Category: Vintage

The A2kit version 4.1 is released. A2kit is an open source, script-able command line interface for disk image and language manipulations, and the engine behind a number of editor extensions for Apple II languages.  This update adds a “smart copy” command that allows you to shuttle files between disk images and normal storage with less typing and less thinking. It works much like the cp command familiar to linux users, but it will analyze the disk images and the files…

Note from Brian Wiser:  This interview was first posted August 2, 2015, and is being reposted in honor of Rebecca Heineman who passed away November 17, 2025, and Jennell Jaquays who passed away January 10, 2024.  I had the pleasure of meeting both Rebecca and Jennell a year before this interview and spending several hours with them.  Their artistic, creative and technical talents always impressed me, along with their naturally caring and expressive way.  Rebecca and Jennell will be deeply…

Brutal Deluxe software has announced the release of PicViewer version 1.07 for the Apple IIGS. This version of Pic Viewer includes a major bug fix in the program. PicViewer was one of the first extensions written by Brutal Deluxe software for the Apple IIGS System 6 FinderExtras. PicViewer will handle picture viewing up to 3200 colors. For more information about this release or to download the latest version of PicViewer and the Source Code, check out the Brutal Deluxe Software…

From our friend David Greelish of Before Macintosh: There are currently three Apple Lisa computers being auctioned with RR Auctions, all ending on March 20th. One of them is an original Lisa 1. – Apple Lisa Computer with ‘Twiggy’ Drives, ProFile Hard Drive, Mouse, and Keyboard:https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/349773707146055-apple-lisa-computer-with-twiggy-drives-profile-hard-drive-mouse-and-keyboard/ – Apple Lisa 2 Prototype with Mouse, Keyboard, and ProFile Drive:https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/349916807146061-apple-lisa-2-prototype-with-mouse-keyboard-and-profile-drive/ – Apple Lisa 2 Computer Set with Keyboard, Mouse, and ProFile Hard Drive:https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/348390407146054-apple-lisa-2-computer-set-with-keyboard-mouse-and-profile-hard-drive/ There is also an original Apple 1 and two reproductions. A…

Henry Lowe has announced the release of the latest version of his Card Cat Apple II card identification program. Card Cat 1.7 includes a host of additional cards in the catalog including the following: Card Cat will run on all Apple II series computers from the Apple II plus through the Apple IIgs. It can identify 87 different Apple II cards and even functions properly on an Apple II emulator. Additional information and the Card Cat 1.7 program is available…

For those of you who missed out on seeing David Greelish’s wonderful documentary movie, “Before Macintosh”, you can now watch it free on YouTube. “Before Macintosh: The Apple Lisa” is a fascinating look into the computer that really changed the way we used personal computers; it started the modern personal computer revolution! Not only did key people from the project go on to help create the Macintosh, but so did key components of both hardware and software. In the end, Apple…

Brutal deluxe Software has announce the release of MountIt version 1,6 for the Apple II GS. MountIt allows users of the Apple II to mount disk image files directly under GS/OS, just like another volume. MountIt 1.6 is a new Permanent Init File devoted to handling different disk image files (.DSK, .PO and .2MG) of any size (from 32KB to the maximum RAM available), only ProDOS based. Up to sixteen volumes can be added to the system. MountIt mounts volumes as…

In a Twitter (X) announcement this week, Achim Baqué , curator of the current Apple-1 Registry announced the addition of another Apple-1 Computer. According to the posting by @Apple1Registry : https://apple1registry.com/en/105.html#Apple1 The Apple-1 Registry was originally created by Mike Willegal as a way of keeping track of where the original Apple-1 computers were or of their existence.   At the time Mike was running the database, there were a total of 67 machines which had been identified to that point….

Missing that Apple II card which allows you to control your LEGO Technic machines and are tired of trying to compete for the occasional one that appears on EBAY? Now you can get replacement cards thanks to Joe’s Computer Museum. The Blocko replacement cards are compatible with the LEGO 9750 Interface and require the IDC-20 connector cable, 9-volt power supply and at least one LEGO Technic Motor. The cards are currently available from JCM in limited supply at:https://jcm-1.com/product/blocko/ More information…

Brutal Deluxe Software in coordination with Daniel Henderson has announced CD IIe – A CD-Audio player for the 8-bit Apple IIs. The program requires a SCSI High-Speed DMA card to be installed in the Apple II and a SCSI-2 type CD-ROM drive such as the Apple CD300. You can download the latest version of the player on a standard 5.25 inch floppy disk image from the Brutal Deluxe Software website at:https://www.brutaldeluxe.fr/products/apple2/cdiie/ Source code for the player is also available on…

Have you ever wondered what went into the music for the Origin Systems produced, Richard Garriott designed game Ultima III? Well, wonder no more. Music YouTuber David Youd has produced the ultimate run-through of the Ultima III music in a format that not only shows the details of the voices but also the musical notation of the game songs themselves.

There are Fifty ( yes 50 ! ) new archived Apple II cassettes, kindly on loan to the Apple II Cassette Collection from Ian B. This includes programs, textbooks, and photos, all of which are now available @ https://brutaldeluxe.fr/projects/cassettes/.

R&R Auctions has announced the release of a pre-production Apple II Motherboard (REV1) for auction on their site as part of their “Steve Jobs and the Apple Computer Revolution” auctions lot. The Motherboard auction started at $500 but is expected to draw bids of over $5,000. It is currently unknown what the actual source of the board is, however, internal speculation is that this is one of the rate Apple II boards which were part of the famed Tony Diaz…

From Antoine Vignau: Watch the six double-sided eduware laserdiscs for the Apple IIgs @ https://www.youtube.com/playlist… This ScienceVision series was directed by Professor George Dawson in 1992, and was published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

From Todd Holcomb: The 90’s Mac underground scene is back for the month of March at The Crow’s Nest BBS – download the latest Mac releases, read some HackAddict/Happle Mac underground G-Files, browse the message forums, and play some old-school door games all from your vintage Mac! The Hermes II v3.1.1 BBS software is running on a 40MHz 68040 Carrera-accelerated Mac IIci with a CSI Hurdler II 4-port serial NuBUS card connected to 5 WiModem232’s and one dial-up Zoom modem….

From Colin Leroy-Mira: Wozamp is a simple network music player for the Apple II. It can: Requirements: Wozamp should run on any 64k Apple II with a serial card. In addition to that, it requires a surl-server proxy to handle the transcoding and resampling. Screenshots: Playing « Jesus built my hotrod » from Ministry Browsing my ftp://diskstation.lan/music share Preparing to listen to 8bit.fm Installing the surl-server proxy: See the dedicated surl-server page. Transferring the floppy to your Apple II: Download the latest…

We release A][ VGA MINI card. This is a forked project originally drafted by Mark Aikens and our project page can be found here. For this project, we know that various vendors design PCBs used Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040) and make cards that function the same way, but for our card we aimed to design something that I would want myself… Our AII VGA MINI cards have 2 colors There are Purple and Black colors, but only the Black one…

Our open source project “Grappler Minus” has been completed. I was able to check the latest PCB, and new ROM revision V6a so I made a new post. The difference with Grappler Plus is that the printer interface function is removed. As a result, SPIISD can now be used on Apple IIplus, which was previously unavailable due to timing issues. In the new PCB version, all multilayer ceramic capacitors have been changed to dip type to make it easier to…

from our friends over at @BlueSCSI: BlueSCSI Transfer Util is a new 68k Macintosh app (OS6-9) that allows you to pull & put files directly from an SD card, no emulator required to get OregonTrail on your Mac Plus HD image! Give the Beta a try – let me know if you run into any issues: https://github.com/erichelgeson/BlueSCSI-Toolbox#bluescsi-transfer-utility

When it comes to the world of vintage computing, the Apple IIGS stands as a true icon, and its sound capabilities were nothing short of revolutionary back in 1986. At the heart of the Apple IIgs was the now legendary Ensoniq 5503 digital synthesizer chip, which set a new standard for sound quality in 16-bit personal computers. If you’re fascinated by the IIGS sound chip and its remarkable contributions to the computing world, you won’t want to miss this upcoming…