Free Science Fiction Stories

Free stories from the depths of my imagination

SophistimaCalc Lite no longer available – paid version is very much alive and fully supported

After some reflection, I have decided to remove the Lite version of SophistimaCalc from the itunes store.  Those who already have it can obviously keep it, but it is no longer available for download for new users.  I haven’t updated it in a while, it has limited functionality and, looking at the ratings on itunes, the only people who like what SophistimaCalc does are those who have paid the very modest amount for purchasing it.

I am happy to accept and take into account comments on this decision.  Feel free to post your opinion.

This has no effect on the paid version which is available and regularly updated and supported.  Looking at the ratings on itunes, those who have bought it very much appreciate its flexibility and power.  I will keep adding functionality based on user comments and my own ideas so feel free to make suggestions or requests.

 

November 4, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | iphone | | No Comments Yet

SophistimaCalc programmable ipod/iphone calculator version 1.3 has landed

“Landed where?” you say. In the itunes store of course. And thanks to our fine commenter Richard, it now has shortcuts for common commands that will save you some typing. Paid version only – sorry :( Here’s a shot with shift key and all:

sophistimacalc update

More updates are on their way thanks to commenter Don.  Please feel free to comment if you have any suggestions, if there is anything you want changed or any new features you’d like to see.  Heck, I’ve gotta have a hobby so keep me busy.  I’ve made $17 so far on sales and I might even make my dreams come true and earn a cool $20 before years’ end.  That’s the app store dream – not $20 million, just $20 so I can have a coffee every day for a month… maybe.

Here’s a link:SophistimaCalc Programmable Calculator

November 3, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | iphone | | 7 Comments

Update to SophistimaCalc programmable calculator for ipod/iphone

Thanks to suggestions made by John in the comments to SophistimaCalc manual, I have released a new version of SophistimaCalc (free for anyone who has purchased SophistimaCalc paid version) with the following new features:

* new function exp(x), exponent to the power of x

* memories are now kept even on exiting the program

Also, Richard in the comments has made further suggestions that I will implement in the next version coming soon.

Enjoy!!

October 22, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | iphone | | No Comments Yet

Windows 95 on a Sharp Netwalker

October 13, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | The Futile Life | | No Comments Yet

Wee Basic 0.81 New version of nintendo ds basic interpreter

Wee81

Version 0.81

(Thanks to banana joe and montesquou for their suggestions in the comments for the last version)

- revamped load screen now lists files in the root directory for you to select (no more typing in file names)
- more colours added to lines and plots
black 1
blue 2
green 3
cyan 4
red 5
magenta 6
brown 7
white 8
gray 9
light blue 10
light green 11
light cyan 12
light red 13
light magenta 14
yellow 15
bright white 16
(colour 0 deletes)
- new sprite functions to flip vertically and horizontally:
* hflip <sprite no>,<screen>
* vflip <sprite no>,<screen>
- for/next now has a step parameter (the step parameter is added in square brackets):
for <variable>=<numexpression> to <numexpression> [<numexpression>]
eg for i = 10 to 1 [-2], for j= 10 to 100 [10]
- you can now use ‘;’ with print to keep on the same line (see sample program)
- new math functions added: sqr, pi, asin, acos, atan, sinh, tanh, cosh and abs
eg let x=pi, let s=sqr(5)+pi-tanh(10)+abs(-10)
- fixed: label errors
- fixed: crash when file is loaded that exceeds editor capacity

Download:WeeBasic81

(Change .ppt to .rar and unpack – as always, use at own risk)

September 4, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | Nintendo DS | | 13 Comments

Ask the Almighty (New iphone/ipod app)

Screenshot 2009.08.10 20.21.08

Ever wanted to ask the bible a question?  Now is your chance.  (Very addictive)

What the?

Whatever you do, DO NOT click this link:Ask the Almighty (You’ve been warned!)

Quote from the author: “For an app that does almost nothing, it’s worth the price of admission”

Bye.

August 25, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | iphone | | No Comments Yet

Meat

meatI hate being the fat kid.  Everyone looks at me, teases me and laughs at me.  Did I say I hate it – ’cause I do.

I go home one night and my family is already at the table eating dinner.  That’s ironic because I’m hungry and fat.  Do I keep saying that I’m fat – ’cause I hate being fat.  There doesn’t seem to be a lot of food left.  I groan noticeably.

“Jack, you know we have to leave some food for the prophet”.

There they go again with their mumbo jumbo religion.  I’m still a kid here but somewhere else I’m an adult and I’ve grown out of their religious beliefs.  I decide to take them on.  I look at my father.

“No one cares about your beliefs.  It’s all garbage.  I’ll eat what I want.  You didn’t even leave enough for me anyway.”

My dad stares at me.  He looks me right in the eye.

“There’s a bigger world out there dad, “ I’m responding to the look, “You live in such a closed community.  No one gives a rat’s arse about your religion or your prophet.”

My mother looks at me in shock, as if I’ve become the devil.  I know what it is.  I said “rat’s arse” and she hates swearing.  Goddamn, does she really think that “arse” is a bad swear.  Still, she looks upset and I stare at her right back.  It’s not my fault if she’s so sensitive.

I eat my fill, which is a lot.  The prophet can starve for all I care.  I’m getting fatter I think, if that’s possible, but who cares, right?  I mean we’re all different; nobody’s perfect.  People have to accept that we come in all shapes and sizes.  I can be fat.  It doesn’t make me bad, right?

I go to bed and have strange dreams.  The next evening we’re all back at the table again ’cause it’s dinner time.  I’m surprise; truly surprised.  My mom’s cooked some really big steaks.  There’s enough for everyone, even for their stupid prophet.  Okay, maybe we’re getting somewhere here.

I feel pretty sick.  I can’t explain it.  I feel weak and vulnerable.  It’s like something’s missing.  I’m numb all over, especially in my torso.

Next evening and dinner again.  Great whopping steaks again; delicious and plenty for the prophet.  Still feel under the weather.  I seem to be getting weaker.  Don’t know how to explain it.

It’s Friday and we’re having dinner with friends of my parents.  They have a son and daughter.  Daughter is two years younger than me.  She never looks at me ’cause I’m fat.  Strange, but tonight she’s eyeing me.  The adults keep talking and we go with the “kids” to talk.

Suddenly their daughter’s all over me.  We’re in her room.  How did we get there?  Where are the other kids?  She’s kissing me; can’t keep her hands off me.  What’s going on?  Not that I don’t like it, but what about being fat?

Now my head’s in her chest.  She wants to go further but uh oh.  Daddy’s calling her.  He’s coming towards the bedroom door.  All bets are off.

I feel more attractive but why?  At home, shirt off and I’m looking down at my usually flabby stomach.  Wait, what?  It’s pretty flat.  I’m thin.  My god, I’m actually thin.  How fantastic.  But what happened and how?

Then it dawns on me.  The sick feeling and better dinners… mmmh delicious steak.  The steak is me.  Mum’s getting back at me because of the religion and my so called swearing.  I want to feel angry but I’m not, as long as she lets me live.  I don’t mind if I’m thin. I decide not to eat myself anymore.  Mum’s okay about that and she makes me a side dish.  I’m not as hungry anymore.  I mean I don’t want to eat part of me, but the other’s can.

Then I wake up.  I’m not with my parents anymore.  I’m the adult I always knew I was. I’m fat again.

August 25, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | Short Stories | | 2 Comments

Free programmable calculator for iphone and ipod on itunes

ICONLARGE

Well, I couldn’t help thinking that most people like to try stuff before going to the extravagance (especially with the GFC) of buying stuff.  (Hell, I just push the “buy” button without thinking, but who am I to tell you what to do?  Credit card debts?  Let them come after me!).

Now that I have become a billionaire (from 10 sales @ 99 cents each – you do the math), I am offering SophistimaCalc “Lite” for FREE.  The only limit is 10 commands get processed from the input window and the rest are ignored.  The paid version doesn’t have this limit.

Here’s a link to the itunes store: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=319791208&mt=8

Let me know what you think.

Damn, I’ve already spent all of my billions!  How did it happen?  What, I only get 70 cents royalty @ 10 sales?  I’ve lost all my cents….

June 20, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | iphone | | 1 Comment

Wee Basic 0.8 (another update) – Basic interpreter for the nintendo ds

Yes folks it’s a big day for news (who am I kidding, I’m the only one who reads this blog!).  Wee has been updated yet again to version 0.8.

Wee08

New/fixed:

- new dashboard with save, run and load icons (touch to enable)
- cursor is off the screen for save and load
- key combination to break: you can now hold ‘A’ and ‘Start’ at the same time to break a running program (eg if you get stuck
in an infinite loop)
- all keys are now supported for key() operator, including L and R keys  and Start and Select keys  Summary of values returned by key():

X: 200
Y: 201
A: 202
B: 203
Left: 204
Right: 205
Up: 206
Down: 207
L: 208
R: 209
Start: 210
Select: 211

- input statement bugs fixed

Download here:Wee08

As usual change .ppt to .zip and you’re awaaaayyyy (at your own risk of course)

June 16, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | Nintendo DS | | 31 Comments

SophistimaCalc programmable calculator updated

Hello from SophistimaCalc

Now works with all versions of Iphone/ipod os 2.0 and above (here’s looking at you commenter Matt).  Promo codes:

1. YAWPXRWP37EA
2. RMERRHF7HFAP
3. 3N4EP4RLF6K4
4. 7X64HFAXTJY9
5. 479MXXHH9M3L
6. XFMHLAAEFMRY

Don’t forget to look at the manual: http://freescifistories.wordpress.com/sophistimacalc-manual/

June 16, 2009 Posted by freescifistories | iphone | | 1 Comment