The Apple II emulation scene just got three major updates

Three major Apple II emulation projects received updates this week, including a new beta for AppleWin, an alpha build of Apple II DeskTop, and a macOS MAME interface refresh.

I love the Apple II. I grew up with an Apple IIGS, and I still think the community around this platform might be the best in all of retro computing. Between the constant stream of new hardware gadgets, the annual KansasFest gatherings, new homebrew games, and active emulator development, it is just an amazing time to be an Apple II fan. Getting three simultaneous software updates in 2026 proves the scene isn't slowing down.

AppleWin adds 13-sector firmware support

Tom Charlesworth and his team have released version 1.31.0.3 beta of AppleWin, the premier Windows emulator for the Apple II line. This is the second beta to include a completely reworked configuration graphical interface. The update renames several classic hardware options in the menus. This makes it easier to configure virtual Disk II drives, RamWorks III memory expansion, and the Z80 SoftCard used for running CP/M software.

The new beta also adds an option for 13-sector firmware on the Disk II controller. This is a highly specific addition that helps run very early Apple II software released before the 16-sector standard took over in 1980. Audio enthusiasts get some attention too. The update adds new socket configuration options for the SSI263 speech synthesis chips on virtual Mockingboard and Phasor cards. The Mockingboard was the primary way to get high-quality sound and speech out of an Apple II back in the day, powering the audio in games like Ultima IV and Skyfox. You can also now toggle the No-Slot Clock directly from the advanced settings page, and configure Saturn RAM cards anywhere from 16K to 128K.

Joshua Bell fixes the scientific calculator

Developer Joshua Bell has pushed out version 1.6 alpha 2 of Apple II DeskTop. Originally known as MouseDesk, this software provides a full graphical user interface for 8-bit Apple II computers. It brings a Macintosh-like experience to machines that usually rely on a command-line prompt. Version 1.2 of MouseDesk was actually bundled with the Apple IIGS system software in 1986 before the true GS/OS finder was ready.

This alpha release focuses heavily on bug fixes and performance tweaks. The startup sequence has been adjusted so desktop icons appear faster when booting. Bell also fixed a bug in the scientific calculator desk accessory where calculating the arc sine or arc cosine of 1 or -1 would fail. The file picker can now properly handle directories containing more than 127 files. The single high-resolution image preview tool has better rendering quality. The built-in Lights Out desk accessory even got keyboard support, letting you toggle the lights using the A through Y keys instead of relying purely on a mouse.

Ample hits release number 80

Mac users who want to emulate the Apple II through MAME have a new version of Ample to download. Ample is a frontend that wraps MAME's complex command-line options into a native macOS interface. Emulating an Apple II in MAME usually requires stringing together long commands to specify exact slot configurations and peripheral cards. Ample turns that process into a series of simple dropdown menus.

The new 0.287 release syncs the frontend with the latest MAME 0.287 emulation core. This is the 80th release of the Ample interface. The update includes one additional ROM for the frontend itself. Anyone upgrading needs to re-download their Apple II related ROMs, because the underlying MAME 0.286 update previously changed how those files are structured.