Welcome to a taste of early 1980s home computing.
This app focuses on the Sinclair ZX81 experience and is loaded with example software.
Background:
In 1980 the British company Science of Cambridge (later renamed Sinclair Research) released the Sinclair ZX80 home computer. The computer was developed with another technology company, Nine Tiles, and manufactured in a Timex Corporation factory in Dundee, Scotland. Followed in March 1981 by the even more popular successor, the Sinclair ZX81, both models had a profound impact on home and hobbyist computing in the UK and many other countries. Timex Corporation and Sinclair Research continued their joint venture and released the Timex Sinclair 1000 (TS1000) and 1500 (TS1500) variants of the ZX81 for the US market in July 1982 and July 1983 respectively.
Meanwhile, another iconic British home computer, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, was under development and hit the market in April 1982... but that's another story.
Special thanks to Nine Tiles for granting permission to include the ROM code, to which they retain the intellectual property rights after all these years.
Additionally, many thanks to all the developers of the loaded ZX81 software who have all granted permission to include their titles in the app. We hope this list of software will continue to grow in future updates.
I had a ZX81 as a teenager and was eagerly awaiting an iOS emulator. This one hits it out of the park. The emulation is perfect and includes support for hires graphics and sound extensions. As other reviewers wrote, the user interface actually improves the usability of the original machine. Just as important, the app developer seems to have brought together the community of old ZX81 software developers who have contributed (and continue to contribute) a good number of classic programs from the good old days. Hats off to the developer. This is a true labor of love and it keeps getting better!
Developer Response
Thank you for sparing the time to write such a warm review! And hats off to the ZX81 community for their continued interest and support for this app.
Twangs the nostalgia string
hornGuy
Motivates me to buy and install and replace the faulty keyboard on my old ZX81, but then I’d also have to find some kind of RF signal solution… this app may save me a lot of time and money… good stuff
Developer Response
Thanks for the review! Sounds like you found some practical value from the app. If you do get your ZX81 working again then piping in the save sound output and the Player tab option in the Software section may prove useful. Enjoy.
Excellent app!!
jjmazz04
I still have my Timex Sinclair 1000. I love having this app on my iPad and iPhone. It works wonderfully. My hats off to you!! And please keep the new software coming. Lots of great stuff already out there.
Developer Response
Thank you for the review. More programs will be added subject to permission from the intellectual property holders. It is particularly challenging to confirm who even holds the rights for much of the popular software from back in the day. And some of the modern day retro developers have stated that their programs are not to be included for various motives. We shall keep trying to expand the included programs.
zx 81 emulator
atari400
Love this emulator. Next best thing to having an actual Sinclair machine. In someways better. Tons of software on hand. The author keeps updating and improving. Excellent work.
Developer Response
Thank you for the positive review! In addition to new features, yet more software will continue to be added with each new release (plus at some point a search control to filter its ever growing list of programs).
This is update is a large internal refactor to modernize the app codebase and improve the program loading functionality. Other changes include:
• improvements to the sound generation.
• import option for snapshots from the EightOne app.
• fix when loading programs saved in FAST mode (thank you Simon Goodwin for reporting the problem).
• added games by David Spinet & Don Crawford: Robotack 2024 & Zoust.
Version 2.0.0
The developer, Kevin Palser, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
Kevin Palser
Size
65.6 MB
Category
Simulation
Compatibility
Requires iOS 15.0 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 15.0 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 15.0 or later.
iPod touch Requires iOS 15.0 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
