DreamShell v4.0.3 Release

[SWAT]

Released: 30 Sep 2025
Updated: 3 Oct 2025

Release post: http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/dreamshell/1145.html
Video preview: https://youtu.be/Pa0eOxhI64o

Download from Github, Discord, YouTube

Video trailers pack for ISO Loader: IDE, SCI-SPI

Core
- Introduced time zone and network startup settings.
- Enhanced command execution with supporting "&&" and "&" syntax.
- Implemented new Dialog Widget API with multiple modes: info, alert, confirm, prompt and progress.
- Enhanced GUI_FileManager with new selection logic and improved scrolling.
- Enhanced GUI_RTF widget with new features.
- Fixed and improved GUI_TextEntry with auto showing virtual keyboard.
- Added default theme for all GUI widgets. Now it much easier to create basic UI.
- Many other small fixes and improvements in the GUI.
- Added file copy and rename functions in lua fs extension.
- Used latest KallistiOS kernel.

SDK
- Added new DC IMG Tool for converting CD/GD images.
- Updated toolchain with GCC 15.2

FFmpeg module
- A completely redesigned video player with good sync and smooth playback, unprecedented bitrates, clear and high-quality audio in uncompressed PCM 16-bit or Yamaha ADPCM.
- Can be integrated in any DreamShell application, both full-screen and windowed, just like the Dreameye camera preview.
- For IDE, you can get up to 3700 kbps total a/v bitrate, uncompressed PCM 16-bit 44100 Hz audio (CDDA quality) at a stable 256x256@24Hz. Lowering the bitrate can boost playback to 30 fps or increase the resolution.
- For SCI-SPI SD card, you can get up to 1700 kbps total a/v bitrate and ADPCM audio at a stable 256x256@20Hz.
- for Serial SD card no tests have been performed; the bitrate would have to be reduced by another factor of 2 compared to SCI-SPI and possibly reduce the frame rate, which seems to negate the overall beauty. I don't see the point, but you can try if you like.
- The most optimized for SH4 video format at moment is MPEG-4, and audio is ADPCM. However, for IDE, there are no issues on using uncompressed PCM 16-bit, so it's best to use it. But you can get some savings on total bitrate by using ADPСM.
- Supports different resolutions and adapts to the required sizes.
- In addition to PCM, ADPCM and MPEG-4, also supported AC3 and AAC for audio, MJPEG and RoQ for video.
- Support for FPS and A/V sync statistics (press Y on video).
- Support for seeking on d-pad in full-screen mode.
- In full-screen mode, press A to pause, B to stop. In windowed mode, press A to switch to full-screen mode.

ISO Loader v0.8.3
- Added support for high-quality video trailers provided updated FFmpeg module. Put trailer.avi file to GDI folder.
- Added support for updated GUI_FileManager.
- Using default theme for checkboxes and inputs.
- Improved finding for default games folder.
- Find cover.png in folder with .gdi file.
- Updated romdisks with presets.
- Introduced GPIO support for reset button handling (GPIO-IGR, 0-pin used).
- Fixed and improved mounting for some ISO images.
- Fixed CDDA tracks handling for custom GDI and CDI images.
- Refactored CDDA playlist processing for better compatibility.
- Stabilize LBA28 DMA for some devices.
- Fixed Atomiswave games.
- Fixed CDDA crash in WinCE games.
- Fixed PVR DMA conflict with SCI-SPI.
- Fixed mono CDDA support.

Games Menu
- Added support for high-quality video trailers provided updated FFmpeg module. Put trailer.avi file to GDI folder.
- Improved finding for default games folder.
- PVR implementation for covers.
- Implemented cache system.
- Fixed memory bugs.
- Fixed IDE + SD usage.

File Manager
- Support for updated FFmpeg module for video playback.
- Using new Dialog Widget instead of custom modal.
- Added support for updated GUI_FileManager with default theme.
- Added support for progress bar in file operations.
- Added vertical split mode support.
- Improved confirmations and error messages.
- Enhanced file operations. Creating, renaming removing folders with contents.

Settings
- Added timezone settings.
- Support NTP sync also for all VMUs.
- Using default theme for almost all widgets.
- Using new Dialog Widget for save/reset confirmations.
- Minor UI fixes.

Network
- Added startup network settings.
- Added startup NTP sync settings.
- Using new Dialog Widget for save settings confirmation.

GD Ripper
- Using default theme for inputs and FileManager widgets.
- Support for .bin tracks.
- Support dump of any disc in GDI format.
- Fixed disc name.

Main (desktop)
- Added network connection status icon.

Dreameye
- Using default theme for checkbox input.
- Fixed preview artifacts at low resolutions.
- Improved preview performance.
- Added FPS statistics (press Y on preview).

Big thanks
- Maniac Vera to Games Menu updates.
- yarikow for bug reports.
- All testers and users for their feedback and support.

Video conversion for ISO Loader trailers
- IDE

Код:

ffmpeg -i original_video.mp4 -vf \
"scale=256:256:force_original_aspect_ratio=increase,crop=256:256,fps=24" \
-c:v mpeg4 -b:v 2800k -maxrate 3200k -minrate 2600k \
-bufsize 4000k -max_muxing_queue_size 1024 \
-c:a pcm_s16le -ar 44100 -ac 1 trailer.avi

- SCI-SPI SD card

Код:

ffmpeg -i original_video.mp4 -vf \
"scale=256:256:force_original_aspect_ratio=increase,crop=256:256,fps=20" \
-c:v mpeg4 -b:v 1500k -maxrate 1800k -minrate 1200k \
-bufsize 2500k -max_muxing_queue_size 1024 \
-c:a adpcm_yamaha -ar 44100 -ac 1 trailer.avi

- Serial SD card (untested theory)

Код:

ffmpeg -i original_video.mp4 -vf \
"scale=256:256:force_original_aspect_ratio=increase,crop=256:256,fps=15" \
-c:v mpeg4 -b:v 800k -maxrate 1000k -minrate 500k \
-bufsize 1500k -max_muxing_queue_size 1024 \
-c:a adpcm_yamaha -ar 44100 -ac 1 trailer.avi

These are approximate bitrate settings for video conversion. They may need to be adjusted, as they depend on the scene context. The main thing is not to exceed 3700-3750kbps total bitrate for IDE and 1700-1750kbps total bitrate for SCI-SPI SD card.