because you use the word "crypt" instead of "encrypt" (i.e. "I must encrypt this file") I can guess that english is not your native tongue.

Were I to make a guess, I'd say one way to load apps without encrypting them would be to create and flash new firmware without the aforementioned restrictions, as well as write corresponding PC link software. That's alot of work just for a new launcher, when the one we already have is just fine.

 

[trooper]

Because you use the word "crypt" instead of "encrypt" (i.e. "I must encrypt this file") I can guess that either english is not your native tongue, or you have a low level of technical knowledge.

Not bad for a first post, <_<

His wording could not be that bad, As you obviously new what he was talking about. As for the possible lack of technical knowledge, If you had read the front page of this site you may have found out the this guy (skeezix) is actually in progress of porting a ST emulator to the gp32.

Trooper

 

[MrT]

And not to mention Xcade, wow if jeff was really really really clever there would be no end to what he could achieve.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Tongue in cheek

Anyway I am English and started a sentence with And a real no no, so none of us are perfect

MrT

 

[Rambozo]

My bad, fixed the post. What you neglected to mention is that I was right, English is not his native language.

[edit] I just read some of his posts...wow. I can tell he's a talented coder, but he seems unable to type coherently. That's okay, I once knew this flash animator who made the most beautiful movies you had ever seen...but he was like 17, and typed like a monkey with rakes for hands. Just goes to show...something. I don't know.

 

[mr.spiv]

A new free launcher is like next to trivial to do.. I might take an action point here. Though I'm kinda king of bad user interface design <_<

 

[Rico]

Rambozo, that is screwed up. His English is better than half the stuff I read on the internet, thanks to morons on most forums. Anyways, 'crypt' is basically a slang shortening of 'encrypt' and is used a lot in the programming community the same way some people say 'telly' instead of 'television'.

Why get worked up over one single word? I found two spelling errors, nothing special.

Anyways to answer the question - other than firmware, you can of course get an encrypted version for your GP32 specifically. They have to be individually made - well, I presume Gamepark has a master version and changes a few bytes which correspond to the ID of the GP32 you have.

Rambozo, what you -neglected to mention- is that there is no need for Firmware, you just make a new program in the Game Menu that does the same job as the Free Launcher. And the PC Link software has absolutely nothing to do with it.

On #gp32 one can get encrypted versions of many programs that show up in the Game menu straight away, you could do the same for a Free Launcher replacement.

Finally, starting a sentence with 'And' is perfectly acceptable, only in primary/junior school children tend to write a string of 'And then I ...' sentences, so teachers tell them not to do it.

- Rico

 

[thebluenewt]

Frankly, I don't care if he types with his feet.

If he gets his ST emulator to run Sensible Soccer I'll be happy to have his babies, if that were scientifically possible...

 

[stickofjoy]

Frankly, I don't care if he types with his feet.

If he gets his ST emulator to run Sensible Soccer I'll be happy to have his babies, if that were scientifically possible...

You can play it on SNESemu but that version was not programmed by Sensible Software, but is a conversion by Sony Imagesoft. It's not quite as good, and then there are the deficiencies of SNESemu. :rolleyes:

 

[skeezix]

For the record, English is my native tongue; or "Canadian" depending what sort of high-horse your'e on that day I do speak a smidgeon of Bacardi if you know what I mean..

I can only comment that picking on spelling or grammar is usually reserved for lame flames, yet your post wasn't a flame, so tis odd However, quite right that my *typing* can be atrocious due to the rapidity with which I do it... I'm busier than almost anyone alive. I should slow down to re-read when I'm posting excited "woowoo!" messages, but sometimes I don't Such is life Due note that Canadians and the English (Britons, et al) spell a little differently than in the American English, and that I and others will deign to use the vernacular... w00t, et al. Its amusing.. I've had peopel return my email with "honour is honor", etc.

Without touching the firmware, you need an encrypted binary I think. I'll be checking the #gp32 bot to see if theres any tips, and poke around a few places. ie: The bot wouldn't know your device ID presumably, so how can it generate an encrypted file? Perhaps the apps need not be encrypted after all... *shrug* . I'll not likely have time anytime real soon, but its on my list.. I can't stand the free launcher. Time is of the essence and the FL is all abotu wasting time :/

Welcome to the GP32 family

jeff

 

[skeezix]

And, btw, "crypt" generally refers to (aside from a grave encrypt and/or decrypt; ie: Cryptographer, cryptanalyst, cryptanarchist, etc. A little slang in my usage, but you must forgive me as I was hacking away at something

jeff

 

[VirtuaLeech]

I think this is not easy as this is where GamePark has drawn a line. GXE files (free lancher, moviepark) are for professional developers and FXE files are for the amateur developer.

GXE files are encrypted and I don;t even know if professional developers can do this themself, I think only gamepark can do it.

If somebody should findout how to build GXE files you could bypass the freelauncher all together and put all you homemade GXE files in the gp:\\game directory.

BTW my native tongue is DUtch not english (in case you didn't notice)

 

[Arutha]

Gamepark drew a line because they want to prevent piracy of commercial games as much as possible. But, as anyone who has looked around the net a bit can testify, any product can be hacked/cracked/etc in time. As mentioned earlier in this thread, someone has already done so (I assume, otherwise they are affiliated with gamepark) and setup an IRC bot to allow people to download a freelauncher file encrypted for their specific GP32 (to answer skeevix's question, you have to use a program to find the ID of your GP32 and pass it to the bot). So assuming someone programs a good freelauncher replacement, it would involve a similar setup that encrypts things on the server side like that.

BTW, great Kudos to whomever set that up... I know first hand it has provided many people with freelauncher when Gamepark's site is malfunctioning... which is unfortunately often. And I am especially glad that they set it up remotely and for only a few necessary files such as freelauncher, rather than releasing something publicly that would allow people to begin pirating games. Its hard enough for a company to want to develop for the GP32 without that becoming common place too!

 

[CapnTree]

Well i speak esperanto. so there




(i dont actually. does anyone?)

 

[tapsel]

Well... AFAIK this encryption mechanism' has already been cracked. :angry:

I'm most probably not the first one to find this out...I first thought it was a hoax, but I got
curious and tried it out, and I was able to upload commercial software to my SMC without
paying for it. (FYI: It was a piece of software I've already purchased legally).

I won't give away further information about this issue, since I'm absolutely against pirating
of GP32 software!

I have no in-depth knowledge about the used encryption mechanism, or how this piece of
pirate software works. But you could probably rebuild the free launcher using the same
system. If this is possible though, without enforcing the illegal distribution of cracked
GP32 software... I have no idea! :unsure:

 

[Swiss_Cheeseman]

It depends on where you live, in the states, its illegal to reverse engineer any kind of security mechanism, or to distribute software/hardware that bypasses it.

 

[VirtuaLeech]

tapsel, yes I know it is already possible. What I meant was that it isn't possible legally (unless you become a professional developer).

 

[tapsel]

I'm sorry. Seems that I've missed a post...

 

[Flack]

Well, it's also important because, think of this ... what happens when GP32 files bankruptcy, and goes away? Your GP32 breaks and so you buy another one off of eBay or something -- and now you can't get freelauncher, because GP32's website is gone.

There's always that fine line, just like the Xbox projects, the same technology that lets you boot up Linux also lets you boot up copied games. The technology isn't bad, it's just how people use it can be for good or for bad.

<b>Flack</b>

 

[tapsel]

You are right, Flack.

But on the other side, you know people. If you enforce the usage of such a tool, you will enforce software piracy
as well, thus aggravating the danger of Gamepark to go broke.

I mean, if most of the commercial software for the GP32 is available for free download on pirate websites or
P2P networks, how are you going to stop that? It's not like copying GBA cardridges... getting pirated games
would be even easier than getting them from joyGP (not to mention getting them boxed).