Shows
Open AppleOpen Apple #86 (July 2018): John Keoni Morris of Applesauce FDCIn this lost episode of Open Apple, recorded 14 July 2018, Em Maginnis and Quinn Dunki are joined by John Morris, creator of the Applesauce floppy disk controller.The post Open Apple #86 (July 2018): John Keoni Morris of Applesauce FDC first appeared on Open Apple.2025-04-012h 01Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #86 (July 2018): John Keoni Morris of Applesauce FDCIn this lost episode of Open Apple, recorded 14 July 2018, Em Maginnis and Quinn Dunki are joined by John Morris, creator of the Applesauce floppy disk controller.The post Open Apple #86 (July 2018): John Keoni Morris of Applesauce FDC first appeared on Open Apple.2025-04-012h 01Open AppleOpen Apple #81: Remembering Tony Diaz
For decades, Tony Diaz held the record of the only person to have attended every KansasFest. Whether at that convention, on the comp.sys.apple2 Usenet newsgroup, or on his livestreams, he would share his comprehensive knowledge of Apple II hardware and demo the rare prototypes in his vast collection. When KansasFest lost its home at Avila University, Tony, then the head of the KansasFest committee, helped find the event its new home at Rockhurst. And as a member of the Juiced.GS staff, he would respond to reader queries about how to restore their vintage equipment.
...2021-11-0640 minEpisodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #81: Remembering Tony Diaz
For decades, Tony Diaz held the record of the only person to have attended every KansasFest. Whether at that convention, on the comp.sys.apple2 Usenet newsgroup, or on his livestreams, he would share his comprehensive knowledge of Apple II hardware and demo the rare prototypes in his vast collection. When KansasFest lost its home at Avila University, Tony, then the head of the KansasFest committee, helped find the event its new home at Rockhurst. And as a member of the Juiced.GS staff, he would respond to reader queries about how to restore their vintage equipment.
...2021-11-0640 minEpisodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #80 (July 2021): KansasFest 2021 MegapodcastWelcome to Poly Retro Assembly Cast Chicken Missile Drop Grue Museum, the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest, hosted again via Zoom.
Participants:
Charles Mangin (Chicken Missile)Carrington Vanston (Retro Computing Roundtable & Eaten by a Grue)Chris Torrence (Assembly Lines)Joe Strosnider (Joe’s Computer Museum)John Leake (RetroMacCast)Kate the Cat (Chicken Missile & RetroMetal)Ken Gagne (Polygamer & Transporter Lock)Kay Savetz (ANTIC & Eaten by a Grue)Mark Pilgrim (Chicken Missile)Michael Mulhern (Retro Computing Roundtable)Paul Hagstrom (Retro Computing Roundtable & Chicken Missile)Quinn Dunki (Retro Computing Roundtable)
The original video edition was livestreamed to YouTube:
A lo...2021-07-2554 minOpen AppleOpen Apple #80 (July 2021): KansasFest 2021 MegapodcastWelcome to Poly Retro Assembly Cast Chicken Missile Drop Grue Museum, the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest, hosted again via Zoom.
Participants:
Charles Mangin (Chicken Missile)Carrington Vanston (Retro Computing Roundtable & Eaten by a Grue)Chris Torrence (Assembly Lines)Joe Strosnider (Joe’s Computer Museum)John Leake (RetroMacCast)Kate the Cat (Chicken Missile & RetroMetal)Ken Gagne (Polygamer & Transporter Lock)Kay Savetz (ANTIC & Eaten by a Grue)Mark Pilgrim (Chicken Missile)Michael Mulhern (Retro Computing Roundtable)Paul Hagstrom (Retro Computing Roundtable & Chicken Missile)Quinn Dunki (Retro Computing Roundtable)
The original video edition was livestreamed to YouTube:
A lo...2021-07-2554 minEpisodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #79 (July 2020): KansasFest 2020 MegapodcastWelcome to Retro Open Poly Roundtable Chicken Missile Lines Drop Museum Gruecast, the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest, this time conducted virtually via Zoom. Scroll past the links for Open Apple‘s audio edition, or enjoy the video edition courtesy Chris Torrence’s Assembly Lines podcast:
Participants:
Quinn Dunki (Blondihacks, Open Apple, Retrocomputing Roundtable)Earl Evans (Retrocomputing Roundtable, Next Without For, Retrobits)Ken Gagne (Polygamer, Transporter Lock)Paul Hagstrom (Retrocomputing Roundtable, Drop III Inches)John Leake (RetroMacCast)Charles Mangin (How II)Rob McMullen (Player/Missile)Blake Patterson (Retrocomputing Roundtable)Kay Savetz (ANTIC: The Atari 8-Bit Podcast, Eaten By A Grue)Kate...2020-08-171h 26Open AppleOpen Apple #79 (July 2020): KansasFest 2020 MegapodcastWelcome to Retro Open Poly Roundtable Chicken Missile Lines Drop Museum Gruecast, the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest, this time conducted virtually via Zoom. Scroll past the links for Open Apple‘s audio edition, or enjoy the video edition courtesy Chris Torrence’s Assembly Lines podcast:
Participants:
Quinn Dunki (Blondihacks, Open Apple, Retrocomputing Roundtable)Earl Evans (Retrocomputing Roundtable, Next Without For, Retrobits)Ken Gagne (Polygamer, Transporter Lock)Paul Hagstrom (Retrocomputing Roundtable, Drop III Inches)John Leake (RetroMacCast)Charles Mangin (How II)Rob McMullen (Player/Missile)Blake Patterson (Retrocomputing Roundtable)Kay Savetz (ANTIC: The Atari 8-Bit Podcast, Eaten By A Grue)Kate...2020-08-171h 26Open AppleOpen Apple #78 (September 2018) – Retro Antic Assembly Chicken Missile Talks Our Way Out Of ItThis month on Open Apple, we bring you the traditional big group podcast that we record every year at KansasFest. Tune in for a casual chat with your favorite retro podcasters, and get a behind-the-scenes peek at what makes KansasFest special. This year we managed to twist the following arms into joining us:
Quinn Dunki – Open AppleCarrington Vanston – Retrocomputing Roundtable, Eaten By A GruePaul Hagstrom – Retrocomputing Roundtable, Drop III InchesKen Gagne – Retrocomputing Roundtable, Polygamer, Transporter LockCharles Mangin – How IISteve Weyrich – Retrocomputing RoundtableKay Savetz – ANTIC, Eaten By A Grue, Tech Enthusiast HourChris Torrence – Assembly LinesJason Scott – Jason Scott Talks His Way Out Of It
2018-09-121h 11Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #78 (September 2018) – Retro Antic Assembly Chicken Missile Talks Our Way Out Of ItThis month on Open Apple, we bring you the traditional big group podcast that we record every year at KansasFest. Tune in for a casual chat with your favorite retro podcasters, and get a behind-the-scenes peek at what makes KansasFest special. This year we managed to twist the following arms into joining us:
Quinn Dunki – Open AppleCarrington Vanston – Retrocomputing Roundtable, Eaten By A GruePaul Hagstrom – Retrocomputing Roundtable, Drop III InchesKen Gagne – Retrocomputing Roundtable, Polygamer, Transporter LockCharles Mangin – How IISteve Weyrich – Retrocomputing RoundtableKay Savetz – ANTIC, Eaten By A Grue, Tech Enthusiast HourChris Torrence – Assembly LinesJason Scott – Jason Scott Talks His Way Out Of It
2018-09-121h 11Open AppleOpen Apple #77 (March 2018) – Kay Savetz & Carrington Vanston, Eaten By A GrueThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston of the Eaten By A Grue podcast. Eaten By A Grue is a game-by-game style of podcast where the intrepid hosts are playing every Infocom game. They both play the game, then discuss it in detail, with and without spoilers. They discuss the amount of cheating required, how mapping was done, the quality of writing and puzzles, and so on. The show has a very nice structure wherein they discuss the show with no spoilers to the halfway point, so that you can stop and g...2018-07-171h 47Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #77 (March 2018) – Kay Savetz & Carrington Vanston, Eaten By A GrueThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston of the Eaten By A Grue podcast. Eaten By A Grue is a game-by-game style of podcast where the intrepid hosts are playing every Infocom game. They both play the game, then discuss it in detail, with and without spoilers. They discuss the amount of cheating required, how mapping was done, the quality of writing and puzzles, and so on. The show has a very nice structure wherein they discuss the show with no spoilers to the halfway point, so that you can stop and g...2018-07-171h 47Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #76 (January 2018) – Ken Gagne & Andy Molloy, Juiced.GS, NukesThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Ken Gagne and Andy Molloy of Juiced.GS, the longest running continuously published Apple II magazine (that you can still get in your mailbox to this day!). Juiced.GS is in its 23rd year, which has to be a record for magazines of almost any type.
Ken and Andy talk about the bloodless coup of the magazine, the long history of same, where things are headed, and why they hates trees.
Meanwhile, Quinn and Mike chat about FPGAs, nuclear weapons, and BBSes. What do you do w...2018-02-191h 40Open AppleOpen Apple #76 (January 2018) – Ken Gagne & Andy Molloy, Juiced.GS, NukesThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Ken Gagne and Andy Molloy of Juiced.GS, the longest running continuously published Apple II magazine (that you can still get in your mailbox to this day!). Juiced.GS is in its 23rd year, which has to be a record for magazines of almost any type.
Ken and Andy talk about the bloodless coup of the magazine, the long history of same, where things are headed, and why they hates trees.
Meanwhile, Quinn and Mike chat about FPGAs, nuclear weapons, and BBSes. What do you do w...2018-02-191h 40Open AppleOpen Apple #75 (October 2017) – Seth Sternberger, Class Apples, GS GraphicsWe’re baaaack! Sorry for the unscheduled hiatus folks, but your intrepid hosts had some family matters to attend to. This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Seth Steinberger of 8-bit Weapon. We talk about their new album Class Apples, which was made entirely on an Apple II. Yes, every sound on the album is generated by real Apple II hardware with no add-on cards. Apple IIs can make good sound with the right software and in the hands of a talented musician.
After the amazement of Class Apples wears off, we get into Seth’s back...2017-12-241h 59Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #75 (October 2017) – Seth Sternberger, Class Apples, GS GraphicsWe’re baaaack! Sorry for the unscheduled hiatus folks, but your intrepid hosts had some family matters to attend to. This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Seth Steinberger of 8-bit Weapon. We talk about their new album Class Apples, which was made entirely on an Apple II. Yes, every sound on the album is generated by real Apple II hardware with no add-on cards. Apple IIs can make good sound with the right software and in the hands of a talented musician.
After the amazement of Class Apples wears off, we get into Seth’s back...2017-12-241h 59Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #74 (September 2017) – Mark Lemmert, Nox Archaist Kickstarter, Fake Quinn, and Softalk #5This month on Open Apple, the part of Quinn Dunki is played by RCR Podcast co-host Carrington “Fake Quinn” Vanston. A post-KansasFest Mark Lemmert of 6502 Workshop returns to the show to promote the new Nox Archaist Kickstarter. You should contribute because it’s awesome to support those still developing for the Apple II and not just because you get cool stuff when you do (though that’s a thing that happens too!).
There’s lots of news to cover and Carrington has opinions on all of it. Only on Open Apple can you hear him trash clones, accelerato...2017-09-192h 36Open AppleOpen Apple #74 (September 2017) – Mark Lemmert, Nox Archaist Kickstarter, Fake Quinn, and Softalk #5This month on Open Apple, the part of Quinn Dunki is played by RCR Podcast co-host Carrington “Fake Quinn” Vanston. A post-KansasFest Mark Lemmert of 6502 Workshop returns to the show to promote the new Nox Archaist Kickstarter. You should contribute because it’s awesome to support those still developing for the Apple II and not just because you get cool stuff when you do (though that’s a thing that happens too!).
There’s lots of news to cover and Carrington has opinions on all of it. Only on Open Apple can you hear him trash clones, accelerato...2017-09-192h 36Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #73 (August 2017) – Assembly Chicken PolyANTICast RoundtableThis month on Open Apple, we run the annual group megapodcast that is recorded live at KansasFest! This is a four-year-old tradition whereby all the attending retro podcasters get together and do one big silly show together. It’s clunky, it’s pointless, and the audio quality is terrible because we’re all crowded one microphone in a grungy old basement chapel. Yet it’s one of our favorite things to do every year, so we hope you enjoy listening!
Around the table this year we have Quinn Dunki, Paul Hagstrom, John Leake, Chris Torrence, Kay Savetz, Ken Gagne...2017-08-091h 00Open AppleOpen Apple #73 (August 2017) – Assembly Chicken PolyANTICast RoundtableThis month on Open Apple, we run the annual group megapodcast that is recorded live at KansasFest! This is a four-year-old tradition whereby all the attending retro podcasters get together and do one big silly show together. It’s clunky, it’s pointless, and the audio quality is terrible because we’re all crowded one microphone in a grungy old basement chapel. Yet it’s one of our favorite things to do every year, so we hope you enjoy listening!
Around the table this year we have Quinn Dunki, Paul Hagstrom, John Leake, Chris Torrence, Kay Savetz, Ken Gagne...2017-08-091h 00Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #71 (May 2017) – Michael Packard, Alien Downpour, Kermit (The Frog)This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Michael Packard, author of the upcoming new game Alien Downpour. Michael has gone back to teach himself assembly language and make the kinds of games he wished he had made back in the day. The results are indeed impressive, and his first foray into solo Apple II game production is shaping up great. He’s also been very encouraging to the community, having set up the Facebook group Apple Graphics and Arcade Game Design Enthusiasts, dedicated to the book by the same name. This group is a place for Michael to s...2017-05-311h 40Open AppleOpen Apple #71 (May 2017) – Michael Packard, Alien Downpour, Kermit (The Frog)This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Michael Packard, author of the upcoming new game Alien Downpour. Michael has gone back to teach himself assembly language and make the kinds of games he wished he had made back in the day. The results are indeed impressive, and his first foray into solo Apple II game production is shaping up great. He’s also been very encouraging to the community, having set up the Facebook group Apple Graphics and Arcade Game Design Enthusiasts, dedicated to the book by the same name. This group is a place for Michael to s...2017-05-311h 40Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #70 (April 2017) – 6502 Workshop, 1st-Person Lo-Res, Softalk #4This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Mark Lemmert, co-founder of 6502 Workshop. Him and his partners (Mike Reimer, Bill Giggie, Robert Padovan, Gordon Mackay, and Galactagog) have been building Nox Archaist, a brand new story-driven tile-based role-playing game in the classical Ultima style. They’re pushing the hardware as far as they can with this new engine, working to break new ground in scope, story, animation, sound, and music. Early builds look great, and we’re really excited to see more!
Mark’s journey with the Apple II parallels a lot of us. The machine sparked...2017-04-191h 44Open AppleOpen Apple #70 (April 2017) – 6502 Workshop, 1st-Person Lo-Res, Softalk #4This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Mark Lemmert, co-founder of 6502 Workshop. Him and his partners (Mike Reimer, Bill Giggie, Robert Padovan, Gordon Mackay, and Galactagog) have been building Nox Archaist, a brand new story-driven tile-based role-playing game in the classical Ultima style. They’re pushing the hardware as far as they can with this new engine, working to break new ground in scope, story, animation, sound, and music. Early builds look great, and we’re really excited to see more!
Mark’s journey with the Apple II parallels a lot of us. The machine sparked...2017-04-191h 44Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #69 (March 2017) – Craig Peterson, KansasFest, Computer Show!This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Craig Peterson, who got involved with hardware and software development very early in the life of the Apple II. Craig integrated Apple II computers with a numerical control manufacturing system, producing G-code for the cutting machines in a factory. He was a pioneer in using the Apple II for what computers are actually good at- moving data around in an automated fashion and abstracting away sources of human error in a complex process.
Craig wrote technical articles for all the major Apple magazines, which led to him getting involv...2017-04-051h 34Open AppleOpen Apple #69 (March 2017) – Craig Peterson, KansasFest, Computer Show!This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Craig Peterson, who got involved with hardware and software development very early in the life of the Apple II. Craig integrated Apple II computers with a numerical control manufacturing system, producing G-code for the cutting machines in a factory. He was a pioneer in using the Apple II for what computers are actually good at- moving data around in an automated fashion and abstracting away sources of human error in a complex process.
Craig wrote technical articles for all the major Apple magazines, which led to him getting involv...2017-04-051h 34Open AppleOpen Apple #68 (February 2017) : Emulator Updates, EDD, Softalk #3This month on Open Apple, Mike and Quinn sit down with each other and catch up on all the news they’ve been neglecting lately.
Mike and Quinn discuss the disappointing 8BitDo controller, get excited about remanufactured printer ribbons, and pretend to know anything about EDD.
Follow along as we review Softalk volume 1, number 3. The ads are always the best part! Meanwhile, we manage to sneak in one more Kay Savetz reference, and a Boo Atari in the same breath. That’s the Open Apple Way.
You won’t want to miss this month’s...2017-03-051h 53Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #68 (February 2017) : Emulator Updates, EDD, Softalk #3This month on Open Apple, Mike and Quinn sit down with each other and catch up on all the news they’ve been neglecting lately.
Mike and Quinn discuss the disappointing 8BitDo controller, get excited about remanufactured printer ribbons, and pretend to know anything about EDD.
Follow along as we review Softalk volume 1, number 3. The ads are always the best part! Meanwhile, we manage to sneak in one more Kay Savetz reference, and a Boo Atari in the same breath. That’s the Open Apple Way.
You won’t want to miss this month’s...2017-03-051h 53Open AppleOpen Apple #67 (January 2017) : Year End Roundtable!This month on Open Apple, we round out the year with our annual tradition of sitting around a virtual table with some friends of the show, discussing whatever comes to mind. Mike and Quinn are joined by Jeremy Barr-Hyde, Jorma Honkanen, Kate Szkotnicki & Chris Torrence.
We have a really fun mix of Apple II fans from all walks of life and all parts of the world this month. Sit down with us as we discuss our history with the machines and how they fit into our lives today. Can retrocomputers be teaching tools for kids today? Can an App...2017-02-0256 minEpisodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #67 (January 2017) : Year End Roundtable!This month on Open Apple, we round out the year with our annual tradition of sitting around a virtual table with some friends of the show, discussing whatever comes to mind. Mike and Quinn are joined by Jeremy Barr-Hyde, Jorma Honkanen, Kate Szkotnicki & Chris Torrence.
We have a really fun mix of Apple II fans from all walks of life and all parts of the world this month. Sit down with us as we discuss our history with the machines and how they fit into our lives today. Can retrocomputers be teaching tools for kids today? Can an App...2017-02-0256 minEpisodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #66 (December 2016) : Glenda “The Atom” AdamsThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Glenda Adams, better known on the Apple II as The Atom. She was a cracker of some note back in the 1980s, and she shares great stories with us of her exploits in boot tracing, cracking, and distributing software in the glory days of the Apple II BBS scene.
We talk about the journey from programming to cracking, and back to programming again. We talk about the politics of the Apple II scene, and the unique experience of cracking software remotely. Think fixing your grandparents’ printer over the pho...2016-12-291h 41Open AppleOpen Apple #66 (December 2016) : Glenda “The Atom” AdamsThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Glenda Adams, better known on the Apple II as The Atom. She was a cracker of some note back in the 1980s, and she shares great stories with us of her exploits in boot tracing, cracking, and distributing software in the glory days of the Apple II BBS scene.
We talk about the journey from programming to cracking, and back to programming again. We talk about the politics of the Apple II scene, and the unique experience of cracking software remotely. Think fixing your grandparents’ printer over the pho...2016-12-291h 41Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #65 (November 2016) : Alex Lee, What Is The Apple IIgs?This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Alex Lee, purveyor of the canonical IIgs reference site What Is The Apple IIgs? We talk about what it was like being one of the brave few with this machine, and that feeling of living in a secret world of incredible graphics and sound that nobody else seemed to know about.
Alex walks us through the history of IIgs emulators, and all the ways that the IIgs Finder was actually better than the Mac. He also talks about the legal challenges of running an archive site like this, whi...2016-12-062h 13Open AppleOpen Apple #65 (November 2016) : Alex Lee, What Is The Apple IIgs?This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Alex Lee, purveyor of the canonical IIgs reference site What Is The Apple IIgs? We talk about what it was like being one of the brave few with this machine, and that feeling of living in a secret world of incredible graphics and sound that nobody else seemed to know about.
Alex walks us through the history of IIgs emulators, and all the ways that the IIgs Finder was actually better than the Mac. He also talks about the legal challenges of running an archive site like this, whi...2016-12-062h 13Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #64 (October 2016) : John Brooks, Tiger Learning Computer, SoftalkThis month on Open Apple, we share an excerpt of an interview with John Brooks, courtesy of Juiced.GS. John talks about how and why he updated ProDOS, and his experiences getting back into the community.
Tune in to hear Quinn lose 20 years of time perception around the Tiger Learning Computer, then pretend to know stuff about power supplies. Meanwhile, Mike waxes nostalgic about high school computer labs and tries to unload his excess Apple IIs on unsuspecting community members.
We try out a new segment this month, and we hope you like it! No spoi...2016-10-301h 31Open AppleOpen Apple #64 (October 2016) : John Brooks, Tiger Learning Computer, SoftalkThis month on Open Apple, we share an excerpt of an interview with John Brooks, courtesy of Juiced.GS. John talks about how and why he updated ProDOS, and his experiences getting back into the community.
Tune in to hear Quinn lose 20 years of time perception around the Tiger Learning Computer, then pretend to know stuff about power supplies. Meanwhile, Mike waxes nostalgic about high school computer labs and tries to unload his excess Apple IIs on unsuspecting community members.
We try out a new segment this month, and we hope you like it! No spoi...2016-10-301h 31Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #63 (September 2016) : Kate Szkotnicki, ProDOS 2.4, KansasFestThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Kate Szkotnicki, long time Apple II fan and new addition to the retro community. We chat about her first impressions as a newcomer to the community, and the big splash she made at her first KansasFest. Kate is a cosplayer and frequent attendee of anime and comic cons, so she brought a very fresh set of skills and perspectives to KansasFest. Her presentation on making plastic parts (and candy!) with silicone moulding was very popular. Throw away your 3D printers- this is easier and better.
We also talk lo...2016-09-261h 40Open AppleOpen Apple #63 (September 2016) : Kate Szkotnicki, ProDOS 2.4, KansasFestThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Kate Szkotnicki, long time Apple II fan and new addition to the retro community. We chat about her first impressions as a newcomer to the community, and the big splash she made at her first KansasFest. Kate is a cosplayer and frequent attendee of anime and comic cons, so she brought a very fresh set of skills and perspectives to KansasFest. Her presentation on making plastic parts (and candy!) with silicone moulding was very popular. Throw away your 3D printers- this is easier and better.
We also talk lo...2016-09-261h 40Open AppleOpen Apple #62 (August 2016) : Mark Pilgrim, Passport, Ancient LegendsThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Mark Pilgrim, one of the most active software preservationists in the Apple II community. Mark has been spending his free time working on Passport, an automated cracking tool. It automatically detects and defeats copy protection schemes on Apple II disks, producing copyable disks that are otherwise completely intact. This is a boon for preservation of software that has only been (poorly) cracked by hoodlums of the past, or is previously uncracked. The latter is very common with educational software, business packages, and other things that the old crackers weren’t int...2016-08-241h 28Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #62 (August 2016) : Mark Pilgrim, Passport, Ancient LegendsThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Mark Pilgrim, one of the most active software preservationists in the Apple II community. Mark has been spending his free time working on Passport, an automated cracking tool. It automatically detects and defeats copy protection schemes on Apple II disks, producing copyable disks that are otherwise completely intact. This is a boon for preservation of software that has only been (poorly) cracked by hoodlums of the past, or is previously uncracked. The latter is very common with educational software, business packages, and other things that the old crackers weren’t int...2016-08-241h 28Open AppleOpen Apple #61 (July 2016) : KansasFest 2016, Chicken Missile MegapodcastThis month on Open Apple, as is tradition, we present the megapodcast recorded live at KansasFest. Most of your favorite retrocomputing podcasters attend KansasFest each year, and we all get together in a basement room to record a giant group podcast. This year’s recording includes, in no particular order:
Quinn Dunki of Open ApplePaul Hagstrom of Retrocomputing Roundtable and Drop /// InchesMichael Mulhern and Carrington Vanston of Retrocomputing RoundtableKay Savetz of AnticRob McMullen of Player/MissileKen Gagne of Polygamer and IndiesiderJohn Leake of RetroMacCastTodd George of Chicken Lips RadioCharles Mangin of How IIJeff Salzman of The History Of Perso...2016-07-281h 25Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #61 (July 2016) : KansasFest 2016, Chicken Missile MegapodcastThis month on Open Apple, as is tradition, we present the megapodcast recorded live at KansasFest. Most of your favorite retrocomputing podcasters attend KansasFest each year, and we all get together in a basement room to record a giant group podcast. This year’s recording includes, in no particular order:
Quinn Dunki of Open ApplePaul Hagstrom of Retrocomputing Roundtable and Drop /// InchesMichael Mulhern and Carrington Vanston of Retrocomputing RoundtableKay Savetz of AnticRob McMullen of Player/MissileKen Gagne of Polygamer and IndiesiderJohn Leake of RetroMacCastTodd George of Chicken Lips RadioCharles Mangin of How IIJeff Salzman of The History Of Perso...2016-07-281h 25Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #60 (June 2016) : Sean Fahey, KansasFest 2016 WarmupThis 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 catered, and the prizes for the various contests are amazing this year. All the great Apple...2016-06-221h 18Open AppleOpen Apple #60 (June 2016) : Sean Fahey, KansasFest 2016 WarmupThis 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 catered, and the prizes for the various contests are amazing this year. All the great Apple...2016-06-221h 18Open AppleOpen Apple #59 (May 2016) : Amy Kefauver, Lorri Hopping, Stuff4YourGSThis month on Open Apple, Kay 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 advertising, and hardware with Bumper Stumper product names. It wouldn’t be a show if they didn’t me...2016-06-011h 40Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #59 (May 2016) : Amy Kefauver, Lorri Hopping, Stuff4YourGSThis month on Open Apple, Kay 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 advertising, and hardware with Bumper Stumper product names. It wouldn’t be a show if they didn’t me...2016-06-011h 40Open AppleOpen Apple #58 (April 2016) : Huibert Aalbers, IIGS Stuff, Taiwanese HamThis 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. It turns out platform jealousy can be a powerful force indeed.
Meanwhile, we talk oranges, Taiwanese ham...2016-05-042h 07Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #58 (April 2016) : Huibert Aalbers, IIGS Stuff, Taiwanese HamThis 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. It turns out platform jealousy can be a powerful force indeed.
Meanwhile, we talk oranges, Taiwanese ham...2016-05-042h 07Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #57 (March 2016) : Bill Budge!This month on Open Apple, we sit down with legendary Apple II programmer, Bill Budge. In addition to being an icon of Apple II gaming and graphics, he is the number-one-requested guest by listeners of the show. Mike and Quinn are very excited he was able to make some time to talk to them, and hope you agree it was worth the effort. Bill is, of course, the author of such seminal classics as Raster Blaster, Pinball Construction Set, and MousePaint. He was an influential force in the golden years of Electronic Arts, and did many good works with ear...2016-03-131h 32Open AppleOpen Apple #57 (March 2016) : Bill Budge!This month on Open Apple, we sit down with legendary Apple II programmer, Bill Budge. In addition to being an icon of Apple II gaming and graphics, he is the number-one-requested guest by listeners of the show. Mike and Quinn are very excited he was able to make some time to talk to them, and hope you agree it was worth the effort. Bill is, of course, the author of such seminal classics as Raster Blaster, Pinball Construction Set, and MousePaint. He was an influential force in the golden years of Electronic Arts, and did many good works with ear...2016-03-131h 32Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #56 (February 2016) : Peter Lount, Gemstone Warrior, KansasFestThis month on Open Apple we sit down with Peter Lount, co-developer of Gemstone Warrior and Gemstone Healer for the Apple II. Canadian programmer Peter and his partner Trouba broke new ground in video games by combining fast action combat with procedurally generated caves and dungeon content. Gemstone Warrior doesn’t get credit for being the predecessor to Blizzard megahit Diablo, but it should. Peter talks about tuning his rendering engine, including rewriting huge chunks of it overnight to meet a deadline. What’s your reality resolution?
Tune in to hear Mike complain that Gemstone’s monsters are too...2016-02-221h 32Open AppleOpen Apple #56 (February 2016) : Peter Lount, Gemstone Warrior, KansasFestThis month on Open Apple we sit down with Peter Lount, co-developer of Gemstone Warrior and Gemstone Healer for the Apple II. Canadian programmer Peter and his partner Trouba broke new ground in video games by combining fast action combat with procedurally generated caves and dungeon content. Gemstone Warrior doesn’t get credit for being the predecessor to Blizzard megahit Diablo, but it should. Peter talks about tuning his rendering engine, including rewriting huge chunks of it overnight to meet a deadline. What’s your reality resolution?
Tune in to hear Mike complain that Gemstone’s monsters are too...2016-02-221h 32Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #55 (January 2016) : Henry Courbis, UltimateMicro, ProDOS conversionsThis month on Open Apple we sit down with Henry Courbis, co-proprietor of Ultimate Micro, serial entrepreneur, and Open Source guy. Henry is boldly going where no hobbyist has gone before, by making Apple II hardware his real day job. If anyone can do it, Ultimate Micro can!
We talk massive modem phone bills, phreaking, warez, and statutes of limitations. You know… for a friend. Henry talks about how hardware first appealed to him, and how he has leveraged his hacking and resourcefulness into development of powerful & complex modern products. Henry is a nexus of collaboration in the Ap...2016-01-311h 44Open AppleOpen Apple #55 (January 2016) : Henry Courbis, UltimateMicro, ProDOS conversionsThis month on Open Apple we sit down with Henry Courbis, co-proprietor of Ultimate Micro, serial entrepreneur, and Open Source guy. Henry is boldly going where no hobbyist has gone before, by making Apple II hardware his real day job. If anyone can do it, Ultimate Micro can!
We talk massive modem phone bills, phreaking, warez, and statutes of limitations. You know… for a friend. Henry talks about how hardware first appealed to him, and how he has leveraged his hacking and resourcefulness into development of powerful & complex modern products. Henry is a nexus of collaboration in the Ap...2016-01-311h 44Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #54 (December 2015) : Year End Roundtable!This month on Open Apple, we round out the year with our annual tradition of sitting around a virtual table with some friends of the show, discussing whatever comes to mind. Mike and Quinn are joined by Randy Brandt of Beagle Bros fame, Charles Mangin of RetroConnector, and some guy named Carrington Vanston.
We talk about connecting old things to other old things, connecting old things to new things, and how to pluralize German surnames. Mike manages to make several Apple III references, Carrington imagines nonexistent 8-bit games, and The Third Apple Guy is discussed at some point...2016-01-031h 27Open AppleOpen Apple #54 (December 2015) : Year End Roundtable!This month on Open Apple, we round out the year with our annual tradition of sitting around a virtual table with some friends of the show, discussing whatever comes to mind. Mike and Quinn are joined by Randy Brandt of Beagle Bros fame, Charles Mangin of RetroConnector, and some guy named Carrington Vanston.
We talk about connecting old things to other old things, connecting old things to new things, and how to pluralize German surnames. Mike manages to make several Apple III references, Carrington imagines nonexistent 8-bit games, and The Third Apple Guy is discussed at some point...2016-01-031h 27Open AppleOpen Apple #52 (October 2015) : GEOS! Robert Bowdidge, and more GEOS!This month on Open Apple we sit down with Robert Bowdidge, one of three interns at Berkeley Softworks who ported GEOS to the best line of 8-bit computers. We talk about what a great place Berkeley Softworks was, along with the power of good tools and proper software engineering. Robert has great memories of the culture there, the GUI technology they had built, and the brilliant people who built it. Apparently GEOS existed for some other 8-bit computer as well, but we imagine it was slow and child-like. Users probably bought it at K-Mart or something.
After the...2015-10-312h 42Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #52 (October 2015) : GEOS! Robert Bowdidge, and more GEOS!This month on Open Apple we sit down with Robert Bowdidge, one of three interns at Berkeley Softworks who ported GEOS to the best line of 8-bit computers. We talk about what a great place Berkeley Softworks was, along with the power of good tools and proper software engineering. Robert has great memories of the culture there, the GUI technology they had built, and the brilliant people who built it. Apparently GEOS existed for some other 8-bit computer as well, but we imagine it was slow and child-like. Users probably bought it at K-Mart or something.
After the...2015-10-312h 42Open AppleOpen Apple #51 (September 2015) : Mike Westerfield, Opus ][, The Byte Works, Merlin 32This month on Open Apple we sit down with Mike Westerfield, of The Byte Works’ fame. We talk about his adventures writing assemblers & compilers for 8/16 bit computers, and we see what he’s up to nowadays. We talk about small-system compilers, Logo, the perils of open source, and where to go for Byte Works’ products. It’s a compiler and assembler-themed episode of the one-and-only Apple II podcast.
Tune in to hear Mike pine longingly for Lawless Legends, and hear Quinn achieve maximum Boo Atari Density (BAD). We find amazing new hardware and unauthorized museums. There are wacky Australi...2015-10-012h 12Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #51 (September 2015) : Mike Westerfield, Opus ][, The Byte Works, Merlin 32This month on Open Apple we sit down with Mike Westerfield, of The Byte Works’ fame. We talk about his adventures writing assemblers & compilers for 8/16 bit computers, and we see what he’s up to nowadays. We talk about small-system compilers, Logo, the perils of open source, and where to go for Byte Works’ products. It’s a compiler and assembler-themed episode of the one-and-only Apple II podcast.
Tune in to hear Mike pine longingly for Lawless Legends, and hear Quinn achieve maximum Boo Atari Density (BAD). We find amazing new hardware and unauthorized museums. There are wacky Australi...2015-10-012h 12Open AppleOpen Apple #50 (August 2015) : Rebecca Heineman, Plamen’s Clones, GS/OS UpdatesThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Rebecca “Burger Becky” Heineman. Becky is a legendary Apple II developer (not to mention many other platforms), and was the keynote speaker at KansasFest 2015. We discuss Becky’s KansasFest experiences then and now, how the community has changed, and what she’s up to now. She has a lot of Apple II gold archived away, and we’re starting to see more and more of it as a result of the continued warmth and friendliness of the Apple II community.
Tune in after that interview, when Quinn and Mike go on...2015-09-012h 00Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #50 (August 2015) : Rebecca Heineman, Plamen’s Clones, GS/OS UpdatesThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Rebecca “Burger Becky” Heineman. Becky is a legendary Apple II developer (not to mention many other platforms), and was the keynote speaker at KansasFest 2015. We discuss Becky’s KansasFest experiences then and now, how the community has changed, and what she’s up to now. She has a lot of Apple II gold archived away, and we’re starting to see more and more of it as a result of the continued warmth and friendliness of the Apple II community.
Tune in after that interview, when Quinn and Mike go on...2015-09-012h 00Open AppleOpen Apple #49 (July 2015) : Laine Nooney, Technowarp, 4amThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Laine Nooney, researcher of early computer and software companies. Laine has been digging into the history of such greats as Brøderbund and Sierra On-Line. In particular, they have done awesome research on the infamous Soft Porn Adventure, including behind-the-scenes details on the infamous advertising photo. We talk about broken microfilm projectors, we talk about printer stands, and we talk about revisionist small town historians. Trust us, it will all make sense in the end. Laine is going deep into the role of the microcomputer revolution in transforming domestic life (and...2015-08-032h 53Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #49 (July 2015) : Laine Nooney, Technowarp, 4amThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Laine Nooney, researcher of early computer and software companies. Laine has been digging into the history of such greats as Brøderbund and Sierra On-Line. In particular, they have done awesome research on the infamous Soft Porn Adventure, including behind-the-scenes details on the infamous advertising photo. We talk about broken microfilm projectors, we talk about printer stands, and we talk about revisionist small town historians. Trust us, it will all make sense in the end. Laine is going deep into the role of the microcomputer revolution in transforming domestic life (and...2015-08-032h 53Open AppleOpen Apple #48 (June 2015) : Tony Diaz, KansasFest Memories, Prototypes, and 8-bit DNSThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Tony Diaz- KansasFest committee member, and consummate Apple II collector. With KansasFest just days away, we go deep on Tony’s amazing collection of unique prototypes, documents, peripherals, and the stories that go with them. If there’s a person with deeper knowledge of the early history of Apple Hardware, we haven’t met them.
Thanks for your patience in June, everyone! Some technical and logistical difficulties kept us from posting this episode as soon as we would have liked. We hope the show is worth the wait. We dive...2015-07-122h 33Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #48 (June 2015) : Tony Diaz, KansasFest Memories, Prototypes, and 8-bit DNSThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Tony Diaz- KansasFest committee member, and consummate Apple II collector. With KansasFest just days away, we go deep on Tony’s amazing collection of unique prototypes, documents, peripherals, and the stories that go with them. If there’s a person with deeper knowledge of the early history of Apple Hardware, we haven’t met them.
Thanks for your patience in June, everyone! Some technical and logistical difficulties kept us from posting this episode as soon as we would have liked. We hope the show is worth the wait. We dive...2015-07-122h 33Open AppleOpen Apple #47 (May 2015) : Jason Scott, Kaboom!, Infocom SecretsThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Jason Scott, documentary filmmaker, historian, public speaker, and archivist.
We talk about the importance of a nuanced appreciation of history, the flavors of sadness in comment threads, whom not to trust with special data and the nature of humanity, and failing at life.
Don’t miss Mike Hate Sponge Delicate Snowflake Maginnis’s sigh to end all sighs. Join us to learn how to take care of your capacitors, how to count your cycles, and how to do TCP/IP on your 8-bit Apple II.
Want...2015-05-282h 17Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #47 (May 2015) : Jason Scott, Kaboom!, Infocom SecretsThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Jason Scott, documentary filmmaker, historian, public speaker, and archivist.
We talk about the importance of a nuanced appreciation of history, the flavors of sadness in comment threads, whom not to trust with special data and the nature of humanity, and failing at life.
Don’t miss Mike Hate Sponge Delicate Snowflake Maginnis’s sigh to end all sighs. Join us to learn how to take care of your capacitors, how to count your cycles, and how to do TCP/IP on your 8-bit Apple II.
Want...2015-05-282h 17Open AppleOpen Apple #46 (April 2015): Paul Lutus, ReactiveMicro, and KansasFest KeynoteThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Paul Lutus, author of seminal early Apple II software such as AppleWriter and GraFORTH. We talk about the impacts of software development on society, the value of the individual in the process, and the trials of coding software in the woods.
We talk extreme offsite backups, KansasFest keynotes, telnet BBSing, and the hurricane of awesome that is ReactiveMicro. We reminisce about the original Home Computer Wars (these kids today arguing about their smartphones are so darned cute), and also Boo Atari.
We trek from Bulgaria to...2015-04-202h 08Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #46 (April 2015): Paul Lutus, ReactiveMicro, and KansasFest KeynoteThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Paul Lutus, author of seminal early Apple II software such as AppleWriter and GraFORTH. We talk about the impacts of software development on society, the value of the individual in the process, and the trials of coding software in the woods.
We talk extreme offsite backups, KansasFest keynotes, telnet BBSing, and the hurricane of awesome that is ReactiveMicro. We reminisce about the original Home Computer Wars (these kids today arguing about their smartphones are so darned cute), and also Boo Atari.
We trek from Bulgaria to...2015-04-202h 08Open AppleOpen Apple #45 (March 2015): Mark Kriegsman, FastLED, Transwarp GS Clone, and NewsapaloozaThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Mark Kriegsman, author of Star Blaster, and a modern Apple II hacker. He has ported the awesome FastLED driver library to the Apple II, so you can drive many hundreds of 32-bit RGB LEDs with your Apple II.
Meanwhile, we browbeat people into attending KansasFest, we rationalize our shame at developing on emulators, we talk dead tree easter eggs, we make terrible awesome BASIC & Twitter puns, we talk about post-mortem collecting, and Mike generates hate mail. Just in case you’re not completely over movies about Steve Jobs, we ta...2015-03-283h 09Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #45 (March 2015): Mark Kriegsman, FastLED, Transwarp GS Clone, and NewsapaloozaThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Mark Kriegsman, author of Star Blaster, and a modern Apple II hacker. He has ported the awesome FastLED driver library to the Apple II, so you can drive many hundreds of 32-bit RGB LEDs with your Apple II.
Meanwhile, we browbeat people into attending KansasFest, we rationalize our shame at developing on emulators, we talk dead tree easter eggs, we make terrible awesome BASIC & Twitter puns, we talk about post-mortem collecting, and Mike generates hate mail. Just in case you’re not completely over movies about Steve Jobs, we ta...2015-03-283h 09Open AppleOpen Apple #44 (February 2015) : Beagle Bros Reunion Roundtable, Andrew RoughanThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Beagles Bros Randy Brandt, Mark Simonsen Tom Weishaar, and Alan Bird. We share stories of Beagle’s development, poke lots of fun at each other, and check in on where everyone is now.
We spread the love for Oz KFest with Andrew Roughan, and amazingly resist the urge to make any upside-down jokes about Australia. Mike and Quinn are trying to be bigger than northern-hemispherism, and they like to think they’ve grown as people as a result.
We talk brain-imaging, we talk helicopter piloting, and we spr...2015-02-282h 09Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #44 (February 2015) : Beagle Bros Reunion Roundtable, Andrew RoughanThis month on Open Apple, we sit down with Beagles Bros Randy Brandt, Mark Simonsen Tom Weishaar, and Alan Bird. We share stories of Beagle’s development, poke lots of fun at each other, and check in on where everyone is now.
We spread the love for Oz KFest with Andrew Roughan, and amazingly resist the urge to make any upside-down jokes about Australia. Mike and Quinn are trying to be bigger than northern-hemispherism, and they like to think they’ve grown as people as a result.
We talk brain-imaging, we talk helicopter piloting, and we spr...2015-02-282h 09Open AppleOpen Apple #43 (January 2015) : Happy New Year with Ben Heck!This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Ben Heck, one of our most-requested interviews. We talk about his Apple I replica, his Apple IIgs laptop, and Adam Sandler for some reason. Meanwhile, Mike and Quinn talk about Apple Porsches, Pinball Construction Set, and Western Design Center. In the comedy department, we get back to our roots (making fun of Wizardry).
There’s potato chips, there’s troll pits, there’s 3D printing, and all kinds of other wandering off topic this month, so be sure to stay tuned for none of that.
We’re looking fo...2015-01-221h 53Open AppleOpen Apple #42 (December 2014) : 2014 Year-End Roundtable, Eric Shepherd, Sarah W., Carrington VanstonThis month on Open Apple, we close out the year with our traditional Year-End Roundtable discussion. We’re joined by Eric ‘Sheppy’ Shepherd, Sarah W., and Carrington Vanston. We talk about alternate universes, our collective love of the IIgs, and Quinn takes cheap shots at Carrington. It’s the holidays, so Commodore users are given a respite. Well, a bit of a respite, anyway. Meanwhile, Sheppy solicits hatemail, Carrington calls shenanigans, and Sarah keeps everyone honest. Count the euphemisms! So many euphemisms!
As usual, we have lots of news to talk about as well. It’s been an amazing...2015-01-021h 53Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #42 (December 2014) : 2014 Year-End Roundtable, Eric Shepherd, Sarah W., Carrington VanstonThis month on Open Apple, we close out the year with our traditional Year-End Roundtable discussion. We’re joined by Eric ‘Sheppy’ Shepherd, Sarah W., and Carrington Vanston. We talk about alternate universes, our collective love of the IIgs, and Quinn takes cheap shots at Carrington. It’s the holidays, so Commodore users are given a respite. Well, a bit of a respite, anyway. Meanwhile, Sheppy solicits hatemail, Carrington calls shenanigans, and Sarah keeps everyone honest. Count the euphemisms! So many euphemisms!
As usual, we have lots of news to talk about as well. It’s been an amazing...2015-01-021h 53Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #40.5 (November 2014) : Mike and Quinn Watch ‘The Goldbergs’Now for something completely different. We have a bit of a gap between shows here on Open Apple, due to the timing of some interviews we have lined up. Rather than keep you waiting, we thought we’d try something wacky.
In this “episode” of Open Apple, Quinn and Mike sit down together and watch The Goldbergs. This is a sitcom airing on ABC that is garnering some critical acclaim. In particular, we watched episode 4 in season 2, entitled “Shall We Play a Game?”. This episode features an Apple II+ prominently throughout the show, including terrific shots of games and...2014-11-0825 minOpen AppleOpen Apple #40.5 (November 2014) : Mike and Quinn Watch ‘The Goldbergs’Now for something completely different. We have a bit of a gap between shows here on Open Apple, due to the timing of some interviews we have lined up. Rather than keep you waiting, we thought we’d try something wacky.
In this “episode” of Open Apple, Quinn and Mike sit down together and watch The Goldbergs. This is a sitcom airing on ABC that is garnering some critical acclaim. In particular, we watched episode 4 in season 2, entitled “Shall We Play a Game?”. This episode features an Apple II+ prominently throughout the show, including terrific shots of games and...2014-11-0825 minOpen AppleOpen Apple #39 (September 2014) : Gary B. Little, New Segments, Apple IIc CardsThis month on Open Apple, we talk to Gary Little, prolific author of many technical reference books about various models in the Apple ][ line. In addition to writing great books that go deep on the hardware, Gary also wrote lots of great software, including such gems as AmDOS, and the popular Point To Point modem communication software.
We also catch up on all the news (there’s lots!) and take some cheap shots at other podcasters along the way. Join us as we talk about open source hardware, GS ports of great arcade games, the joy of red...2014-10-011h 43Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #38 (August 2014) : The Lawless Legends TeamThis month on Open Apple, we go deep on Lawless Legends with most of the team building it. We’ve managed to corner Seth Sternberger (of 8-bit Weapon fame), Martin Haye, and Brendan Robert (Dave Schmenk, we’re coming for you…) to grill them on this amazing effort. We also wish a fond farewell to co-host Ken Gagne, and welcome our new co-host Quinn Dunki. Listeners can look forward to more angry sarcasm and less professionalism here on Open Apple. Of course, we also ramble some more about KansasFest 2014. Because KansasFest.
Lawless Legends is a new wild west RPG...2014-08-311h 31Open AppleOpen Apple #38 (August 2014) : The Lawless Legends TeamThis month on Open Apple, we go deep on Lawless Legends with most of the team building it. We’ve managed to corner Seth Sternberger (of 8-bit Weapon fame), Martin Haye, and Brendan Robert (Dave Schmenk, we’re coming for you…) to grill them on this amazing effort. We also wish a fond farewell to co-host Ken Gagne, and welcome our new co-host Quinn Dunki. Listeners can look forward to more angry sarcasm and less professionalism here on Open Apple. Of course, we also ramble some more about KansasFest 2014. Because KansasFest.
Lawless Legends is a new wild west RPG...2014-08-311h 31Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #37 (July 2014): Quinn Dunki, Veronica, Halt and Catch Fire, KansasFest 2014This month on Open Apple, Mike chats with Quinn Dunki about her early programming experiences, and she gives us a brief overview of the development of her 6502-based homebrew computer, Veronica. Other topics this month: Apple IIc clones, KansasFest, Ultima VI on the IIGS, Quinn’s cease and desist from Origin Systems, Halt and Catch Fire, The Goldbergs and more.The post Open Apple #37 (July 2014): Quinn Dunki, Veronica, Halt and Catch Fire, KansasFest 2014 first appeared on Open Apple.2014-07-191h 24Open AppleOpen Apple #37 (July 2014): Quinn Dunki, Veronica, Halt and Catch Fire, KansasFest 2014This month on Open Apple, Mike chats with Quinn Dunki about her early programming experiences, and she gives us a brief overview of the development of her 6502-based homebrew computer, Veronica. Other topics this month: Apple IIc clones, KansasFest, Ultima VI on the IIGS, Quinn’s cease and desist from Origin Systems, Halt and Catch Fire, The Goldbergs and more.The post Open Apple #37 (July 2014): Quinn Dunki, Veronica, Halt and Catch Fire, KansasFest 2014 first appeared on Open Apple.2014-07-191h 24Open AppleOpen Apple #35 (Feb 2014): Sean Fahey, Uthernet, Silvern Castle, and the Mac’s 30th
This month on Open Apple, Mike and Ken chat with Sean Fahey, proprietor of A2Central.com and KansasFest committee member. Sean and James Littlejohn distribute a plethora of Apple II hardware and software every year to KansasFest attendees, and next year’s haul will be bigger than ever — we have the details why. Glenn Jones is working on a new Uthernet card, and we can’t wait to see what new software it makes possible. The Mac turned thirty years old last month, and we reminisce about the first time we added a non-Apple II Apple to our invent...2014-02-061h 29Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #35 (Feb 2014): Sean Fahey, Uthernet, Silvern Castle, and the Mac’s 30th
This month on Open Apple, Mike and Ken chat with Sean Fahey, proprietor of A2Central.com and KansasFest committee member. Sean and James Littlejohn distribute a plethora of Apple II hardware and software every year to KansasFest attendees, and next year’s haul will be bigger than ever — we have the details why. Glenn Jones is working on a new Uthernet card, and we can’t wait to see what new software it makes possible. The Mac turned thirty years old last month, and we reminisce about the first time we added a non-Apple II Apple to our invent...2014-02-061h 29Open AppleOpen Apple #34 (Jan 2014): 2013 end-of-year roundtable
At the dawn of 2014, Open Apple engages in its annual tradition of reflecting on all that has transpired in the Apple II community in the past year. Ken Gagne moderates a panel of Mike Maginnis, Andy Molloy, Ivan Drucker, and David Schmenk to look at topics in news, emulation, hardware, software, conventions, and publications. Popular themes include the Raspberry Pi, the S-Prize, social media, JSMESS, the Jobs film, and KansasFest 2013.
Click past the jump for links mentioned in this episode.
News (0:00 – 17:49)
Ivan Drucker’s Raspple IIDavid Schmenk’s Apple II PiCraig Johnston & John Romero’s Apple...2014-01-031h 27Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #34 (Jan 2014): 2013 end-of-year roundtable
At the dawn of 2014, Open Apple engages in its annual tradition of reflecting on all that has transpired in the Apple II community in the past year. Ken Gagne moderates a panel of Mike Maginnis, Andy Molloy, Ivan Drucker, and David Schmenk to look at topics in news, emulation, hardware, software, conventions, and publications. Popular themes include the Raspberry Pi, the S-Prize, social media, JSMESS, the Jobs film, and KansasFest 2013.
Click past the jump for links mentioned in this episode.
News (0:00 – 17:49)
Ivan Drucker’s Raspple IIDavid Schmenk’s Apple II PiCraig Johnston & John Romero’s Apple...2014-01-031h 27Open AppleOpen Apple #30 (Sep 2013): Charles Mangin, Jobs movie, Tetris, and S-Prize
This month on Open Apple, Mike and Ken chat with Charles Mangin, the mad scientist who puts Mac Minis inside Apple II cases and inventor of the RetroConnector. It’s our first show since KansasFest, and we share our highlights and favorite products and announcements from the show. The Steve Jobs film is now out, and Ashton Kutcher and Steve Wozniak have words while critics publish their own mixed reviews. However, we have nothing but praise for Walter Isaacson’s biography, and Steve Wozniak gets his own moment in the spotlight courtesy interviews with the Verge and Game Informer. We’r...2013-09-021h 49Episodes | Open AppleOpen Apple #30 (Sep 2013): Charles Mangin, Jobs movie, Tetris, and S-Prize
This month on Open Apple, Mike and Ken chat with Charles Mangin, the mad scientist who puts Mac Minis inside Apple II cases and inventor of the RetroConnector. It’s our first show since KansasFest, and we share our highlights and favorite products and announcements from the show. The Steve Jobs film is now out, and Ashton Kutcher and Steve Wozniak have words while critics publish their own mixed reviews. However, we have nothing but praise for Walter Isaacson’s biography, and Steve Wozniak gets his own moment in the spotlight courtesy interviews with the Verge and Game Informer. We’r...2013-09-021h 49Open AppleOpen ANTIChertz at KansasFest 2013Mike Maginnis and Ken Gagne, the hosts of Open Apple, join forces with Carrington Vanston of 1 MHz and Kay Savetz of ANTIC, for one massive retro computing roundtable at KansasFest 2013. We chat about the convention’s two surprise guests — Steve Wozniak and a working Apple-1 — and how both came to be there, as well as our favorite sessions and games of the week, including Michael Sternberg’s tournament of Martin Haye’s Structris.
It wasn’t long before Mike and Ken ditched the two other guys for the most amazing guest ever. Be sure to listen to our intervie...2013-08-0248 minEpisodes | Open AppleOpen ANTIChertz at KansasFest 2013Mike Maginnis and Ken Gagne, the hosts of Open Apple, join forces with Carrington Vanston of 1 MHz and Kay Savetz of ANTIC, for one massive retro computing roundtable at KansasFest 2013. We chat about the convention’s two surprise guests — Steve Wozniak and a working Apple-1 — and how both came to be there, as well as our favorite sessions and games of the week, including Michael Sternberg’s tournament of Martin Haye’s Structris.
It wasn’t long before Mike and Ken ditched the two other guys for the most amazing guest ever. Be sure to listen to our intervie...2013-08-0248 minOpen AppleOpen Apple #12 (Feb 2012): Michael J Mahon, chiptune, source code, and demodulation
This month on the Open Apple podcast, Mike and Ken chat with Michael J Mahon, software and hardware developer extraordinaire and creative genius behind both recent DMS Drummer software and the ever-popular AppleCrate parallel processing computer. We talk about 8 Bit Weapon, the chiptune music scene, and the importance of commenting and documenting one’s code, whether it be commercial or open source. Michael’s not much of a gamer, but Ken and Mike are enjoying new versions of classic games, including Eamon, Choplifter, and possibly Rescue Raiders. We consider entering a Robot War competition, despite our poor showing at the...2012-02-061h 57Open AppleShow #9 (Nov 2011): Melissa Barron, Britannia Manor, floppy drives, and iOS
This month in Open Apple, Mike and Ken talk with Melissa Barron, the Apple II community’s famed tapestry artist. The three relate their experiences exploring the past and future of computer media at conventions and museums in Chicago and Rochester, exploring the methods used to create and preserve history. Further tributes are made to Steve Jobs, while Mike Westerfield reclassifies old BASIC tools and releases new ones. Lord British’s Texas mansion is up for sale — a fitting home for Vintage Computer Festival Southwest? We debate various models of floppy drives and are wary of fake and expensive Apple...2011-11-141h 46Episodes | Open AppleShow #9 (Nov 2011): Melissa Barron, Britannia Manor, floppy drives, and iOS
This month in Open Apple, Mike and Ken talk with Melissa Barron, the Apple II community’s famed tapestry artist. The three relate their experiences exploring the past and future of computer media at conventions and museums in Chicago and Rochester, exploring the methods used to create and preserve history. Further tributes are made to Steve Jobs, while Mike Westerfield reclassifies old BASIC tools and releases new ones. Lord British’s Texas mansion is up for sale — a fitting home for Vintage Computer Festival Southwest? We debate various models of floppy drives and are wary of fake and expensive Apple...2011-11-141h 46Episodes | Open AppleOpen Megahertz: Live from KansasFest 2011
In this episode of Open Megahertz, KansasFest attendees Mike Maginnis, Ken Gagne, and Carrington Vanston join forces to reflect on the world’s greatest Apple II convention, as well as review a classic edutainment title.
Links
Felicia Day’s guide to surviving consVince Briel’s A2MP3 cardRich Dreher’s CFFA3000 cardRobert MacNaughton
Guest voiceovers by Melissa Barron.The post Open Megahertz: Live from KansasFest 2011 first appeared on Open Apple.2011-07-2345 minOpen AppleOpen Megahertz: Live from KansasFest 2011
In this episode of Open Megahertz, KansasFest attendees Mike Maginnis, Ken Gagne, and Carrington Vanston join forces to reflect on the world’s greatest Apple II convention, as well as review a classic edutainment title.
Links
Felicia Day’s guide to surviving consVince Briel’s A2MP3 cardRich Dreher’s CFFA3000 cardRobert MacNaughton
Guest voiceovers by Melissa Barron.The post Open Megahertz: Live from KansasFest 2011 first appeared on Open Apple.2011-07-2345 minOpen AppleSpecial Show #1: Remembering Ryan Suenaga
Apple II podcaster, programmer, writer, editor, and event coordinator Ryan Suenaga has passed away. In this special episode, Mike and Ken remember their friend.
Click past the jump for links mentioned in this episode.
Ryan’s last LiveJournal entryRyan’s wish to establish a scholarshipRyan’s podcast, A2Unplugged
Ricky Li remembers Ryan Suenaga (video)Presentation: Social Media and Health (PDF)Tweetup tribute to Ryan (May 10, 6–10 PM, Honolulu, Hawai’i)Apple II community tributes:
Eric Shepherd
Tony Diaz
Mike Maginnis
Ken Gagne
A2Central.com
KansasFest
Juiced.GS2011-04-2920 minOpen AppleShow #1 (Feb 2011): Welcome to Open Apple
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Open Apple, the Apple II community’s first co-hosted podcast. In this show, hosts Mike Maginnis and Ken Gagne reflect on their Apple II history before welcoming guest Andy Molloy. Segments include “II News”, a roundup of the latest events in the Apple II community, such as a CompactFlash adapter for the Apple IIc, the downsizing of the Apple II’s Usenet newsgroups, public appearances by Bill Budge, Bob Bishop, and Steve Wozniak, and a classic game now available for iOS; “Apple Pickings”, a review of Apple II software, hardware, and accessories on eBay and Cra...2011-02-0737 minEpisodes | Open AppleShow #1 (Feb 2011): Welcome to Open Apple
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Open Apple, the Apple II community’s first co-hosted podcast. In this show, hosts Mike Maginnis and Ken Gagne reflect on their Apple II history before welcoming guest Andy Molloy. Segments include “II News”, a roundup of the latest events in the Apple II community, such as a CompactFlash adapter for the Apple IIc, the downsizing of the Apple II’s Usenet newsgroups, public appearances by Bill Budge, Bob Bishop, and Steve Wozniak, and a classic game now available for iOS; “Apple Pickings”, a review of Apple II software, hardware, and accessories on eBay and Cra...2011-02-0737 min