The Apple II computers are still very popular among retro hobbyists, but one of the problems some people face is the availability of video display options when their CRT fails. There are still some TVs that accept composite video, but sometimes the display is fuzzy or the colors are inaccurate. Then 80 column display becomes a nightmare, as much of these screens are not clear enough. A2Heaven sent me a pre release of their new product: the Apple II VGA…
I recently got one of the new RamFactor compatible cards from A2Heaven.com. The card is a modern clone of Applied Engineering’s RamFactor memory card. This new version is made with modern 8 MB SRAM, which uses less power and has extra features: a holder to add a small CR2032 type battery to hold the memory state just like the old RamFactor used to. It has a display that will show the current memory bank selected and RAM status. Although it…
This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Sean Fahey of A2Central, major league collector, and member of the KansasFest Committee. It’s not too late to register! Go to kansasfest.org right now. If you listen to this show, you should definitely be there. The Garage Giveaway will be larger than ever this year. You won’t want to miss the amazing pile of free Apple II gear. The other classic traditions keep getting better as well- the cookout will be…
This is an excerpt from my upcoming e-book, Working Smarter for Mac Users. It’s about setting up free dictation on your Mac, and while the book’s still in beta (coming this fall), this piece is pretty much done. So please enjoy this delightful little ditty I like to call: Who Wants to Be a Dictator? Have you always wanted to become a dictator? Not that kind! I meant the kind who talks to their Mac instead of typing. If you don’t like…
A quick update that we have some new items now listed in the UA2 Store – The RAMWorks IIII Kit v1.0. This Kit is mainly designed and meant for the SolderFEST part of KFEST to help add to the show. We will however ship to users since there is a demand for the board and a fun “kit” project for the Apple II. KFEST Delivered Kit: https://goo.gl/SH6NUZ Shipped Kit: https://goo.gl/nc86dZ All details and pics are listed on the item’s page…
Three new memory cards have been announced from Bulgaria’s A2Heaven. The cards, for the Apple II family, add 8 Megabytes of memory and other features: Addon 8MB for Ramworks III Ramworks III expansion to 8MB card , also emulates original Applied Engineering piggyback 2MB card and 512 KB memory extension form Applied Engineering. This card also supports 80 column mode. The display on the card shows the current memory bank selected. RamFactor compatible card (…
This entry is all about the Toolbar and Sidebar in Finder windows, but don’t worry—I won’t bore you a feature-by-feature description of every Toolbar and Sidebar feature. Instead, I’ve written a delightful little ditty about making the Sidebar and Toolbar work smarter, a tantalizing little tale I call: Why the Hell Haven’t You Customized Your Toolbar and Sidebar??? I’m teaching a class on Mac basics at University of Texas Informal Classes and It freaks me out that not a single…
Big Mess O’ Wires has the story of how they resurrected the first DB-19 connector to be made in the 21st century. From the article: “About 15 months ago, I first started looking into the idea of manufacturing new DB-19 connectors. So here’s the thing – how do you go about having something like this made? I had no clue, and it took me over a year. How do you find factories that might possibly build something like this, and…
This month on Open Apple, Kevin Savetz sits down with Amy Kefauver and Lorri Hopping. Amy was the editor of Scholastic Microzine, an educational magazine focused on the Apple II. Lorri was a writer and editor for Microzine. They share many great memories creating lessons with computers, the nature of the educational market, and how computers can engage kids in ways that static media can’t. After those interviews (thanks Kevin!), Mike and Quinn talk ear worm game introductions, crappy early…
June 2016 The Spy spotted an article this month (which he won’t loan credibility by providing a link) suggesting Apple was becoming the next Blackberry, doomed to fail because it is falling behind the times. Perhaps so, but that doom seems a long time off yet. The good news is that WWDC, upcoming in two weeks, is likely to see a plethora of incremental upgrade announcements to please the faithful (though the Spy is giving it a pass again this…
Has This Happened to You? Your iPhone SPONTANEOUSLY MADE A PHONE CALL FOR NO APPARENT REASON? Friends say, “I’m returning your call,” EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW YOU DIDN’T CALL THEM? You see phone numbers in your Recent Calls list BUT YOU KNOW YOU DIDN’T DIAL THEM? If any of these has happened to you, I’m pretty sure I know why. And, I’m also pretty sure I know how you can develop a habit to prevent it from ever happening again. …
Discounted early-bird registration for KansasFest 2016, the 28th annual Apple II convention, ends May 31. On June 1, prices rise $55, so reserve your spot now. Official KansasFest shirts are extra and optional and must be ordered by June 22; registration for staying on-site closes July 1. Users, programmers, hobbyists, and retrocomputing enthusiasts are invited to Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, from Tuesday, July 19, through Sunday, July 24, for six days and five nights of sessions, demos, announcements, contests, and…
I made this for Working Smarter for Mac Users, my upcoming e-book. But I like you too much to make you wait months to see my 13 second masterpiece. So, if you want to learn how to move many files into a folder with one click, here’s my 13-second tutorial: If you liked it, I’d appreciate it if you’d say something in the comments. If you didn’t like it, I’d still appreciate it if you’d say something in the comments. Thanks!
I made this for Working Smarter for Mac Users, my upcoming e-book. But I like you too much to make you wait months to see my 15 second masterpiece. So, if you want to learn how to batch rename files (for free), watch this: If you liked it, I’d appreciate it if you’d say something in the comments. If you didn’t like it, I’d still appreciate it if you’d say something in the comments. Thanks!
Check it out… I just finished a column about my trip to Germany, featuring my close encounters with a pair of world leaders, the famous river surfers of Munich, and IBM Watson, up close and personal It’s at The Mac Observer (of course). Click here to read it.
This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Huibert Aalbers, author of Soundsmith. It’s hard to overstate what a platform-defining piece of software this was for the Apple IIgs. Few people appreciated what the audio system in this computer was capable of, until Huibert unlocked it for the world to hear. Games and scene demos would use his tool for the entire life of the machine. Other music trackers came along in later years, but Soundsmith was always there….
I’m back from my trip to Germany and just finished posting all the pix and videos I shot there. If you’re interested, you’ll find them—all 400 or so of them—here. Or, browse the embedded gallery below if you prefer. (Tip: Use the Next and Previous buttons on the right and left edges of the image if you want to browse without leaving this page. If you click anywhere else on the image, the Flickr gallery will open in a new window…
May 2016 The Apple haters and doomsayers will slither from beneath their rocks in force now that Apple has suffered its first quarterly year-over-year decline in revenue in thirteen years. No company can grow its sales indefinitely, so this day had to come. Mind, the company still had revenues of over $50B, so it’s not about to become a corporate food bank client. This does mark a watershed for the iPhone business, however, as it may indicate, if not market…
The Kit is the user installable version of the Universal PSU, and the Upgrade is the service UltimateMicro performs for the user. We also have a KFEST deliverable option and special show price. We’re still not sure about holding an informal session, possibly during SolderFest to assist in upgrades, but we’re working on those details and looks like it will happen. The Universal PSU Kit is designed to be installed in your existing Apple II or /// Power Supply Enclosure…
Structris for iOS, released in 2016, is temporarily offline and will be available again for the iPhone and iPad for $1.99. Produced and designed by Brian Wiser and Bill Martens of A.P.P.L.E., collaborating with original Apple II programmer Martin Haye and iOS programmer Olivier Goguel, the game features easy-to-use touch controls, Game Center support, and background music from neo-classical composer Tomoki Takamori. It is sure to delight folks who love retro games, blocks, and pressing buttons! Check out our Santa promo…
