Mini vMac for Android

[zydeco]

As some of you may have heard on IRC, I started to port Mini vMac to Android.
Since I don't have an android device, I have only been able to test on the emulator, and I wanted to get some feedback before making a final release.
So if anyone has an Android device, feel free to try it and post your thoughts and suggestions.

To use it, you must create a folder named "minivmac" on the SD card, and put the Mac Plus ROM (named vMac.ROM) and disk images in it.
It uses the physical keyboard for keyboard input, and the touchscreen for mouse.
Pressing the Menu button brings up a menu to insert disk images, and the d-pad or trackpad can be used to scroll the screen.
It has no sound, and probably never will, since there's no appropriate API to play it.

Download: minivmac4android-r23.apk

To install the application, you must enable Unknown sources (in Settings/Applications), and then you can download and install it with the browser.

Also, here's a screenshot of it in the android emulator: http://yfrog.com/9emnvm1p
and the latest source code: http://vc.namedfork.net/nf/minivmac4android/

[penguin86]

What a good idea!! I'm going to try it!
Do you need help for development? (I'm not a developer, but I can do beta-testing or write a bit of documentation in italian...).
Thanks for the good gift!

Daniele

[Mac128]

So unlike the iPhone, this just installs on the Android? Sometimes Apple can really make me cranky.

Now you're gonna have to get busy on the iPad version, which should run just about native screen resolution as the Plus at double the pixel size.

[agg23]

So unlike the iPhone, this just installs on the Android?

There is a version for jailbroken iPhones.

Now you're gonna have to get busy on the iPad version, which should run just about native screen resolution as the Plus at double the pixel size.

I think this would be very cool!!! But someone will probably have to jailbreak the iPad for this to work though.

[Mac128]

There is a version for jailbroken iPhones.

I know that, but does the Android have to be jailbroken?

And, yes the iPad will most likely be jailbroken within hours of its release given its similarities to the iPhone.

[metaf]

no, your droid won't have to be jailbroken. you just have to enable app install from unknown sources, just like in the instructions.

[FatMagic]

This is fantastic! Can't wait to try it out. Thanks so much for creating this! Going to try it on my Droid

[FatMagic]

Ok I tried it out on the Motorola Droid, and it only shows up on half of the screen. So I can't even get to the right side of the screen to open the disk drive. Basically the screen doesn't seem to be formatted to the Droid screen. So it runs off the bottom, and chops of the right side.

Anyway to change this? I can take a picture of it if you want to see.

BTW I'm running System 7.5.3 on it, loads great. Just can't do much with it since the screen issue!

[FatMagic]

After some further testing, it went full screen now! Interesting! Not sure how it did, but it's full screen in the vertical sense. So I can use the DPAD to track. Cool!

Double clicking is quite hard...

[FatMagic]

Wow! This thing is working great on my Droid now. I was able to load up games on System 7 and everything. Only trick I'm trying to figure out is how to you scale the speed of Mini vMac Emulator. I know how to do it in Windows using CTRL+S... but not so on the Droid!

[zydeco]

I'll look into the screen issues when I get some time, I haven't touched the code in quite a while.
Also, there is no speed toggle yet (it runs at 1x), I'll add one in the future, I suppose 800MHz and faster phones can cope with the faster speeds.

[FatMagic]

Zydeco,

Thanks for the reply - here is what I found about the screen issue. I found that when I first opened vMac it would cause the screen to only show up on half of the screen. Then I would hit the "Home" button, drop back to my desktop, and then relaunch vMac - it would then go fullscreen and work perfectly. This happens everytime I launch it, so I just have to double-launch it and then it works full screen.

I don't mind the 1x speed actually, I'm glad it runs at that. I was worried it was running at a higher speed modifier. But adding a speed toggle would be great for the future!

And just again for reference, I'm running a Motorola Droid with Android 2.1 (rooted).

[FatMagic]

Zydeco,

Another point of feedback - I found I am unable to type numbers on the Motorola Droid. The problem is you have to press ALT+(key that has a number) to get a number to type on the Droid. But ALT in the vMac Emulator is equivalent to the Apple key. So I can't press ALT+(key) to get a number as it acts at the Apple key.

So could you find a way to use a different key-press function to enable numbers on the Motorola Droid?

[billynomates]

here is what I found about the screen issue. I found that when I first opened vMac it would cause the screen to only show up on half of the screen. Then I would hit the "Home" button, drop back to my desktop, and then relaunch vMac - it would then go fullscreen and work perfectly. This happens everytime I launch it, so I just have to double-launch it and then it works full screen

Same issue with the HTC Desire, running Android 2.1. The work-around that you've mentioned doesn't appear to work for me though. I can however use the trackball thingy to move the 'window on the screen' in the horizontal axis, so I can see all of it - the bottom of the screen appears to be missing though, and what there is appears stretched.

It's almost as if there's space for a keyboard on the screen, but it's not showing up.

What a great piece of software though! Thanks very much for putting it out there!

[Juror22]

Running Mini vMac on my rooted Nook SImple Touch - thanks for the port to Android.

The eInk display has quite a bit of ghosting with the app, but it is still quite distinct and easy to read. Since redraws on the device cause the screen to flash (other apps can be unusable because of this) it is more than acceptable in its current non-flashing form. I have used a paint program and MS word, with the app's keyboard. Not sure if it is useful, but it is VERY cool to run a system that old on a $99 eReader.

These were the issues that I encountered:
I had to use button savior to get the app menu (not the mac's menu) to display, so that I could load a disk. (this may be normal for the Android version of this app, not sure...)
I really wish there were arrow keys on the apps keyboard, so that I could play Tetris. The inclusion of the command and other keys is appreciated.
It is REALLY hard to click on menu items, particularly the apple menu - it would be nice to be able to place the mac display in other locations on the Android screen, since I have the real estate.

Overall, I am very happy with the functionality of this port.
Thanks again

- Juror22

[bittin]

Cool must try this on my Android Tablet and Phone later will you submit it to the Market when you are more done with it?

[Bunsen]

Album: http://imgur.com/a/kJRCR#0
------------------------------------------

Running Mini vMac on my rooted Nook SImple Touch

What a great idea! So I did it too

Here are some pictures of it on my nook, since I couldn't find any others on the net. That's the first thing I wanted to do when I got it last month

Both 7 and 7.5 work fine but I prefer 7 because the older B/W games and stuff don't crash as often (corrupting disk image) It's not fun starting over.

The scaling is a little too large, if the scaling was fixed it would be 10/10!!

I use StickyClick which keeps the menus open after one click. THANK YOU to the author of that. Shatterball is fun, kinda like a modern touch game

The ghosting is everywhere but it doesn't irritate me.

[agg23]

Does someone have a link to the apk? The link doesn't want to work anymore.

[FlyingToaster]

Mini vMac II (the paid version) is WAYYYY better. Scaling works normally on the nook and 256 colors!! (grays on the nook..duh) It is fantastic! Use/play just about any mac 68k application on the nook.

[sirwiggum]

Interesting!

Are there any Android phones that have a proper Nokia style flip down keyboard and a Sony Ericcson K800 style joystick control that could be used as a mouse?

[classic]

For $2, its the cheapest mac with the least hassle I have ever obtained!
I've got a 7 inch galaxy tab p1000 and a doo hickey that hooks up to my 42" tv. Quite cool seeing a Mac II in this way!
As above, I just wish there was a way to share a (bluetooth?) keyboard and mouse and also getting (mount .img?) files to
and from the android filing system. Accessing more than 8MB would be handy also. That would make the app 5 stars for me.

[agg23]

Just noticed you got linked on Gizmodo

Prepare for potential flood of people.

[Cory5412]

Sidenote for people joining us from gadget web sites: If you sign up for an account and want it activated, just send a quick email to admin@68kmla.org

Thank in advance and sorry for the inconvenience!

[FlyingToaster]

I don't think unregistered users can see the other post of mini vmac 2 so here it is again

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

FT, you're up to 8500 hits and climbing on this topic!

Can you do a "screen shot" to post running under this emulator?