Ken Gagne | Juiced.GS

Honoring Max Jones

February 19, 2012 · Add a comment

The history of Juiced.GS is one that involves the names and faces of many Apple II users who over the years have contributed to its success and survival. But none of them would've had the opportunity if not for the vision and initiative of one man: Max Jones.

It was Max who in 1996 identified a need in the Apple II community for a regular publication to bring news, reviews, how-tos, and interviews to the masses. His background in the print industry made him the ideal candidate to create the product that would fill that vacuum:

Virtually unknown in the Apple II world, Jones used his page layout prowess honed through hours on the powerful desktop publishing program QuarkXPress to create his uniquely named publication… The reception the prototype Juiced.GS received from the Apple II world was the virtual equivalent of a standing ovation. Even experienced users of AppleWorks GS were stunned at the professional appearance of the prototype publication. From the very start, Juiced.GS had the look of a winner.

After six amazing volumes, Max passed the editorial and publishing reins of Juiced.GS in 2001 upon his promotion to editor-in-chief of Indiana's Terre Haute Tribune-Star daily newspaper. Recognizing the opportunity this position would present to him but also the lack of time now available to dedicate to the Apple II, he graciously let Juiced.GS continue without his day-to-day involvement, allowing it to survive and thrive to this day. For this and more, Juiced.GS's readers and friends have thanked (and roasted) Max many times over the years

Tribune-Star editor Max Jones poses with his traveling award and the plaque he will keep.

Finally, Max's talent and fame have been acknowledged by the wider newspaper industry as well. On Thursday, February 16, 2012, the 79-year-old Hoosier State Press Association presented Max with the 2011 Distinguished Service Award, its top award for service to the HSPA. Max earned the award through his work with and dedication to not only the Tribune-Star, but the readership it serves. At the awards ceremony, it was clear that the qualities Max brings to the Apple II are ones he shares with his local community as well:

"Sometimes a person shows up in leadership roles in so many different organizations, one takes it for granted he or she will be involved in the next large project," said Tim Timmons, president of the HSPA board of directors who presented the award. "Max Jones is one of those people."

Of course, this doesn't come as a surprise to Juiced.GS's readers and staff. "Max is obviously a huge benefactor to the Apple II community, with his creation, Juiced.GS, still helping connect Apple II users to the latest news," said Eric Shepherd, staff writer and former publisher of Juiced.GS. "But he's also a heck of a nice guy. That's quite a combination: major-league decency combined with great humor and helping our community grow and stay together over the years."

We couldn't agree more. Congratulations, Max! Your professionalism and contributions have made you a pillar of any community honored to count you as a friend. Thank you for everything you've done for so many.

Tiger Learning Computer gallery

January 04, 2012 · 1 comment

The cover story on Juiced.GS's December 2011 issue is the Tiger Learning Computer. Released in 1996, this portable machine used licensed technology based on the Apple IIe, offering the promise of a new lease on life for Apple Computer Inc.'s longest-running product. Alas, the TLC never made it out of the test market phase, but a few units do exist in the wild — including in the hands of Juiced.GS associate editor Andy Molloy, who not only reviewed the hardware but also interviewed Kristi Petters, the former Apple employee who negotiated the license with Tiger Electronics (now part of Hasbro).

Andy shot many photographs before we settled on the one that graced our front page. If you've read his articles and want to see what was left on the cutting room floor, please enjoy these additional photos!

The making of an Apple II holiday ornament

December 30, 2011 · 3 comments

Subscribers to Juiced.GS are now receiving the December 2011 issue, which features a back-cover photo of a unique holiday creation: an original, miniature Apple IIe ornament. My quarterly editorial details how it came into my possession — but there's much more to know about this gift than can be found in that issue.

For one, this ornament is exquisitely detailed. The monitor features a single stitch of a different color, representing the on/off button. What appears to be a loose thread on the back is in fact the power cord. And the keyboard has a larger stitch for the spacebar (even if the correct number of rows couldn't fit, this feature did!). Some of these details are more visible in these additional photos — take a look, then keep reading for more info.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

The ornament's creator, Sarah, has allowed Juiced.GS to debut the ornament's design document under Creative Commons. She writes:

I chose to make this in plastic canvas because my mom always made projects out of it when I was growing up, it's relatively easy to make almost any shape you want, and the grid-like nature of it was perfect for old-style graphics. I used to map out my graphics programs on graph paper (like the tree) and mapped out this pattern as well before I put it into the pattern program. I found out that plastic canvas started being used in the '70s as well, so it seems like a very appropriate medium.

This same artist was mentioned in the December episode of the Open Apple podcast as once having experimented with programming an Apple II. Podcast guest Rob Kenyon asked for some of those efforts to be released. Fulfilling his wish and in keeping with the theme of the above ornament, Juiced.GS is now also publishing a disk image with two of Sarah's Applesoft BASIC programs: one each for Christmas and New Year's.

I wrote these programs in junior high when I was learning about graphics. I used to map out drawings on graph paper. I believe I found the technique for using a variable to change colors from a book of programs. My computer teacher used to let me run these as "screen savers" before computer class.

It was really fun to view my old programs again. I was happy to see that they still worked, and it was fun to see them in color on an emulator. We only had a green monochrome monitor at home; I had to rely on books for color codes and tested them at school.

It might be a fun "reader challenge" to update the new year program since it's now 20 years old! (YIKES)

These programs may be fairly typical of a nascent Apple II user, but they are also wonderful reminders of the possibilities that early computing awakened in many of us. Our thanks to Sarah for opening this part of her childhood to us — and for keeping the spirit alive through her embroidery work and sharing it with the world!

Enjoy Juiced.GS Volume 16, Issue 4 (December 2011)

December 24, 2011 · Add a comment

The December issue of Juiced.GS is now available!

This 24-page issue features reviews of the CFFA3000, the Steve Jobs biography, and the Tiger Learning Computer; an interview with Kristi Petters, the former Apple employee who licensed the Apple IIe technology for the TLC; a behind-the-scenes look at David Schmenk's Escape! From The Homebrew Computer Club; a tribute to Steve Jobs by the colleagues who knew him in the Apple II days, including Bob Bishop, Paul Terrell, and Lane Roathe; and much, much more!

Check out this issue's index, as well as links to online resources for more related content.

Now available: the entire 2011 volume at a discounted rate!

Don't be left out — sign up for a 2012 subscription!
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delivered right to your mailbox.

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Enjoy Juiced.GS Volume 16, Issue 3 (September 2011)

September 28, 2011 · Add a comment

The September issue of Juiced.GS is now available!
This issue features our annual KansasFest coverage; reviews of Mike Willegal's Brain Board and Vince Briel's A2MP3 card; a tutorial for getting started with the Apple IIGS; and some stunning news about KansasFest 2012.