Ewen “Speccie” Wannop has released Networker, a Marinetti-aware educational and diagnostic application for anyone interested in learning about TCP/IP programming on the Apple IIGS. It can be used to issue commands to remote servers and display their response.

Networker is free, and requires an Apple IIGS with GS/OS 6.0.1, and Marinetti. An Ethernet card with a supported link layer driver (Uthernet or LANceGS) is preferred but it will also work with serial/modem connections.

AppleLogic has announced their new Carte Blanche for the Apple II is nearly ready for production. The Carte Blanche is a versatile FPGA-based card that can be programmed to replicate the functionality of practically any interface card for the Apple II.

Currently, AppleLogic is preparing demonstration units that mimic the Z80 Softcard (for running CP/M), Stellation 2 “The Mill” (6809 co-processor) and a VGA interface. A compact flash drive interface has already been successfully tested. You can read more about the Carte Blanche at the AppleLogic site, or Alex Freed’s site.

AppleLogic is soliciting feedback from the community for other interface cards to convert to FPGA. Personally, I think the Transwarp II would be a top candidate.

EDIT: If you’d like to get a feel for how FPGA devices are programmed, “lite” versions of the software to program them are available for free here (Xilinx) and here (Altium).

FPGA-based enhancements may represent a major paradigm shift for some enthusiasts within the Apple II Community — specifically in the economics of selling/collecting rare and desirable gear. Collectors will probably always seek out original equipment and pay premium prices for the privilege. However casual users and tweakers who just want the functionality of the original gear (usually enhanced in some way by FPGA modernization) will likely opt for these newer products.

The question is: since an FPGA can be conveniently programmed to replicate nearly any card made for the Apple II, will this undermine prices for difficult to acquire items like Second Sight VGA, accelerators, stereo sound and co-processor cards?

We’d love to hear what you think. Comments are open on this post.

It’s April 1st, and there are 111 days until KansasFest. It might be a sign, a cosmic message… that YOU should be planning to attend KansasFest this July 21st through 26th, and not fooling around.

Well, it SHOULD be obvious, this was an April Fools post.

Leading anti-virus and security firms contacted today, affirmed that the Conficker worm and its variants circulating on the Internet pose no threat to the Apple II or the data files it uses.

Jordon Beck, a support analyst with McAfee is quoted as saying, “Conficker only exploits Windows, it doesn’t effect the Macintosh platform at all.” Our reporter pressed Mr. Beck to clarify what he meant, as it’s common for non-Apple users to confuse the Apple II with the Macintosh. “What? Are you kidding me? Isn’t the Apple II, like 30 years old or something? I used an Apple //e in grade school… is this a joke?” No, we’re not joking.

We needed a second expert opinion, so a call to Symantec’s helpdesk (apparently located in India or Singapore or Pakistan or Belize… somewhere where English is a second or possibly third language) was placed, and we reached “Bob” (possibly not his real name) and posed the question, “Is Conficker dangerous to the Apple II?” After 10 minutes of extensive research and speaking with his tier 2 support and a couple of supervisors, Bob concurred with Jordan’s assessment, declaring “you are probably safe though I really don’t know what an Apple II is.”

There you have it: Experts agree, Conficker and its variants probably aren’t a threat to your Internet-connected Apple II.

Well, it SHOULD be obvious, but this also was an April Fools post.

In a move to be more competitive with big chain store Apple II software distributors, Eric “Sheppy” Shepherd has announced Syndicomm will soon offer a ‘pick up now’ option in their online store. “It will more or less be similar to the ‘pick up now’ checkout options offered on the Best Buy and Target web sites,” said Mr. Shepherd, “…but ours will be better, as it will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Sheppy went on to describe how customers will be able to use the Syndicomm site to check inventory, select products and then choose the ‘pick up now’ option at checkout. “It’s really quite simple, when the customer opts to pick up their order, they’ll be prompted to call ahead. I’ll have their order ready for pickup, usually within 20 minutes if the damn laser printer cooperates. I’ve even knocked out and remodeled an entire wall, just so I could offer a convenient inbuilt drive-thru window. And if it’s an after hours order, that won’t be a problem — I’ll leave the porch light on and a key under the welcome mat. The customer can let themselves in to my office, and print out their own disk labels and product manuals.”

When asked about these changes, Sheppy said customer support and timeliness in product and service delivery were strategic to Syndicomm’s long term survival. “In today’s economy, all Apple II distributors are struggling to earn business and make a profit… and we’re always considering innovative new ways to keep our customers happy, and coming back. We’re in this business for the long haul, and plan to be around when all the other Apple II software distributors are long gone.”