WOzFest 19 Announcement

Hot on the heels of WOzFest 18 I’m very happy to announce the date for the next WOzFest: WOzFest 19 will be held on Saturday 1 May 2021, starting at midday Sydney time (UTC+10:00).

The theme for WOzFest 19 is “Freedom” – a good friend and frequent WOzFest attendee retires the day before, so I thought what better way to celebrate than to get together with Apple ][ enthusiasts?! I’ll leave it to attendees to interpret the theme as they see fit.

WOzFest 19 will be streamed on Twitch via WOzFest TV for the whole duration. I’ll be aiming to do some productive work to stream, and will have some Skype calls as well.

That said, I’ve not yet organised any Skype calls – but I’m sure I’ll be able to rustle up some Apple ][ enthusiasts from around the world to participate.

The COVID-19 situation has seemed to stabilise here. That said, all prospective attendees will need to pre-register their interest, and sign-in via QR code upon arrival. Masks are optional, hand sanitiser will be provided. I ask all prospective attendees to follow the NSW Government’s self-isolation rules.

Snacks and cider will be provided (I ask for a small donation for same), and those present at dinner time are welcome to join in our pizza order.

Lastly, for WOzFest 19 I’m continuing to raise funds via Ko-Fi. This allows small (or large!) donations to be made – check out my intro post there for the lowdown, and feel free to drop anything you can in the can to help me to run WOzFest moving forward.

I hope to see you there!

P.S. If you happen to be in Sydney and available on 30 April, drop me a line, I’m planning on taking the day off and will be in WOzFest HQ for much of the day.

QFest 18 Announcement

SteveK in Brisbane has now confirmed he’ll be able to host a QFest to coincide with WOzFest 18 – hooray!

Not only that, he’s done the upgrade and got the quintessential mini-Australian-Apple ][-Fest infrastructure for use by attendees – a table tennis table!

Because of timezone differences, QFest 18 will be starting at 02:00 UTC (WOzFest 18 will be starting at 01:00 UTC), but we’ll stream with them as soon as they’re up and running at WOzFest TV.

Food and other refreshments will be provided by Steve (what a champ!), but registrations are essential – reach out to me or comment here if you would like to register.

Despite COVID-19, this is going to be a bumper WOzFest year, and I hope our Northern friends can keep up the pace!

Apple ][ Forever!

WOzFest 18 Announcement

I’m very happy to announce the date for the next WOzFest: WOzFest 18 will be held on Saturday 20 March 2021, starting at midday Sydney time (UTC+11:00). UPDATE: QFest 18 has been announced for the same day!

The theme for WOzFest 18 is “Community Service” – I’m asking attendees to bring something to upload to the Internet, to update an online resource, to do some Applesauce imaging on the night, to do some scanning, to interview a luminary via Skype…anything which contributes back to the retrocomputing community (it doesn’t even have to be Apple ][-related!). These services would need to be performed during WOzFest 18.

Many WOzFest attendees already do these things, both outside of and during WOzFests – I just think it would be nice to have that as a theme of a specific WOzFest, and that everyone find some way to participate.

As per recent WOzFestsWOzFest 18 will be streamed on Twitch via WOzFest TV for the whole duration. I’ll be aiming to do some productive work to stream, and will have some Skype calls as well.

That said, I’ve not yet organised any Skype calls – but I’m sure I’ll be able to rustle up some Apple ][ enthusiasts from around the world to participate.

The COVID-19 situation continues to fluctuate here – currently 5 visitors are allowed, but that may ease (or tighten?!) before 20 March. All prospective attendees will need to pre-register their interest, and sign-in via QR code upon arrival. Masks are optional, hand sanitiser will be provided. I ask all prospective attendees to follow the NSW Government’s self-isolation rules.

Snacks and cider will be provided (I ask for a small donation for same), and those present at dinner time are welcome to join in our pizza order.

Lastly, for WOzFest 18 I’m continuing to raise funds via Ko-Fi. This allows small (or large!) donations to be made – check out my intro post there for the lowdown, and feel free to drop anything you can in the can to help me to run WOzFest moving forward.

I hope to see you there!

P.S. If you happen to be in Sydney and available on 19 March, drop me a line, I’m taking the day off and will be in WOzFest HQ for much of the day, so maybe some will get a little bit of extra retrocomputing done – the more the merrier, right?!

WOzFest 17 Oct/QFest 17 Announcement

I’m very happy to announce the date for the next WOzFest: WOzFest 17 Oct will be held on Saturday 17 October 2020, starting at midday Sydney time (UTC+11:00). An easy date to remember! And Steve in Brisbane has confirmed QFest 17 will be held at the same time – double the Apple ][ goodness!

The theme for WOzFest 17 Oct is, as it was for WOzFest SWEET16, “Community” – having supportive communities is important at the best of times, but especially so at the moment, so I’ve decided to extend the theme to cover WOzFest 17 Oct. The camaraderie involved in events like WOzFest certainly help me feel lucky in these trying times. So come and join my community for a few hours, no matter where you are in the world.

As per recent WOzFests, WOzFest 17 Oct will be streamed on Twitch via WOzFest TV for the whole duration. I’ll be aiming to do some productive work to stream, and will have some Skype calls as well.

That said, I’ve not yet organised any Skype calls – but I’m sure I’ll be able to rustle up some Apple ][ enthusiasts from around the world to participate. As usual, we’ll have a permanent connection to our QFest 17 buddies.

For WOzFest 17 Oct I’m continuing to raise funds via Ko-Fi. This allows small (or large!) donations to be made – check out my intro post there for the lowdown, and feel free to drop anything you can, in the can, to help me to run WOzFest moving forward.

I hope to see you there!

P.S. If you happen to be in Sydney and available on 16 October, drop me a line, I’m taking the day off and will be in WOzFest HQ for much of the day, so maybe some will get a little bit of extra retrocomputing done – the more the merrier, right?!

WOzFest SWEET16 Attendance, QFest 16 Announced

I’ve been pondering for some time how to handle attendees for WOzFest SWEET16 as restrictions ease. This post (largely) reproduces an e-mail to the Apple IIoz Mailing List regarding attendance given the evolving circumstances.

I am very lucky to have my own COVID-19 consultant – my wife works in the medical space, assessing current scientific literature to advise government, pharma, device companies, medical professional bodies, etc. on the current scientific evidence for drugs, devices and procedures.

She was already reading up on COVID-19 before she came down with a cough (not COVID, as it happens) 3 months ago and she and I started self-isolating. She subsequently started doing deep dives, and she has stayed completely up to date with what’s happening in relation to both medical and policy issues.

I say all this by way of introduction so no-one thinks I’m basing my thoughts on “Dr Google”, or “Google-based medical training”. However, this in no way forms medical advice, I’m not suggesting anyone agree with my conclusions, and please inform yourself before making your own decisions on the below. While informed by my discussions with my wife, this is solely my position, and does not necessarily reflect current or future positions my wife may hold in relation to COVID-19 professionally or personally.

Also, all of this is framed within the NSW Government recommendations and restrictions for private residences. WOzFest HQ is not a public space, and therefore public gathering advice and restrictions don’t apply.

So, that allows, as of 13 June, up to 20 visitors/attendees to our residence. While the NSW Government recommends (but doesn’t require) 1.5m spacing between people, it doesn’t currently stipulate a number per m² for such gatherings in residences.

For those of a mathematical bent, WOzFest HQ is about 6m × 7m. Usable space is about 5m × 6m with a table tennis table in the middle. Walking/standing around the table tennis table is a 3m × 4m rectangle. There is also a landing of approximately 2.5m × 3m directly outside WOzFest HQ which may be available for use subject to weather (rain will make it unusable) and whether we have washing on the clotheslines there!

Enough disclaimers and background? I hope so!

Now the real meat – I intend to proceed as follows:

Attendee limits/caps

I am not pre-setting a specific limit more restrictive than Government restrictions in place on 25 July. I’ve changed my view on this recently if you’ve seen me say otherwise.

Community spread is negligible (if present at all), and I expect anyone who is symptomatic or is in the usual risk groups to be self-isolating anyway.

Also, (and I can’t stress this enough) if you are immunocompromised, I would suggest you not attend, or at least consider things very carefully as we approach 25 July and we have a firm idea of attendee numbers, the current community situation, etc.

If you’re a medical professional, you may already have limitations on groups you can be a part of more restrictive than the normal limits – caveat doctor! (or nutrix!)

Travel is currently unrestricted between and within NSW, ACT and Victoria, the most likely origins of attendees as far as I’m aware.

Potential attendees from other states will need to review their Government’s entry requirements for their return journey should they attend as I believe all other States currently have entry restrictions. These may, of course, change in the next six weeks. I will not provide accommodation until you can return to your native state!

PPE

I will not be supplying PPE for attendees – if you want a mask, bring a mask. I will not make masks mandatory, although I understand there is evidence for them reducing the spread. I may wear a mask when I’m not in front of my iMac streaming/Skyping, but haven’t decided yet.

I don’t believe gloves offer any protection above good hand hygiene and avoiding touching your face (and if you touch an infected surface while wearing gloves and then your face, gloves will provide no additional protection), but you’re welcome to bring and wear them. I will not make gloves mandatory.

will be providing several hand sanitiser dispensers around the room, including at the main door.

Food

The usual provisions (pun intended) apply. I will provide some snacks and cider. Dinner will be delivery pizza. There is a fridge here available for your drinks (unless it’s full of bubbly!).

It is my personal opinion that transmission via food is unlikely if good hand hygiene is followed. That said, if you wish to bring your own snacks, you are, as always, welcome to – you can even preclude others from enjoying them without judgement!

If you wish to have your own pizza, that can be accommodated. Want to keep your drinks separate? Bring your own esky (can stay on the landing, rain, hail or shine!) and cups. If you wish to have your own eating implements and plates, bring them!

Attendee register

I’d like potential attendees to let me know asap that they’re interested in attending, and if there are any conditions on their attendance (e.g. not once attendance is over a certain amount). This register will also be available (in the unlikely event it will be necessary) for contact tracing, so I’ll ask all attendees to provide/confirm their mobile number. Please keep details you want private (subject to provision to relevant authorities for contact tracing) off this list. I will not provide anything beyond a list of attendee names (and state of origin if requested) to attendees.

Virtual attendance

Remember, I am streaming the whole ~10 hours of WOzFest SWEET16 and will be happy for those who otherwise may have attended to Skype in to chat with anyone here. If there are interstate gatherings on the same day, we’ll do a semi-permanent Skype. Local non-attendees will be easier to Skype to due to minimal timezone differences, so I will prioritise Skype sessions by timezone differences to encourage those further away to get in on the act.

Other considerations

We are in a state of flux…and not (just) because of the Applesauce!

There may be a second wave before 25 July.

Governments may change their recommendations or restrictions, which in turn may change or inform my above positions.

I may see or hear something which changes my mind independent of professional or Government advice.

I may get COVID-19 and ban attendees but still stream from my sick/death bed.

I may be capricious, change my mind for no reason, and modify any or all of the above – up to and including precluding any attendees and being stream-only.

I may have overlooked something. Please pull me up on these.

Something, something, blah, blah, unforeseen.

However, any changes on my position I obviously intend to let you all know.

That said, you’re solely responsible for your own “limits”, “lead times”, “thresholds”, “Oh god, they’re attending, I’m not!”, “I can’t believe they’re getting pizza again, I’m out!” decisions.

Feel sick? Don’t attend. Not enough info or protection for you? Don’t attend. Not sure? Don’t attend. Don’t like me? Don’t attend.

The WOzFest HQ door will be open at midday 25 July – notified attendees up to the current Government limit get to attend (first registered, first allowed in) – others will be turned away – I’ll set or toy Bichoodle Daisy on the surplus/non-registered! If everyone who thinks they’ll attend lets me know, we’ll be able to avoid that unpleasantness.

And after (despite?!) all that, I really do hope to see you at, or online for, WOzFest SWEET16!

UPDATE: QFest 16 Announced

Steve in Brisbane has announced QFest 16 will be held to coincide with WOzFest SWEET16 – I’ll have a permanent Skype session to QFest, which will feature in the stream. Let me know if you’re wanting to attend!

Some sites used in framing the above:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/_emergency/Public%20Health%20(COVID-19%20Restrictions%20on%20Gathering%20and%20Movement)%20Order%20(No%203)%202020.pdf (presumably about to change due to limit changes on residential visitors)

https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/social-distancing

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice-and-restrictions-faqs#other-states

WOzFest SWEET16 Announcement

I’m very happy to announce the date for the next WOzFest: WOzFest SWEET16 will be held on Saturday 25 July 2020, starting at midday Sydney time (UTC+10:00).

The theme for WOzFest SWEET16 is “Community” – having supportive communities is important at the best of times, but especially so at the moment. The camaraderie involved in events like WOzFest certainly help me feel lucky in these trying times. So come and join my community for a few hours, no matter where you are in the world.

As per WOzFest COLOR=15, WOzFest SWEET16 will be streamed on Twitch via WOzFest TV for the whole duration. I’ll be aiming to do some productive work to stream, and will have some Skype calls as well.

Sidenote: For those who don’t know, SWEET16 was Steve Wozniak’s 16‑bit interpreted language for the 8‑bit Apple ][ which was included in the Apple ][ ROM (see source code image above, courtesy of Call-AP.P.L.E., which has re-issued The Wozpak, full of early Apple technical information, including about SWEET16). Sweet16 is also the name of SheppyWare’s IIgs emulator (which I believe is currently being re-written).

It seemed appropriate to have something from so early in the Apple ][‘s story (and written by Woz himself!) label what is likely to be the last “named” WOzFest.

I think I’ve done an OK job naming WOzFests 1-16 with Apple- and Apple ][-related names, but looking past 16 the field of names is rather sparse rather quickly. So it’s over to just boring numbers from here on out – unless I get sent a barrage of suggestions that cover me for 17 to 6502 before WOzFest 17 in October/November.

The mid-year WOzFest is usually tied in to KansasFest, and this year things are no different…well, except that everything is entirely different for both WOzFest and KansasFest at the moment.

The KansasFest Committee has decided to go virtual-only this year, and registrations opened this week – US$20 seems a bargain to me, so I’ve registered, and ordered a t-shirt to boot.

With the timing, WOzFest SWEET16 is going to be wedged in between the two days of KansasFest 2020. For me, Day 1 of KansasFest 2020 will run from midnight Friday night to 07:00 Saturday – I’ll then try and grab a few hours sleep/rest (unless there are unofficial events on to snag my attention), get finalised for WOzFest, then run 10 hours of that through to 22:00. Day 2 of KansasFest starts at midnight Saturday night and runs to 07:00 Sunday – I think I’ll be a wreck on Sunday when everything’s done.

But what a great Apple ][ weekend it’s going to be! KansasFest sounds like it’s going to have a huge international contingent of “attendees”, and it’ll be interesting to see which sessions suit virtual presentation. Oz KFest 2017 had quite a few virtual presentations and I think they worked quite well.

In review, WOzFest COLOR=15 was fun, even if I was by myself. It was definitely experimental on the WOzFest TV front, and, although viewers had to put up with audio issues for an hour or so, I figured out the issue (don’t overload your broadcasting computer with too many video sources to encode). I’m hoping to post video highlights soon with edited audio to overcome the choppiness.

I learnt a lot, got a lot of scene layout ideas, researched audio production on the Mac for streaming, and have now got what should be a much better setup and idea for how to make things look and sound better.

I’m expecting that at WOzFest SWEET16 I’ll be able to get back to software preservation with the Applesauce. Applesauce is John Morris’ phenomenal USB interface for Apple ][ disk drives which takes Apple ][ software preservation to new heights by capturing magnetic flux-level images of disks.

I’ve done little with the disks sent by Alex of the What is the Apple IIGS website since originally imaging them – I have tried cleaning some which had imaging issues, but have not achieved any results worthy of updating WOzFest.flux, my Internet Archive item of disks I’ve fluxed (that item forms part of the larger collection of such Applesauce flux image items, Flux Capacity). That lack of flux activity means I also still have to do the disks that Steve from Brisbane dropped off at WOzFest 14.25045 MHz.

While the whole COVID-19 situation meant WOzFest COLOR=15 had to be a sole-participant affair, there is some light at the end of the tunnel – the NSW State Government has eased restrictions as of yesterday and up to two adults can visit others.

So I might have a couple of attendees, and I’m thinking of having a Golden Ticket lottery to see who that might be – unless things free up even more in the next 12 weeks.

I’ve not yet organised any Skype calls – but I’m sure I’ll be able to rustle up some Apple ][ enthusiasts from around the world to participate.

For WOzFest SWEET16 I’m continuing to raise funds via Ko-Fi. This allows small (or large!) donations to be made – check out my intro post there for the lowdown, and feel free to drop anything you can in the tin to help me to run WOzFest moving forward.

I am in the process of raising funds via the sale of excess interface cards and disk drives which will see me back in the black as far as tools and equipment for streaming is concerned, so I thank the local community for their support in that.

I hope to “see” you there!

WOzFest COLOR=15 Update

Wow, what a month! When I announced WOzFest COLOR=15 I was looking forward to another fun get-together of fellow Apple ][ enthusiasts, and I’d already started planning to stream the day for those who couldn’t make it.

Now, communities around the world are in lockdown (Australia is heading down that path) and people’s lives are being turned upside down.

By mid-last week, I decided to go stream-only for WOzFest COLOR=15. While a difficult personal decision, it’s nothing compared to what some people are experiencing.

I love hosting WOzFest and I love having enthusiasts here at WOzFest HQ – but for the next short(?) while, we all have to pull our head in.

I still need help, though – while I won’t have physical attendees, I’d like to do Skypes during the day. If you’re tinkering, if you have something to share or say, if you’re releasing a new product, if you’re lonely, whatever – let me know what time suits between 01:00-11:00 UTC 4 April 2020 and I’ll try and schedule you in. Let’s go around the world, let’s go around Australia, let’s show this stupid virus it won’t dampen our enthusiasm for the Apple ][!

On a practical level, I’ve been able to utilise some donated equipment for my streaming setup – a recently donated iMac 27” with 32GB RAM and 2GB VRAM is powerful enough to do the video processing. Two donated cracked-screen iPhones are acting as webcams, a donated webcam is being used above my Applesauce Disk ][, and a donated Airport Express is creating a dedicated WiFi network for the iPhone webcams.

But I have had to purchase some items – three camera mounts, two extra long USB cables to keep the iPhones running, a USB hub – all up, I’ve spent about AU$140.

I’m passing the hat around via Ko-Fi and asking if you’d like to support the stream please consider a small contribution to this. Large contributions welcome, too, of course!

The intention is that all future WOzFests will be streamed, but I expect this expenditure to be a one-off.

So, via Skype or Twitch chat, I’m looking forward to talking to some of you on 4 April and sharing some of the work I’ll be doing on the day. If I can I’ll try and draw up a schedule – for example, I wanted to do an Applesaucing session and discuss usage tips, etc.