Apple Newton Technology Press Release
Martin Haeberli
press release on Newton Technology, issued today.
Martin
MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 8:16 AM EDT, FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1992.
Press Contact:
Brooke Cohan
Apple Computer
408-974-3019
Tricia Chan
Apple Computer
408-974-3886
Apple Unveils New Newton Technology;
Previews the Industry's first PDA Device
CHICAGO--May 29, 1992--After months of industry speculation and
anticipation, Apple Computer, Inc., today provided the first glimpse
of its Newton technology. This new technology will be the core of
Apple's first major new product line since the popular Macintosh
personal computer was introduced in 1984.
Shown today at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show, Newton devices
fall into an emerging new class of products that Apple calls Personal
Digital Assistants--devices that use digital technology to bridge the
gap between personal computers and consumer electronics. Newton is
also the first new technology announced from Apple's new Personal
Interactive Electronics division, which has been chartered with
extending the company into new growth areas, where Apple has unique
technology and business advantages.
"The possibilities for vendors and customers in this emerging market
are enormous," said John Sculley, Apple's chairman and CEO. "The
convergence of digital technology and information represents the
biggest opportunity for Apple and other vendors in the personal
computer, consumer electronics, telecommunications, entertainment,
and publishing industries since the advent of personal computers.
And Apple is poised for success with multiple projects and technology
that will come to fruition over the next several years.
"Newton is a technology that exemplifies the best of Apple's
strengths: using leading-edge software technology to allow people to
do things more easily and efficiently," he added.
Newton is an entirely new technology from Apple that will be the
basis for a broad array of new products. To assist in the
proliferation of Newton technology, Apple is licensing Newton to
selected vendors to use in their own versions of Newton devices.
Last March, Apple announced such a relationship with Sharp Corp. of
Japan. Sharp has licensed Newton technology from Apple for its own
future products, and will also jointly design and produce the first
commercial product version of Newton technology for both companies,
due out early next year.
The first Newton products will be electronic notepads that
intelligently assist the user in capturing, organizing and
communicating ideas and information. These products will be small,
portable devices that allow freeform notetaking, drawing,
calculating, scheduling, and communicating. Newton's revolutionary
new hardware technology offers performance capabilities similar to a
high-end personal computer, and because of its unique software
environment, is very easy to learn and use.
Breakthrough New Technologies
Groundbreaking technology from Apple has been under development for
more than four years and has provided the basis for a number of core
technologies in Newton.
Newton Intelligence:
Newton will actively assist users in their day-to-day tasks. As the
device is used, it will learn more about the user and actually
propose solutions to help them work more efficiently. For instance,
if a user wanted to schedule "lunch with Jane", they would simply
write "lunch Jane Thursday". Newton technology would know that lunch
normally means noon, and that Jane in the individual's address book
is Jane Green, and that Thursday probably means this Thursday. A
Newton device would then suggest this to the user, by opening their
calendar to Thursday and scheduling lunch from noon to 1 p.m. with
Jane Green.
Recognition Architecture:
The goal for the recognition architecture is to make using Newton
products as easy as using a pencil and paper. Newton products will
be able to read a user's handwriting, transform it into text as they
write, and quickly refine and scale drawings or sketches. Newton
technology allows the user to write in a natural and freeform manner
because it does not limit the user to writing in boxes or on lines on
the screen surface. This Newton technology is different from other
pen-based operating systems because it is based on the simultaneous
use of several recognition technologies, rather than forcing the user
to choose one at a time. The benefit to the user is a higher
recognition factor and greater adaptability to personal style.
Information Architecture:
Newton devices will provide users with a single repository for all of
the little pieces of information they would typically accumulate in
various forms (phone numbers, business cards, directions, meeting
notes, birthdays). Because of the advanced object-oriented data
structure, Newton products will then allow users to organize the
information so that they can easily access it in any variety of ways.
For instance, a user could view the information for everything that
relates to a specific client, a specific week, or a specific subject
such as "Jane Green".
Communications Architecture:
Newton technology was designed from the ground up to take great
advantage of communications. These new products will foster easy
communications between various Newton product users in meetings, on
the street corner, or during lunch. Newton devices will have built-
in wired and wireless communications capabilities. For instance, two
Newton users could compare calenders or exchange business cards.
Newton users could also fax a letter, check electronic mail messages
or connect to a satellite news service to obtain current news or
stock information.
Hardware Architecture:
Newton technology is based on a new breed of powerful RISC processors
optimized for high performance, low power consumption, and low cost.
The Advanced RISC Machines, Ltd. (ARM) RISC processor Apple has
chosen, the ARM 610, gives Newton products the equivalent power of
leading desktop computers, yet consumes less battery power than a
small flashlight. In addition, the Newton architecture allows users
to add intelligent cards to increase the amount of information the
products can access and store as well as add more specific functions.
Both Apple and third party companies will provide a variety of
intelligent cards to give users choices for specific needs.
Industry Leaders Announce Support
The first group of a number of major companies have announced support
for Newton technology and have committed to development of future
complementary products. Representing many industry segments, the
range of products expected will be focused in the general areas of
1) communications products--to enhance the use of Newton devices in a
mobile environment; 2) content products--to offer users a wide
spectrum of interesting and personal information for their Newton
products; and 3) compatibility--allowing users to use Newton devices
easily in parallel with existing computer systems. Motorola, Pacific
Bell, Random House, SkyTel Corporation and Traveling Software, Inc.
today all made announcements in conjunction with Apple.
Availability
The first Newton product from Apple will be available in English-
language versions in early 1993. Newton-based products from Sharp
Corp. are also expected to be available in the same timeframe.
Pricing will be announced at the time of delivery.
-30-
Apple, the Apple logo and Macintosh are registered trademarks and
Newton is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Morotola is a trademark of Motorola, Inc.
Pacific Bell is a registered trademark of Pacific Telesis.
RANDOM HOUSE is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.
Sharp is a registered trademark of Sharp Corporation
SkyTel is a registered trademark of SkyTel Corporation.
END
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