Welcome to the Apple II and Apple IIGS Magazine Archives Website! This project was started in order to help preserve old publications that have been out of print for many years. These old publications are a valuable reference tool for those that own older systems or equipment, and also have an educational benefit to those who wish to research the building blocks of today's computer systems.
Our main focus so far is the archiving of old computer system magazines and books, mainly for the Apple II series, specifically the Apple IIGS, into full color high-resolution searchable PDF files and Internet friendly web pages, with a full indexing system. All publications are provided with full permission from their original publishers and/or the copyright owners.
Just some cheat sheets I work on for some programs I tend to use on actual HW when the PDFs or archive.org isn't available.
The BackBit Pro Cartridge is a universal instant loading cartridge capable of interfacing with a multitude of vintage computers and game consoles via proprietary adapters, including:
- Apple II+/IIe/IIgs Slot
- Atari 8-bits
- Commodore 8-bits
Supports most, if not all, original cartridge-based titles for each machine, and additionally supports tape, disk, and RAM expansion for a limited number of systems. Capable of supporting most modern homebrews. Bankswitching schemes up to 1MB in size can be implemented for nearly all platforms (if they aren’t already). Flash saving support can often be implemented. Special coprocessors can sometimes be implemented. Some adapters feature additional hardware for various things, such as audio emulation, copy protection bypass, joystick plugs, reset support, and more!
Loading is always instant. No need to take a coffee break while your program is loading. Built-in versioning system preserves your original files (on systems/configurations that support saving). Supports cartridge images up to 1MB in size. Real-time-clock. One-button diagnostic mode helps you identify system faults (on most systems).
ArduinoFDC is a sketch that implements a floppy disk controller. It works with Arduino Uno, Leonardo, Nano, Pro Mini, Micro and Mega.
ArduinoFDC consists of three parts:
- A library providing low-level functions to allow reading and writing disks at the sector level as well as low-level formatting disks.
- Integration of ChaN's brilliant FatFS library to provide file-level functions for reading and writing files and directories in a FAT (MS-DOS) file system and a high-level format function to initialize a FAT file system.
- An example sketch implementing ArduDOS, a (very) small DOS environment for browsing a FAT file system as well as a low-level disk monitor to access sector data on the disk, including the ability to transfer whole disks or single files via the XModem protocol.
ArduinoFDC works with double density (DD) as well as high density (HD) disk drives. It can read, write and format 5.25" DD (360KB), 5.25" HD (1.2MB), 3.5" DD (720KB) and 3.5" HD (1.44MB) disks.
NEUROBLAST HyperCard DiskZine Cyberdelia Special is a cyberpunk-centric and HACKERS (1995) love letter entertainment tech-stack zine of music, art, and game materials, built and compiled in ancient Apple HyperCard software on a vintage iMac G3 (grape) in August 2023. Made in celebration of DNA Lounge's HACKERS screening and Cyberdelia after-party. Editor: James Sime.
CYBERDELIA - A massive, sprawling, Floppy Disk-bursting article and orgasmic dither-picture-show featuring years of Cyberdelia celebrations at San Francisco's legendary DNA LOUNGE. Including delightfully 1-bit memories of Cyberdelia's creation and the herculean effort to bring these parties to the public. Written by NEUROBLAST's featured special guest... promoter, programmer, and SF Bay Area icon jwz / Jamie Zawinski the owner of DNA LOUNGE.
XTIDE Universal BIOS makes it possible to use modern large ATA hard disks or Compact Flash cards on old PC's. You can then enjoy quiet or noiseless drives with more capacity than you'll ever need for old computers.
XTIDE Universal BIOS (also known as simply "XUB") can be used on any IBM PC, XT, AT or 100% compatible system. On AT systems you can use any 16-bit ISA or VLB IDE or Multi I/O controller. For XT systems you can use XTIDE rev1 (not available anymore), XTIDE rev2 or JR-IDE/ISA.
All BIOS binaries available here must be properly configured with the configuration tool XTIDECFG.COM before flashing/programming to ROM. In addition to configuring the BIOS file for use with your specific hardware you must also make sure the file is checksummed by saving the file to disk as that will create the padding and checksum required for installation in a computer. Always use the version of XTIDECFG.COM supplied together with the BIOS files.
Source code: https://www.xtideuniversalbios.org/browser
An FPGA powered hardware platform for emulating the MOS 6581 and 8580 SID chips. It is a fully functional device that can be installed into a Commodore computer as a pin-compatible replacement.
Get your vintage computer connected to BBS's and more! It can act as a Modem, PPP ISP or a SLIP Ethernet adapter! A robust web user interface for easy access to settings, commands, and a file manager. A 2MB flash filesystem which allows you to copy files to and from your vintage computer. The ability to host your own web pages on the device! Just upload HTML and javascript to make your own custom stuff!
This project is a VGA card for Apple II computers to ouput a crisp RGB signal to a VGA monitor instead of having to rely on the composite output. This is accomplished by snooping the 6502 bus and creating a shadow copy of the video memory within a Raspberry Pi Pico, then processing the raw video memory contents to output a "perfect" signal.
- Generates a 640x480@60 VGA signal with 3 bits per color channel using resistor DACs
- Text mode (monochrome)
- Lo-res mode with no color fringing between the chunky pixels
- Double Lo-res mode (Apple IIe only)
- Hi-res mode with simulated NTSC artifact color
- Double Hi-res mode (Apple IIe only)
- Mixed lo-res and hi-res modes with monochrome text and no color fringing
- 80 Columms text support (Apple IIe only)
This is a pair of PCBs that implements a version of the Apple II VGA design. Please see the Apple II VGA Project for details and firmware. This version differs from the original in that:
- It makes use of the Rpi Pico's regulator for 3v3 supply
- It allows the SYNC signal to be optionally routed to the Rpi Pico (instead of allowing Apple II bus read operations)
- It uses a fourth 74LVC245A instead of a 74LS07 for the remaining bus signals (fewer unique components)
I write about security, privacy, vulnerabilities and exploits, retro computing, music, various programming languages, personal projects and general stuff that crosses my mind. Make sure you use encrypted email when sending me any sensitive info.
Tor mirror: http://sizeofaex6zgovemvemn2g3jfmgujievmxxxbcgnbrnmgcjcjpiiprqd.onion/
The RAD Expansion Unit is a cartridge/expansion for the C64 and C128 using a Raspberry Pi 3A+, 3B+ or Zero 2 to implement the actual functionality. Currently it emulates a RAM Expansion Unit up to 16mb (compatible to CBM 1700/1750/1764 REU, CLD Super 1750 Clone, CMD 1750/1750XL) and a GeoRAM/NeoRAM memory expansion up to 4mb. It also features a menu to browse, manage and launch REU- and GeoRAM-images, NUVIEs, and PRGs. The RAD is designed to not only emulate existing extensions, other things that have already been tested (but not yet included here) are, for example, MOS 6510/8500 emulation (incl. turbo mode) or using the RAD as a (co-)processor (in fact the menu runs on the ARM CPU only).
RAD's functionality is entirely defined by software. The connecting circuitry is quite simple and does not include any programmable ICs and is thus easy to build.
Among other devices, Keelog sells a line of replacement power supplies for retro computers, from the Commodores to Amigas to Ataris. They are all brand new designs engineered with longevity and safety in mind.
The WiFi Retromodem is a non-destructive replacement of the PCB in an external Hayes Smartmodem 1200 or 2400. Note: while it will fit in the later Smartmodems, the LEDs of the Retromodem in the Hayes Optima series aluminum cases are offset slightly from the letters below. The Retromodem is based on the ZiModem software available on Github. This new version also supports simulated audio dialing just like a real Smartmodem connected to a phone line.
The board can be purchased from this page.
The NeoFloppy is an non-mechanical / solid-state media format optimized for handling, transport, storage, archive and subsequent use. It is only using the mechanical specification of the 3,5" FDD to a specific extent. Namely: Drive mechanisms (except the head since the drive only needs to vertically contact pins behind the shutter) and the media dimensions.
This guy reverse engineers the motherboards of classic computers (Commodore, Amiga, BBC, Amstrad) and their peripherals (1541, Vidiot) and makes brand-new implementations of the boards to replace failed ones. For some you can even buy matching part kits. You're pretty much on your own for most ICs, though.
A database of motherboards, BIOS images, chipsets, manufacturers, drivers, software. If you have an ancient PC and you're trying to figure it out, check here first.
The Brewing Academy LLC is located in Woodland, California, USA near Sacramento. We have been in Woodland since 2015 and have been operating in one form or another since 2005. In the past, we noticed that a lot of cool stuff came out for the Atari and the TI 99/4a and the Commodore, but that it always disappeared after awhile making it incredibly frustrating AND expensive for people to use their older computers. So, we decided to change that1 Our belief is that we find the coolest retro stuff we can and make sure we keep it available as long as possible.
A company that sells NOS (new old stock) floppy disks and floppy drives. Mostly 3.5", some 5.25" and even 8". Still sealed and recycled disks. Can transfer stuff from floppy disks en masse as a service. They also buy lots of floppies.