iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Time for a quick show and tell… Here’s the UI revamp before and after for the Emulation Editor - the most dense UI in Retrospecs. I’m not totally happy with it, but I think it’s an improvement on the previous approach, and there’s less custom code, as there’s no custom toolbars. So that’s nice.

An image of the emulation editor UI in Retrospecs v3.x. Functional, but old-fashioned.

An image of the emulation editor UI in the in-development Retrospecs v4.x. It looks more modern and is hopefully as easy to use.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Anyhow, the goal is for the first beta of v4 to be feature-complete, stable and reasonably polished, and despite the odd hiccup, the UI overhaul is going better than anticipated.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

That’s not to say that work totally stopped - it just shifted. I’ve completely re-written the underlying graphics engine in Swift, and the app itself is now Swift “clean”. (Both were originally Objective-C, as Swift didn’t exist when Retrospecs was first created.)

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Of course, technically speaking the core of Retrospecs v4 has been in place for a few months now, but one of the biggest mistakes of the 1.x thru 3.x releases was the endless iteration - the code was a complete mess towards the end, which is why there’s been so few releases over the past few years.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

UI experimentation mode engaged. 🫡 Yes, it’s busy, but I really needed to try and do things The Apple Way, rather than having to maintain lots of custom code. There’s only one of me after all. Very, very, early days though.

A screenshot of the in-development Retrospecs v4. It’s densely packed with various UI controls arranged around a heavily pixelated image of a scientist wearing headgear with wires coming out. The image looks like it’s being displayed on an LCD screen.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Retrospecs v4 will be a thing then I guess. Probably. 🤔 It’s not quite at the beta stage yet, but it’s up and running using the reworked engine that I’ve been slowly picking away at on and off over the last year or so.

A screenshot of the Retrospecs iOS app, showing an image of a primarily pink, but brightly coloured, highly pixelated image, above some UI controls.

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Pixel Processor @pixel-processor.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Hmm… I'm becoming increasingly tempted to pull the plug on a potential 1.0 release any time soon. There's things I want the app to be able to do that don't fit within the current semi-flexible pipeline approach, and it would be painful to put out a release and have to maintain compatibility.

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Ben Werdmuller @werd.io · 05/09/2026

This one will hurt: I love 1Password as a product. But I'm the son of a concentration camp survivor. I will not give money to companies that align themselves with nationalism, and certainly not ethnic cleansing. Completely disappointing, @1password.bsky.social. www.flyingpenguin.com/dhh-nazism-f...

flyingpenguin.com

DHH Nazism Funded by 1Password VP Who Wrote “Honest Security” | flyingpenguin

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Good to see “Retrospecs yellow” lives on in some form, I suppose. 🤔

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Pixel Processor @pixel-processor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Doing more typings of late - trying to move towards a 1.0 release, although there’s still lots to do. It’s fair to say that it’ll always be a (very, very) niche app, but hopefully it’ll be useful to some

An abstract image of large, chunky blocks in orange and sea-green, depicted as they’d appear on a low quality CRT television.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

If you’re running macOS Ventura or later, you can grab a copy of the beta via the TestFlight link over on pixelprocessor.co.uk

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

If you use macOS and like pixels, be sure to check it out. Feel free to share to try and help get the word out - it’s a very uphill battle in this day and age.

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Pixel Processor @pixel-processor.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Next up is something long overdue - The Great UI Tidy-Up™ has finally begun. Although it’s mainly just putting things in boxes. 🤔

A screen from an in-development macOS showing a large image of a magic 8-ball sitting on a table, rendered as if it was on a late 80’s computer and TV. To the right of the image are some user interface controls, but they’re not particularly relevant or indeed exciting.

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Pixel Processor @pixel-processor.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

What's next, you might wonder? (It'll be the mutator functionality. The mutator functionality will be next.)

A screen grab from the Pixel Processor iOS app, consisting a grid of images filling 3/4 of the window, with some UI controls on the right hand side. Each image in the grid is different, but are clearly different interpretations of the same source image of a magic 8-ball sitting on a table.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

It would be particularly brazen otherwise. 😀 I blame the developer.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

It’s coming for my features - is nothing sacrosanct?

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Exciting news for macOS pixel processing fans…

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Hmm… I think GIF export will be for the chop in the next version. It’s flaky at best and there are better, dedicated, tools for the job.

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ChinnyVision @chinnyvision.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

World Of Spectrum IS NOT down. Merely the version of it run by the fuckwit that is Lee Fogarty. Classic Fuckwit free World of Spectrum is here - worldofspectrum.net Or if you prefer a site not stuck in 1997, this is where all the cool kids are - spectrumcomputing.co.uk

spectrumcomputing.co.uk

Spectrum Computing - ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware

Spectrum Computing, a database of Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware

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Pixel Processor @pixel-processor.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

The second beta of Pixel Processor should now be out and about on TestFlight. 🥳 Link available via pixelprocessor.co.uk if you’d like to have a play.

pixelprocessor.co.uk

Pixel Processor | a macOS image processing utility.

Pixel Processor is an in-development macOS image processing utility.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Ooo… reet posh. If you've a mac running Sequoia or newer, you can also grab the current TestFlight beta over on… pixelprocessor.co.uk

pixelprocessor.co.uk

Pixel Processor | a macOS image processing utility.

Pixel Processor is an in-development macOS image processing utility.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I guess this happened then. 🤔

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

One side effect of the work on the underlying engine used within Retrospecs is that the Pixel Processor macOS app has lurched back into life to act as a testbed. At some point it might even see a release. Maybe. 🤔

A screenshot of the Pixel Processor macOS app, showing a window that consists of a large image preview area alongside a complex set of UI controls. The image preview area is filled with a heavily pixelated image of a Magic 8-ball sitting on a desk.

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Thalamus Physical @thalamusdigital.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Pssst! Fancy a bit of Starseed action for your Game Boy Color? For the next 24 hours you can pick up the entire Starseed Trilogy and save 30% on the RRP! itch.io/s/188617/sta... #GameBoyColor #RocketshipPark #FlashSale

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Retrospecs first appeared in the App Store twelve years ago today, which is a long time by anyone’s standards. There’s not been much in the way of new features recently, but I’ve been slowly working away on some bits and pieces. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s coming later this year.

The Convertor screen from the Retrospecs iOS app, showing a pixelated image above a series of options and tabs. The image being shown is presented as it would appear on a CRT display.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

I’ve been gradually working away on a re-write of the “engine” that generates the image conversions in Retrospecs, and that work is now largely complete. Whilst the original goal was purely to replicate the existing functionality, there’s also some new bits and pieces to play with. So that’s nice.

An abstract image composed of letters from a custom character pixel font consisting of various low-resolution geometric shapes and checkerboards.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

It’s entirely possible there’ll be a new version of Retrospecs in the next few months. So that’s nice.

An image of Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s monster, rendered in a limited colour palette with extensive dithering. The image depicts a close up of a man’s gnarled head, with scaring visible.There’s also the whole “visible bolts in the neck” thing.

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Brendy_C @brendyc.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

We're launching a website. Jank is an independent PC games website funded by readers. jank.cool If you like funny, thoughtful games journalism and can't stand adverts, deals posts, affiliate links, and other nonsense - Jank is for you.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Where the streets have limited resolution (IBM EGA, Bayer 4x4 dithering.) Created in #Retrospecs for #iOS - 8bitartwork.co.uk

A deserted street scene with two rows of buildings disappearing into distance. The image is rendered in low resolution in the IBM EGA sixteen colour palette, with obvious pixels and dithering visible.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

You can now unlock the full version of Retrospecs for £1.99/€1.99/$1.99 In addition to the full suite of system and mode presets, the full version contains custom emulation, font and palette editors as well as additional features such as the emulation mutator. Find out more at 8bitartwork.co.uk

An image of Peter Finch as the newscaster Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network. It depicts a man in his late middle age standing in front of multiple clocks with his hands in the air, shouting in frustration.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

The machine must be maintained at all times (Apple Macintosh, Atkinson dithering.) Created in #Retrospecs for #iOS - 8bitartwork.co.uk #retrospecs #ios #pixelart #8bitart #8bitartwork #macintosh

A still from the film Frankenstein’s Island, showing a man wearing a beanie and oversized 70’s sunglasses wiping the side of two machines with prominent dials. It’s rendered in black and white, at it would appear on the original Apple Macintosh.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Who dis? (PICO-8 (Secret palette), Bayer 8x8 dithering.) Created in #Retrospecs for #iOS - 8bitartwork.co.uk #retrospecs #ios #pixelart #8bitart #8bitartwork #puppy #minischnauzer

A Salt and Pepper (Black & white) Mini Schnauzer pup sitting on a patch of grass, staring at the camera. It’s rendered as it would appear on the PICO-8 virtual console, and hence is low resolution, and heavily dithered.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

There should be a new version of Retrospecs trundling out in the next week or two. Nothing particularly exciting in terms of new features, but the Dragon 32 presets have been overhauled and should now be correct.

A screen from the Retrospecs iOS app, showing a heavily dithered, two colour image of a dog in orange and black above a series of menu options.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

The first version of Retrospecs was released in the App Store eleven years ago today. To celebrate the anniversary, you can unlock the full version for $0.99 / £0.99 / €0.99 for the next week. 🥳 Feel free to spread the word. 8bitartwork.co.uk

A heavily dithered and pixelated image of a purple balloon against a yellow background.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Sad to hear of the passing of Bill Atkinson, one of the key software developers on the Macintosh, from the QuickDraw system thru to era-defining applications like MacPaint and HyperCard.

A black and white, heavily dithered image of Bill Atkinson, pictured here in early eighties. He has a large moustache and wire-framed glasses, beneath a large mop of curly hair.

Rendered using Atkinson dithering algorithm.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

I’d be disappointed if it was any other way. 🫡

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Whilst I admire your optimism, at the eleven year mark I think it’s fair to say that an Android version probably isn’t on the cards. 🤔

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Incidentally, it’s Retrospecs 11th birthday on the 13th of June. Based on what’s happened in previous years, I’d say it’s likely that there’ll be a special price to unlock the full version. Total speculation, you understand. 🤔

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Hatched (Custom per-pixel emulation using Nintendo Gameboy (Daylight) palette. 60x240, 4∶1 pixel ratio.) Created in #Retrospecs for #iOS - 8bitartwork.co.uk

An abstract image consisting of light and dark green areas of checkerboards horizontal lines of varying density. The image is low resolution and heavily pixelated.

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Julian "Jaz" Rignall @jazrignall.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Back in 1991, snitches got the riches... 🤣

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Would love to see the Nick Clegg/AI copyright "argument" version. 🤔

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Whilst I can’t in all honesty condone his jelly habit, these are excellent value products at full-price, let alone when there’s a sale on…

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Thanks for the shout-out - it's very much appreciated. 👍

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Keith Stuart @keefstuart.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Hello! I an launching a little video game email newsletter with excellent people Christian Donlan and @florencesn.bsky.social! It’s called The Bathysphere and it’s about games we like and interesting books, films and events about games-adjacent stuff! You can subscribe at buttondown.com/Bathysphere

buttondown.com

The Bathysphere

A weekly deep dive into video games from Christian Donlan, Florence Smith Nicholls and Keith Stuart. No hot takes, no news, no reviews. Just short essays, recommendations and other nice things.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Embrace (Custom per-pixel emulation using Desert palette. 136x128, Bayer 8x8 dithering.) Created in #Retrospecs for #iOS - 8bitartwork.co.uk #retrospecs #ios #pixelart #8bitart #8bitartwork #abstract #dithering

An abstract image consisting of light and dark red areas of what appears to be a folded piece of material. The image is low resolution and heavily pixelated, with very obvious signs of dithering.

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Retrospecs @retrospecs.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Experiencing further degradation Hope you’re all surviving out there. 🫡 (Custom per-pixel emulation using custom palette. 320x240) Created in #Retrospecs for #iOS - 8bitartwork.co.uk #retrospecs #ios #pixelart #8bitart #8bitartwork

An image of a skull, rendered in pixel art in an off-white colour against a dark background. Sections of the image are missing or appear to be corrupted.

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Jake Birkett - Veteran Indie @greyalien.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

NEW GAME ANNOUNCEMENT! A 1995 CD-ROM. A game buried for a reason. You flip a card. The screen glitches. Something is watching. Forbidden Solitaire—a dungeon horror from the creators of Ancient Enemy and Home Safety Hotline. store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/... With @slicknicklives.bsky.social

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