The time has come for me to announce the addition of a new team member. Greg Templeman started work at Softdisk Publishing about four weeks ago. He will mainly serve as a Softdisk G-S programmer with occasional forays into Softdisk 8-bit programming. I╒d like to take this time to introduce you to him as well as to welcome him to the staff of the Apple Development Group. Below Jay╒s section, you will find an introductory Diskovery section written by him. If you have any ideas you╒d like implemented, better write now before we fill his slate for the next decade!
Shareware Solutions II
Each month, Joe Kohn reports on the latest and greatest Apple II shareware, freeware and public domain software in his Shareware Solutions II newsletter.
The following is an excerpt from an online interview with Joe Kohn by GEnieLamp, a publication of the A2 section on GEnie.
GEnieLamp> Shareware Solutions was the name of your column, which of course focused on shareware, freeware, and public domain software. Does the newsletter only cover shareware, freeware, and PD?
Kohn> The title Shareware Solutions II is a misnomer, as in many ways it turned out to be more like inCider: The Next Generation. I chose the name for one reason and one reason only: name recognition. I figured that after having written a column with that title for 4-5 years, first in the Apple IIGS Buyer╒s Guide and then in inCider/A+, that it would be a recognizable name for a new publication.
Of course, Shareware Solutions II is about shareware, but it╒s also about solutions. Above all, it╒s about the Apple II.
Obviously, I╒m biased, so let me share with you a few letters I╒ve received from subscribers. They can tell you all about Shareware Solutions II.
David Kerwood writes: ╥I just received my copy of Shareware Solutions II, and I can tell you that I was very impressed with what you have done here. I suppose I have gotten most of the A2 newsletter-format publications that have ever been published since 1986 (when I first discovered the world of Apple II computing), and this has been the best premier publication in this genre that I have ever received.╙
William Scott writes: ╥Congratulations on the first issue of Shareware
Solutions II. It is more than I imagined. It is well written, informative, and contains information not found anywhere else. Thank you for taking the chance, and supporting those who support the Apple II.╙
Bill Ingraham writes: ╥Issue 1 of Shareware Solutions II is really great. I had envisioned it as being all about downloading, and maybe a little news. Instead, it is loaded with news of the II world.╙
And, if I remember correctly, the interviewer also had a few choice words to say about Shareware Solutions II. Your turn, Mr. Cuff.
GEnieLamp> Thanks for ruining any chance I had at presenting a semblance of journalistic impartiality! <laughs> I believe I said that it was value for money, which in my personal opinion it certainly is.
Kohn> You wrote: ╥My rating of Shareware Solutions II, overall, is ╘must-have╒. The content makes you feel you╒re really getting your money╒s worth.╙
GEnieLamp> You announced your decision to start Shareware Solutions II in what proved to be the final edition of inCider. Did you decide to start your own newsletter because you knew inCider╒s days were numbered?
Kohn> Yes. I knew of inCider╒s plans at least 6 months before readers did, yet I decided to stick it out to the very end. It was only after my final articles had been submitted to inCider/A+ that I went forward with my plans to self-publish my own Apple II-oriented newsletter. Shareware Solutions II was announced in the July 1993 issue of inCider/A+, as I knew that was to be the final issue.
As an aside, I╒d like to point out that I got in the last word. The last words on the last page of the last issue of inCider were supplied by me. Those magical words, of course, were ╥Apple II Forever.╙
GEnieLamp> This is your first venture as publisher and editor-in-chief. Do you find it a different experience from that of being a contributor to magazines such as inCider/A+ and The Apple IIGS Buyer╒s Guide?
Kohn> It╒s like night and day. As a Contributing Editor, I simply emailed my articles as ASCII text, and several months later, they appeared with art work and were polished products. Now, the text is just the first step of a long process. After writing each article, I have to lay it out, test print it many times to make sure everything fits and looks good, bring the completed newsletter to the printers, type mailing labels, lick stamps, and bring them to the post office.
GEnieLamp> What hardware and software are you using to produce the newsletter?
Kohn> I own an Apple IIGS, and I╒m writing all the articles with AppleWorks v3.0, beefed up with TimeOut Thesaurus and UltraMacros. I try to do as much editing and revising as I can with AppleWorks Classic. Then, I load the articles into AppleWorks GS╒s word processing module, where I╒ll use the Find and Replace function to add smart quotes, and then finally, copy each article into AppleWorks GS╒s Page Layout module, where all the layout and last-minute editing is done.
Then, it╒s a simple matter of printing it out on my Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIP Plus¬ and then bringing my final copy to the printer for mass duplication.
GEnieLamp> The professional look of the first issue brings to mind the frequent cry ╥I didn╒t know you could do that on an Apple II!╙ Obviously it can be done... but is desktop publishing with a IIGS and a laser printer easy to set up and use? What has your experience been?
Kohn> Learning how to use a desktop publishing program is the easy part. Learning how to use that program to create a work of art is the difficult part.
GEnieLamp> Is Shareware Solutions II essentially a one-man operation?
Kohn> Not essentially. It _is_ a one-man operation. I do everything.
GEnieLamp> Then you also track the subscriptions using your Apple II?
Kohn> The AppleWorks v3.0 database is just ideal for keeping track of subscribers.
GEnieLamp> What do you enjoy doing other than writing? What do wish you had more time for?
Kohn> A couple of years ago, I looked down and saw what others refer to as ╥computer stomach,╙ and I didn╒t like what I saw, so I joined a local gym and now work out twice a week. I used to ski a lot, but have only gotten in one day a year on the slopes ever since I started working full-time with my Apple II. I╒d like to go skiing a little more. I also like to hike, and I love to go to the monthly star party held atop a local mountain. I like to go to the movies, and I like to go to my local library. I like to go see the Oakland A╒s play, but they╒ve been breaking my heart recently. I also like to listen to music, but find it too distracting when working.
I like to share my computer expertise, as a volunteer, to non-profit organizations, and through CompuMentor (a San Francisco-based non-profit organization) have helped more than 30 social service organizations and schools to use their Apple II╒s more efficiently. I also like to share my expertise with my neighbors, and am currently President of the GravenStein Apple IIGS User Group.
But, above all, I╒m going into my second decade of a love affair. I love the Apple II.
GEnieLamp> Shareware Solutions II is currently a bimonthly. Does this seem like a realistic schedule, or do you feel you╒ll be going monthly soon?
Kohn> As of today, I only have ╥one issue under my belt╙ so it╒s premature to say when Shareware Solutions II will become a monthly.
GEnieLamp> You╒ve recently acquired an Internet address. Internet mail and newsgroups seem to be very hot topics right now. Will you be addressing this in Shareware Solutions II?
Kohn> I╒ve been active on the Internet and Usenet for nearly 2 years, but it has only been during the past 6 months that it dawned on me that the Internet contains the entire accumulated knowledge of all mankind, and it╒s all just a keystroke or two away. The much-hyped ╥super data highway╙ already exists, and in Issue #2 of Shareware Solutions II, I will have a long article all about the Internet. I╒ll be looking at ╥the net╙ from an Apple II user╒s perspective, and will be providing very specific instructions on how to access it and how to use it.
GEnieLamp> What else can people look for in future issues of Shareware Solutions II?
Kohn> Shareware Solutions II will provide on-going coverage of the Apple II family of computers.
What I╒m most excited about today is ╥Such a Deal,╙ a new column that will appear starting in Issue #2. I have been making arrangements with Apple II software publishers and hardware manufacturers who agree to give subscribers of Shareware Solutions II special discounted pricing on their products. Just as in Issue #1, Seven Hills Software offered subscribers a 50% discount on most of their software, Issue #2 will contain special offers from at least five well-known (or soon to be well-known) Apple II developers.
In addition, there will be general Apple II hints and tips, articles that should help modem owners to have more fun with their modems, and of course, write-ups of the latest and greatest Apple II freeware and shareware.
My overall goal is to make Shareware Solutions II an indispensable resource for the Apple II community, and to make it the best magazine available for the Apple II. Based on the feedback so far, it looks like I just might be succeeding on both counts.
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Have you seen the newsletter? Talked to Joe? Checked out his disks? Well, you better! For more information contact Joe Kohn, 166 Alpine St., San Rafael, CA 94901.
A 12-issue subscription costs $25 within North America; $40 for overseas mail delivery. Checks and money orders only, payable to Joe Kohn. For more information, send a self-addressed stamped envelope.
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Bonus!
This month we had some extra room on the issue so we included a little bonus called More Icons. I didn╒t want any of you to miss it, so I╒m mentioning it here. Check it out by pressing 7 or by selecting it under the Features Menu. Hope you enjoy it.
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See you next month!
If anyone has anything to comment about, write us! We love to receive feedback from our subscribers. See the article ╥How to Contact Us╙ for our addresses and phone numbers. Now, read on for more scintillating remarks from our Apple nuts╤╤Jay, Greg and Bryan.
The weather╒s finally turning cooler (two digits instead of three), Jim Courier was defeated in the US Open this afternoon, and I started weeding out seven year╒s accumulation of computer books. Changes (what a great song from Bowie) abound.
The most profound event of the three is the latter (unless your name is Jim Courier). I╒ve been programming for the last seven years and have purchased every book on programming the Apple II series I╒ve come across. Yes, every book. Since there╒s not much chance of me needing a book called ╥Apple BASIC Made Easy╙ at this point in my career, I decided to thin out the collection. I ended up posting messages on GEnie and America Online during the Labor day weekend. By the time the holiday was over, I had 15 packages of books to ship out -- and lots of clear space on my shelves.
It was a semi-traumatic experience. These were the books that got me into the computer business. I╒d sell one, and while packing it up I╒d remember sitting with it and my Apple IIc for hours and hours trying out one thing after another. It╒s too bad we (people in general) don╒t have enough space so that we can keep everything that╒s important to us. I do have a lot of my performing equipment (props, tuxedos, stage lights) in my basement in Alaska, but it╒s getting full, and besides, there are people who can use those ╥easy╙ books that I╒ve outgrown. I╒d rather see someone getting some use from the books than have them mildew in a basement in Alaska. But it╒s still a sad thing. I guess I╒ll have to go buy myself a new toy or two to help myself get over it <grin>.
As a matter of fact, I already have some of the money earmarked for a new ham radio. I╒ve been an Amateur Radio operator since I was 13 years old. My call sign is KL7JGU. I haven╒t been very active for the past few years but have decided that I need a new hobby (instead of programming at work and then programming more when I get home). I should have a new Ten-Tec Scout 555 by the time you read this. I╒ve been busy practicing my Morse Code with a computer program. I asked Lee if we could publish a Morse Code Tutor but he really didn╒t think there would be much call for it. Okay, I might agree with him this time.
Good question. Some of you may be familiar with my past endeavors in the Apple II world, but for those who aren╒t, I╒m never reluctant to recount my history. By the time you read this, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my programming the Apple II. I was first introduced to the Apple IIe back in the fall of 1983, through Apple╒s free giveaway program to schools. Within a few weeks, I was programming little things in Apple Logo, tucked away in the back corner of the school library. Within a few months, I╒d convinced my folks to shell out half the money for a new Apple IIe system, and I taught myself AppleSoft BASIC. By the end of the school year, my classmates voted me ╥Most Likely to Become a Computer Hacker╙ (or was that ╥Nerd╙?)
In my first year or so of high school, I taught myself 6502 and 65c02 assembly language (the native tongue of the Apple IIe and IIc computers). I╒ll never forget sitting in Mr. Hill╒s Spanish classes, writing machine code in my notebooks. Needless to say, I don╒t remember much Spanish (yo no hablo mucho espaûol), but with that kind of dedication, I was bound to improve my computer skills!
I started dabbling in hardware design in 1986, and bought myself a IIGS in 1987 with money I╒d saved up from odd jobs, birthdays, and refereeing youth soccer matches (boy, those soccer parents can be brutal!). I finally made the transition away from Apple DOS 3.3 to ProDOS, and taught myself 65816 assembly, the IIGS microprocessor╒s language.
After I graduated from high school, I taught a summer school BASIC programming class, then messed around tutoring math or just hanging out for several months. I started beta-testing AppleWorks GS 1.0v2 after I called up Claris and impressed them with my bug-finding skills (or maybe they just wanted to shut me up, who knows?) I graduated from that into full-time testing for AppleWorks GS 1.1, working at Claris╒ brand-new corporate headquarters in Santa Clara (across from the Great America amusement park, which is now owned by Paramount. If you╒re in the area, you MUST go ride the new Top Gun hanging roller coaster!)
I started college in 1990, taking lots of math and electronics classes. I taught myself the programming language C in a hurry so I could be a Test Engineer for Apple IIGS System 5.0.3/5.0.4 at Apple Computer that summer, and I made money hand over fist (much of which I could never afterwards account for...) I used to commute 120 miles a day from my home in Walnut Creek, CA, to Cupertino, and back, carpooling with another great Apple II programmer, Eric Shepherd.
In 1991, my summer job at The Learning Company stretched into a 7-month stint, working on the network version of The Children╒s Writing and Publishing Center (check out the awesome interface on my File Convert utility included in that package). With the money from that job, I got myself a modem, and started writing programs for the Apple II online community: a bug-fix for the System 6 Sound Control Panel, another bug-fix for the ZipGS CDA, a total rewrite of the ZipGS Control Panel, my 6-bit digitized sound player for all Apple II╒s, and my Joystick Adjustor CDA (and more...). In addition, I collaborated extensively with Eric Shepherd on many programs, including the latest versions of ProBOOT IIGS (that╒s my artwork on the ProBOOT Installer╒s title screen, folks... OK, so I was writing computer programs in my art classes, too... what can I say?!?)
Despite broadening my horizons by taking German classes, I was becoming a bit tired of college, so I jumped at the chance of another Apple II programming job, this time with Softdisk. Somehow I managed the 2000-mile drive from California to Louisiana, despite a flat tire in the desert and oil leaks that probably qualified me as an environmental hazard. My poor car will never be the same...
So now I╒m heading into my second decade as a programmer (!), and though I sometimes feel like the last of the Apple II Jedi Knights, I am still convinced that the power and potential of the IIGS have just begun to be tapped. You, Softdisk subscriber, have a computer with an interface that puts Windows to shame, and with some features that Mac people still envy (or ought to). The Apple II has come a long way in the last 16 years, and it has outlasted many of its critics and naysayers. As the newest member of the Softdisk team, I look forward to providing you with new software for your IIGS for many years to come. Heck, the Apple II could still outlast ME.
This issue includes a patch to the Font Manager in Apple╒s new System 6.0.1, written by Nathan Mates and me. I╒m also working on a great new background picture/pattern program for the next issue that╒ll blow your socks off. Over time, I hope to get some of my never-released software published on Softdisk G-S or Softdisk (hint, hint, Lee...). But, if all that isn╒t enough for you, you can write to me here at Softdisk and ask for your own personal, autographed copy of my ZipGS accelerator patches... FREE of charge. No obligation, and I may even throw some other knick-knacks on there for the heck of it. So send in those letters, folks, so I can get to know who I╒m working for out there in the Great Big Apple II Universe.
Well folks, things are getting really interesting around here. In the space of 30 days, we╒ve hired two people for our group (Greg and a secret surprise employee that we╒ll talk about more next month!)
So, just what does this mean? Well, probably the most significant thing is that I╒ll finally have the time it╒ll take to finish some of the bigger projects on my to-do list. Most notably the spelling checker desk accessory! I don╒t have a time frame on it yet, but I need about four weeks to finish it...
Speaking of time frames, don╒t forget about our Softdisk Adventure Machine contest! By the time you read this, everyone should have SAM 2.0 and SAM Skrypter. With some effort and a bit of creativity you could be our big winner-and become rich and famous because of it (okay, maybe not).
And since I mentioned ╥creativity╙ up above (notice the most excellent segues this month?!?) I heard that the animation program Fantavision GS has a new publisher.
Wild Duck Software (979 Golf Course Drive, Suite 256, Rohnert Park, CA, 1-707-586-0728) has acquired the popular program from Br┐derbund and has made it System 6.0 compatible, hard drive installable and now includes a HyperStudio NBA that enables you to directly import Fantavision GS animations into HyperStudio stacks. The price is around $60.
Now for a completely different subject... does anyone ever read the Tech Support Notes column on Softdisk G-S? If not, you should. Jim Branton documents known problems (and work-arounds when applicable) with past SDGS programs. You might save yourself a lot of time and trouble by browsing this article each month!
I brought this up because of the tremendous number of letters we get each month asking (what seems like!) questions about things we╒ve already mentioned in TSN. Considering our lead-time and the time that letters take to get to us, it can be as much as four months before a letter and our response is published. I just have to wonder if people are giving up on Softdisk G-S programs during that period. I really hope not! Especially when many of the questions are answered in TSN!
In any case, here is the process for dealing with problems:
Ñ Check recent editions of Tech Support Notes for any mention of the problem you are having.
Ñ Restart your machine while holding down the shift key. This will prohibit desk accessories and inits from being loaded. Almost all of our desk accessories have ╥programs╙ that load them into memory. By removing all third party DAs and Inits you can find out if it really is our program or DA causing the problem.
Ñ Write up a detailed description of what is happening. Simply telling us, ╥I can╒t use xxxx because it crashes╙ isn╒t good enough. When does it crash? What were you doing, what kinds of files were you manipulating? The more information the better!
Ñ Generate a report using The Analyst 1.3 (from Softdisk G-S #48).
Ñ Now call Softdisk Technical Support at 1-800-831-2694. These people are paid to help you solve problems. There is absolutely no need for you to give up on Softdisk G-S: we don╒t plan on publishing buggy programs, we extensively test every single item that is published, but occasionally bugs do slip by. In most cases there is a simple work-around. Regardless, Customer Service can help you, or at least let you know that we╒re aware of the problem and plan on fixing it.
Ñ In cases where Technical Support can╒t help you (it happens╤╤these guys are not God, they can only do so much) send in your problem╒s description and the report from The Analyst and include a daytime phone number! With luck, Jay, Greg or I will be able to solve your problem!
Anyway... that╒s enough lecturing from me for this month!
