Apple Computer 1, also known later as the Apple I, or Apple-1, was released by the Apple Computer Company (now Apple Inc.) in 1976. It was designed and hand-built by Steve Wozniak. Wozniak’s friend Steve Jobs had the idea of selling the computer.

The Apple I was Apple’s first product, and to finance its creation, Jobs sold his only means of transportation, a VW Microbus, and Wozniak sold his HP-65 calculator for $500. It was demonstrated in July 1976 at the Homebrew Computer Club in Palo Alto, California.

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Apple 1 (Mimeo / Mike Willegal Clone) Assembled for a friend of mine; Paolo Cognetti.

Many thanks for the Technical & Moral support to: Piero Todorovich and Alessandro Polito.
I also thank for some electronic components: Gabriele Molesto Zaverio of Museo Dell’informatica Funzionante, Piero Todorovich.

I had several problems with this Apple 1 clone, i very briefly describe the problems below and i attach some photos of the assembling stages.

• 1 – No video image, all voltages are ok.
• 1 + MPS3704 Transistor failure replaced with a 2N3704 pinout not compatible.

• 2 – Garbage screen during boot.
• 2 + Replaced 2 of 7 Shift Register 2504V

• 3 – Keyboard inputs not working, the WOZ monitor is freezed and shows an “@ \” but the “\” does not wrap.
• 3 + Replaced a 27k resistor half broken, probably during transport the capacitor has crushed the resistor.

• 4 – The keyboard does not respond correctly, typing A they print @, typing 1 they print 0 … and so on …
• 4 + Keyboard adapter from Apple II/+ to Apple 1 in short circuit. A wire is skewered in a pin of a Socket.

• 5 – The computer does not respond correctly, but it seems to work. The WOZ monitor responds to commands but does not write to memory and print random locations.
• 5 + Replaced a 7410 which had a pin always at high level.

• 6 – The keyboard has several problems, some switches are completly dead.
• 6 + Replaced switches.

Photos of the assembling stages:

123►

Video:

SpartaDOS X (or SpartaDOS 4.0) is a disk operating system for the Atari 8-bit family of computers, that closely resembles MS-DOS. It was developed and sold by ICD, Inc. in 1987-93.

Ten years later SpartaDOS X considered abandonware has been picked up by its enthusiasts, and developed further. These unofficial revisions, incorporating many of the utilities written since 1992, cleaning many identified problems and including numerous improvements.

Highlights:

• Improved compatibility of 1 MB RAMBO and 576k Compy Shop RAM extensions with the internal BASIC on XL/XE.
• CAR.COM: added support for the Weronika cartridge: to run the dedicated programs, use CAR /F filename.ext;
• INIDOS.SYS should now work for SIDE2.
• Fixed a major bug in the S_VBXE driver, which caused occasional hang ups after the Reset key was pressed.
• CON.SYS: 80-column mode can now survive a warm reset.
• CHKFAT.COM: new command line tool to verify FAT file systems compatibility with our FATFS driver
• New program: MD5 hash tool
• SC now version 1.0.0

Please read the release notes (the whatsnew.txt file) for full information.

The new SpartaDOS X 4.48 runs on the following hardware platforms:

• intSDX128 and intSDX128 “flash”
• IDE Plus 2.0 interface (*)
• Maxflash 1Mb
• Maxflash 8Mb (*)
• Maxflash MyIDE+Flash
• MyIDE II RAM
• MyIDE II ROM
• SIC! Cartridge 256k (*)
• SIC! Cartridge 128k
• SIDE HDD cartridge (*)
• SIDE2 HDD cartridge (*)
• SuperCart cartridge (*)
• Ultimate1MB (*) (**)
• Turbo Freezer 2005 (*) (***)
• Altirra and Atari800 emulators

(*) – includes MAN on-line help
(**) – also use with Incognito board and Turbo Freezer 2011
(***) – use with Freezer ROM only

Dowload: SpartaDOS X 4.48 with Toolkit (1353)

source: sdx.atari8.info wikipedia

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

Below the post of the author on Atariage Forum.

A new firmware and flashtool is availible for Sys-Check V2 series.

The new flashtool now supports both Sys-Check PCBs equipped with a SST39SF010A flash chip (V2.1 and V2.2). When you start the flashtool, it will ask you which version you have. To be absolutely sure, the flashtool shows a simplified graphic view of both versions. I think, everybody can handle it :)

Of course the flashtool (and all other documents) are written in german and english.

Also there´s a new firmware V1.4 out. This firmware can be used with ALL Sys-Check versions – also with the old V2.0 (without flash). Owners of the V2.0 must burn the 16 KB firmware image into a 27128 EPROM. All other please use the flashtool to update their Sys-Check.

V1.4 has this minor changes:

• Sys-Check can be used with the U1MB expansion.
• The new version first checks the whole memory (to be more exact… the first 48 KByte) and then displays the defective bits (if there are any…)
• When bad memory within the first 48 KB is found, the upper 16 KB will not be tested.
• If memory is fine, OS-ROM will be tested as before.
• If both tests are fine, then pressing START after this will set Sys-Check into endless loop test mode. Memory and OS-ROM are tested infinite – until any error occurs.
• During memory tests the background will be coloured red if defective bits were detected.

Download: Sys-Check Firmware & Tools v2.2 (1065)

source: atariage.com

The High Voltage SID Collection (HVSC) is a freeware hobby project which organises Commodore 64 music (also known as SID music) into an archive for both musicians and fans alike.

The work on the collection is done completely in the Team and contributors’ spare time and is proudly one of the largest and most accurate computer music collections known.

This update features (all approximates):

• 1022 new SIDs
• 811 fixed/better rips
• 24 repeats/bad rips eliminated
• 791 SID credit fixes
• 143 SID model/clock infos
• 59 tunes from /DEMOS/UNKNOWN/ identified
• 1 tunes from /GAMES/ identified
• 70 tunes moved out of /DEMOS/ to their composers’ directories
• 4 tunes moved out of /GAMES/ to their composers’ directories

Download:

• Complete HVSC #65 (1361)
• HVSC Update #65 (1323)

source: www.hvsc.c64.org

Commodore 64C (ASSY 250469) Repair (1 of 2)

Defect:

• Garbage Screen/Auto Load/Device not Present.

Replaced parts/Fixes:

• 1 x MOS 6526 (U1)
• 2 x Diode 1n4148 (CR9/CR11)
• Rebuilt a pcb track (see photo)

Note:

• As you can see from the photo of the the broken pcb track, evidently someone did a short circuit on the IEC connector on the data lines: SRQin and DATA.

Gallery of the repair:

Commodore 64C (ASSY 250469) Repair (2 of 2)

Defect:

• Black Screen.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x MOS 8580R5 SID in short circuit (U9)
• 2 x TMS 4464 RAM (U10/U11)

Gallery of the repair:

Commodore 64 (ASSY 250407) Repair (1 of 2)

This Commodore 64 has been already repaired in years past.

Defect:

• Grabage screen/Out of Memory.

Replaced parts:

• 5 x MT 4264-15 RAM (U10/U11/U12/U21/U23)

Gallery of the repair:

Commodore 64 (ASSY 250425) Repair (2 of 2)

Defect:

• Black Screen ..then.. Grabage screen ..then (when hot).. Screen out of Sync

Replaced parts:

• 2 x MT 4264-15 RAM (U11/U23)
• 1 x MOS 901227-03 Kernel ROM (U4)
• 1 x MOS 8701 Clock Generator (U31)

Cleaning Tape and User port connectors.

Gallery of the repair:

This is the official demo party results from Gubbdata 2016 (Top 3 Entries only). See also the CSDB GUBBDATA 2016 section for more informations.

C64 Demo:

• 1 – Nothing but PETSCII by Genesis Project
• 2 – Classics by Booze Design
• 3 – Monochrome by Triad

C64 Music:

• 1 – Nothing Compares 2 EU by Fegolhuzz
• 2 – Ruins by X-jammer
• 3 – 2 Days by Magnar Harestad

C64 Graphics:

• 1 – Cock Picture by ilesj
• 2 – Korvsatan by Razorback
• 3 – Elsewhere by Mermaid

C64 Mixed Graphics:

• 1 – Glad Gubbe by Genesis Project, Vision
• 2 – Duelling Invaders by Genesis Project
• 3 – Green Falcon by PVM

Download: Gubbdata 2016 Party stuff (1048)

source: gubbdata.se

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

• QWAK 1.2 +4H
• QWAK 1.2 16K Compo Final
• QWAK 16K V1.2 +4HF
• Evil Garden +4D
• Scout +5DGH
• Ghosts’n Goblins Arcade / Commando Arcade SE / Bruce Lee II [easyflash] [bugfixed]
• Munch Load +M
• Zorro in Wonderland 2 Preview
• Color Code
• Sea Slug +3D
• Honey Bee [real sales version] +6D
• Challenge of the Gobots on the Moebius Strip +5DGH
• Deja Vu & Uninvited +1DW [easyflash]
• Excalibur +
• Ocean Ranger [1581,FD,HD]
• Mission Odessa +2DTS
• Excalibur
• The Curse of Sherwood +26D
• V.I.O.S. (Special Edition 2011) +2 [seuck]
• Estados of Brasil
• States of Brazil
• Kabura
• Gunslinger [1581,FD,HD]
• Valhalla +3DMS
• Tycoon Tex Preview +2
• Dorks Dilemma Preview +2
• Kabura +2T
• The Crown of Ariiance
• Breakaway
• Super Jumpkick Preview

Download: All Games in One Archive (3622)

source: csdb.dk

CBM prg Studio Version 3.5.0 is released. There are a lot of new features in this version. I’d really appreciate it if you report any bugs you find or have any suggestions/comments.

CBM prg Studio allows you to type a BASIC or Machine Code program in using a nice Windows environment and convert it to a ‘.prg’ file which you can run on an emulator, or even a real C64 / VIC20 or PET if you’re feeling brave and have the right kit.

CBM prg Studio is the result of merging C64PrgGen and VIC20PrgGen. Adding new features and fixing bugs in two apps which were 95% similar was a bit of a nightmare so merging them made sense.

It was also a good opportunity for a face lift and to add some new features, such as:

• Programs are project based, meaning all related source files, sprite files etc. are kept in one place and multiple source files can be linked more easily.
• Tabbed MDI.
• Syntax highlighting.

What CBM prg Studio isn’t is a front-end for tok64, cbmcnvrt, bastext or any other tokeniser / detokeniser / assembler. It’s all been written completely from scratch.

New features in v3.8.0:

• Assembler:
  • Logical operators.
  • Code relocation.
  • Watch labels/addresses.
  • Local character mapping.

• Screen Editor:
  • More export options.
  • Change border colour.

• Sprite Editor:
  • Multiple layers for preview.
  • Invert sprite.

• General:
  • Load VICE palettes.
  • Open a command line.

Bugs Fixed:

• General:
  • Remember ‘close start page’ state.

• Sprite editor:
  • Imported sprites had the same data.
  • Select mode on scratch pad didn’t work.

• Screen code builder:
  • Left arrow generated wrong code.

• Character editor:
  • Export characters as hexadecimal.
  • Multicolour chars flip left/right not working.

See the help for a complete list of new features and fixed bugs.

Note In this version, each target machine can have its own default project directory. If you are upgrading from a previous version (before version 2.5.1) of CBM prg Studio you may be asked to set up your project directories again. Your current projects will not be affected.

Download: CBM prg Studio v3.8.0 (950)

source: ajordison.co.uk

TekTronix DS1000G (NTSC version) Television Demodulator

The television demodulator can demodulate M/N standard television signals to baseband video and audio. In addition, the DS1001G provides the capability of recognizinga GCR signal and applying
correction to the baseband video output.

TheDS1001A/DS1001G covers the tuning range of 55.25 to 801.25MHz. The high performance of the conversion guarantees a measurement-quality signal after demodulation.

Gallery:

Download: TekTronix DS1000G Manual (1116)

…from the author website:

Since the end of 2015, it became clear that the “good old” 1541 Ultimate-II was at the end of its life cycle. Xilinx, the manufacturer of the most important chip of the cartridge, had started to increase the prices of the chip. Also the memory chip started to be harder to get and at higher cost. When the news came that the company that made the black plastic cases for the 1541 Ultimate-II had lost the injection mold tool, it became evident that the 1541 Ultimate-II would be no more.

I have given it some thought. What would be the best way to continue with this project? When the feelings of being upset about the lost injection tool had subsided, I realized that this may be the perfect moment for an upgrade. This is when set backs change into opportunity.

Since then, a lot of work, and I really mean A LOT OF WORK has been done to create a successor: the “Ultimate-II+”.  Why not “III”, you may ask or think. Well, the foremost reason is the software. The install base of the “1541 Ultimate-II” is rather large (>3000 units), and I do not want to let my customers down that have just purchased a unit. This means that in case of new hardware, the same software should run on both the new board, as well as on the older board. So, the new board will offer similar functionality. You could see it just as an upgrade, not an entirely new product.

Although the “Ultimate-II+” is similar, there are also differences:

• No more MicroSD!  (… that needs to be pushed in with something sharp, could fall into the case, … etc)
• More USB ports (… one to compensate for the lost SD, and just one bonus: 3 in total)
• IEC connector moved (… further back to facilitate use on some C128 models)
• Integrated Ethernet (… no more need for an external USB2LAN adapter, and a smaller step to CS8900A compatibility)
• Dual Flash (… no more worry that a software bug or upgrade failure leads to a bricked device)
• Integrated Speaker (… who connects a speaker set to the audio jack for hearing drive sounds??)
• External power supply connector with auto-switch over circuit (… for stand alone mode, and to lower the demand on the power supply of the C64)
• Improved Audio (… audio codec, 24 bit/96 kHz*, for sampled sounds and SID emulation)
• Improved Tape connector (… no more custom board and able that snaps in on the bottom, but standard USB 3.0 cable)
• Improved power supply circuits (… for some reason they seemed to break down relatively often)
• Slightly bigger and faster FPGA, as to control the new features

source: 1541ultimate.net

A new version of the firmware for the interface 1541 Ultimate II is released. This version runs only on the 1541 Ultimate II cartridge (new fpga).

Release notes 3.0 beta 7:

r297 | gideonz | 2016-04-15 21:27:25 +0200 (Fri, 15 Apr 2016)

Download: 1541 Ultimate II Firmware v3.0 Beta 7 (1269)

source: 1541ultimate.net

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.8.2a

• HD floppy disk format issue corrected : write buffer size corrected.

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.8.2a (1181)

source: hxc2001.com

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.8.1a

• Last selected image save issue corrected.

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.8.0a

• “Autoboot”/ File selector mode :
  • Fast backward/forward mode : Keep the button pressed to speed up the image change.
  • Press both buttons in the same time to jump the autoboot/file selector image.
• Indexed mode :
  • Fast backward/forward mode : Keep the button pressed to speed up the image change.
  • Press both buttons in the same time to jump the DSKA0000 image.
• Up to 1000 indexed images (DSKA0000-DSKA0999).

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.8.1a (1037)

source: hxc2001.com

Laboratory Bench Transformer for repair Commodore CBM/PET series 2001/30xx/40xx(not fat – 8032 motherboard)

Transformer Output Pinout:

• PIN: 4 – 6 = ~16VAC
• PIN: 4 – 5 = ~8VAC
• PIN: 5 – 6 = ~8VAC
• PIN: 7 – 8 = ~16VAC
• PIN: 9 – 10 = ~16VAC

Input:

• 110v

Gallery:

Thanks to Andrea Pierdomenico for this great donation made some years ago.