 | |
| Original author(s) |
|
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | 3QD Developments |
| Initial release | 2002 |
| Operating system | RISC OS |
| Platform | ARM architecture |
| Licence | Proprietary commercial software |
| Website | www |
VirtualAcorn is the brand name of several commercial emulators of Acorn Computers computer hardware platforms. [1]
VirtualAcorn is developed by Graeme Barnes [2] and Aaron Timbrell. [3] It is a commercial version of the freeware emulator Red Squirrel, developed by Barnes. [2] [4] In 2004, supply of the software was moved to Timbrell's company 3QD Developments. [4]
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
|---|---|
| Type | Emulator |
| License | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.riscos.com/ |
Virtual A5000 is an emulator of Acorn Computers A5000 computer. It included a copy of RISC OS 3.11. Virtual A5000 was released at BETT 2002 [5] and stopped shipping in 2004. [6]
It is now commercially available again from riscos.com [7] with the latest version dated 2014.
 Windows XP running VirtualRPC, which is in turn running a ZX Spectrum emulator | |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, macOS |
|---|---|
| Type | Emulator |
| License | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.virtualacorn.co.uk/ |
VirtualRPC is an emulator of Acorn Computers' Risc PC computer.
Initially VirtualRPC was only available bundled with the MicroDigital Alpha range of PC laptops, [8] [2] but was later made available as a standalone product for sale. [9] In 2003, the developers reached an agreement with RISCOS Ltd to license its OS. [10]
VirtualRPC comes in four versions, with support for emulating ARM7 or ARM7 and StrongARM [11] each coming with either RISC OS 4.02 or RISC OS Adjust 4.39. [6]
Initially VirtualRPC was included on the MicroDigital Alpha range of PC laptops, and it has also been shipped by Advantage Six on the A5 series [12] and by R-Comp in their RISCube/SpaceCube/RiscBook range. [13]
Acorn Computers Ltd. was a British computer company established in Cambridge, England, in 1978. The company produced a number of computers which were especially popular in the UK, including the Acorn Electron and the Acorn Archimedes. Acorn's BBC Micro computer dominated the UK educational computer market during the 1980s.
The Risc PC is Acorn Computers's RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. The Acorn PC card and software allows PC compatible software to be run.
Acorn Archimedes is a family of personal computers designed by Acorn Computers of Cambridge, England. The systems are based on Acorn's own ARM architecture processors and the proprietary operating systems Arthur and RISC OS. The first models were introduced in 1987, and systems in the Archimedes family were sold until the mid-1990s.
RISC OS is a computer operating system originally designed by Acorn Computers Ltd in Cambridge, England. First released in 1987, it was designed to run on the ARM chipset, which Acorn had designed concurrently for use in its new line of Archimedes personal computers. RISC OS takes its name from the reduced instruction set computer (RISC) architecture it supports.
The Iyonix PC was an Acorn-clone personal computer sold by Castle Technology and Iyonix Ltd between 2002 and 2008. According to news site Slashdot, it was the first personal computer to use Intel's XScale processor. It ran RISC OS 5.
Econet was Acorn Computers's low-cost local area network system, intended for use by schools and small businesses. It was widely used in those areas, and was supported by a large number of different computer and server systems produced both by Acorn and by other companies.
Castle Technology Limited, named after Framlingham Castle, was a British computer company based in Cambridge, England. It began as a producer of ARM computers and manufactured the Acorn-branded range of desktop computers that run RISC OS.
The A9home was a niche small-form-factor desktop computer running RISC OS Adjust32. It was officially unveiled at the 2005 Wakefield Show, and is the second commercial ARM-based RISC OS computer to run a 32-bit version of RISC OS. When the Iyonix PC was withdrawn from sale, the A9home remained the only hardware to be manufactured specifically for the RISC OS marketplace.
The Fourth Dimension (4D) was a major video game publisher for the BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Acorn Archimedes and RiscPC between 1989 and 1998. Previously, The Fourth Dimension had been known as Impact Software, which specialised mainly in BBC Micro games. Some of 4D's staff had worked for Superior Software. Notable release included Cyber Chess, Stunt Racer 2000, Galactic Dan and Chocks Away.
ARM Instruction Set Simulator, also known as ARMulator, is one of the software development tools provided by the development systems business unit of ARM Limited to all users of ARM-based chips. It owes its heritage to the early development of the instruction set by Sophie Wilson. Part of this heritage is still visible in the provision of a Tube BBC Micro model in ARMulator.
Acorn Computers Ltd was a British computer company based in Nottingham, England in the United Kingdom between 2006 and 2009. It licensed, in early 2006, the dormant Acorn Computers trademark from French company Aristide & Co Antiquaire De Marques. This company sold IBM PC compatible computers and had no connection to ARM, a spin-off from the original Acorn Computers.
The A7000 and A7000+ were Acorn Computers' entry level computers based somewhat on the Risc PC architecture.
RISCOS Ltd. was a limited company engaged in computer software and IT consulting. It licensed the rights to continue the development of RISC OS 4 and to distribute it for desktop machines from Element 14 and subsequently Pace Micro Technology. Company founders include developers who formerly worked within Acorn's dealership network. It was established as a nonprofit company. On or before 4 March 2013 3QD Developments acquired RISCOS Ltd's flavour of RISC OS. RISCOS Ltd was dissolved on 14 May 2013.
Drobe was a computing news web site with a focus on the RISC OS operating system. Its archived material was retained online, curated by editor Chris Williams until late 2020.
The Icon Bar is a computing and technology website with a focus on the RISC OS computer operating system.
NCOS is the graphical user interface-based operating system developed for use in Oracle Corporation's Network Computers, which are discontinued. It was adapted by Acorn Computers from its own RISC OS, which was originally developed for their range of Archimedes desktop computers. It shares with RISC OS the same 4 MB ROM size and suitability for use with TV displays.
RISC OS, the computer operating system developed by Acorn Computers for their ARM-based Acorn Archimedes range, was originally released in 1987 as Arthur 0.20, and soon followed by Arthur 0.30, and Arthur 1.20. The next version, Arthur 2, became RISC OS 2 and was completed and made available in April 1989. RISC OS 3 was released with the very earliest version of the A5000 in 1991 and contained a series of new features. By 1996 RISC OS had been shipped on over 500,000 systems.
The MicroDigital Omega was a home computer developed and sold in the early 2000s by MicroDigital. It runs the RISC OS operating system.
In computing, Aemulor is an emulator of the earlier 26-bit addressing-mode ARM microprocessors. It runs on ARM processors under 32-bit addressing-mode versions of RISC OS. It was written by Adrian Lees and released in 2003. An enhanced version is available under the name Aemulor Pro.
Impression is a desktop publishing application for RISC OS systems. It was developed by Computer Concepts and initially made available in pre-release form during 1989, having been demonstrated in February 1989 at the Which? Computer Show and subsequently announced as being available from June 1989. The "completed" version was eventually delivered on 18th January 1990.
Back in May 2003, VirtualRiscPC first appeared in the MicroDigital Alpha range of PC laptops. The software, developed by Graeme Barnes of Red Squirrel fame [...]
As of today, the sales and technical support of VirtualAcorn software will be handled by 3QD, a web consultancy company managed by Aaron Timbrell. [...] Aaron told drobe.co.uk [...] "So it's still myself, with Graeme [Barnes] developing [...]"
10th November 2001 - VirtualAcorn announced: VirtualAcorn is the new brand name for commercial versions of the Red Squirrel freeware Acorn emulator. VirtualAcorn is a joint effort between Graeme Barnes, the author of Red Squirrel, and Aaron Timbrell of 3QD, iSV Products and RISCWorld magazine. [...] 31/8/2004 - VirtualAcorn taken over by 3QD Developments Ltd: From the 1st of September 2004 VirtualAcorn products will be handled exclusively by 3QD Developments Ltd.
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