Geoworks Publishing Announcement
John D. Mitchell
PROGRAM;
FACILITATES MARKET SUCCESS FOR SOFTWARE
DEVELOPERS
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Geoworks has launched Geoworks Publishing, a
comprehensive program that helps software developers achieve maximum
product and market potential for their GEOS*-based applications.
Designed to help third-party developers overcome the challenges of
developing and marketing applications for the consumer computing device
(CCD) market, Geoworks Publishing delivers a host of services including
product design assistance, targeted distribution support, cost-effective
manufacturing and innovative marketing programs that are uniquely tailored
for this new market.
"Support in these four areas is critical to small software
companies trying to become successful, dominant players in the emerging CCD
market," said Brian Dougherty, chairman and CEO, Geoworks. "This program
offers the most complete, creative package available to developers today
and ensures that the right applications are designed for the market."
Geoworks Publishing is taking an active role in establishing
electronic distribution as a cost-effective way to bring software to
market. Geoworks will be the first to offer this service to application
developers in the CCD market via CompuServe in the first quarter of 1994.
Software customers will be able to browse quickly through an online
software catalog, determine what applications are available and download to
either a GEOS- based device or desktop via modem.
"The small code size of GEOS applications permits software to be
easily and cost-effectively distributed through CompuServe's worldwide
service," said Jim Hogan, director of product marketing, CompuServe. "We
are very excited to be working with Geoworks to provide innovative
distribution alternatives to GEOS software developers."
Other channels include direct distribution through RUPP Technology
Inc., the leading distributor of aftermarket software for the electronic
organizer market; Geoworks Direct, which utilizes pack-in rights to
GEOS-based CCDs to promote Geoworks Publishing software products;
international republishing partners in leading markets and comprehensive
wholesale and retail distribution through Casio and Tandy outlets.
Geoworks Publishing also provides developers with access to
standardized packaging to ensure merchandising opportunities, volume
discounts on component pieces, competitive pricing and timely shipments on
PCMCIA cards.
The program's marketing component provides widespread exposure for
software partners through trade show participation, public relations
support and innovative marketing programs.
Geoworks Publishing has been designed for maximum flexibility to
meet the development, distribution, manufacturing and marketing needs of
software developers looking for success in the new CCD market. A developer
interested in this program can approach Geoworks with a product concept and
then work one-on-one with Geoworks to determine the overall viability of
their product.
The first development partner of Geoworks Publishing is MetaPacific
Systems, a developer of data collection software for GEOS.
"It was a natural progression for us to develop GEOS-based
applications, since our clients were clamoring for low-cost, compact
devices with long battery life," explained Tim White, president,
MetaPacific Systems. "Geoworks Publishing helped us develop the right
product for the new CCD market and we've benefited from their innovative
approach. Cost-effective manufacturing, broad distribution and a highly
targeted marketing program have been critical to our success."
Many major CCD manufacturers and service vendors support GEOS
technology, a compact, object-oriented operating system designed to meet
the cost and resource restraints of many mobile devices. Announced
partners include Casio Inc., Sharp Electronics Corporation, Tandy
Electronics, Canon Business Machines, CompuServe, Motorola EMBARC, America
Online and Palm Computing.
Located in Berkeley, Calif., Geoworks is the developer and
publisher of the GEOS graphical operating system, software development
tools, software applications and support programs. The company provides
sophisticated and highly efficient system software with rich functionality
that will enable hardware manufacturers to market low-cost devices with
extended battery life. Geoworks products are available worldwide through
OEMs, dealer channels, republishers and electronic distribution. # # #
Geoworks and GEOS are registered trademarks of Geoworks in the U.S.A. and
other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
holders.
Chuck Musciano
> GEOWORKS DEBUTS INNOVATIVE PUBLISHING
> PROGRAM;
>
> FACILITATES MARKET SUCCESS FOR SOFTWARE
> DEVELOPERS
>
> BERKELEY, Calif. -- Geoworks has launched Geoworks Publishing, a
> comprehensive program that helps software developers achieve maximum
> product and market potential for their GEOS*-based applications.
Let me make sure I understand this. Geoworks has a special program to
help people market their GEOS-based applications, but refuses to market
*their own* GEOS-based applications?
--
Chuck Musciano ARPA : ch...@trantor.harris-atd.com
Harris Corporation Usenet: ...!uunet!x102a!trantor!chuck
PO Box 37, MS 16/1912 AT&T : (407) 727-6131
Melbourne, FL 32902 FAX : (407) 729-3363
A good newspaper is never good enough,
but a lousy newspaper is a joy forever. -- Garrison Keillor
Sully
feel like your market being left behind. It's a shame that the desktop
market could't share in this prospect..... or can it?
Sully
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
gs0...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu | The views, questions and gripes
"I may be the Scrooge who runs Micro- | expressed here are my own, and maybe
soft, maker of Windows, but in reality | someone else's, but I expressed em.
I use GW Ensemble 2.0" - Bill Gates | If you want em, they're yours!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dale Newton
Okay, this is getting old. I keep hearing "Goeworks isn'tt giving us
xxxxx" or "Geoworks is leaving us behind... why, come back, give us everything."
Well, I'm tired of hearing it, I'm moderatly sorry for the attitude of this
posting but... Geoworks is trying to survive in an environment where small
software companies tend to fail, and they are directly competing with IBM and
Microsoft. Kind of a David and Goliath sort of thing, so they are taking the
not quite so obvious method to keep the companyabove water and sell the OS.
So they are focusing on CCD's. The posting did mention that you could DL the
GeoPublished stuff to desktop or CCD and use it there. Nothing in that posting
said to me that my Desktop is not ever going to get any of the software that
comes out.
Think about the whole point of the Geos generic UI and all. I /can/
use the software written for the CCD's on my desktop, if I find a use for it.
And as for someone asking why Geoworks won't publish the software they've
developed for Geos... maybe, they've been teling the truth, and they just
aren't developing it? Maybe they haven't written any, but why not tell people
her and around what apps you want to see for Geoworks, and maybe someone with
the SDK will write one. Geoworks has given us an incredible OS and a system
to develop software for it, and now they've annouced that if you develop
software, they will help you get it distributed, and you still ask for more?
Go ahead and write your own bloody program and distribute it, It seems that
the infrastructure is there to make writing, and publishing it as painless as
possible.
Dale Newton
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MS free zone. Computer Engineer in training. DM extraordinaire. Dwargon
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sully
> Okay, this is getting old. I keep hearing "Goeworks isn'tt giving us
>xxxxx" or "Geoworks is leaving us behind... why, come back, give us everything."
>Well, I'm tired of hearing it, I'm moderatly sorry for the attitude of this
>posting but... Geoworks is trying to survive in an environment where small
>software companies tend to fail, and they are directly competing with IBM and
>Microsoft.
I'm assuming this is in response to the postings Chuck and myself made. I
agree the whining is getting old. I'll admit that. I was whining. But
there's a little bit more. Neither of us were saying "GeoWorks, we want you
to provide us with every conceivable application for this OS.". I may be
listening to the wrong groups, but I've heard very little about that
'third-party developers' who will take over the task pumping out apps. A
**FANTASTIC** base for software appears to be remaining just that. I'd love
to have to eat those words!!
My point was: "Okay GeoWorks is 'de-emphasizing' their desktop activity.
That has me *VERY* bummed out but we'll see what happens. After reading
this PR, it seems like 'de-emphasis' had become ignore. That's why I asked
at the end of my post: "Can the Desktop Software development share in this
mother company support?"
(And I'll admit it was a quick skim as I was pressed for time - hence the
short follow up, perhaps I should have waited 'til I had more time to
write a better constructed _opinion_)
> Think about the whole point of the Geos generic UI and all. I /can/
>use the software written for the CCD's on my desktop, if I find a use for it.
>So they are focusing on CCD's. The posting did mention that you could DL the
>GeoPublished stuff to desktop or CCD and use it there. Nothing in that posting
>said to me that my Desktop is not ever going to get any of the software that
>comes out.
I don't think I saw the word desktop in there once (Am I wrong?). I
realize that Pen/GEOS and PC/GEOS are [basically] the same thing just set up
differently, but I honestly don't know is it actually possible to run, say,
the World Clock on the desktop Ensemble?
It seemed to me as though desktop Ensemble is the homely looking child the
parents hide when company comes, and the Pen OS is the attractive sibling
they show off.
(What rage might I have unleashed on myself with that statement?)
> Think about the whole point of the Geos generic UI and all. I /can/
>use the software written for the CCD's on my desktop, if I find a use for it.
>And as for someone asking why Geoworks won't publish the software they've
>developed for Geos... maybe, they've been teling the truth, and they just
>aren't developing it? Maybe they haven't written any, but
>... why not tell people here and around what apps you want to see for
>Geoworks, and maybe someone with the SDK will write one.
I'm already do it.
>Geoworks has given us an incredible OS and a system to develop software for
>it, and now they've annouced that if you develop software, they will help
>you get it distributed, and you still ask for more?
>Go ahead and write your own bloody program and distribute it, It seems that
>the infrastructure is there to make writing, and publishing it as painless as
>possible.
This "Write your own programs!" retort drives me nuts! Am I the only
exception or is the entire computing community made up of programming gurus?
I'm a very competent computer user, but I know nothing about C/C++. Can I
write my apps in Pascal? Also, I don't have the time to learn C and write
a more robust GeoFile or whatever I would call it (SullyFile... yeah!).
Finally, I don't think I can afford the SDK considering right now I
would be in no position to write apps. When they said they help
'developers', I don't think they meant full-time college students who are
basically locked into a time-consuming summer job.
Tell you what. I'll put together a bunch of detailed ideas for apps, and
you can write 'em. I'll take 35% of the profits.
Sully (Maybe Chuck and I should have included 'absolutely no flames' in our
posts.)
Marshall Kragen
Developers (AGD) has put out a call for those wanting software to contact
them.
Shag
>It seemed to me as though desktop Ensemble is the homely looking child the
>parents hide when company comes, and the Pen OS is the attractive sibling
>they show off.
>(What rage might I have unleashed on myself with that statement?)
No rage, just a couple "put brain in gear before engaging fingers" looks from
me... ;)
1) There is not a "Pen OS." GEOS, on a PC, a PDA, a Copier, a Smart Phone, a
Word Processor, an Interactive TV, or a Dishwasher, is the same OS. There
are Specific UI's for pens (PenMotif on the Sharp PT-9000, and SPSS or
whatever the acronym is on the Zoomer) but the OS and applications do not
care what interface they're running under. This isn't Unix. :)
2) Currently, the Zoomer is the new rage. Two months from now, when the Sharp
PT-9000 comes out, guess what it'll have bundled with it? GeoWrite,
GeoDraw, GeoCalc... sound familiar? Ensemble is not an explicitly desktop
product. Any system that can run GEOS and has enough screen resolution to
actually _display_ something with as much UI gadgetry as, say, GeoDraw, can
run it. The PT-9000 is a solid example of this.
Put simply, with GEOS the line between desktop and PDA is blurring and will
soon be gone. No need for false dichotomies.
-Shag (the facts stated above are my opinions. ;)
--
Queensryche Net-Digest and FAQ Maintainer - queensryc...@pilot.njin.net
GEOS2.0 Termcap Sadist, PPI FaxModem PractiFAQ Maintainer, ShagNet Coordinator
She turned me into a Newton! A Newton? Well... I got better. [Monty Zoomer]
Very long-haired strange character in love with a dancer by the name of Maisha
Sully
>gs0...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Sully) writes:
>>It seemed to me as though desktop Ensemble is the homely looking child the
>>parents hide when company comes, and the Pen OS is the attractive sibling
>>they show off.
>>(What rage might I have unleashed on myself with that statement?)
>No rage, just a couple "put brain in gear before engaging fingers" looks from
>me... ;)
>1) There is not a "Pen OS." GEOS, on a PC, a PDA, a Copier, a Smart Phone, a
> Word Processor, an Interactive TV, or a Dishwasher, is the same OS.
>Put simply, with GEOS the line between desktop and PDA is blurring and will
>soon be gone. No need for false dichotomies.
I guess the problem stems from my poor use of terminology devistatingly
combined with less than completely adequate knowledge. Here was my thoughts
at the time.
I was under the impression that although the OS were the same, but they were
configured differently enough that we now had a gas and a diesel engine if
you will, and what worked for one, wouldn't work for the other. Hence my
"Pen OS" referring to Pen/GEOS. I figured the differences in the
configurations would not be nice for attempts of running software from one
'machine' to the other.
However, within a day of that post Marshall had informed me that at the
hands of a consciencious programmer, software can run on both machines.
But my impression of the situation still remains the same. (I do ask
patience when judging what I say because it is admittedly without complete
information) It strikes me as silly for GeoWorks to say that they're
"de-emphasizing the desktop GEOS" to support the PDAs (I thought it was
something along those lines) when if they're the same system and by
supporting one they are still indirectly supporting the other. Right? Do I
have this straight?
Any enlightening info would be appreciated as when it comes to the Zoomer
(et al) there's this great big hazy spot it my skull.
Sully
Marshall Kragen
the desktop. Geoworks is not abandoning SUPPORT for the desktop by any
means. It is still important and still supported by new software, bug
fixes, etc. But the emphasis goes to the PDA and the marketing support
goes to that market. But what I told you still stands, when development
is done for one it benefits the other.
Two good examples: The Sharp PT-9000 has on it essentially desktop
2.0, with a few exceptions such as Palm's Address book instead of
GeoDex. So as improvements are made for it they will be ported to the
desktop. Secondly, Canon's desktop publisher will essentially use
GeoWrite. If changes are made in it they will help the desktop.
So watch. I think you'll see some new little things for the desktop
from time to time even independent of those. And more as a result of PDA
development.
Michael Hirsch
Marshall> (Marshall Kragen) writes: NNTP-Posting-Host:
Marshall> access.digex.net
Marshall> Sully, you're right. Supporting such items as the Zoomer
Marshall> will benefit the desktop. Geoworks is not abandoning
Marshall> SUPPORT for the desktop by any means. It is still important
Marshall> and still supported by new software, bug fixes, etc.
I've heard the optimists say this before, but is there any evidence?
Here's the evidence I've seen:
1) Geoworks says it is defemphasizing the desktop environment, or
words to that effect. Several people have said that this means
Geoworks will concentrate on the operating system and both desktop and
PDA users will benefit. I might believe this is not for
2) Geoworks is not selling geos 2.0 retail. Yes, if someone tells you
about it and you decide you want it they will sell it to you at the
upgrade price, but I don't think anyone here will argue that that will
give them any kind of market penetration.
If they were interested in selling it as an operating ssytem to
desktop users there would be a coupon in ever Zoomer's box advertizing
it for the desktop. Is there one? They would be pushing the
compatibility of the Zoomer with desktop apps compared to the Newtons
lack of such compatibility. I haven't seen that, either.
Let's face it. Apparently Geoworks gave up on the idea of attacking
Windows' soft underbelly--the millions of XT clones too underpowered
for windows. They are all to underpowered (or undermemoried) for Geos
2.0, too. Window's owns the 386 market and no one but non-"power
users" cares that Geos has a better technology
So Geoworks has given up on the desktop to concentrate on the one area
where computers are still underpowered: the handheld device. This
time they are one of the early players and have a chance to capture
market share. If they do, then it is vaguly possible that they will
have the resources to look at the desktop again, but don't hold your
breath.
It's so sad. I used to be able to recommend Geos to my friends, but I
can't recommend a dead end system in good faith.
Marshall> Two good examples: The Sharp PT-9000 has on it essentially
Marshall> desktop 2.0, with a few exceptions such as Palm's Address
Marshall> book instead of GeoDex. So as improvements are made for it
Marshall> they will be ported to the desktop. Secondly, Canon's
Marshall> desktop publisher will essentially use GeoWrite. If changes
Marshall> are made in it they will help the desktop.
Why would they do this? Even assuming that exactly the same binaries
will run bot on the Zoomer and on Ensemble, there are inherent costs
in running two ad campaigns. PDAs and desktops are two different
markets and the desktop Geos market is miniscule. I can't imagine
them advertizing it at all.
The one possibility I see is that you can buy it for your Zoomer, the
transfer it to the desktop. Of course, those of us without a Zoomer
will be out of luck.
Marshall> So watch. I think you'll see some new little things for
Marshall> the desktop from time to time even independent of those.
Marshall> And more as a result of PDA development.
I'd like to beleive you, but I don't. I don't beleive anyone will
package anything for the desktop.
--
Michael Hirsch Work: (404) 727-7940
Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 FAX: (404) 727-5611
Internet: hir...@mathcs.emory.edu BITNET: hir...@emory.bitnet
UUCP: {rutgers,gatech}!emory!hirsch
Public key for encrypted mail available upon request (or use finger -l).
Marshall Kragen
of further improvements coming to the desktop, not to marketing of it.
This may come at some point in the future, but at the present time
Geoworks is clearly going to market to the PDA area. But support of the
desktop will continue insofar as present owners and those buying through
the 800 number is concerned, and improvements and new features will continue.
Shag
>1) Geoworks says it is defemphasizing the desktop environment, or
>words to that effect.
This was in a press release from CompuServe, which has been criticized
enough for its wording already. Geoworks is de-emphasizing *in-house
desktop application development*. There is no such thing as a
"desktop environment" in GEOS, unless you mean a specific UI geode that
runs on desktops only due to screen space needs. Same OS no matter
what, same applications in many cases. GEOS uber alle.
>They would be pushing the compatibility of the Zoomer with desktop
>apps compared to the Newtons lack of such compatibility. I haven't
>seen that, either.
I was under the impression that one of the key points made by Zoomer
propaganda (okay, advertising documents ;) was that compatibility.
I may have mis-read them, though.
>Apparently Geoworks gave up on the idea of attacking Windows' soft
>underbelly--the millions of XT clones too underpowered for windows.
Yeah, now they're attacking NT's underbelly. ;)
>It's so sad. I used to be able to recommend Geos to my friends, but I
>can't recommend a dead end system in good faith.
Dead end systems don't have cheap SDKs that are selling rapidly. :)
>PDAs and desktops are two different markets and the desktop Geos
>market is miniscule. I can't imagine them advertizing it at all.
Yet you feel entitled to whine about the fact that they're not doing
so. :)
-Shag