Detached Solutions - MirageOS Homepage

Supports Several Program Formats - Our shell can run programs of several different formats and shells, such as MirageOS-specific, ION, BASIC, TI-OS ASM. BASIC program execution is now supported on all hardware/operating-system combinations.
Powerful Program Manager - This is the Built-In, Graphical Interface for the shell that displays all compatible programs by name in a scrollable list. The Program Manager has a Function Bar, which contains a great amount of commands that you can carry out to organize and manage your programs. You have the ability to Rename any program on your calculator, Un/Archive them from/into FlashROM, Protect/Unlock programs so that they can or can't be edited from the TI-OS, Hide programs so that they dont show up in the PRGM menu, and Unhide them accordingly. From the Function Bar, you can also view the amount of FreeRAM and FreeROM of the calculator without having to goto the Mem menu, and you can transfer programs to other 82/83/83+ calculators. More info about the Program Manager is described in further features.
External User Interfaces - We support External Interface files that can use the functionality of the shell and display programs in their own creative manner. The four GUIs provided so far list programs by Name, Description, and Button Image individually, and there is also a Command Prompt Interface. These are all optional to have on your calculator, but some users may prefer to use them over the Program Manager.
Supports Program Folders - MirageOS lets the user organize their programs into many folders within the Program Manager, which are optional to have except for the MAIN directory. Folders can be created with custom names, programs can be moved in and out of them, they can be renamed, and deleted. In the Program Manager, all folders are listed and can be Opened and Closed so that their contents can be shown or hidden temporarily.
Custom Sorting of Folders - You have the ability to Sort the programs in each of your folders by name. By default, MirageOS sorts the folders automatically when starting up, incase you have loaded new programs onto the calculator that are out of order. This feature is sometimes slow, however, when you have a lot of programs to be sorted, so we give the option to turn off Auto-Sort at start-up.
Battery Power Friendly - The shell runs in Low-Power mode while it waits for a keypress from the user so that it does not constantly execute at full-speed and waste Battery Power. We support Auto-Power-Down (APD), which turns the calculator off automatically after 3 minutes of inactivity. There is also the ability to instantly Power-Down your calc without having to exit the shell and press 2nd+ON from the TI-OS. When inside of MirageOS, you can press the ON key to shut down the calculator, and press ON again to turn the calc back on and resume in the shell.
Custom Info For Programs - MirageOS allows for Assembly programs to have long descriptions that can be displayed when searching through the list of programs to run, just like most other shells have. Our shell also allows for BASIC programs to have long, customized descriptions, which is an innovation that we think a lot of TI-83 Plus BASIC developers will enjoy. Our shell also allows for MirageOS-specific programs to have custom images that are 15x15 pixels in size, which can give a graphical representation of that program like an icon. These images are used mostly in the Buttons Interface, but they can also be seen from the Program Manager when you have that option set.
Built-In Password Protection - From the Options Screen of MirageOS, where the user can change many aspects of the shell and the TI-OS, Password Protection can be enabled. The user has the ability to set a Password that will be prompted for when entering the shell from the TI-OS, and after the calculator is turned back on from being shut down or APDing. This feature allows security for the user from people that should not be using their calculator, and the Password is stored into FlashROM so the shell is still safe if the RAM is reset.
Hotkeys in the TI-OS - Since MirageOS is a Flash Application, it has the ability to implement Keyhooks into the TI-OS, and adds more functionality that could not be done with a regular Assembly program. When using the TI-OS normally, like at the Homescreen, you have the ability to start the shell by holding ON and pressing the APPS key. Another Hotkey we have implemented is being able to Power-Down the calculator from anywhere in the TI-OS, and then resume there without being sent back to the Homescreen. This is done by pressing ALPHA and then ON, and is beneficial for things like being in the Basic Editor of the calculator. The last Hotkey we have added allows protection of the Memory Menu. If this option is enabled in the shell, access to the Mem menu by pressing 2nd+Mem will be rejected, and this is helpful in protecting variables from being deleted like the AppVar, which contains your shell Password.
Tasker Interrupt In Programs - One of the coolest features that MirageOS contains is the ability to carry out certain Tasks while ION and MirageOS programs are executing. We use an Interrupt Routine, enabled during programs, that allows special Hotkeys to accomplish various tasks at any point in a program. The tasks we have incorporated are changing the contrast level, Powering-Down and resuming the program later, quitting back to the shell or the homescreen at any point (like a Teacher-Key), speeding up and slowing down the program execution, and even taking screenshots of the LCD anytime and sending that to one of the PicX variables. This feature does not work in Basic programs, and even some ION programs, but will work in most, if not all, MirageOS programs.
Assembly Program Development - MirageOS enhances ASM program development for the TI-83 Plus by allowing MirageOS developers access to many more built-in subroutines than ION provides. These routines are for general use, and are well optimized for speed since size wasnt a big problem in our FlashApp. It also allows for MirageOS programs to be smaller since they do not have to include routines straight into their sources, but can call the built-in ones instead. We also give a system of easily adding a user Interrupt routine along with the Tasker Interrupt routine, so that MirageOS programs have the ability to execute code outside of their main code. There are various other features for development purposes too, which are all explained in the Developer Information section of this MirageOS Homepage.
System Memory Benefits - By using MirageOS, there are many underlying features that aren't seen, but improve the usage of programs on your calculator, regarding the RAM and FlashROM. As a Flash Application, the shell resides in ROM and executes there, as opposed to being located in RAM to run programs. For this reason, Assembly programs have more potential FreeRAM to use, and can be larger in size, nearly 24 Kb. MirageOS can run programs that have been Archived into the FlashROM for long-term storage, by moving the data to RAM first. Some programs write back data to themselves, for saving things such as high-scores, however, that causes an Archived program to be Re-Archived, which is somewhat harmful to the FlashROM if there are many writes. Our shell gives the option to Not write back programs, with the only downside of not being able to save recent data changes in the program. Another thing is that External Levels for programs may be located in RAM, or in FlashROM where they are safer, and MirageOS handles them appropriatly either way. Lastly, there is no limit on the number of programs the shell can detect, as some shells have. The only limitation for the number of programs you can keep on your calculator is the amount of memory available.
Environmentally Friendly - MirageOS supports kindness to the environment in which we live in. We advocate to "Save The Whales", which implies other Environmentally-Friendly actions, and respect for the creatures of this planet... Thank you for your support. :)

NOTE: No animals were harmed during the development and testing of this Flash Application.