Original Apple II developed by Steve Jobs used Norristown-made microprocessor

News of the passing of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has created the inevitable ripple effect of news organization’s finding a local angle. Here’s another for the Delaware Valley.

The Apple II computer developed by the late Steve Jobs used the original 6502 8-bit microprocessor developed by MOS Technology in Norristown in 1975, says Temple University Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Dennis Silage.

Silage says MOS Technology was the only company that would ship chips to Jobs and partner Steve Wozniak because they were essentially operating Apple Computers out of a garage.

Professor Silage even still has an old Apple IIe computer in his lab, adds Temple spokesman Preston Moretz.

If you recall, the original Macintosh fonts were due to be named after Philadelphia Regional Rail stops, until Steve Jobs stepped in.

Philly police to begin Segway patrols, please take them seriously

If you hang out on Main Street in Manayunk, you should begin seeing the Segway police patrols.

Officers on South Street, in University City, Center City and Southwest Philadelphia also begin using the new toys this week.

Try not to cringe at how ridiculous the two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered vehicles may seem, because its role in law enforcement has been growing for years and doesn’t appear it will stop. More than 1,000 municipalities are using them for patrolling, according to the company.

Now, after a 10-day trial in April 2008, the Philadelphia Police Department is joining in.

The department announced yesterday that it received a donation of more than $60,000 toward the purchase of ten Segway PTs, according to a press release [PDF]. The funds came from the Philadelphia Police Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds to purchase technology and other police equipment that are deemed outside the city’s budget. Yes, our police department takes charity.

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