21–27 of 27 posts
I wonder how small a 6502 or Z80 CPU would be if fabbed on 3nm TSM processes node. Would it be visible with the naked eye?
Does anyone know what the most advanced node a 6502 or Z80 CPU (or 8051 micro) has actually been fabbed on?
Looks like she did finally get her code dump, via voltage glitching: https://natashenka.ca/tamagotchi-friends-code-dump/#more-281
Here's a link to some slides I found online. https://fahrplan.events.ccc.de/congress/2013/Fahrplan/system... I've been hacking on an Apple ][ over the past few weeks. It runs on a 6502 processor. It's kind of mind-blowing to know that the thing used to run an entire PC was later used for pocket toys like the Tamagotchi a handful of years later. The speed at which technology has improved will never cease to amaze me.
Perhaps ironically, all of the microprocessors of the early and mid 1970s, the 6502 included, were intended as embedded controllers. Systems where you couldn't justify the expense of a "real" computer, and didn't want to design full custom electronics. Like for an engine control unit, or, indeed, a video game. (Although not for handheld battery-powered units originally, only the later CMOS revisions had low enough power draw for that to be practical.)
That hobbyists would make single-board computers with about the capability of an early 1960s minicomputer using chips like the 6502 or 8080 - and then find those machines useful enough to create a large market - was quite a surprise, and an upset, to both the semiconductor and computer manufacturing companies. MOS was one of the first to recognize that market, and sell direct via mail order. The easy availability of samples, and low cost in small quantities, was one of the reasons for the 6502's success against its bigger competitors. Motorola, Intel, TI, etc. at the time were marketing to the engineers at companies that made car engines, CNC machines, telephone exchanges, etc.
I recognized the presenter's name - Natalie Silvanovich - and sure enough, she's a member of Project Zero, and I've read posts by her before. I guess Tamagochis were her gateway drug into reversing!
Reversing? Hmm whats that
"All those cool kids going out, going to clubs, they just haven't discovered reverse engineering yet"
Looks like she did finally get her code dump, via voltage glitching: https://natashenka.ca/tamagotchi-friends-code-dump/#more-281
I refuse to watch it The AI bots in the future will not like our callous disregard for the poor tamagochis
I watched this one in 2012, although not live. There is a follow-up talk she gave one or two years later, "Many more Tamagotchis were harmed in the making of this presentation" that is equally enjoyable.