BetterLearn
You'd better learn!

(c) 1995 by Alexander Marcour. All rights reserved worldwide.


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What is it?
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As a student I always have to learn a lot. Tons of useless stuff and most of it by hard. So I started to work with a cardfile system. On the front side of a card I write down the topic of what I want to learn and on the back the contents, descriptions, definitions, vocabulary, etc. If I create a new card I put it in the first of five boxes. These means that I have to repeat it tomorrow. If I get it right tomorrow I put it in the next box, if not it's back in the first box. All cards in the first box are repeated daily, the second box every two days, the third one every five days, the forth one every twelve days and the last one every four weeks. If I forget something it's always back in the first box. This technique ensures that I get almost everything I've to learn in my mind.

As I started to work with a Newton I wanted to use this way of learning with my Newton as well. BetterLearn was born! I create a card, give it a topic (the front side) and the contents (the back side). BetterLearn does not use boxes, but dates. So if I create a new card, it's in my list of the cards I have to repeat today. If I get it right it will be in the list of tomorrow, then two days later, five days later, and so on. If I loose it will always be back in the list of the following day. So now I don't have for example a box #4, that will be repeated every Sunday only, but a card that will be back in the list in 12 days from now on. And of course you can use your Newton folders so that you can use different subjects of what you want to learn. I hope that you now have a rough idea of what BetterLearn is about.


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How to use it
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New
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First of all you have to enter some cards. Tap >New< in the statusbar to create a new card. Every card has a >Again-Date<, a >Last-Date<, a >Topic< and a >Contents<. Just give your card a topic and start writing down the contents of it. The contents area is exactly like your Notepad. You can write and draw, scroll up and down. If you want to have the full screen-size for the contents tap on the >Again-Date<. Tap again to resize to original size.

OK + Looser
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After you've entered in some cards you can start working. Everytime you start BetterLearn it comes up with the first card to be repeated today. And with the contents hidden. So now you can think it over. If you know the answer (or at least if you think you know it) tap on >Contents< to show the entire card. The next thing is to tap on Looser to get it in the list of the following day or to tap OK to get it into the next "box". Depending on what box it was in it will be on the list again in 1, 2, 5, 12 or 28 days. After you're finished with the last card on today's list BetterLearn displays a message on top of the screen saying that there are no more cards for today. 

i
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With the info-button (the >i<) in the status bar you can toggle between only today's cards and all cards. You can also select the About screen telling you about my copyright and how to contact me in case of questions and suggestions.

Overview
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Tap the Overview dot to see a list of today's or all of your cards. Tap on an entry to display the card. Use the up- and downarrows to scroll this list.

Action- and Filingbutton
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With the actionbutton in the upper right corner of the screen you can print, fax, beam or mail your card or you can delete or duplicate it. With the filingbutton you put a card into one of your folders. At the left side of the filingbutton you can see the name of the folder the current card belongs to if you have selected all cards (from the folder tab at the top of the screen, not from the >i<) and the card isn't unfiled. If you've selected a certain folder note that you will only see today's or all (depending on the >i<) cards of that folder.

Search
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If you want to search for a certain card tap on Newtons built-in Find button to start a search in BetterLearn.


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Shareware
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BetterLearn is shareware. This means that you can test it to decide if it fits your needs. If you want to use it you have to register. To encourage you to do so everytime you start BetterLearn you see the Registration screen. It also appears if you create a new card and already have 25 or more cards. So to make the life of a starving student a litte bit more pleasant PLEASE register. Send your name, E-MAIL ADDRESS, the REGISTRATION-ID (from the Registration screen) and cash or check for US$15.00 or DM20.00 to:

		Alexander Marcour
		Schmiedgasse 56
		53797 Lohmar
		Germany

As a German I prefer of course DM but US$ will be ok (hopefully the US$ will get a little more expensive in the future). You can also register via CompuServe for US$18.00: 

		Go SWREG and look for Id 6877.

As a registered user you will always get free updates (of all future versions!!!). My plans are to get a connection to NCK and alarm functions. But any other ideas of what to do next are welcomed. Let's make BetterLearn what you really need! You can contact me via:

		e-mail: a.marcour@wad.org	<--preferred
		cis: 100636,743
		fax: +49 2246 300150


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Warranty and Copyrights
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Please spread BetterLearn to everybody you think that she or he could use it. You don't have to enclose this txt-file, but remember that it might be easier for the new user to work with BetterLearn due to the lack of a help on the newton.

  This application was created with the Newt Development Environment (Newt 3.1).
  For further information, browse: http://www.netaxs.com/~weyer
  or contact: weyer@netaxs.com.


Apple and Newton are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. NewtonMail and MessagePad are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

Here is the software license that Apple Computer, Inc. requires that Newton software written with the Newton Toolkit carry. It isn't exciting reading but I advise you to read it since it does apply to all users of BetterLearn.

1. License. 
The application, demonstration, system and other software accompanying this License, whether on disk, in read only memory, or by any other media (the "Software"), the related documentation and  fonts are licensed to you by me. You own the media on which the Software and forts are recorded but I retain title to the Software and related documentation. This License allows you to use the Software on a single Newton Product (which, for the purposes of this License, shall mean a product bearing Apple's Newton logo), and make one copy of the Software in machine-readable form for backup purposes only. You must reproduce on such copy my copyright notice and any other proprietary legends that were on the original copy of the Software. You may also transfer all your license rights in the Software, the backup copy of the Software, the related documentation and a copy of this License to another party, provided the other party reads and agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this License.

2. Restrictions. 
The Software contains copyrighted material, trade secrets and other proprietary material and in order to protect them you may not decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble or otherwise reduce the Software to a human-perceivable form. You may not modify, network, rent, lease, loan, distribute or create derivative works based upon the Software in whole or in part. You may distribute for a nominal download or duplication charge the unregistered Shareware version of BetterLearn as long as it is accompanied by this documentation. 

3. Termination. 
This License is effective until terminated. You may terminate this License at any time by destroying the Software and related documentation. This License will terminate immediately without notice from me if you fail to comply with any provision of this License. Upon termination you must destroy the Software and related documentation.

4. Export Law Assurances. 
You agree and certify that neither the Software nor any other technical data received from me, nor the direct product thereof, will be exported outside the United States except as authorized and as permitted by the laws and regulations of the United States. If the Software has been rightfully obtained by you outside of the United States, you agree that you will not
re-export the Software nor any other technical data received from me, nor the direct product thereof, except as permitted by the laws and regulations of the United States and the laws and regulations of the jurisdiction in which you obtained the Software.

5. Government End Users. 
If you are acquiring the Software and fonts on behalf of any unit or agency of the United States Government, the following provisions apply. The Government agrees:
  (i) if the Software and fonts are supplied to the Department of Defense (DoD), the Software and fonts are classified as "Commercial Computer Software" and the Government is acquiring only "restricted rights" in the Software, its documentation and fonts as that term is defined in Clause 252.227-7013(c)(1) of the DFARS; and
  (ii) if the Software and fonts are supplied to any unit or agency of the United States Government other than the DoD, the Government's rights in the Software and its documentation will be as defined in Clause 52.227-19(c)(2) of the FAR or, in the case of NASA, in Clause 18-52.227-86(d) of the NASA Supplement to the FAR.

6. Disclaimer of Warranty on Software. 
You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of the Software is at your sole risk. The Software and related documentation are provided "AS IS" and without warranty of any kind and me (for the purposes of provisions 6 and 7, I shall be collectively referred to as "Alexander Marcour")
EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. I DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SOFTWARE AND THE FONTS WILL BE CORRECTED. FURTHERMORE, I DO NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE AND FONTS OR RELATED DOCUMENTATION IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY ME OR AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF ME SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU (AND NOT ME OR AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF ME) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION IF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

7. Limitation of liability. 
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL I BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT RESULT FROM THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE OR RELATED DOCUMENTATION, EVEN IF I OR AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF ME HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. In no event shall my total liability to you for all damages, losses, and causes of action (whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise) exceed the amount paid by you for the Software.

8. Controlling Law and Severability. 
This License shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the State of California, as applied to agreements entered into and to be performed entirely within California between California residents. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of this License, or portion thereof, to be unenforceable, that provision of the License shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the intent of the parties, and the remainder of this License shall continue in full force and effect.

9. Complete Agreement.
This License constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the use of the Software and related documentation,  and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings or agreements, written or oral, regarding such subject matter. No amendment to or modification of this License will be binding unless in writing and signed by me or a duly authorized representative of me.

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So now enjoy BetterLearn but always remember: You'd better learn!

August 1995
Alexander Marcour