Overview – User Group, News, Magazines, Books, Apps, Sites
Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) was one of the first official Apple User Groups in the United States. Founded in 1978 by Val J. Golding, A.P.P.L.E. grew quickly and membership peaked to almost 50,000 global members by 1985. Since many of our members have been Apple users since the first machines were produced, we have one of the most knowledgeable groups in the world. Member benefits: www.callapple.org/members
A.P.P.L.E. is also resource for news about retro and modern Apple products and other technologies at: www.callapple.org
Call-A.P.P.L.E. is the name of our magazine that started in 1978 and ran through 1990, and was one of the most widely-distributed magazines in the world. We restarted the magazine in 2002 and continue publishing the magazine as a PDF to our paid members, with extensive articles on programming, news, reviews, and interviews: www.callapple.org/magazines
A.P.P.L.E. is also a book pub
lisher. In 2013, The WOZPAK Special Edition was released containing Steve Wozniak’s restored hand-written notes and printouts about his Apple II computer, as well as a forward from Steve Wozniak and other Apple legends. We actively publish several retro books a year and recently released: Cyber Jack: The Adventures of Robert Clardy and Synergistic Software, Nibble Viewpoints: Business Insights From The Computing Revolution, What’s Where in the Apple: Enhanced Edition, and The Colossal Computer Cartoon Book: Enhanced Edition, among others. All of our books are listed at: www.callapple.org/books
Structris for iOS
As a game publisher, we released a retro block game called Structris that was originally programmed on an Apple II and enhanced for iOS. We also publish other websites. AppleArchives.com hosts a variety of other content we’ve produced about early computer companies like Beagle Bros, Applied Engineering, MECC, and also links to resources around the Internet. VirtualApple.org online since 2003 will run Apple II software in a Web browser.
Brief A.P.P.L.E. History
Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) was one of the first official Apple User Groups in the United States. The A.P.P.L.E. Users Group was established February 21, 1978 by Val J. Golding. The first meeting of the new users group was called to order at 7pm by Val at ComputerLand in Federal Way, Washington with 13 people in attendance.
A.P.P.L.E. published Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine and others, published books, and provided software, hardware and support services for over 50,000 members in the Apple world through 1990. Distribution of Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine reached over 100,000 in the mid 1980s. From 1990 to 2001, A.P.P.L.E. had a more limited focus providing support to computer users around the globe with many special interests.
Bill Martens, who worked for the founder Val J. Golding and A.P.P.L.E. from 1981 to 1982, started preserving the company’s information and rebuilding the company in 1999 by contacting former writers, board members and staff. In February 2002, Bill continued this effort with a new issue of Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine. However, this could not have been achieved without the help of Val Golding, Don Williams, Michael Thyng, Rick Sutcliffe, and Norman Dodge. Bill continued being a visionary, promoting A.P.P.L.E., restoring its archives, and expanding its offerings. Bill is currently A.P.P.L.E. Chairman of the Board and the Club President, and is in charge of distributing Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine, organizing this web site, and promoting news, among other things.
In 2008, Brian Wiser joined the executive staff, and made significant art and manual additions to our official Beagle Bros site, as well as creating our Applied Engineering site with his manuals, catalogs, and his self-created brochures. In 2013, with Bill Martens, he produced The WOZPAK: Special Edition as A.P.P.L.E.’s first contemporary book. Since then, Brian continues to design, edit and co-produce all books published by A.P.P.L.E., encompassing several a year. Brian is an A.P.P.L.E. Board member, Managing Editor of Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine, and also shares news and his interviews with many luminaries.
Read more about our history: www.callapple.org/about/history
A.P.P.L.E. Today
A.P.P.L.E. is an all volunteer Apple / Macintosh users group. None of the members of the board or of the staff are paid and are dedicating their time to this project for the love of the computer world. The purpose of the group is to provide news, information, software, hardware, documentation, and support to all levels of users regardless of the Apple computer that they are using. For those wishing to support our efforts, please read the section below on volunteering. We always encourage the enhancement of the “user helping user” concept and continue to believe that this is the best way for those who need help to gain the assistance they need.
Volunteering
If you would like to help A.P.P.L.E., you can volunteer in one of several ways. We are always looking for people who would like to write for our magazine or site, with content that they would like to share with the Apple community. You can volunteer by emailing submissions@callapple.org. Please include the area or specialty you are volunteering for and your contact information. Read more about article submissions: www.callapple.org/contact
Donations
If you’d like to support our efforts, please become a member of our A.P.P.L.E. User Group and read our Magazines, purchase one of our many Books, or buy one of our Apps. Lastly, consider using our Amazon Link before any purchases you may make.
You may have legacy A.P.P.L.E. software or publications we are seeking from the 1970s to 1990s. Any submission of materials is appreciated, either at cost or donation. Please email: webmaster@callapple.org.
If you are a former employee of A.P.P.L.E. and would like to be included in our directory, please send us your picture, time period you worked for the company, and a short paragraph about what you did.
Read more about donations: www.callapple.org/about/donations