Newton_News_08.03.94_0104
Steve Holden
=============================
by Steve Holden (sho...@nosc.mil)
This is a summary of the information that I come in contact
with that deals with the Newton and related technologies.
Copyright 1994 Steve Holden. See the Administrivia at end.
Table of Contents
-----------------
1. comp.sys.newton.misc
2. comp.sys.newton.programmer
3. email
4. MUST READS!
5. TidBITS#236/25-Jul-94
6. MacWeek, 07.25.94 - Newton Briefs
7. Infoworld, July 25, 1994
8. E-d-u-p-a-g-e 07/26/94
9. E-d-u-p-a-g-e 07/28/94
10. TidBITS#237/01-Aug-94
11. MacWeek, 08.01.94
12. Computer Link from San Diego Union-Tribune, 08/02/94
13. Product and Service Information
14. Administrivia
comp.sys.newton.misc
--------------------
* Nomadic Technologies has established 800.713.6291 as the number
for Accountable support and ordering. Registered Accountable
owners can call for support from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern, M-F.
Please have your registration number and your Newton available
when you call.
* Newton Quickmail has been announced by CE. The price is suppose
to be around $120. Contact CE at 515.224.1995 for more information.
* Tony Mann (to...@netcom.com) reports that the Dyno Notepad fixer
can be found at ftp.netcom.com in the "/pub/tonym" directory. The
file is called DNP_Fix.
* Markus Becker (bec...@ifwrs1.ifw.uni-hannover.de) reports that
the German company SIEMENS is offering a intelligent telephone
with an integrated NEWTON as the controller. Both the Apple and
the SIEMENS logo is on the NEWTON. You can take off the NEWTON
from the telephone console and work "off-line". While plugged
in the NEWTON is connected with the telephone and can make use
of the communication facilities. As far as I remember the sales
price for this combination is round about 2000 DM (approx. $1200).
* It does appear that the MegaHerz Corp. 14.4 PCMCIA faxmodem is
compatible with the Newton and several mail order companies are
selling them in the $180 range.
comp.sys.newton.programmer
--------------------------
* While no one has announced a TCP/IP protocol stack for the
Newton, a product is definitely in late beta testing. Several
people have mentioned seeing demos, and expect a shipping
product this fall.
* Contrary to popular theory, the cost of the NTK has nothing
to do with PIE paying for itself. The price, while high for
the average Joe, is in line with other products doing the
same functionality on other platforms. You could make a
case for the high cost as a filter that only allows the
most dedicated to create applications, thus you get better
applications. The ability to make books though should be
granted to all though!
* The new Quadra 630 Macs have an IR port on it. This port should
be able to communicate with the Newton.
email
-----
* Jim Roepcke (jroe...@sol.uvic.ca) is very interested in
starting a National Newton Users Group for Canada. He is
primarily interested in providing a hub of information to
other groups in Canada that might not have access to online
services, and to exchange information such as sales on Newton
equipment, commercial offers etc.
* Nomadic Technologies the makers of Accountable are readying
version 2.0. Stay tune for more information.
* Latest from Apple is that the upgrade program (OMP to MP100) will
continue indefinitely with the following modifications - the cost
will be $59 (plus $19.95 shipping) and no free gifts. Contact
1-800-SOS-APPL for more information.
MUST READS!
-----------
* _Pen Computing_, August 1994. Major articles discuss: saving
paper pen applications; input strategies; news; opinions; reviews
on Compaq Concerto, Motorola ENVOY and IBM Thinkpad 750; review
of wireless services; and reviews of many Newton applications.
(518.482.5983)
* _Intelligent Newton Magazine_, July/August 1994. Major articles
discuss: reviews of Newton shareware; carrying cases; battery
solutions; indepth research on PDAs and where the Newton fits
in; and great review of PCMCIA cards. The following hardware and
software products are also reviewed: Grouper, Notion Accountable,
FingerTip for Stats, PowerNews, Gulliver Personal Traveler Assistant,
Etherware Newton Adapter, Dyno Notepad, Rahmel Utilities for
Newton, and FilePad Time Reporter Also, make sure you check out
"Just In" on pg. 25 for the latest scoops! (415.433.2755)
TidBITS#236/25-Jul-94
---------------------
**Newton and Windows users** will be thrilled to hear that version
2.0 of the Newton Connection Kit for Windows, announced in March,
is finally shipping. Registered users of 1.0 should automatically
receive free upgrades over the next few weeks. If you own the
Newton Connection Kit for Windows but don't receive an upgrade by
mid-August, contact the Newton Fulfillment Center at 800/242-3374.
(Users outside the U.S. should contact their local Newton
reseller.) If you haven't yet taken the plunge, the new package is
available (item H0029LL/B) for $99. [MHA]
**Jon Pugh** <jon...@netcom.com> commented in email that Star
Trek: The Next Generation had little Newton-like devices all over
on the bridge. Jon mused half-jokingly that if Apple could keep
the Newton alive for a few hundred years, we'd be all set. My
immediate reaction was that Apple is marketing to the wrong niche
- instead of doctors and delivery people, Apple should market the
Newton to Star Trek fans. It sounds silly, but with the proper
logo and a custom interface... .[ACE]
MacWeek, 07.25.94 - Newton Briefs, p. 17
----------------------------------------
* Pelican Ware, Inc.'s QuickFigure Pro has had a major upgrade.
You can now create a spreadsheet with 26 columns by 50 rows.
There is also 40+ functions. You can also export data using
the NCK 2.0. Contact 800.655.6398 for more info.
* If you purchase a Newton between July 1 to Sept. 30 you will
get a free copy of TapWorks. Call 800.776.2333 for more info.
* StarCore will be releasing FormPad this August. It should
allow end users to enter data into a MP easier. The package
will also include a forms designer for the Mac or Windows.
Contact StarCore at 800.708.7827
Infoworld, July 25, 1994
------------------------
* Compaq Computer has folded its mobile companion project
team in with the rest of their pen-based product development
teams. The PDA under development was scheduled for release
in Q4, 1994. Any product release will now take place in 1995.
Compaq's WinPad-based system (separate from the PDA project
mentioned above) will not ship until Q1, 1995. The article
also said that Motorola is delaying the release of its
Magic Cap-based Envoy until late in 1994. Motorola cited
the need for more testing of integrated products as the
reason for the delay, others point to delays from General
Magic. (p. 10)
* Compaq has halted production of its pen-based Concerto.
Product could restart if demand picks up. (p. 14)
* K&M (413.781.1350) has a wireless modem and transceiver
system to be shipping in September. The transceiver works
with PCMCIA modems. K&M also has their own PCMCIA modems.
It will work in a 1000 sq. ft. room. No word on if it will
work with a Newton. (p. 49)
E-d-u-p-a-g-e 07/26/94
----------------------
* NEWTON GOES WIRELESS
Harris Corp. has teamed with Apple to develop a wireless
communications system for the Newton Message Pad.
(Tampa Tribune 7/25/94 Business & Finance p.12)
* US WEST AND AIRTOUCH MERGE CELLULAR ASSETS
U S West and AirTouch Communications (a recent spin-off of
Pacific Telesis) will merge their cellular operations in a
$17 billion deal to cover most of the western half of the
country with cellular service. The combined footprints will
include most states west of the Mississippi, as well as
Atlanta and some cities in Michigan and Ohio. "What we're
really seeing now is the cellular business moving itself
into blocks," says a Yankee Group analyst. "It's a rejection
of the fragmentation that has existed to date." (Investor's
Business Daily 7/26/94 A3)
* TECHNO-CLEANUP IN CHICAGO'S PITS
After pouring $12 million into a joint effort to develop
Audit, a hand-held computer trading device, the Chicago
Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange want to
postpone introducing the machines for another four years.
The full-scale deployment of Audit would mean electronically
recording every trade in sequence, preventing abuses such as
dual trading and front-running, where traders fill personal
orders either simultaneously or ahead of their customers to
get better prices. It's now up to the new chairman of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission to decide the fate of
Audit. (Business Week 8/1/94 p.66)
E-d-u-p-a-g-e 07/28/94
----------------------
* AT&T GIVES UP ON EO
AT&T has decided to shut down the subsidiary that makes the EO
portable communicator, because only 10,000 units have been sold
since April 1993. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 7/28/94 D2)
* SOLAR PHONE
The BelSound company in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, plans to
market a solar-powered battery for cellular phones, at a cost
not much more than the cost of conventional batteries.
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution 7/28/94 D2)
TidBITS#237/01-Aug-94
---------------------
**Going to Macworld Expo?** Don't forget to bring along the
latest Newtonware offering by Bill Kearney
<wkea...@access.digex.net>, a $5 shareware guide to all the
exhibitors on the two show floors. You can view by exhibitor
name or booth number, there are checkboxes to record which
you've visited, and each entry has a notes field where you
can jot your own comments. If you pay for the guide, you will
receive an export utility to convert your exhibitor list into
Names entries. Look via FTP on <newton.uiowa.edu>. [MHA]
MacWeek, 08.01.94
-----------------
* Mark/Space Softworks is going to introduce PageNow a
wireless messaging software package at MacWorld Boston.
You should be able to integrate with desktop Macintoshes,
pagers, and Newton MessageCards. (p. 4)
* Kudos to Newton Source -- While the traditional markets
are having troubles trying to sell MessagePads, a 250 sq-ft
store in the heart of Manhattan called Newton Source is
really developing a market. Founded by Steve Elms, from
New Zealand was intrigued by the Newton, and through the
word of mouth (i.e. Internet) has achieved "celebrity
status." Currently, Newton Source is selling more than
20 Newtons a week with 60% going to NCK for Windows buyers,
and the other 40% going to Macintosh NCK buyers. (p. 32)
* David Burmaster has a nasty letter to the editor on p.
37. Mr. Burmaster thinks that Apple should totally drop
the Newton and focus 100% of their corporate resources to
getting the "Copeland" system software for the Macintosh
out on the market by July 1995 (which by the way is the
Chicago ship date :-) ). It is too bad that Mr. Burmaster
didn't include his email address.
* Mac the Knife reports on p. 130 that people are delighted
to use a Newton if their company picks up the tab. He
also reports that Apple asserts their is 300 vertical
applications shipping. And that Apple has erected few
barriers to companies wanting to license the Newton
technology. So far, five companies have signed up, and
one of them has a slate product coming to market soon.
This would explain the cancellation of Apple's Newton
slate product.
Computer Link from San Diego Union-Tribune, 08/02/94
----------------------------------------------------
* PDA: Pretty Darn Anemic -- This is a very negative article.
It brings up AT&T dropping EO, Compaq restructuring Mobile
Companion, and Motorola's problems with bringing Envoy to
market. The article published by Reuters and the San
Francisco Chronicle then lashes out at Apple, Sculley, and
the Newton because of "poor handwriting recognition" and
inability to meet high expectations. The highlight in the
PDA arena according to the authors is HP's Palmtop -- the
PC with a keyboard. I really don't think the authors in
this technology area have even used a MP110.
Product and Service Information
-------------------------------
* Special Newton Classic special offer. Mention "Newton_News"
and I will discount to $245 (includes shipping in US) -
normally $259. VISA/MC accepted. E-mail: Mike Rybinski
(p00...@psilink.com) or call/fax for details 703-644-4516:
MR Associates Int.
* NS BASIC, an implementation of the well-known BASIC programming
language, is now available for the Newton. The product is aimed
at the business, educational and scientific marketplaces. Email
George Henne (g...@hookup.net or 74431,412), or fax 416.264.5888.
Visa/MC orders can call 416.264.5999.
* QuickFigure Pro by PelicanWare, Inc.: A fast, compact spreadsheet
for Newton that has math, scientific, statistical, and financial
functions, plus offers graphing, import/export, resizeable cells,
and scrolling. $39.00 plus S&H. E-mail Do...@teleport.com for
more details or (800)655-6398 for ordering.
* Coherent Visual (CVi...@aol.com or 619.944.9873) have a
free catalog of software they publish. Titles include:
Rahmel Language Series Flash Cards, Rahmel Utilities for
Newton, and Rahmel Common Words.
Administrivia
-------------
I hope to be able to do this on a regular basis. If you'd like
to contribute some information that you have -- anonymously or
not -- write to: sho...@nosc.mil (Steve Holden) You can also
send any comments, suggestions, etc. ... to the above address.
Non-profit, non-commercial publications may reprint articles if
full credit is given. Others please contact me. I don't guarantee
accuracy of articles. Publication, product, and company names
may be registered trademarks of their companies.
TidBITS is copyright 1990-1994 Adam & Tonya Engst (a...@tidbits.com)
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If someone is interested in making this into an HTML document
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The Newton book version of Newton_News is being published by
Steve Shannon (st...@cd-rom.com).
Disclaimer: I am doing this on my own time, on my own computer not
*********** the government's or my employer's.
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
>< Steven D. Holden, Macintosh System/Applications Engineer, ><
>< SAIC -> NRaD -> Project ICER, sho...@nosc.mil, 619.553.6750 ><
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
>< Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are my own and do not ><
>< necessarily reflect those of my employer or the government ><
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><