Looking for HyperCard Laserdisc Extensions

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bushnrvn's picture
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Looking for HyperCard Laserdisc Extensions

I've posted previously about my search for a link between my two hobbies - Apple and Laserdiscs. There were some good hints there. I've been doing some more research and apparently HyperCard had at least one supported extension for interfacing with the data on a laserdisc.

According to the April 1988 issue of InfoWorld, a company called Optical Data Corp. released a stack called Video Cards. I've not had any luck finding the software, but I did find an Optical Data Corp. laserdisc for sale. Before I spend any money on the laserdisc, I'd like to find out if the software is available somewhere.

I've also heard of something called LaserStacks, but this was anecdotal and I haven't been able to find anything official.

Any help is appreciated.

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Re: Looking for HyperCard Laserdisc Extensions

I have not seen a Hypercard extension for Macs, but I have seen the Laserdisc Control Panel for an Apple IIGS under GSOS 6.0.1.

I am pretty sure I have it, if it makes a difference.

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Re: Looking for HyperCard Laserdisc Extensions

Wow - I was thinking about this too narrowly and didn't consider the IIgs. Just looked on the A2wiki - Looks like this is just the MediaControl desk accessory? Or are you talking about something different? I notice the MediaControl file says "Optional file requiring other files." I wonder what that means...

A2Wiki - MediaControl

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Re: Looking for HyperCard Laserdisc Extensions

Darn, I wish I could remember what we used back when I was in college. I took an elective course on Hypercard, and one of my peers used an SE/30 to create a playlist of clips for a Star Wars laserdisc. I'm reasonably certain the laserdisc player interfaced directly with the Mac's serial port, but as far as what additional extensions were used on the Mac side I'm unsure.

I do have a backup of Apple's ftp from about 13 years ago that still had all their older 68K software. I'll try to track down that CD and see what was there for Hypercard.
edit: alas, there's just a few versions of Hypercard player and stack repair utility on the CD.

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Re: Looking for HyperCard Laserdisc Extensions

http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n6/laserdisc.html

Maybe make your own? This article explains how they serial control interface works.

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Re: Looking for HyperCard Laserdisc Extensions

Pretty cool - I'll give that a read.

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Re: Looking for HyperCard Laserdisc Extensions

I think I have some floppies of some type of educational HyperCard/LaserDisc software suite. I am not sure if I still have the LaserDiscs for it. I am guessing you need a player that is compatible with the Mac serial port and the stack uses XCMDs to interface with the player.

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