Thread

Mini vMac for Android

68kMLA Troubleshooting 44 posts Nov 2, 2009 to Jan 29, 2013

#1 Mon, 2 Nov 2009 - 10:19 68kMLA

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/

#2 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 - 22:14 68kMLA

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

#3 Sun, 7 Feb 2010 - 03:51 68kMLA

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

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.

#4 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 - 16:27 68kMLA

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!!! 8-o But someone will probably have to jailbreak the iPad for this to work though.

#5 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 - 04:50 68kMLA

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.

#6 Sun, 23 May 2010 - 22:04 68kMLA

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

#7 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 - 15:45 68kMLA

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

#8 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 - 16:33 68kMLA

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!

#9 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 - 18:30 68kMLA

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...

#10 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 - 22:28 68kMLA

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!

#11 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 - 09:23 68kMLA

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.

#12 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 - 13:13 68kMLA

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).

#13 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 - 21:15 68kMLA

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?

#14 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 - 14:41 68kMLA

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!

#15 Mon, 2 Jan 2012 - 15:00 68kMLA

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 :beige:

- Juror22

#16 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 - 17:03 68kMLA

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?

#17 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 - 01:55 68kMLA

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 :lol:

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 8-o 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.

#18 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 - 00:55 68kMLA

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

#19 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 - 20:43 68kMLA

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.

#20 Wed, 16 May 2012 - 11:30 68kMLA

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?

#21 Wed, 16 May 2012 - 12:39 68kMLA

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.

#22 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 - 00:53 68kMLA

Just noticed you got linked on Gizmodo

Prepare for potential flood of people.

#23 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 - 02:25 68kMLA

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!

#24 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 - 13:15 68kMLA

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

#25 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 - 19:48 68kMLA

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

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

#26 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 - 21:51 68kMLA

Here is a screenshot taken from within the OS. It's loaded with colors!

#27 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 - 17:20 68kMLA

Wow! So this emulation of a B&W Mac/ROM combo(?) runs in COLOR!!! 8-o

What does the Monitors & Sound Control Panel (if any) window look like? What are the options listed?

Looking at that tiny screenshot on my 1600 x 1200 display really brings back memories of doing graphic design and sign layout through the SE "periscope."

p.s. 1,500 more hits since yesterday!

#28 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 - 20:56 68kMLA

Here it is without the NoRefresh app in 256 colors

Black and White mode still without NoRefresh

Black and White mode with the NoRefresh app enabled

Another 256 color mode without NoRefresh enabled

And 256 colors with NoRefresh enabled

I tried to get Myst running on it but Mini vMac II wouldn't mount the ISO..well it did but the mac doesn't recognize it and wants to initialize it (Which it does just fine but that doesn't help me play Myst). It's not the only disk image to do that, a few other games have done that. I copied the contents of Myst onto another disk image but it wants the real cd, not just some files. Is there a program that can mount ISOs in 7.5? On a 68020? I think Toast requires a 68030 and more than 8mb ram..

This thing would be great with a 68030 and the ability to use Ram Doubler...and Mac OS 8

*Edit- The NoRefresh app has contrast settings. When it is activated, two buttons -+ pop up in the middle of the screen for several seconds allowing you to adjust the contrast to get the best picture of whatever's running. This app has settings to automatically launch alongside a specified application. It can be turned on and off with a sequence of taps too.

#29 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 - 01:44 68kMLA

Have you tried this utility:

http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/virtual-dvd-romcd-utility

#30 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 - 02:41 68kMLA

Have you tried this utility:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/virtual-dvd-romcd-utility

Thanks for telling me about this. It works like magic! ;D

Myst -

More pictures- http://imgur.com/a/KbjHU#0

I didn't play it much, just enough to test it. It's really cool just tapping where you want to go instead of clicking.

My junk camera phone doesn't give it justice. It looks really good and I don't need to use the NoRefresh app.

What next.... }

#31 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 - 15:01 68kMLA

Thanks for telling me about this. It works like magic! ;D

No trouble at all.

Its a very handy utility to have installed.

I use it on macs where the drive/s size is not an issue.

Saves me from having to reach for, load and unload optical media

Happy to see its found some use in minivmac also!

Now if I could just mount a mac formatted image in android..

#32 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 - 20:05 68kMLA

Now if I could just mount a mac formatted image in android..

#33 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 - 00:19 68kMLA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE34rzY0cPE

Mediocre Demonstration

#34 Wed, 11 Jul 2012 - 05:38 68kMLA

its a neat setup, but that e-ink display is driving me NUTS, i would have thrown that thing through the window already. hehe.

ive noticed the emulator runs kind of sluggish though in your video.

#35 Sun, 15 Jul 2012 - 13:28 68kMLA

You've been reddited. Prepare for massive bandwidth thrashing.

#36 Sun, 15 Jul 2012 - 17:30 68kMLA

I wanted to find out WTHeck a reddit was and was very much surprised:

http://successfulsoftware.net/2007/08/21/digg-vs-reddit-vs-slashdot-vs-stumbleupon-whos-the-daddy/

I don't do any kind of social networking, preferring to remain anonymous/unobtanium to Google and the rest of the WWW, so I was very much surprised to see how much it has changed the slashdot-style Standing-O of the denizens of the web.

Hrmmm . . .

#37 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 - 22:46 68kMLA

Has anyone tried mini Vmac on the new Nexus 7? For $200, it seems like a deal, would be awesome if it could emulate a 68k mac as well.

#38 Fri, 3 Aug 2012 - 17:54 68kMLA

Hey folks!

Just wanted to chime in about Mini vMac II for the Nexus 7! It works REALLY well, with some minor hiccups; the screen is off center and the mouse can be fidgety. It runs in full color, with sound, VERY fast.

I've had no problem running just about anything from the emulated machine, within reason. My .dsk image is running 7.5.5, and I'm using a Mac II rom. I use it to arrange .dsk images to be written to floppy and used on my real PPC. I love this App, it's awesome to have a Mac on the go, I just hope that the developer adds more features.

I wish also that there was SheepShaver or Basilisk on Android so I could do more work pertaining to my PPC, Mini vMac is powerful but there's only so much a 68k mac can do, especially emulated in this way. Still awesome to play games and whatnot though!

As for the Nexus 7, its my opinion that you buy the device so long as your expectations match that of a budget tablet; there are build and design issues that are causing some people headaches. The biggest problem seems to be the right side of the screen raising slightly out of the bezel edge, and mine does this though minimally. I really like mine though, and tethered to a phone its perfect for the cottage.

#39 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 - 23:48 68kMLA

Well, this thread is dead in the water for some time...

I only recently came across an Android cell phone and found this: http://dolfin.github.com/minivmac4android/

Monochrome is running perfectly including sound and keyboard.

Could someone please review the needed steps to run MiniVMac in color for me?

I suppose its either sound or color, as the ASC emulation for MiniVMac/Macintosh_II is still under construction.

#40 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 - 00:07 68kMLA

I purchased MinivMac II from the android store and used a Mac II ROM file. I don't think the free version has color, is that the one you were trying to use?

#41 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 - 11:00 68kMLA

Thanks for the pointer, sometimes I´m too blind to see.

I had MiniVMac II running on other hosts in the past.

$2 for Gil Osher´s port is really a bargain. How do you read "Sound (Partially working)" at Google Play?

My Galaxy 5´s screen is very small, so its barely usable for emulation unfortunately.

Either screen too small or fingers too big, I can hardly manage to double click anything.

Off topic: Do you know whether MiniVMac has been ported to Motomagx/Java as well?

#42 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 - 13:25 68kMLA

I've never considered jailbreaking any one of my iOS devices. I've just never seen the draw. But now I'm suddenly itching to see what the whole jailbreakng thing is all about. If it means I can get mini vMac running on my "retired" gen 1 iPad? I may have to consider it. I mean, for Dark Castle alone!

#43 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 - 20:17 68kMLA

Many people are drawn to jailbreaking so they can steal apps. The rest of us usually want more control over our device or apps not available via the app store.

#44 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 - 22:24 68kMLA

I don´t know nothing about iOS, but I think its vital to have root permissions for every device you got.

"Jailbreaking" sounds so pathetically. There must be the choice to do with your pad or phone whatever you want, regardless whether the manufacturer likes that or not.

I needed root permission only to remove some crap apps on my Galaxy5.

MiniVMac does not need root permissions on Android though.