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Homebrew [DS(i) & 3DS] AKMenu-Next - Wood frontend for nds-bootstrap & Pico-Loader

  • Thread starter Thread starter Coderkei
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AKMenu-Next v2.0.3
  • Index
    • New Release: AKMenu-Next v2.0.3

    To install or update, follow the installation guides linked on the first post.

    Custom Icon support has been added. I know not everyone was a fan of the new icons some time back so if you want the classic Wood R4 icons back, just turn off custom icons on the `Interface settings` page and the next time you enter/exit a folder, it will change to those icons.

    Changes
    • Support for custom icons, defined in _nds/akmenunext/icons. Icons are standard Nintendo DS Banner BIN format. Disabling custom icons in the settings will fall back to the built in classic Wood R4 icons. Not all custom icons are implemented, for now the MicroSD, Slot 1, Slot 2, & Folder Icons are supported.

    MicroSD Icon = microsd_banner.bin
    Slot 1 Icon = nand_banner.bin
    Slot 2 Icon = gba_banner.bin
    Folder Icon = folder_banner.bin

    You can use NDS Banner Editor to make changes to them.

    Click here for release notes
     
    Last edited by Coderkei,
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    AKMenu-Next v2.0.4
  • Index
    • New Release: AKMenu-Next v2.0.4

    To install or update, follow the installation guides linked on the first post.

    Changes
    • Updated French translation that fixes the text running off the screen on the menu.
    • Fixed 12 hour clock setting.
    • Fixed incorrect icon size for the "Small icons" view mode.
    • Fixed autorunWithLastRom causing a crash when used. (Set autorunWithLastRom = 1 inside _nds/akmenunext/globalsettings.ini to make it auto-run the last rom that was played upon boot).
    Click here for release notes
     
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    AKMenu-Next v2.0.5
  • Index
    • New Release: AKMenu-Next v2.0.5

    To install or update, follow the installation guides linked on the first post.
    Please note that if you are using a DSpico, please switch to the DSpico version on the install guide page.

    Changes
    • DSi mode support for the DSpico when running on a DSi or 3DS, no longer locked to DS-only mode. Thanks to @Asaduji for adding this.
    • DSiWare supported when using a DSpico on a DSi or 3DS with Pico-Loader. DSi EmuNAND files must be present on the root of the SD card and a NDS ARM7 BIOS dump must be present inside the _pico folder for this to work.
    This now also means DSiWare is supported if you use Pico-Loader on your DSpico and you are using it on a DSi or 3DS. Unfortunately it's not possible to run DSiWare on DS/DS Lite consoles, this is a limitation of Pico-Loader.

    To run DSiWare, some DSi NAND files are needed. If you have HiyaCFW you will have them on your DSi SD, if you don't use HiyaCFW, boot up GodMode9i on your DSpico and use GodMode9i's copy & paste functionality to copy them from the nand:/ drive to the DSpico SD card.

    You need the below files from the DSi NAND files on your DSpico SD card:
    • photo
    • shared1
    • shared2
    • sys
    • _pico/biosnds7.rom (From a DS BIOS dump, See this guide on making a DS BIOS dump).
    Then just select "Pico-Loader" as the loader in the settings on your DSpico (when on a DSi/3DS) and DSiWare should start right up.

    Click here for release notes
     
    Last edited by Coderkei,
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    Coderkei said:
    New Release: AKMenu-Next v2.0.5

    To install or update, follow the installation guides linked on the first post.
    Please note that if you are using a DSpico, please switch to the DSpico version on the install guide page.

    Changes
    • DSi mode support for the DSpico when running on a DSi or 3DS, no longer locked to DS-only mode. Thanks to @Asaduji for adding this.
    Click here for release notes
    Click to expand...
    You crazy son of a b. Say no more. I'm in.
     
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    Coderkei said:
    Be sure to test the DSiWare support if applicable (DSpico on DSi/3DS). :)
    Click to expand...
    Seems to all work correctly. I tested DS roms, DSi roms, DSiWare, DS homebrew, and DSi homebrew. All seems to work correctly. The only real bug is that it has an option to launch slot-1 on the top menu. Which would obviously just load the cart again. Probably a holdover from running in DSi mode off the system's SD?
     
    SuffahBish said:
    Seems to all work correctly. I tested DS roms, DSi roms, DSiWare, DS homebrew, and DSi homebrew. All seems to work correctly. The only real bug is that it has an option to launch slot-1 on the top menu. Which would obviously just load the cart again. Probably a holdover from running in DSi mode off the system's SD?
    Click to expand...
    Yes because its DSi mode, I need to see if it can be hidden on the DSpico.
     
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    I've recently switched from TwilightMenu to AKMenu-Next on my softmodded DSi and loving it so far. No fuss, loads extremely fast. The only thing I'm missing is editing nds-bootstrap settings globally or per-rom, TWL CPU speed toggle and audio toggles really helped with some games. So I was wondering if that's something that's planned or not.
     
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    Metalik said:
    I've recently switched from TwilightMenu to AKMenu-Next on my softmodded DSi and loving it so far. No fuss, loads extremely fast. The only thing I'm missing is editing nds-bootstrap settings globally or per-rom, TWL CPU speed toggle and audio toggles really helped with some games. So I was wondering if that's something that's planned or not.
    Click to expand...
    It's planned yes
     
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    Thank you for making this. I have been using HiyaCFW with NDS Forwarder for the longest time because I like the stock DSi look, but AKMenu-Next is just so much faster and snappier that I had to switch to it.
     
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    Copied the DSi NAND files and DS ARM7 ROM to the microSD card of the DSpico. DSiWare games run well and the same should be said for DSi-exclusive games which use DSi real-time mode. This might someday replace nds-bootstrap because Pico-Loader is a lot faster and solid to work with. I give you props for this amazing release, you did it! :grog:
     
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    SylverReZ said:
    Copied the DSi NAND files and DS ARM7 ROM to the microSD card of the DSpico. DSiWare games run well and the same should be said for DSi-exclusive games which use DSi real-time mode. This might someday replace nds-bootstrap because Pico-Loader is a lot faster and solid to work with. I give you props for this amazing release, you did it! :grog:
    Click to expand...
    Pico-loader is faster to launch games but nds-bootstrap is actually faster in a lot of games due to it's caching. The the bag in DPP vs the two for example.
     
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    SuffahBish said:
    Pico-loader is faster to launch games but nds-bootstrap is actually faster in a lot of games due to it's caching. The the bag in DPP vs the two for example.
    Click to expand...
    In my experience, nds-bootstrap takes a little longer to create the cache before games are loaded, this can also vary with how the SD card was formatted, as well.
     
    SylverReZ said:
    In my experience, nds-bootstrap takes a little longer to create the cache before games are loaded, this can also vary with how the SD card was formatted, as well.
    Click to expand...
    It only does that the first time you start the game. It does reset every time you update bootstrap though. But the results speak for themselves. The bag runs faster through bootstrap than on the real cart. Lol.
     
    SuffahBish said:
    Pico-loader is faster to launch games but nds-bootstrap is actually faster in a lot of games due to it's caching. The the bag in DPP vs the two for example.
    Click to expand...
    The caching sometimes introduces compatibility bugs.

    Also on a DMA supported cart, Pico-Launcher should still be fastest, and in any case the LNH Team want to prioritise game compatibility first
     
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    SuffahBish said:
    I can confirm it's not. As someone with two dspicos and a ton of SDs to test with.
    Click to expand...
    Interesting. Well in any case, any optimisations come after compatibility.

    I can say for one thing that the one thing the DSpico can do that no other loader can do is play the Sonic Rush Adventure intro with no lag 😃
     
    SuffahBish said:
    It only does that the first time you start the game. It does reset every time you update bootstrap though. But the results speak for themselves. The bag runs faster through bootstrap than on the real cart. Lol.
    Click to expand...

    We don't want to introduce speedhacks as it may break some games in unexpected ways. The main focus of pico-loader is to run the retail games as close as the original cartridges allow you to. It *could* be considered much later though, as an "extra" feature.
    And as @Coderkei says, performance should be good, especially when you use good SD cards, the bag issue in DPP has been proved in the Discord Server to be caused by certain SD card brands, the same for the Sonic Rush Adventure intro. Some users can't even reproduce the slowdowns in both cases.
     
    Last edited by DSoryu,

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