Oh boy - more than a year since the last blog post - it's as if nothing has been happening around here, but that couldn't be further from the truth! We have multiple projects that we are working on - some that are a little hush hush, others not so much.

At the beginning of 2025 we launched Xdrive - offering easy mass storage for the Apple II via block device emulation. Xdrive allows you to mount up to 8 images from USB or micro SD card, and can be installed in Apple II, II+, IIe and IIGS.

Next in this line-up is Xdrive2c, bringing Xdrive functionality to the Apple IIc and IIc+. We have several beta testers trialing the prototype hardware, and we are hoping to be able to offer that for sale shortly. This was a pretty fun design to do as it includes an external 3D printed "sidecar" for the USB socket and microSD card slot. This attaches to the internal board via a flat flex cable (FFC), and the prototypes were 3D printed in nylon using JLC3DP's SLS printing process. The "sidecar" is designed to fit in the cutout underneath the right side of the keyboard on an Apple IIc - no case modifications are required. Everything screws on using the factory case screw positions and its 100% reversible. The Xdrive2c internal PCB connects to the CPU socket via a short ribbon cable, and the original CPU is installed in a socket on the Xdrive2c PCB.

Jonathan Adar kindly sent me some motherboards for testing during development, but neither had the internal PSU's so I created this picoATX adapter board for the IIc, and something similar for the IIc+

The IIc version allows you to use the stock external brick PSU (or a USB-C replacement one) and the stock power switch. There is a 3D printed bracket that allows you to screw it down, with the bracket locating over the stock PSU rear bosses. The PCB cutout provides clearance for the components on the underside of the picoATX PSU board, allowing it to sit flat.

Next up fluX was a bit of fun that started out as an April 1st prank, but with real hardware. In fact we even sold a few!

And we won Apple II Forever awards at KansasFest 2025! Quite an honour.

Then there is logiX - a spinoff of another project that I'm working on. I created this logic capture/analyser of sorts to help with debugging of that one. This is RP2350 based, and we may well be using this platform for other projects in the future!

And we have fleXrom coming - a 9316/2716 switchable ROM replacement that lets you select one of 64 pre-programmed ROM images by dialing it up on the DIP switch. The final ROM list is still to be determined, but of course all the Apple II+ stock D0-F8 ROM's will be included, along with the many third party ones that were available. All the ROMX fonts will be included too - for Rev 7 motherboards that support a 2716 character ROM. If you just need a single ROM to repair a board, this could be an option. If multiple are required, them ROMX may make more sense.

There is a good chance there will be other versions of fleXrom in future to support larger ROM sizes for the Apple IIe, IIc, etc..

2026 should be pretty interesting with our intended product releases and development work. Happy holidays everyone, and thank you all for your support in 2025!