Which Apple II Models does the ∀2 Analog work in?
Currently the ∀2 Analog has been fully tested in Apple II+ systems, and is expected to work in Apple IIe systems with testing to begin in January when the first shipment of production Rev.1 cards arrives.
Is the ∀2 Analog open source?
The ∀2 Analog is opensource hardware based on the excellent work of Mark Aikens. The RP2040 firmware, schematics, and BOM will be made available at launch before any hardware ships. The ∀2 PicoPal custom logic will be made available at a later date, without the PicoPal chip the ∀2 Analog is identical in function to Mark's design and able to run his RP2040 firmware without modification. A description of the ∀2 PicoPal functionality will be released alongside that hardware so others can develop there own custom firmware for the RP2040.
Why the long delays on the ∀2 Pivot and ∀2 Rocket?
The programmable logic and video encoders used in these products are in short supply, and subject to vendor restrictions on their use. I am currently working on redesigning with a different video encoder chip that is not subject to the strict licensing requirements of the HDMI encoder used during development. The ∀2 Rocket hardware is a complex system, implementing an entire Apple IIe system on a chip, and has to synchronize access between the Apple II bus, 65C02, and Z80. Individual parts of the design have been proven in testing on surrogate hardware. Once the restrictions on the FPGA & video encoder are out of the way, progress can continue.
What is the ∀2 PicoPal?
Simply put, the ∀2 PicoPal handles the slot selection logic for the three memory windows associated with an Apple II slot. It automatically enables and disables the Extended ROM window in compliance with Apple's Technote recommendations, and provides a single unified select line to the RP2040 or other card logic.
But you're stuffing a multi-core cpu in a 45 year old computer!
That wasn't a question. Yes we are taking advantage of modern inexpensive components to bring your 8-bit micro kicking and screaming into the (slightly-more) modern age. If you insist on only having one processor in your Apple II, you might as well rip out your vintage 80 column card (likely contains an 8051 microcontroller), any aftermarket keyboard encoders, print buffers, and many other addons that give your Apple II extra brains. We aren't making you buy our products. If you just came here to complain, please, get off my lawn.