Change CEC-I to Enhanced Apple //e
Posted on 20 Jan , 2022 by kboohk with 0 Comment
This post is going to introduce how the CEC-I modified to Enhanced Apple //e. We know that CEC-I is actually an Apple //e clone. What modifications required?Although, CEC-I is an Apple //e clone, there still some differences in the circuitary. It built-in some programs like Chinese system and logo language but other than that CEC-I can only work as an Apple ii+. The main problem is that it does not include an auxiliary slot for 64K RAM expansion. Unfortunately, without the slot for memory expansion, CEC-I cannot run 80 columns and DHGR programs. These pictures and the PDF link shown the steps of the modifications.
Among the steps, the main effort is to design a 64K memory board which works like the AIIE 80 col/64K memory expansion card. Here is the board.
Finally, the performace after such modifications.
https://youtu.be/4RX2TiYJ47w
Apple ][+ emulator on ESP8288
Posted on 20 Jan , 2022 by kboohk with 0 Comment
There are many projects related to ESP8266. However, no working Apple 2 emulator that actually run Apple 2 games. I decided to build one myself. I started this project last year.Depends on the choice of display and keyboard, the hardware of Apple 2 emulator can be very simple. The most simplest option is video out and PS2 keyboard. The circuit only consist of a few pieces of resistors and capacitors.
When considered the availiabily and flexibility, I prefer USB for the keyborad interface.
The first design was video out and USB keyboard and the second version used LCD instead of video out.
Recently, I redesign the PCB so that it suitable for two LCD size.
Features:
1. 65C02 CPU
2. 64K Ram
3. nib, dsk,po floppy disk images
4. hdv, 2mg HDD images
5. USB keyboard
6. build-in speaker
7. simple joypad emulation use keyboard
8. Lithum Battery operated.
Here shows the demostration:
[embed]https://youtu.be/9OMlajsbURs[/embed]
wDrive 3.5" woz Support
Posted on 20 Jan , 2022 by kboohk with 0 Comment
It was more than a year since the last official firmware release! I am happy to announce that the new firmware version 2.0b00 of wDrive support 3.5" woz.
Many people have preserved their 3.5" disks and shared their 3.5"a2r/ woz images. There are demands for 3.5" woz images support in disk emulator. After a few months work done, finally, wDrive successfully emulate 3.5" drive and supports 3.5" woz images. Currently, it only handle READ.
However, NOT all wDrive able to support this feature. wDrive was designed for 5.25" floppy emulation. The 3.5" drive emulation was not considered in the first design. In 3rd quarter of 2019, two more signal lines were added for future use. For those PCB version lower than 1.4, the two signals "SEL" and "EN35" were absent. These two signals were used by Apple 3.5" drive. In short, all OLED version and some of LCD version after end of 2019 can support 3.5" woz!
Changes in version 2.0b00
1. add 3.5" woz support (READ).
2. 800K .po images are boot using smartport. No need to rename to hdv.
3. minor bug fixs and improvements
Download: wDrive firmware version 2.0b00