ZX81

Name: ZX81
Rating: 4.9 (80 reviews)
Author: Kevin Palser

Sinclair ZX80 / ZX81 & TS1000

Free · Designed for iPad

80 Ratings
Ages

9+
Years
Category

Simulation
Developer

Kevin Palser
Language

EN
+ 10 More
Size

62
MB

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.

Ratings & Reviews

4.9

out of 5

80 Ratings

Hits it out of the park
11/11/2018

tournesol67
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.
Hits it out of the park
11/11/2018

tournesol67

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 11/12/2018
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
02/28/2022

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.
Twangs the nostalgia string
02/28/2022

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 03/02/2022
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!!
08/20/2020

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.
Excellent app!!
08/20/2020

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 08/23/2020
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
05/30/2019

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).
zx 81 emulator
05/30/2019

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 09/22/2018
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).

Enables ZX81/ZX80 program file loading (iOS/iPadOS 14+).

Version 1.13.5

04/06/2024

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

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