September 2025

Build Your Own Commodore 64 Cartridge

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IEEE Spectrum published a guide on building a Commodore 64 cartridge using free software and affordable parts. The author, Stephen Cass, shares his experience creating a demo program for a traveling exhibit featuring the notable 6502 microprocessor from the C64. The process involved programming in 6502 assembly, utilizing modern tools, and assembling a cartridge with basic electronic components. Despite initial technical issues, the final product successfully showcased the capabilities of the C64, highlighting the accessibility of retro programming with current resources.

https://spectrum.ieee.org/commodore-64-cartridge

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A History of the Internet, Part 3: The Rise of the User

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Extreme TL;DR: Internet’s evolution: ARPANET to World Wide Web; rise of user-generated content; Google revolutionizes search; MP3s lead to file-sharing, Napster’s legal troubles; dynamic web sparks blogs & Wikipedia; social media’s rise with MySpace and Facebook; mobile phones transform internet access; backlash against tech monopolies, misinformation, doomscrolling, enshittification, and AI’s threats to web quality.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/09/a-history-of-the-internet-part-3-the-rise-of-the-user/

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When Computer Magazines Were Everywhere

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Paul Lefebvre reminisces about his passion for computer magazines from the 80s, owning nearly 700 issues, primarily Atari-related. He fondly recalls reading magazines like ANALOG and Antic, and how they served as a treasure trove of information, akin to the internet today. His collection includes many titles, and he expresses a desire to continue sharing details about them.

https://www.goto10retro.com/p/when-computer-magazines-were-everywhere

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GitHub – MITDDC/cpmarchive-1979-1984: Code and Software “archive” for the CP/M Operating System Created From 1979-1984

CP/M archive (1979-1984) at MIT, containing software/code from CP/M OS, initially hosted on MIT-MC, now part of ToTS collection. Includes 221 ITS archive files, metadata, and organizational documentation.

https://github.com/MITDDC/cpmarchive-1979-1984

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Development of the MOS Technology 6502: a Historical Perspective

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TL;DR: The MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, influential in computing during the late 1970s and 1980s, emerged from a team frustrated with Motorola’s costly 6800. Developed by ex-Motorola engineers at MOS, it featured innovative NMOS technology and shaped various iconic systems like Apple II and Atari. The manufacturing involved complex photolithography, with emphasis on small die size for cost efficiency. Despite challenges, the 6502’s performance and design laid a foundation for modern computing, with notable steps in transistor-level design and circuit simulation integral to its creation.

https://www.embeddedrelated.com/showarticle/1453.php

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All 54 Lost Clickwheel iPod Games Have Now Been Preserved for Posterity

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All 54 lost clickwheel iPod games have now been preserved, thanks to a community effort to bypass Apple’s FairPlay DRM. The project succeeded in obtaining playable copies after locating iPod owners with the games. The last game, Real Soccer 2009, was particularly difficult to archive. Now, users can access the games offline and ensure they remain available for posterity, preserving a slice of early 2000s gaming history.

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/09/all-54-lost-clickwheel-ipod-games-have-now-been-preserved-for-posterity/

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