Learn Python 2020

Learn Python 2020

If you don't know which programming language to learn, Python will be a good choice to start. Python is one of the top 3 programming languages these few years.

Check this video Most Popular Programming Languages 1965 - 2019.

Python can last for another few more years, so is a good investment to learn Python.

Python is easy to learn, even for beginners.

For examples: Hello world

> print('Hello, world.')
⇒ Hello, world.

It has an interactive environment, users can observed the results immediately. No need to compile, no need to go through the complicated process to output the result. This is important for many beginners.

Python is dynamic data type:

> a= 'Hello, world.'
⇒ Hello, world.

> a= 200+300
⇒ 500

The variable 'a' can be a string or a number, easy and flexible.

This is just a preview. You should look for a proper tutorial to learn Python. Trust me, is not that difficult for beginners.

Willow Movie 1988 and Game 1980s

Willow Movie 1988 and Game 1980s

Willow game

Just watched the movie Willow (1988) for the first time.

Willow is a movie produced by Lucas Film. The story by George Lucas. It is a very old movie, the story is classic and normal, the special effects used in the movie are being considered as advanced, during the time in 1980s.

Willow also release as a game for DOS. You can watch the game play here.

Mini vMac Macintosh Classic

Mini vMac Macintosh Classic

Mini vMac

Mini vMac is an open source emulator for the original Macintosh series (from Mac 128k to Mac Classic, up to 4Mb ram). It is a fork of vMac.

Install Mini vMac

You can download the software from https://www.gryphel.com/c/minivmac/download.html, available for Mac, Windows and Linux system.

For Mac, is easier to install using home-brew:

$ brew cask install mini-vmac

To run mini-vmac, you need 1. the ROM file and 2. Classic Mac OS System. I will show you how to do it.

History of Original Macintosh

Macintosh 128k

The original Macintosh was introduced by Steve Jobs in 1984, it has 128k ram, 7.8336Mhz Motorola 68000 cpu. The display's 9-inches size with resolution was fixed to 512x342 pixels, 72 dpi (to match with the Apple ImageWriter 144 dpi resolution?).

The Macintosh 512x342 pixels remained that size till 1990-1993 Macintosh Classic and Macintosh Classic II (Classic Mono).

Macintosh Classic

The first low cost Macintosh sold below USD1,000, expandable to 4Mb ram, using the old 68000 cpu, and the original Macintosh 128k design. Macintosh Classic can run Mac OS System 6-7.5.5.

Macintosh Classic was introduced in the year 1990, later succeeded by Macintosh Classic II.

Using Mini vMac

1. Macintosh ROM file

Macintosh ROM is owned by Apple. According to wikipedia, vMac accept "Gemulator ROM board from Emulators Inc.".

gryphel.com ask user to copy the ROM from a real Macintosh machine using utility eg. CopyRom. Refer here https://www.gryphel.com/c/minivmac/start.html.

A vMac.rom is available from https://sites.google.com/site/minivmacapplicationsv6/disk-images-and-roms.

2. Classic Mac OS

Classic Mac OS System 7.5.5 is available to be downloaded from https://sites.google.com/site/minivmacapplicationsv6/systems-os.

Mini vMac Application

Need a Macintosh ROM file

Load the ROM file from Mini vMac > File > open, or just drag the file to Mini vMac.

This this to auto load the rom file, rename vmac.rom to vMac.ROM and place it same directory as the mini-vMac application.

Need to load a system

Load the OS system file from Mini vMac > File > open, or just drag the file to Mini vMac.

System 5

System 7. Text Edit.

Aldus PageMaker

MacPascal

Import and export files

Import files into vMac using ImportFI, and export files using ExportFI.

*.DSK, *.IMG can be mounted by Mac OS system, just drag the file to vMac.

*.sit is compress file by Stuffit. Use Stuffit Lite or Stuffit Expander to extract the file.

There are many old application and games can be downloaded from macintosh repository website here.

Add to iTunes as Spoken Track (OSStatus error -1743.)

Add to iTunes as Spoken Track (OSStatus error -1743.)

Add spoken track to iTunes (macOS Mojave)

macOS text to speech

You can highlight a text in macOS application (eg. Safari, Text Edit), convert the text to audio and add it to iTunes:

Safari > Services > Add to iTunes as a Spoken Track
or
Right click > Services > Add to iTunes as a Spoken Track

If you don't get the services, enable it in System Preferences:

Enable add to iTunes as a Spoken Track

System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Services > Text (x) Add to iTunes as a Spoken Track

“Import Audio Files” error: (OSStatus error -1743.)

I am getting an error, every time I try to convert the text to speech in preview application:

The action “Import Audio Files” encountered an error: “The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error -1743.)”

I know why I am getting this, because I choose "Don't Allow" when I choose text to iTunes audio track when I first use the function.

I choose "Don't Allow", but I want to change it later.

Now I want to use the text to iTunes audio track, I need to enable it. It takes me some time to get it back. It is here:

Allow Preview application to access iTunes

System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy tab > Automation > Preview (x) iTunes.

Now I can add audio track to iTunes from Preview application, without the error.