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…
My desktop was a mess. I had more than two dozen icons strewn about, and as often as not opened or dragged the wrong item, or dragged two or more items when I meant to only grab one. I’ve also dragged extra files or folders to the Trash unknowingly along with items I actually wanted to drag to the Trash. Here’s what it looked like before I cleaned it up: So I decided I’d create a folder on my Desktop to…
I’ll make this brief… If you’re as fascinated by the new Apple “spaceship” campus as I am, here’s a cool new drone video: And here’s a link to the official Apple Campus 2 information page on the City of Cupertino web site. That’s all, folks (at least for now).
Sweet Sorrow April 2016 Parting can be tough when you’ve had a faithful machine for so many years. But the old model 180 was getting long in tooth and was no longer reliable. True, some of the problems were mere cosmetic scuffs, but others ranged from annoyances that had to be worked around to serious impairment of functionality. So, when the Spy’s local dealer announced an introductory (and deeply discounted) sale on a brand new (to the frozen north; they’d…
You know how Consumer Reports magazine has the Selling Itcolumn on the inside back cover? You know, the one that pokes fun at goofs and glitches in ads and solicitations? I recently received this direct mail piece from none other than Consumer Reports: I thought the way they redefined the word “free” was a goof (or, at least a glitch), so I submitted it last month. I’d say the odds of it running in the magazine are slim and none. But I could be…
Ultimate Micro just released the Scalable Oscillator v2 for use in the TransWarp GS and ZXIP-GSX. Each Scalable Oscillator is now custom tailored to fit each board better. It also now uses a better grade clock IC which provides a cleaner signal, although with this better signal came complexity of design. this item comes with a Power LED to let you know it’s working, and a resettable fuse on the +5v power line to protect the board from any damage…
After being rejected by the iTunes Store and selling a whopping two copies, I’m giving up on my dream of becoming the next Weird Al. So, if you’d like to download and enjoy a free copy of iTunes Must Die,click here. If you’d like to download the lyrics and guitar chords to iTunes Must Die, click here. And by popular request, here are two short excerpts from the uncompleted music video for iTunes Must Die: Note that both movies were shot with…
I usually switch apps using the “double-tap the home button to access the app switcher” shortcut, but recently learned that there’s an easier way. Excuse me if you already know this one, but it was new to me (a few months ago) and most of the people I’ve shown it to have been surprised. I made a short (42 second) video that shows both techniques—the old school double-tap the home button technique first, followed by the newfangled 3D press/swipe on…
