Beta testers wanted for Spectaculator for iOS
Hi all,
Two Spectaculators in two days eh? Whatever next ;-)
Yes, you read it right, I've finished Spectaculator for iOS to the point where it's almost ready for beta testing.
It requires iOS4 so you need a device capable of running this (iPod touch 2nd gen, iPhone 3G or better). An iPad will do as well.
If you fancy giving it a spin, drop me a PM with some contact details and let me know what device you can test it on.
You don't need a jailbroken device. Infact, I'd rather you didn't test on a jailbroken device ;-)
Don't worry if you don't here from me immediately as I'll only be in touch once I'm happy with how it runs on my own devices.
I'll probably upload some videos/screenshots at some point.
It's pretty good - I'm well pleased with it :)
Cheers,
Jon.
Two Spectaculators in two days eh? Whatever next ;-)
Yes, you read it right, I've finished Spectaculator for iOS to the point where it's almost ready for beta testing.
It requires iOS4 so you need a device capable of running this (iPod touch 2nd gen, iPhone 3G or better). An iPad will do as well.
If you fancy giving it a spin, drop me a PM with some contact details and let me know what device you can test it on.
You don't need a jailbroken device. Infact, I'd rather you didn't test on a jailbroken device ;-)
Don't worry if you don't here from me immediately as I'll only be in touch once I'm happy with how it runs on my own devices.
I'll probably upload some videos/screenshots at some point.
It's pretty good - I'm well pleased with it :)
Cheers,
Jon.
Post edited by Jon Needle on
Comments
Others may need to help out on this occasion.
Any plans for new hardware emulation support on the Windows version? (ULA Plus, ZXC3) ;-)
Edit: Doh! Sorry just picked up your other post!
Andy
Yes I have a few things in mind, although not ULA Plus for the moment. I've said in the past I'm only interested in emulating real hardware.
(Once I can get hold of a working part to fit to one of my Spectrums I'll look at it then).
Jon.
Link to the full sized video is here.
I'll probably post an update on spectaculator.com later on tonight with more information about the emulator.
I've not send out any beta versions yet as I'm still waiting for final graphics and I want to get those in first.
Thanks to everyone who PM'd me for being patient ;-)
Jon.
Bytes:Chuntey - Spectrum tech blog.
ones where you get the 1x and 2x zooms ? It'd be nice to see like a tape browser while loading. Oooh, a keyboard helper with the relevant layout/keyboard shown.
Unless you also release Spectaculator IOS HD, ppl seem to like adding HD to the iPad releases.
Looking good though, let's hope Apple approve it, since they didn't allow the C64 emulator :-(
Curiously how do you get images onto the device, or do they load from a remote server
or even WoS, or looks as say your PC on the wireless network ?
I'm sure all will be revealed soon enough.
Eg on mine under the Apps category for my ipod, at the bottom theres a section called 'File Sharing'.
I've got a CBR reader so this is where i upload .cbr files to use with it, or .pdf files to use with Kindle etc.
Presume the emulator will allow you to chuck any files you want that way. Sounds good but i hope Apple dont say no to it (Hence i would love to have a beta !)
But anyway, roll on Spectaculator iOS! Thanks for the update Jon. :)
I was wondering how the C64 emulator was allowed and it seems they had to remove access to BASIC. Not sure why that is ?
Also, you can't use your own games on the C64 emulator, only apporved ones via license ?, which are Free or you pay for. What happens to Spectaculator in that respect ? Will they stipulate a similar thing to allow it ?
Perhaps the likes of Codies would allow the purchase of denied games, and see how viable they actually are, if at all ?
I could go on, but don't want to derail this thread about Spectaculator iOS, which I am genuinely thrilled about, and hope to get the chance to beta test.
I think it's more like:
Jon.
It's only native to the iPhone and iPod Touch at the moment.
It's not really worth me doing anymore development until Apple have had a look at it. It's taken 6 months to get this far ;-)
If all goes well, there will be an iPad version of it as well.
No tape browser (at least not to start with). You'll be surprised how little that matters.
The keyboard isn't shown in the video - but there is one. Think iPhone/iPod/iPad keyboard in the style of a rubber Speccy and you'll be very close.
There are no compromises to the emulation either. The core is identical to the Windows' version (as is the sound output). No TV effects yet though ;-)
Jon.
Heavens above, that sounds most splendid indeed! :)
12345
Let's get one point oh released first :)
Jon.
Sounds like the Commodore 64 emulator developer must have pushed and pushed and finally got them to see sense as previously they would not permit any kind of product that would permit the execution of none apple approved code on an iOS device.
Anyway, if you'd like me to cast my eyes over the app from a developers viewpoint I'd be more than happy to.
Rich
I know they can be inconsistent though... it depends on who you get reviewing your app submission!
Well in our case it was absolutely true. We are well aware of the list you mention which covers general case stuff, we have submitted a large number of applications which all passed first time. Unfortunately some of the items we develop do not fall under what you would class as a regular app - we directly asked the question of our account manager at Apple before we progressed too far into development who responded along the lines of "you'll just have to submit and find out" which was not very helpful and when submitted we failed because of the very reason we queried.
I just wanted to point out that Apple do have some guidelines available, which is a good place to start - even though, as in your experience, they don't cover everything.
In hindsight, I wonder if this is what prompted the ZXGamer fiasco... back when it wasn't clear whether Apple would accept emulators into the App Store, you wouldn't really want to develop an entire emulator only to find out that the answer is no. Submitting a quick-and-nasty port of JSSpeccy may well have just been that author's way of testing the waters before embarking on writing a proper emulator.
Obviously, if you're going to do that, plagiarising someone else's code and then lying about it when confronted is not the way to go about it...
I guess apple should ideally run a concept approval process similar to the likes of Sony or Microsoft for their console platforms which would not only give clarification of potential issues early in the development process but would also allow them to prevent too many similar products being developed.
The problems from Apples point of view is that with the massive quantity of apps being developed (at relatively low revenue generation) it would require significant investment in people to manage so it would never happen.
I'm currently working on a little iOS project myself which is related to spectrum emulation (albeit not an emulator itself) and my intention is to take my current working prototype, tidy up and submit it (with no intention of actually releasing the first submission if approved) before I do much more work on it to see if they have any issues with it. I'm not expecting any - but once bitten twice shy...
I guess we should probably get back on thread topic now I guess :-)
be golden
I've got used to it. Not keen on Chuckie Egg with the onscreen keys but with the onscreen joystick (Talking about that Elite app) i've got used to it and can play it pretty well now