RISC OS FAST 5.31 now available

RISCOSbits are pleased to announce the second release of RISC OS FAST for 2024, which brings FAST back in line with the standard builds.

As a result of the upgrade to the latest incarnation, it enables wireless networking on FAST systems, using either the RISC OS Open stack or the latest beta TCP/IP stack from ROD. For those with metal cased machine, an external antenna will probably be required, and RISCOSbits have stock in place for existing customers to purchase.

In addition, the upgrade also enables FAST to use eMMC storage on Pi 4 Compute Modules, giving faster and more robust storage for that all-important firmware, and usefully as a back up for files from SATA drives.

SD and eMMC drives are now correctly numbered as ::0 and ::4 respectively. For now, FAST will continue to be issued as standard on SD media, but can be provided with eMMC by special request.

At least on our test systems, the new version of FAST also tracked as marginally faster than January’s issue, although users’ experiences may vary as it is highly dependent on the SATA drives used.

There are also multitudinous other features and fixes beyond the headline ones that make RISC OS FAST a more stable and more productive environment.

Upgrades to the latest version are free to existing customers. For those interested in dabbling for the first time in possibly the FASTest current RISC OS system out there, several options are available. These range from the base-level CORE kit at 99GBP through to an all-singing, all-dancing FURY mega-system, available from only 499GBP. For more details and to buy, see https://www.riscosfast.co.uk