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Yesterbits

@yesterbits.com

Doing things (or, considering doing things, at some point) with old computers, usually.

83 Posts447 Follower137 Folgt
Yesterbits@yesterbits.com · 4mo ago

I guess Apple Orchard went to press later than Softalk. Because as far as I know, August 1984 was the last issue published of both magazines. Here's the editorial from Apple Orchard, Aug/Sep 1984, lamenting (and incredulous at) the loss of Softalk (and of Peelings, but less surprised by that).

The Shakeout Cometh. Apple Orchard 1984, Aug/Sep, Planting a Seed column.Softalk is gone. Peelings is gone. And, contrary to rumor, Apple Orchard yet lives.
Yesterbits@yesterbits.com · 4mo ago

I'm pretty impressed by what Photoshop can do when processing a scanned book page that a prior owner has written all over. Good job that he wrote all over it in blue ink. But the writing is just... gone. Nice.

Side by side before and after of a book page scan, with blue pen writing all over it and with just the pen removed by Photoshop.
Yesterbits@yesterbits.com · 6mo ago

I don't remember ever seeing a SwyftCard ad. But even if I have, this one's kind of interesting because it's targeting elementary schoolers(' teachers). In Teaching & Computers April 1986.

"I put a SwyftCard in every Apple in my school because it makes using a computer actually easier than using a typewriter."
INIT HELLO@init-hello.org · 6mo ago

INIT HELLO, V2 is coming this summer! INIT HELLO will be back for a second year at the System Source Computer Museum in Hunt Valley, Maryland, June 19-21, 2026! This year adds a third day (Friday). Stay tuned for more info on registration, hotels, talks, and events! init-hello.org/2026/01/init...

INIT HELLO, V2 COMING THIS SUMMER - INIT HELLO

INIT HELLO is excited to announce that the conference will be back for a second year at the System Source Computer Museum in Hunt Valley Maryland June 19-21, 2026! Thanks to the overwhelmingly positiv...

init-hello.org

Yesterbits@yesterbits.com · 10mo ago

\o/ I have finally reconnected with Summit Software's BetterBASIC, a variant of BASIC for the IBM PC that I—but apparently nobody else—used extensively in the mid-1980s. For years and years it has been nowhere on eBay. Until it was. And now it's here.

BetterBASIC binder from the side.BetterBASIC binder out of its slipcover.BetterBASIC manual title pageBetterBASIC disks (backup copies, but, still, disks).
Yesterbits@yesterbits.com · last yr.

I made a 1-line snake game in Applesoft. IJKM controls. 1GR:S=0:COLOR=1:FORY=0TO38:X=RND(1)*39:PLOTX,Y:NEXT:COLOR=9:HLIN0,YAT0:HLIN0,YATY:VLIN0,YAT0:VLIN0,YATY:FORZ=0TO1:COLOR=7:PLOTX,Y:K=PEEK(49152)-201:I=(K=2)-(K=1):J=(K=4)-(K=0):M=I<>J:X=X+I:Y=Y+J:C=SCRN(X,Y):S=S+(C=1):Z=M*C>1:?S:NEXT:GETA$

Colin McMillen@colin-mcmillen.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · last yr.

https://www.colino.net/wordpress/en/shufflepuck-cafe-for-apple-ii/

Shufflepuck Cafe for Apple II

35 years later, the great Shufflepuck Cafe game is, finally, available on the 8 bits Apple II line of computers. The splash screen The Cafe A game against Bejin **Download:** * the Shufflepuck Cafe floppy image * the game manual **Requirements:** * An Apple ][+ or more recent, with 64kB of RAM or more. * A mouse and MouseCard * A real Apple II – emulators don’t do the game justice1 * The game is visually more enjoyable on a monochrome screen. This is a design choice. **More information:** I have tried to be faithful to the original game, and the implementation is almost complete. The only missing things are the player pusher’s configuration, and the mid-table blocker. I have had great joy developing it, and I hope you will have as much pleasure playing it on your Apple II. Here is a short teaser of the game, against one of the toughest opponent. The start of a game against Biff * * * 1. Known emulator issues – **AppleWin** mouse emulation makes the game almost unplayable. – **Virtual ][** mouse emulation makes the game almost unplayable. – **MAME** `apple2e` emulation flickers awfully. Use `apple2c` emulation. Mouse emulation feels kind of wrong and the pointer leaving the window makes playing annoying. Use `-nowindow`. ↩︎

colino.net