Alex Lukacz has finished his UFIC (USB to IDE Controller) project, an ingenious way to access the compact flash installed on a MicroDrive controller in an Apple II, without having to open the case up.
When the Apple II is turned on, the compact flash card works normally on the MicroDrive card. When the power to the Apple II is off, the UFIC allows another computer to interface to the compact flash so it can be easily manipulated by a program like CiderPress. This is a major hassle saver, making backups and installing new software even easier and more convenient.
Alex has other projects (some we’ve covered) that you might be interested in. Check them out at: http://lukazi.blogspot.com/