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/
PLASMA, the modern programming language for the Apple 1, II, and III series computers has been officially released. Version 1.0 was announced today by the developer, David Schmenk. The new version includes disks which will run on a variety of Apple platforms including the entire Apple II series as well as the Apple III. While the program does not run on the Apple-1, it does provide the means by which to develop programs for it as well. According to the…
Tom Charelsworth has updated the Applewin Apple II Emulator. Version 1.27.0.0 includes a host of changes and fixes including: Full release that rolls-up all the changes and fixes from the 1.26.2 & 1.26.3 experiment builds. Changes to the system include: [Change #428] Added Config Input option to use PC Joystick 1 Thumbstick 2 for emulated Joystick 2 play Nick Westgate’s updated Robotron using gamepads with two analog thumbsticks, eg. Logitech F310, PS4 DualShock 4, Xbox controller [Change #528] Improved logging…
Eventbrite has announced the 2018 rendition of the Seattle Retro Gaming Expo. The Expo which takes place each year at Seattle Pacific Science Center is considered to be one of the largest retro gaming conventions in the Pacific Northwest. According to the website, SRGE 2018 dives in to the nuts & bolts of what makes retro gaming fun: playing your favorite games with friends, learning about retro gaming, collecting and trading games, multiplayer tournaments where everyone is in the same…
Wrong about the iPhone XWell, it has happened before…back in ’83. See, from a feature point of view, the iPhone 8 look doomed beside the X. But price points do come into play in such matters. Apple is curtailing the production of the X, and the Spy assumes it will be discontinued once the X year is done. As the physician said to the 12-year old Spy when he came into his office looking like scarlet fever: “Allergic to the…
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…
During the past week, I have been re-visiting a number of the original Apple II archives which we produced here at A.P.P.L.E. during my testing with John Morris’ Applesauce. In the bunches of floppies, I found one disk labeled mysteriously “March Special E-Base Program“. Initially, I thought it might be an old database program that never came to light, however, to my surprise, it was the original Eamon version 2.1 Base Program which was modified by John Nelson and Robert…
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!
ReactiveMicro has announced the latest version of their Rom Reader adapter. The 9316A Rom Reader Adapter V.1.2, produced by Henry Courbis is now available from the ReactiveMicro website: v1.2 of the adapter now has 300 mil wide square pins which are gold plated. This new version of the adapter comes fully assembled from the manufacture. We have also found a new way to assemble … For more information or to purchase the new 9316A Rom Reader Adapter, go to: https://www.reactivemicro.com/2018/01/29/new-product-version-9316a-rom-reader-adapter-v1-2/
The CFFA 3000 card Run # 5 is now in progress. The CFFA 3000 card, produced by R&D Automation LLC is an Apple II series card which allows users to use Compact Flash or USB thumb drives in their machines as a mass storage device. According to the R&D Automation website, Great news! Today we verified that 4 CFFA3000 “first-article” units off the assembly line function perfectly in two Apple IIgs computers. The assembler is now in the process of…
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…
Chris Vavruska has announced the immediate availability of his Apple II gs tool, Clip Copy Plus. He made the program available this morning with an announcement on the Apple II gs group. After many years away from the GS I am proud to announce the release of Clip Copy Plus V1.0. Clip Copy Plus is a Finder extension that brings the convenient ability to cut, copy and paste files of modern operating systems to the Apple IIGS. Clip Copy Plus…
The annual BASIC 10 liner programming contest is now under way. This contest allows users to write 10 line BASIC programs on any platform that they choose. The lines must conform with one of the contests three categories: 80 character, 120 character, or 256 character (extreme) programs. The contest runs from now until 24 March with the judging to occur there after and prizes given on the 7th of April. The rules according to the contest website: 1. Loading of…
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,…
An enterprising Apple II fan on Facebook, “Kboo HK” has released a video of her latest creation, The Apple II+ Mini. This hand built Apple II+ actually is the size of an old school Gameboy or there about and while it’s size is diminutive, the things it can do are actually quite amazing. The main board can actually control the standard Apple 5.25 inch Floppy Disk interface card, and run a real floppy drive or more logical, the FloppyEmu. The…
David Schmenk has released the latest developers preview of his PLASMA programming environment. The third version of the 1.0 developers preview includes a few changes and fixes. PLASMA is a modern high level programming language for the Apple II, which has been in development for the past 12 years. Along with David Schmenk, a host of other participants over the years have had a hand in making PLASMA what it is including the following: Martin Haye: PLASMA programmer extraordinaire. Mr….
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…
From the europlus zone blog: I’m very happy to announce the date for the next WOzFest, WOzFest DB9 – Saturday 28 April 2018, starting around midday Sydney time (UTC+10:00). The theme for WOzFest DB9 is “Communications” – serial, networked, wireless, and wired. Further details on the announcement post, and updates will be posted under the europlus blog’s WOzFest tag. Recaps and photo galleries have also been posted for WOzFest S7,D2 and WOzFest 8-bit.
Update: In the June 2002 issue of Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine we apparently fell asleep at the wheel and a program which I wrote for demonstration of a simple task of manipulating images between floppies. The original program in the magazine is wrong and will not work no matter how hard one tries. It helps, if we use the correct BASIC command. And thus here, in the spirit of our old magazine column’s name, we try to Write the Wrongs for our…
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…
