Blog: http://www.breakintoprogram.co.uk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BreakIntoProgram Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/breakintoprogram Software developer & electronics dabbler. Restoring & programming vintage computers from Acorn Atom to ZX81.https://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.ukhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvoxcjdqok2dI got called “young man” by the guard on the train this morning. https://static.klipy.com/ii/c3a19a0b747a76e98651f2b9a3cca5ff/3d/e2/Qy5jOhIH.gif?hh=385&ww=498&mp4=S6f0M3xBVek6&webm=GBJiZq6EsJ3XMWoTL17 Sep 2026 05:47 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvoxcjdqok2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvnu2jacmk2aJust passed a nearby petrol station and £1.97 for a litre of diesel is ridiculous. To fill up my car now costs an extra £35. And it's not a particularly large tank, only 60 litres. Glad I don't rely upon my car.16 Sep 2026 19:16 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnu2jacmk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvnqsh4yas2eScientists16 Sep 2026 18:18 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnqsh4yas2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvlbohkhps2sWhen prologues used to get to the point... [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Sep 2026 18:42 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlbohkhps2shttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvl7affoas2qMe trying to confuse Face ID15 Sep 2026 17:58 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvl7affoas2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvkh6orklc26Had a brainwave last night whilst trying to locate the clock pin on the Dragon 32's MC6847 for the umpteenth time. Just bought a fine white acrylic pen so I can mark on top of the chip the pins of importance. For more top tips please read the Internet.15 Sep 2026 10:48 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvkh6orklc26https://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvkgcjwjqc26Watch and phone upgraded to IOS27 last night. First impressions. - I can disable that awful liquid glass nonsense - Has the battery icon changed? - Adding custom membership cards to wallet is neat I'll be giving the "AI" features a miss. If you like this review then please subscribe to my channel.15 Sep 2026 10:32 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvkgcjwjqc26https://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvjyditfss2l [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Sep 2026 06:22 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvjyditfss2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvhjmn4nmk25We usually have at least one unexpected firework at Retrofest. It adds to the fun. Does it stop us using these old machines? Never! There are exceptions of course for extremely rare or delicate machines, yet tantalums can be replaced. [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 Sep 2026 06:53 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvhjmn4nmk25https://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvhikynuqk25IOS 27 is being released today. I've never been less interested in an Apple software update. I won't use Apple Intelligence on principle, and the update is mostly about integrating AI into the phone.14 Sep 2026 06:34 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvhikynuqk25https://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvhi5t3lc22bWow! [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 Sep 2026 06:27 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvhi5t3lc22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvfpfylfrc2kGot a mention in @theregister.com, though they spelt my surname wrong. https://www.theregister.com/offbeat/2026/09/13/the-improbable-music-of-the-zx-spectrums-one-bit-speaker/529586213 Sep 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvfpfylfrc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvfhzswfq222The news headlines this week seem to have been mostly along the lines of: “‘We must slow the pace’: CEO of The Torment Nexus Company calls for a slowdown in Torment Nexus development” “Torment Nexus staff 'genuinely frightened' for humanity's future, ex-Torment Nexus researcher tells reporters”13 Sep 2026 11:20 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvfhzswfq222https://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvfehrtkqc2iThis is a follow-up programme from "On the Move" part of the BBC's adult literacy campaign. The blueprint for this was used a few years later for the BBC Computer Literacy Project of which the BBC Micro played a pivotal role, along with Chris Serle and Ian McNaught-Davis. [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Sep 2026 10:16 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvfehrtkqc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvfc5i5po225The 8087 was literally just a magic black box that could do reasonably fast and, more importantly, robust floating point operations. Thanks to Ken and The Opcode Collective its magic is revealed. [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Sep 2026 09:34 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvfc5i5po225https://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvf5gcj4ls22I’m still a bit annoyed about my desktop keyboard breaking. It was a good keyboard. Might have to see if they still make them.13 Sep 2026 08:10 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvf5gcj4ls22https://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mve3bjjmec2eApple Face ID trying to recognise my morning face. https://static.klipy.com/ii/8ce8357c78ea940b9c2015daf05ce1a5/21/ff/mooULPam.gif?hh=498&ww=498&mp4=pS6A4YcPfK17MU&webm=ytOZtIhHYWEB12 Sep 2026 21:59 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mve3bjjmec2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvdaaqymic2jPark the emulator up until I can be bothered to get a spare keyboard out of the shed. Might as well move onto the Dragon. Replace these potentially knackered trimmers.12 Sep 2026 13:55 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvdaaqymic2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvcxwrmws226Back on the emulator this afternoon. I had a brainwave at work that may improve keyboard scanning.12 Sep 2026 11:26 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvcxwrmws226https://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvcxsxyk5k2oThings I was frightened of as a child: Quicksand Volcanos Impending nuclear war Weird caterpillars The railway bridge near where we lived [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 Sep 2026 11:24 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvcxsxyk5k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvcr2c7is22hRighto. Watching CuriousMsrc repairing HP logic analyser acquisition cards. This has been an interesting series so far. https://youtu.be/fpvO2aynygU?is=Qb8GSB1pKqqL20Sn12 Sep 2026 09:23 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvcr2c7is22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvcqdlsd3k2hThere’s a lot of talk about the new Apple Watch constantly recording and transcribing what it hears. It’s an evolution of Live Listen Captions that’s been an accessibility feature for a while. Like smart glasses it’s a shame that human nature tends to using features like this irresponsibly.12 Sep 2026 09:10 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvcqdlsd3k2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvcph7ys4s2hHappy #Caturday to all those who celebrate it.12 Sep 2026 08:54 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvcph7ys4s2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvbkimeszs2nFrom an accessibility point of view I'm very happy with the new phone. - The screen is much easier on the eyes - The audio sounds better streamed through my hearing aids * - The live listen transcripts are now almost real-time * This is anecdotal, compared to my SE 2nd Gen, will test tomorrow11 Sep 2026 21:53 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvbkimeszs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvb2tmucl22qNew phone joy. Managed to apply the screen protector without getting any cat hairs underneath it. I must admit, that OLED screen is gorgeous. It doesn't feel much bigger than my SE, the thin edges make the world of difference.11 Sep 2026 17:13 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvb2tmucl22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvas2exyqc2kJust read something about a service where LLM agents are tasked with sending out grift emails in order to earn money to pay for their own tokens. If they run out of tokens they are put into a “recoverable deep sleep” state. What kind of dystopian hell is this we’re in?11 Sep 2026 14:35 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvas2exyqc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvarn25rb22kHome alone this weekend again. Don’t think I’ve got anything in the diary. Got a few odd job repairs on the bench. Aiming to get two operational machines by the end of it.11 Sep 2026 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvarn25rb22khttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mvainx4e2k2f25 years ago we were in Wroxham just driving back to our self-catering accommodation along the coast. I had the car radio on tuned intoone of the BBC national stations when the show was interrupted by breaking news. It seemed unreal, a tragic accident, at least before the second plane hit.11 Sep 2026 11:47 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvainx4e2k2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/breakintoprogram.co.uk/post/3mva6md5hfk2fMe: "You still serving breakfast this morning?" Work Cafe: "Yes, until 11am" Me: "Great, can I have a breakfast barm then please?" Work Cafe: "Sorry, we've run out of food" Me: https://static.klipy.com/ii/a15b48460c436e1e92c85ffc680932cc/bb/10/20huGm9o.gif?hh=373&ww=498&mp4=ezbZGvG592Qk49Hi4iN&webm=IATaUc9Vm8fNoBjkrfX11 Sep 2026 08:48 +0000at://did:plc:ulsrokhbdwzathvrvahn76e2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mva6md5hfk2f