The 16-bit Apple IIx; Apples On-Line
From The Apple Cart by Owen W. Linzmayer, originally appearing in Creative Computing, Vol. 11, No. 1 / January 1985 / Page 167, we present this trip down memory lane at Atarimagazines.com.
It Begins:
"It was just one year ago that Apple Computer introduced its revered Macintosh computer, and as the highly stylistic television ad with the female hammer thrower promised, saved the world from the Orwellian vision of 1984.
Indeed, Apple did change the public's perception of what a computer should be. They cast asunder the vision of a monitor perched precariously upon a clunky metal box with wires entangled like snakes in Indiana Jones's worst nightmares. Once the exclusive property of nerds with slide rules and plastic pocket protectors, computers suddenly became chic--fashionable. Cocktail party conversation centered on the attractive new computers coming out of Cupertino, and predictably the Macintosh became America's most expensive impulse purchase."
Apple Cart; The 16-bit Apple IIx; Apples On-Line
Apple Commercials
We recently received a request for information about an Apple TV commercial featuring, "a man taunting an iMac G4 in a store window; from head movements to sticking out his tongue and the response from the iMac. It is just a hoot! Even the music was great and is still memorable." Well it's called "Window" and is available at our favorite source for Apple Commercials. Although we've recommended this page before, there has been quite a few commercials added since then, and it's worth taking another look!
Some Cool (Mostly Apple-Related) Movies
Computer Time Line
Today we head over to the "Digital Deli" for a quick byte. Published in 1984, and online at Atariarchives.com, today's article by Carol Iaciofano presents a computer timeline, but not one that you usually see. This timeline spans the years 1642-1984!
Computer Time Line
The Ghost of So What Software
"One score and 10 years ago a company called So What Software closed it's doors for the last time, never anticipating a re-birth years hence on the Internet...but, here it is! We're back from the dead, and giving everything away for FREE!"
Advancing the art of Basic:
So What Software
Virtual ][ Emulator Updated to Version 5
The fantastic 8-bit Apple II emulator for Mac OS X, Virtual ][ has been updated to version 5.0.
New in this release:
• Added a major new feature: the "Inspector". It allows to closely watch the behavior of the virtual machine and debug Apple II programs.
• Made the "speed dial" options more accessible by assigning keyboard shortcuts to them.
• Improved compatibility of the simple text printer.
• Solved a bug that caused wrong license key evaluation when Japanese was the system default language.
Virtual ][
Mission: Impossible Web Adventure Site
To accompany today's addition of the 1996 "Mission: Impossible. The Web Adventure" Ad Featuring Tom Cruise to The Mothership Advertising and Brochure Gallery, we utilize the amazing WayBack Machine at archive.org to give you a glimpse of the actual site, as well as presenting the original 1996 press release.
Via The WayBack Machine:
Mission: Impossible. The Web Adventure
"MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE" MOVIE WEBSITE AND WEB ADVENTURE SITE BECOME TWO OF THE HOTTEST DESTINATIONS ON THE INTERNET
Hollywood, CA, June 7, 1996 -- Paramount Pictures' "Mission: Impossible," starring Tom Cruise, has become a runaway phenomenon on Paramount's "Mission: Impossible" website (http://www.missionimpossible.com) and Apple Computer's "Mission: Impossible: The Web Adventure" site (http://www.mission.apple.com).
Internet surfers from Argentina to Zambia and nearly 70 other nations have visited the sites, with "hits" registered from the British Parliament, the U.S. Congress, NASA, and the U.S. Armed Forces, among many others. Combined, Paramount and Apple's "Mission: Impossible" sites have been attracting an average of 2 million "hits" per day.
Bryan D. Allen, senior vice president of creative advertising for 5555 Communications, which created Paramount's movie website in collaboration with W3-design, Inc., said: "We joined with Apple to establish a presence on the Internet that would reflect the excitement and innovation of `Mission: Impossible.' I am delighted that the public has responded so enthusiastically to both the film and to the websites."
The growth of interest in the sites has been extraordinary. When Paramount's official "Mission: Impossible" movie website went "live" on March 29, it received 47,000 hits even without being registered on any search engines. A week later, the daily hits had reached 100,000, and by Tuesday, May 21, the day before "Mission: Impossible" opened in theaters nationwide, the number had climbed to over 900,000 hits. The figure leaped to 1.2 million on opening day, with the Paramount site recording an unprecedented 200,000-300,000 "hits" during peak hours from all over the globe. Total number of hits to date have surpassed 16 million.
Apple Computer's "Mission: Impossible. The Web Adventure" has attracted more than 125,000 registered "agents" since the launch on Thursday, May 9, of the pilot episode of a six-episode adventure. The first two episodes alone have drawn over 13 million hits.
Because Paramount's constantly evolving site has proved so popular, the company has expanded the number of servers from one to three so web "surfers" won't encounter busy signals as they try to reach the studio's "Mission: Impossible" Internet address. Recently, the popular search engine Yahoo! chose Paramount and Apple's "Mission: Impossible" websites as the first and second choices for their "Picks of the Week" for the week of May 27.
Featuring a vast array of information, sound and video clips as well as images -- both moving and still -- Paramount's "Mission: Impossible" website uses cutting-edge technology to re-create the look and feel of the top-secret intelligence computers seen in the movie. Via a link with Apple's site, "surfers" can also pay a visit to the film's gala premiere, which was held in Los Angeles' Westwood Village on May 20.
Apple Computer's "Mission: Impossible. The Web Adventure" is an exciting interactive experience that plunges guest "agents" into similar adventures faced by Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise's character in the film).
"Agents are given various branching options or selections that unfold in front of them. They are able to choose which path to take as they embark on an interactive adventure into the world of espionage and intrigue," said David Roman, vice president of corporate advertising and brand marketing at Apple. "`The Web Adventure' is on track to become the most successful episodic web promotion to date."
The team behind Paramount's "Mission: Impossible" website includes Bryan D. Allen, executive producer; John Paukulis, producer; Steve H. Miller, writer; Bill Snebold, art director/Shockwave animator; Riea Pendleton-Owens and Albin Reif, designers; Steve Aghazadeh, technical support; and Clayton Carlisle, production assistant.
"Mission: Impossible. The Web Adventure" is an Apple Computer, Inc. presentation, in association with BBDO West, and a December Interactive production, developed and co-produced by MindShare Media Corporation, and written by Alan Jay Glueckman.
"Mission: Impossible," starring Tom Cruise, is a Paramount Pictures presentation of a Cruise/Wagner Production directed by Brian De Palma. Also starring are Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, Henry Czerny, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames and Vanessa Redgrave. The producers are Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, and the executive producer is Paul Hitchcock. The screenplay is by David Koepp and Robert Towne, and the story is by David Koepp and Steven Zaillian based on the TV series created by Bruce Geller. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc. "Mission: Impossible" is MPAA-rated PG-13. Music from and inspired by "Mission: Impossible" on Mother Records. Selections from the music score on Point Music.
Both the Apple and Paramount sites offer "Mission: Impossible" merchandise for sale and are linked to each other and to a multitude of other sites.
