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add IOSx0, IOSx1 info
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The "IOS number" is best thought of as a "Major" version number for the firmware, and probably corresponds to a specific version of Nintendo's (proprietary) SDK -- for example, the version of the SDK used to compile Zelda: Twilight Princess probably was tailored to run on IOS9.
The "IOS number" is best thought of as a "Major" version number for the firmware, and probably corresponds to a specific version of Nintendo's (proprietary) SDK -- for example, the version of the SDK used to compile Zelda: Twilight Princess probably was tailored to run on IOS9.
+In general, IOSx0 is used for the system menu (IOS20, IOS30, IOS50, IOS60). IOSx1 seems to be used for Nintendo channels (e.g. IOS31, IOS51, IOS61).
+Each IOS has a 16-bit "version number" in its TMD; this version number is seen in decimal form in the filenames of IOS WADs on update partition (e.g. "IOS9-v516.wad" for version 516 (decimal)). Converted to hex, that 516 becomes 0x0204, and can be read as "2.4" -- IOS9, version 2.4.
Each IOS has a 16-bit "version number" in its TMD; this version number is seen in decimal form in the filenames of IOS WADs on update partition (e.g. "IOS9-v516.wad" for version 516 (decimal)). Converted to hex, that 516 becomes 0x0204, and can be read as "2.4" -- IOS9, version 2.4.
As a rule, an existing IOS will never have new features added to it, to protect binary compatibility. This means that any updates for existing IOSes are only meant to fix bugs -- generally, security bugs.
As a rule, an existing IOS will never have new features added to it, to protect binary compatibility. This means that any updates for existing IOSes are only meant to fix bugs -- generally, security bugs.
−As of late 2008, Nintendo has been replacing some versions of IOS with "stubs" -- small IOSes that do not seem to be functional. This is most likely an attempt to prevent vulnerable versions of IOS from being installed (see e.g. IOS254).
+As of late 2008, Nintendo has been replacing some versions of IOS with "stubs" -- small IOSes that do not seem to be functional. This is most likely an attempt to prevent normally-unused IOS slots from being used (?) (IOS3, IOS4, IOS16, IOS254) or to prevent downgrading the system menu by disabling the IOS used by those menus (e.g. IOS10, IOS20, IOS30, IOS40, IOS50).
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