The Macintosh is one of the oldest mainstream computing platforms still in use. Its operating system has had to evolve through multiple difficult transitions to stay relevant. In this episode we discuss the history of the Mac's operating system. Or perhaps we should use the plural "operating systems," since the Mac has really been through two distinct eras with very different operating systems. From 1984 to 2001 the "Classic Mac OS" evolved, with difficulty, from supporting a machine with an 8 MHZ processor and 128 KB of RAM to Internet era multimedia machines. In 2001 it was replaced by Mac OS X built from the foundations of NeXTStep, an operating system that could trace its history to 1989, and the even older Unix, circa 1969. Today Mac OS X has evolved into iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS 11. All of this and much more in this special episode for #MARCHintosh, a movement by creators to celebrate the history of the Macintosh. Show Notes Episode 29: Why was the Original Macintosh Significant? Episode 23: The Mac's Instruction Set Architecture Transitions Episode 32: What is Unix? Episode 21: How have UIs Evolved? A/UX via Wikipedia Taligent via Wikipedia Copland via Wikipedia BeOS via Wikipedia NeXTStep via Wikipedia Mac OS 9 Funeral with Steve Jobs via YouTube Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

We discuss the history and software infrastructure behind podcasts. Podcasts are distributed using RSS feeds and MP3 files. They are hosted on web servers and podcast feeds are indexed by podcast directories. A podcast player connects to a podcast directory when you search for shows, and it connects to RSS feeds to find new episodes of shows you subscribe to. When you play an episode, your podcast player downloads the corresponding MP3 file from a web server. We explain how all of this works. Plus, we talk about how the podcast ecosystem has evolved and what software you need to start your own podcast. Show Notes Episode 36: XML Episode 26: Napster Episode 6: How does the Web Work? Audacity - Audio Recorder/Editor Pinecast - Podcast Host - Use referral code r-9db122 for 40% off for 4 months. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-9db122 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Kopec Explains Software.

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a data-interchange format that can be used as a meta file format: A format for defining other file formats. Commonly used in Web services for transmitting the results of API calls, it also underlies everything from Microsoft Office's file formats to RSS, the format of podcast feeds. You use XML based file formats every day, even if you don't know it. In this episode we dive into how XML works, what it looks like, and how it's used by programmers, programs, and everyday users. Show Notes Episode 6: How does the Web work? Episode 20: How do Digital Images Work? XML via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

The podcast discusses the history, characteristics, and reasons for the popularity of the C programming language. It explores its ties to Unix, its role in operating systems, system libraries, and device drivers, and its influence on other programming languages. It also delves into the standardization process of C and its enduring impact on modern computing.

Video game distribution has always been split between two different value chains: console games and PC games. In this episode we discuss why console games have historically been distributed differently from PC games. We get into the different kinds of restrictions that each market has faced, and how online distribution has evolved. Then we talk about GameStop. We provide a little background on the company and why it has been suffering the last few years. Finally, we conclude by offering our opinions on the current controversy surrounding the rapid rise in the share price of GameStop's stock. Show Notes Episode 16: The Personal Computer Revolution Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World by David Sheff — book that goes into the details of Nintendo's distribution system in the 1980s and early 1990s via Amazon Console Wars by Blake Harris — book that goes into video game distribution on Nintendo and Sega platforms of the 1990s via Amazon GameStop via Wikipedia GameStop ($GME) Financial Statistics via Yahoo! Finance Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Find out more at http://kopec.live

"Information Technology" and "Computer Science" are often confused. But they are really two different disciplines that both involve working with computers. In this episode we explain the differences. We also delve into the multifaceted meaning of the term computer science. We hope to give listeners a better understanding of what someone who works in IT does, versus what someone who works in CS does. Should you ask your software development friend for help fixing your computer? Show Notes Hackers and Painters by Paul Graham Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Explore the history and evolution of Unix, its relationship with the C programming language, and its dominance through clones like Linux. Learn about its philosophy of specialized programs and the impact on modern operating systems. Discover the influence of Unix on innovation in the computing field.

PowerPoint has completely changed the way that we communicate. But where did it come from? In this episode we discuss the origins and impact of PowerPoint. We go through the product's history including what it displaced, its development by a startup company, and its evolution under Microsoft. Then we go into some of its criticisms and provide some tips for making great slides in the age of online presentations. Show Notes PowerPoint via Wikipedia Sweating Bullets: Notes about Inventing PowerPoint by Robert Gaskins via Amazon Beginnings of PowerPoint by Dennis Austin via Computer History Museum The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo via Amazon Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Find out more at http://kopec.live

What is cybersecurity? This week we are joined by Professor Duane Dunston of Champlain College, an expert in cybersecurity. Duane explains the field from multiple perspectives. He helps us understand the threats, how they are mitigated, and the roles of practitioners in the field. He differentiates between the scale of threats to organizations versus individuals and leaves us with some tips to improve on the security of our systems. Show Notes Duane Dunston via Champlain College Duane Dunston on Twitter SANS NewsBites InfoSecSherpa Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

The original Apple Macintosh, often referred to as the Macintosh 128K, was a revolutionary device because it brought the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the mouse to the general public. Released in 1984, the Macintosh 128K was not the first computer with a GUI and a mouse, but it was the first to be priced within the realm of possibility for regular users. Despite its significance, the original incarnation of the machine did not sell well due to several design and technical limitations. In this episode we discuss the significance of the original Macintosh, its ethos, and its limitations. Show Notes Episode 21: How have UIs Evolved? Episode 22: Why was the IBM PC a Big Deal? Episode 16: The Personal Computer Revolution Apple's 1984 Super Bowl Commercial to Launch the Mac via YouTube Xerox Alto via Wikipedia Apple Lisa via Wikipedia Macintosh 128K via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live