Marcus Heuser posted a link to the video documentary The Secret History of Hacking on comp.sys.apple2. It features Steve Wozniak, Kevin Mitnik and John “Captain Crunch” Draper discussing the hacking and phreaking counter-cultures. Break out your Applecats!

Check out 1MHz! The Apple II Podcast, brought to you by Carrington Vanston of Toronto, Canada. It’s available directly from the site, or you can subscribe via iTunes. 1MHz! has been casting since May 2006 and we’re sorry we’ve only just found out about it now. Be sure to try it out!

Syndicomm tonight quietly removed the printed indices from the Softdisk Supreme and Simply Softdisk G-S compilation CDs, reducing the price of each by $5 to $45. Each compilation still contains its index on the disc.

Liam Busey posted a link on comp.sys.apple2 to this Founders At Work interview with Steve Wozniak.

Showing extraordinary insight, the editorial staff of PC World magazine have chosen the Apple II as the #1 greatest PC of all time.

Some of the other popular computing platforms from the 1980’s era like the “#1 selling computer of all time” Commodore 64 didn’t even make the cut. Why? Because they didn’t meet the criteria the editors of PC World used to compile their list.

The premier episode of A2Unplugged, the Apple II Podcast, has just been released. Show notes and many other details are all being worked out still, but in the meantime, you can check the show out at http://www.a2unplugged.com/

The Princeton Apple Users Group will meet on Friday, August 11th, at 7:30 in David Ciotti’s basement.

Achatz Electronics has announced they will be selling the A-ONE Apple 1 replica. The A-ONE features a 6502 CPU, a 6821 PIA, 32KB RAM, 32KB ROM.

Since the upcoming change in operation to A2Central was announced, I’ve received dozens of e-mails from well-wishers (thanks!) and questions, recommendations, concerns, general comments (thanks for all of those). So, it’s time for a FAQ to answer as many of the redundant questions as I can (or I’m allowed to at this time). First off, I want to clarify something a lot of people seem to be stuck on. A2Central is a seperate entity from Syndicomm. A2Central started out as, and always has been a news and information portal for the Apple II community. Syndicomm is an online service, with forums, chat, file areas etc, but it’s completely seperate. I understand how it’s easy to confuse them as being one and the same because they’ve both been owned and operated by Eric Shepherd. Plus there are links to Syndicomm services on A2Central’s web page. All that was there for convenience though and nothing more.

OK, now for the questions…

Q.) What happened to Sheppy, is he burned out? Is he dying or something?

A.) Sheppy’s fine. He’s extremely busy though, and has generously allowed me step in to help out.

Q.) Will you make A2Central free?

A.) A2Central is already free. Again, it’s not Syndicomm.

Q.) Will you be changing A2Central in any way?

A.) Sure, changes are inevitable. Maybe a new logo? Sounds like a contest in the making to me. A2Central will otherwise continue normally but I have ambitious plans for the future.

Q.) Will you be adding chat, IRC, forums, etc. to the site?

A.) I won’t undermine anything that Syndicomm is already involved in. If in the future there is a need, I will consider expanding A2Central.

Syndicomm announced this morning that over the next few weeks, management of A2Central.com, the popular Apple II portal web site, will be transferred to Sean Fahey. Initially, A2Central.com will continue to be running on Syndicomm’s system, but it will likely be relocated at some point in the future to complete the separation.Eric “Sheppy” Shepherd, the owner of Syndicomm, indicated his enthusiasm for the transfer. “Syndicomm’s role in the Apple II world has grown so much since I first founded A2Central.com in the summer of 2000 that I just don’t have time to keep up with everything anymore. It was time to give something up, and A2Central.com is the easiest thing to separate from the whole. I’m thrilled that someone with Sean’s enthusiasm, integrity, and passion for the Apple II is taking the reins.”

“I’ve always wanted to run an Apple II portal,” Fahey said when asked why he was taking over A2Central.com. “When Sheppy indicated that he was looking for someone to take A2Central.com forward, I jumped at the chance. I’m excited for the opportunity to find new and engaging ways to improve the services offered by A2Central.com, too.”

This ownership change for A2Central.com does not affect the Syndicomm Online online service or the Syndicomm online store and other products.