Category: Apple Computing

MacTracker, the Ian Page produced Apple product information tracking app has been updated.  The latest release, version 7.7.2, includes the following changes: HomePod added to the database The latest OS updates have been added Support status and obsolete status of Apple products added Other minor changes, fixes and additions. MacTracker is a Free app and is available from the Apple app store.  For more information, check out the MacTracker website at: http://mactracker.ca/

The popular audio tool X Lossless Decoder(XLD) has a new 64-bit beta test version that was released today.  XLD is a very useful tool for converting lossless audio files into various formats like FLAC, Apple Lossless, MP3, and AAC among others. While the author is asking for feedback with his 64-bit beta, the current 32-bit release is another choice for new users and has been actively developed since 2006. Another powerful feature, for anyone with audio CDs, is the ability…

Come watch Chris Torrence as he attempts to tackle the Oregon Trail, IRL, or at least as much as you can tackle from within a museum. Watch the video here!

A gathering of Apple II hobbyists from around Japan this week put together one of the most interesting events this Apple guy has been to yet.   While most events tend to put together schedules that are structured and adhered to religiously, the schedule for this event was pretty much out the window the minute people started unpacking.  After paying our 2000 yen fee for the event and receiving our lanyards with photographic name tags, we started the event with a…

A future release of macOS Server is depreciating key server services, so that it can focus on management. Along with releasing macOS Server 5.5, Apple published this support document yesterday, Prepare for changes to macOS Server.  Apple suggests replacements for these key depreciated services: Calendar, Contacts, DHCP, DNS, Mail, Messages, NetInstall, VPN, Websites, and Wiki. What is the purpose of server software that depreciates most key server functions?  Will integrating suggested replacements be easy or practical?  By focusing on management,…

The latest version of MacTracker has been released.  The Ian Page produced MacTracker app contains information on all of Apple’s products over the years including the latest offerings, allows users to accurately check the specifications for a particular product. Included in this updates are the following new Apple Products: The iMac Pro 2017 Model The iPhone X It also includes information on the latest operating system releases and updates the support status for Apple’s products which are newly specified as…

Recently I saw the news about the WiModem232 OLED availability and ordered one immediately. after a smooth transaction and a couple of days finally received it. The device is nice and very professionally made. the OLED really makes it stand out, and after getting an USB power cable started the setup. Had a couple of hiccups as the cable I had was a printer, which differs from the modem one and doesn’t work with the modem. Finally found a modem…

The Eaten by a Grue Podcast, produced by Carrington Vanston and Kevin Savetz has released their 15th episode of the podcast.  This episode covers the Infocom game, Pludered Hearts.   You can listed to the podcast in its entirety on the Eaten by a Grue website at: http://monsterfeet.com/grue/notes/15

Chris Torrence shows us what happens when you try to mock your Apple IIc. You end up with amazing sound! Check this video out to see how Ian Kim’s Mockingboard 4c can enhance your Apple IIc with only a couple quick modifications. Also check out Chris Torrence’s Patreon for more Apple II goodness!

Chris Torrence takes a look at the UltraWarp Accelerator Card from ReActive Micro. The card speeds up your Apple II, II+, //e, or clone to 13 MHz. See how to assemble the kit, and how it performs!

SoftRAID, the venerable RAID software solution, has been updated to 5.6.4 and is now fully compatible with macOS 10.13 High Sierra and also back to OS X 10.6.8.  While fully compatible with High Sierra, it does not support APFS volumes – that level of support is slated for the upcoming SoftRAID 6.0. Besides supporting RAID 0, 1, 4, 5 and 1+0, one of the best features is the Certify feature.  Certify can run multiple passes to verify that every sector…

Super Mario Run produced by Nintendo has been iupdated.  Version 3.0.7 includes primarily fixes to the popular app for the iOS platforms, including: ・ An issue where data sometimes had to be re-downloaded when launching the game has been resolved. ・ An issue where players could not get a Perfect result on some Remix 10 courses has been resolved. ・ Various other issues have been resolved. The Super Mario Run App is available as a free download from the Apple…

Adam Christianson has released the latest episode of his MacCast podcast.  With everything going on this past week with CES in full swing and other news, this episode is packed with a lot of Apple goodness including: What you need to know about Spectre and Meltdown. Apple investors want more parental control. Apple clarifies store roof “flaw”. Even more Apple “shows” lined up. Iovine leaving Apple? Nope. Rumors of iPhone SE 2. No major Macbook Pro update this year? Apple…

While not a new release, Mini vMAC for iOS 2.2.4 was released in October and is available as an XCode project.  The port of vMAC, the Mac Plus emulator, was released to the wild by its author, Jesús A. Álvarez, complete with source code and XCode Project build files due to the fact that Apple does not really allow emulation on iOS. Recent adjustments to the project include the correcting of the scaling of the screen just over a month…

Ken Winograd, a long time Apple programmer has announced the immediate release of his latest version of TinyBooks Pro.   The program which gives small businesses a full blown accounting package has been under development for many years and is available as a one time purchase complete with  upgrade. According to the press release: Merrimack, New Hampshire, January 1, 2018: Ken Winograd and Space-Time Associates announced today a major update of our ultra-simple Macintosh accounting and bookkeeping program called TinyBooks Pro….

The venerable Carbon Copy Cloner backup software has been updated to version 5.05.  The software has been maintained and regularly upgraded since 2002, with version 5.0 first appearing in August 2017 to more fully support macOS High Sierra and Apple’s APFS filesystem.  It has features like bootable backups, updating only files that have been added or modified, checksums, as well as scheduled and manual backups.  It can even backup Macs remotely and supports macOS 10.10 through 10.13. One of my…

James Friend, the Australian programmer who ported the Mac 128 and Mac Plus to run in a browser, has a new port which is making the initial rounds.   Basilisk II, is now available in your browser thanks to the efforts of James.  According to the posting on his website,  he says: I recently ported the Basilisk II classic Macintosh emulator to run in a web browser. I’ve been hoping to get it running for some time, and originally attempting to…

  I came across documentation about the popular Apple II copy program EDD 4 that experts like Anthony Martino at UltimateApple2, the creator of the “EDD 4 Plus” clone card, were not familiar with and asked me to share.  That information is within three documents I scanned and linked here as PDFs.  Highlights from those documents: EDD 4 Program Information List #4-13, February 1993:  download PDF This may be one of the last EDD program lists created.  It also mentions…

In one of its not-so-loud updates to iTunes, Apple has re-introduced the ability to control your iOS apps from your computer with a release of iTunes 12.6.3.   According to the website, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208079, Deploy apps in a business environment with iTunes Learn how to deploy apps with iTunes. Apple offers Volume Purchase Programs and Apple Configurator on Mac to help enterprise environments manage and mass-deploy apps on iOS devices. But certain business partners might still need to use iTunes to install apps. Install apps…

A few months ago i acquired an Apple IIgs, and to my surprise it had a Vulcan drive inside. The Vulcan was an internal combo of hard drive/power supply with a controller card. At that time, the only hard drive options were an external drive or an IDE card. The Vulcan was attractive by combining a strong power supply that also housed the hard drive. It was black colored and looked really nice replacing the internal power supply. The controller…