NewtNews-06May97-Supplement

===========================



by Steve Holden <newtnews@pobox.com>.  This is a supplement issue for the

weekly freeware newsletter that focuses on the Apple Newton and related

technologies.  The supplement is published as a reference guide during

times when NewtNews is not being published.  NewtNews Copyright 1994-97

Steve Holden.  All rights reserved.  See the Administrivia at end for

details and FAQ info.



This issue of NewtNews is sponsored in part by:



 + VITAMIN A MENU EDITOR - Stand Alone has released it's custom and caret

   menu editor and creator! - Demo at: <http://www.standalone.com/newton>



 + X-Port, KwikMenu, NewtPaint, Quicknames Pro, proCALC Ex - Newton 2.0

   solutions - <sales@landware.com> - <http://www.landware.com>



 + WinSlurp from Rare White Tiger Creations - Available via WWW at:

   <http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/heringermr/winslurp.htm>.



 + PowerTrans 3.0 - Multilingual Customizable Translator and Vocabulary

   Trainer - Speech on MP2K, eMate - Demo at: <http://www.travel-cs.com>



 + PDA & HANDHELD DIRECT - Putting Technology in the Palm of Your Hand!

   800-279-4PDA 219-882-5228 [F]:219-845-0578 <http://www.pdadirect.com>



 + QuickFigure Pro v.3.1 - New version of the spreadsheet solution from

   PelicanWare! - <sales@pelicanware.com> - <http://www.pelicanware.com>



 + TeleType GPS and moving map for the Newton - Never get lost again -

   <http://www.teletype.com/gps/> - <TeleTypeGPS@teletype.com>



 + MORGAN - Organize your books, CDs, tapes, records, videos and other

   collections! - <products@catamount.com> - <http://www.catamount.com>



 + INFORMED FILLER FOR NEWTON - Custom Electronic Forms Integrated With

   Your Desktop - Shana Corp - <info@shana.com> - <http://www.shana.com>



 + PowerMedia presents 'Arcade Game Pack' - Birds With Lances, Rocks

   In Space, Frogs vs. Cars - US$29.95 - <http://www.powermedia.com/~pmi>



 + BILLS TO PAY PRO 3.5.4 - Easily Track Bills & Expenses - Supports

   German - <info@marsoftware.com> - <http://www.marsoftware.com>



 + RidgeNet - ARA, SLIP, PPP access to the Internet from Ridgecrest, CA.

   <http://owens.ridgecrest.ca.us/RidgeNET/RidgeNETWelcome.html>





Table of Contents

-----------------



 1. From the Editor

 2. Pen Computing, April 1997

 3. Review: KwikMenu and Reflex

 4. Mobile Computing, May 1997

 5. Web Pointers

 6. mobilis

 7. TAPPED.IN

 8. Wireless for the Corporate User

 9. The PDA Connection

10. NewtNews Pro

11. Handheld Systems

12. REVIEW: DateMan 3.0

13. Edupage, 28Apr97 thru 04May97

14. INNOVATION, 31Mar97

15. Review: The Barrier vs. WriteRights

16. Advertising Notes

17. Product and Service Information

18. Guest Opinion

19. Administrivia





>From the Editor

---------------



** WELCOME **



Hello!  Welcome to the 6th NewtNews-Supplement.  The goal of this

supplement is to provide NewtNews readers with good reference material

during a week when NewtNews is not being published.  This issue includes

some software and hardware reviews, and some guest opinions.  If you have

any questions, suggestions, or comments, please send them ASAP to Steve

Holden at: <newtnews@pobox.com>.  Thanks!



** NEXT ISSUE OF NEWTNEWS **



The next issue of NewtNews (issue #139) will be published on 13May97.

For a complete look at a calendar of publication dates please check out:

<http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/NewtNews/NN_schedule.html>.



** WWDC? **



I will be travelling to Apple's World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC)

the week of 12-13May97.  The next two issue of NewtNews shouldn't be

delayed but if something comes up, please accept my apology now.



I don't think this WWDC conference will have much, if any, 'Newton'

information -- focus appears to be all Mac OS 8 and NextStep stuff.  If

you are a NewtNews readers making the trek, please send me email and we

can set-up a Newton meeting at the conference.



This trip will probably also be a 'test' of replacing a PowerBook with my

MessagePad 2000.  I'll let you know how it goes.





$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  The New WriteRight Screen Enhancements protect your screen from

  scratches, reduce glare and improve your handwriting recognition by

  simulating the feel of writing on paper. WriteRights are available for

  all Newtons in packs of: 4-for $11.95, 8-for $18.95, and 12-for $24.95.

  Mention NewtNews and receive 10% off our 12-pack. For more info:

  415-929-1002 <Info@ConceptKitchen.com> <http://www.ConceptKitchen.com>

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$



$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  AvailWorks 3.0 - New version adds a text layer with spell-check, find

  and replace, and support for multiple page documents.  AvailWorks

  integrates text processing, powerful tables, dynamic business charts

  and graphs, and drawing and page layout tools into one convenient

  package for the Newton. From PelicanWare at $79.95+S&H. For more

  info: <info@pelicanware.com>. To order 800.655.6398 or visit resellers.

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$





Pen Computing, April 1997

-------------------------



** FEATURES & NEWS **



The cover theme of this issue is 'CHOICES' -- with pictures and highlight

text for the Newton MessagePad 2000 ('Fast & Refined'); The HP 320 LX

('Big Screen'); and Xplore Genesys ('Handsomely Rugged').



Huge major focus article on: Pen Computers in Healthcare. Includes:

introduction by David Noack, and details on several healthcare solutions

(most are Newton, Windows CE, and Win95 Pen based).  Articles start on

page 18 and go until page 26.



David Noack has a good article on page 28 - 29 entitled "Handhelds in

Hollywood: Film makers have discovered the benefits of handheld

computers."  Article looks at the Newton based Shot Logger, Psion based

Filmcalculator, and PalmPilot based pocket pal.



Dan Hanttula has a detailed article starting on page 36 - 37 that

outlines "The Development of the Philips Velo-1" (Windows CE) with

pictures from Michael Hanttula.



David MacNeil, Dan Hanttula, and Jim Neal team up on page 36 to examine

the latest external trackpad solutions from: PC Concepts, GlidePoint,

Cirque, and Touche.



Tim Schmidt has a detailed article that examines LCD panel technology

starting on page 58.



C.H Blickenstorfer has a another great detailed article entitled "A New

Look at Handwriting Recognition" starting on page 76.



** OPINIONS **



Excellent PDA and handheld opinions from:



    - C.H Blickenstorfer on "requirements for mobile

      computing are different than those for the

      desktop" on page 6

    - Tim Schmidt on "rumors, gossip, opinions" on

      page 39

    - Dominic Giangrasso's column 'Mobile Strategies'

      on page 42 is on "small computers, smaller phones"

    - Tammy Parker's column 'Wireless Beat' on page 64

      is on "browsing the Web from your car"

    - Andrew Seybold's column 'The Outlook' is on

      "Windows CE-based HPCs and Their Role in Wireless

      Communications (Part II)"

    - John Jerney's column 'Reflections' is on "Mobile

      Web Browsing" (page 73)

    - Gerald Fox's column 'Letter From Japan' asks the

      question when Windows CE will be in Japan?

      (page 63)



** REVIEWS **



Hardware reviews of: HP Palmtop PC 320 LX (Windows CE); Casio QV-Link

(HPC & Camera); Xplore Genesys P133 Pen Computer (888.449.7567); Norand

Pen*Key 6622; EtherWave (Newton); PalmPilot Personal and Professional;

and Dauphin DTR-2.



Software reviews of: bFax Professional (Windows CE); MS Entertainment

Pack for Windows CE; Reflex 1.0 (Newton); Informed 2.0 (Newton); DateMan

3.0.2 (Newton); and IntelliSync 1.02 (Pilot).



** PLATFORM FOCUS **



    - Windows Central by Dan Hanttula on page 30

    - Newton Notes by David MacNeil on page 48

    - Pilot Page by Scott Sbihli on page 54

    - Zaurus Way by Daniel Rasmus on page 60

    - Magic Mirror (Magic Cap) by Dan Hanttula on page 62



** OTHER POINTERS **



    - Microslate Pentium Pen Computer: <sales@microslate.com>

    - TriTech Microelectronics: <http://www.tritech-sg.com>

    - CommonTime's Cadenza [Newton]: <http://www.commontime.com>

    - Knowledge Revolution [Newton]: <http://www.krev.com/ed>

    - Navitel: <http://www.navitel.com>



** ON THE WEB **



    - <http://www.pencomputing.com>





Review: KwikMenu and Reflex

---------------------------



** NOW UTILITIES FOR THE NEWTON **



by Don J. Modesto <modesto@gol.com>



** WASTED MOTION **



The Newton has marvelous gee-whiz! value but can be tedious.  Both

KwikMenu and Reflex enhance basic Newt features increasing your

productivity with and enjoyment of the Newt.



As an example of clunky Newt procedures, you must often leave the

application you are in for the Extras drawer (where applications are),

dig around for some needed function, and return to complete your work in

the original app. Working in Notes e.g. I want to format text as bold.  I

have to --



    1.  tap Extras

    2.  wait

    3.  search out Styles from among the other 30 icons

    4.  (possibly searching in a different folder to do so)

    5.  open it

    6.  return to Notes

    7.  select the text

    8.  do the formatting



With the Newt's Styles app installed in a Reflex menu, on the other hand,

or using KwikMenu's own format menu, I --



    1.  select my text

    2.  tap for the menu to come up

    3.  do the formatting.



No contest.  Moreover, there is similar economy of motion with

connections, scheduling, and text input.



KwikMenu and Reflex are must-haves.  Even if you don't have both, you owe

it to yourself to have one.  They both provide multiple pop-up menus that

streamline Newton actions.  In some ways their functionality overlaps.

Both can automatically enter the date, set up new To Do items, and

restart the Newt.  I depend on both and tend to think of Reflex as saving

me from tedious navigation around the Newt.  I go to KwikMenu for system

enhancements such as the three clipboards.



** SINE KWIK NON **



KwikMenu's five menus are pre-configured with such goodies as KwikText, a

Newt version of Word 5's glossary.  Copy a letter salutation to it and

the next time you send a letter, select it from KwikText rather than

writing it.  Some items you might include, though, may already appear in

another menu which provides information from your personal Names cards,

'home #,' e.g.  or 'address.' The formatting menu reappears with each tap

facilitating multiple changes to text without multiple trips to the

button.  Yet another menu provides several connect options such as via

serial, via modem, etc.



KwikMenu offers three points of access.  There is a GestureLaunch Lite

Script option.  You can call up a palette of buttons or configure the

menus to appear with taps below Apple's silk-screened buttons.  Without

too much effort, you can remember where the invisible buttons lie and

leave the Newt's scarce screen space uncluttered.  (At first, I could not

get this option to work.  Following Landware support's recommendation, I

re-calibrated the screen with the Newt's Setup package and now it works

perfectly.)



** REFLECTS ON APPLE **



For years, Mac reviewers hailed Now Menus.  Apple finally included

similar options (Apple Menu Options and the extension manager) in its Mac

OS. Now, the Newt can be pretty spastic.  With such experience under

their belt, you have to wonder why Apple would send the Newt into the

cruel world without good Reflexes to render it graceful again.  It's

Reflex or plodding.



Reflex installs two tiny 'notches' in the upper left and right corners of

the screen and a floating button.  Tap any of these and a menu appears.

The Prefs file allows for extensive customization of the menus.  You can

turn them off, clear them of any or all items, and install applications

and 'actions' (which consolidate several actions into one or two taps.)

Reflex ships with 41 actions but others, such as Aloha Mail for AOL, are

also available on C & G's Web site.  Moreover, any Newt programmer can

develop more in order to enhance their product as Reflex has a public

API-Application Programming Interface-which means something like

published protocols that developers can use in programming for the

application as they do for QuicKeys shortcuts and Photoshop plug-ins on

the desktop.



With frequently used apps in the left pull-down menu and Newton books

(read-only text files-I make them from downloaded text) in the right, I

seldom see the Extras drawer anymore.  I use the floating menu for system

actions such as rotating the screen or setting the volume.



Reflex also subsumes the functionality of some Newt shareware.  I++ also

allows configuration of a menu.  But it offers only one menu and you have

to clean it up manually.  That is, if you erase an installed application,

I++'s menu won't know it until you tell it.  Reflex can take care of

itself.  It also lets you jump to the first or last notes or a specific

date in the Notes app, although it doesn't offer a previous/next note

feature as does the shareware NoteHopper.



** CONCLUSION **



Before installing Reflex and KwikMenu, I writhed at the thought of

plodding along the Newt way.  These two utilities have made using the

Newt immeasurably more enjoyable and I recommend both highly.



** SUMMARY **



Reflex -- PROS: Reduces navigation and wait time; opens keyboards

anywhere.  CONS: Can't make menu text smaller or larger.  For more

information about Reflex (US $39.95) check out Casady and Greene at:

<http://www.casadyg.com>.



KwikMenu -- PROS:  Consolidates and enhances functions and text entry.

CONS: Can't make menu text smaller or larger.  For more information about

KwikMenu (US$$39.95) check out Landware at: <http://www.landware.com>.



** SIDEBAR **



One problem with the Newt is how you have to go to the Extras Drawer,

i.e.  the applications folder, to open up programs.  Sometimes scrolling

down the list of available applications, waiting several seconds at each

juncture.



I++ is a tidy $10 Now Menus look alike that installs applications in a

pop up menu for access without returning to Extras drawer.  This

functionality is a must have (see KwikMenu/Reflex review.)



So far, so good.  The problem is the shareware reminders.  Although you

can only use it for 30 days without registration, its author has

booby-trapped it with little dialogs-each needing to be canceled with a

pen tap-that pop up sometimes within seconds of each other, exclaiming

how much you must like it because you've already used it X number of

times and that you really ought to pay the shareware fee.  Sometimes you

get the reminder in lieu of the selection making you select twice.



If this indicates the author's homelife, his kids have got to end up

patricides.  It's only 10 bucks.  If you're real hard up, you can save

yourself three fourths the price of KwikMenu or Reflex (or re-install I++

when it expires.)  But KwikMenu and Reflex do more than four times what

I++ does and are the real deal.





$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  Need more Newton information?!?  NewtNews suggests you check out:

    + Newton Reference: <http://www.panix.com/~clay/newton/>

    + Always Newton Central: <http://www.theonly.com/newton.html>

    + NewtUser: <http://www.newtuser.com>

    + NewtWorld: <http://www.fw3.com/newtworld>

    + The Ultimate Newton: <http://shell.rmi.net/~rbruce/>

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$



$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  TeleType GPS is software for the Newton which displays your location

  while driving or flying. The software includes a moving map which shows

  you where you are in relation to cities and towns. It is controlled by

  the Garmin 30 TracPack, a powerful yet small Global Positioning System

  (GPS) antenna.  Never get lost again. Email: <TeleTypeGPS@teletype.com>

  or WWW to: <http://www.teletype.com/gps/> for more information.

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$





Mobile Computing, May 1997

--------------------------



** ARTICLES OF INTEREST **



A short letter to the editor lists another shortcoming of Windows CE

devices is that they lack, out of the box, printer support. (page 16)



Tim Bajarin's 'Industry Insider' column starts on page 45 and is

entitled "What's Up at Apple? -- The enduring icon has rebounded into the

mobile market with the fastest notebook ever.  But it has just laid off

almost a third of its work force."



B. A. Nilson looks at "Ready to Ware -- Wearable Computers: Replacing

Interruption with Integration" starting on page 48.



Tom Sullivan has a 'Buyer's Guide' called "Small Talk" that examines 32

cellular phones starting on page 97.



There is a special section to this magazine called "Connect:

Communications Solutions for the Enterprise" that starts on page 104 and

stops on page 129.



** REVIEWS OF INTEREST **



Short reviews with pictures of the following products:



    - Mitsubishi's MobileAccess smart phone (page 30)

    - Avatar Peripherals' Shark 250 portable drive (page 38)

    - Wyndmail for Windows CE available (page 42)

    - pcAnywhere CE by Symantec (page 42)



** INTERESTING ADS **



    - Apple MessagePad 2000 ad on page 39

    - Socket & GTE for Windows CE wireless access on page C4

    - Mobile Planet (Sharp, HP, and Psion)

    - ClubPC (NEC HPC, PalmPilot)

    - Psion Series 3c

    - Japan Palmtop Direct (IBM PC110) 800.641.5996

    - Etak "The Digital Map Company" seems to have some

      potentially interesting solutions.

      <http://www.etak.com/SkyMap>



[EDITOR: It is interesting to note that Apple and Psion are the only

handheld manufacturers who have primary ads in this issue.]



** ON THE WEB **



    - <http://www.mobilecomputing.com>





$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

$ NS BASIC  $ The latest implementation of this cool programming tool has an

$   3.6     $ easy to use graphic screen layout function, plus indexed file

$   with    $ communications, graphics and more!  Program directly on Newton

$  Visual   $ or with a PC or Mac.  Create packages in the Extras drawer and

$ Designer! $ much more. 260 pg handbook. Cost is $99+5 S&H for all Newtons.

$           $ <info@nsbasic.com>,  <http://www.nsbasic.com>,  416.264.5999

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$



$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  PDA and Handheld Direct - MP2000 Coming March 21st

   - Apple MessagePad 2000 Standard Model only $949.00 Product (#22005)

   - Apple MessagePad 2000 Business Bundle only $1099.00 Product #22008

   - Apple Message Pad 130 w/ Newton 2.0 OS $655.00

   - Type II PCMCIA Flash Memory for all Apple MPs - Mfg Lifetime Guarantee

     4MB $128 (41070) 8MB $224 (41073) 10MB $274 (41074) 16MB $424 (41077)

   - Revelar Connection Utilities for Win $49.95 #10070 Mac $49.95 #10071

   - Newton Keyboard only $69.00

  To receive special pricing please mention source code #158

  To order call 800-279-4732 or 219-882-5228 or fax 219-845-0578

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$





Web Pointers

------------



** MAJOR TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY JOURNALS **



    - Web Week: <http://www.webweek.com>

    - MacWeek: <http://www.macweek.com>

    - InfoWorld: <http://www.infoworld.com>

    - Computer Reseller News: <http://www.crn.com>

    - PC Week: <http://www.pcweek.com>



** NEWTON LINKS **



    - Newton Reference: <http://www.panix.com/~clay/newton/>

    - AMUG'S PKG Search: <http://amug.org/amug/cd/http/newtonsearch.html>

    - Gecko: <http://members.aol.com/geraldfox/gecko/gecko.html>

    - Newton Classifieds: <http://pobox.com/~bnet/newton>

    - The Ultimate Newton Page: <http://rainbow.rmi.net/~rbruce/>

    - Newton Software Digest:

      <http://www.compulink.co.uk/~stormont/newton/weekly.htm>

    - Always Newton Central: <http://www.theonly.com/newton.html>

    - Project Newtonberg: <http://www.aa.net/~robwest>



** GOOD INFO SERVICE LINKS **



    - The URL-minder: <http://www.netmind.com/URL-minder/URL-minder.html>

    - Farcast: <http://www.farcast.com>

    - HotBot: <http://www.hotbot.com>



** OTHER PDA SITES **



    - Ultimate Windows CE Page: <http://www.paonline.com/msmalley>

    - USR's Pilot FAQ: <http://www-etb.info.nih.gov/~weisen/pilot_faq.html>



** COMPLETE DAILY MACINTOSH NEWS SITES **



    - MacInTouch: <http://www.macintouch.com>

    - MacCentral: <http://www.maccentral.com>

    - MacSurfer: <http://www.macsurfer.com>





mobilis

-------



** APRIL 1997 **



John Jerney <mobilis@CAM.ORG> reports that the April 1997 issue of

"mobilis: the mobile computing lifestyle magazine" is now available via:

<http://www.volksware.com/mobilis>.  mobilis is a free monthly magazine

available exclusively on the Web in its entirety featuring interviews,

tutorials, reviews, and opinion concerning all aspects of PDAs, wireless

communication, and mobile peripherals.



Here are some topics that might be of interest:



    - "A Conversation with Microsoft's Robert O'Hara by John

       Jerney

    - "DIGITAL CAMERAS: A Look at the Casio QV-300 by K.C. Toh

    - "NEWTON SPOTLIGHT: The Latest and Greatest from NewtNews"

       by Steve Holden

    - "System Integrator Profile: River Run Software" by Steve

       Mann

    - "Results of Our Second Annual Online Awards Survey" by

       mobilis Readers

    - "APPLE NEWTON MESSAGEPAD: Newton Programming with NS BASIC

       3.6" by John Schettino

    - "PSION SERIES 3/3A: Another Smattering of Psion Hardware &

       Software" by Steve Clack

    - "HEWLETT-PACKARD LX SERIES: Backing Up and Off-Line

       Browsing with Your Palmtop" by Conrad Cox

    - "USR PALMPILOT: On the Road with Palmeta Mail 1.5" by Jeff

       Schaffzin

    - "SHARP ZAURUS: Project Management Using Your Zaurus" by

       Scott Skibell

    -  OPINION: "Some Creative Thinking about Windows CE" by John

       Jerney

    -  OPINION: "Infrared -- The Standard That Should Be" by Marty

       Mankins

    -  POSITION PAPER: "Network Cards" by Andrew Prophet



And some other interesting tidbits on:



    - Mobile Watch [Hardware]: "Apple MessagePad 2000, Psion Gold

      Card, CompactFlash Reader"

    - Mobile Watch [Software]: "Psion licenses Java, Mail on the

      Run for Newton, Narrowband Sockets Technology"

    - Mobile Watch [Communications]: "Psion & Ericsson Team up,

      Intel Provides Storage for HP camera, Hayes Ships First 56K

      PC Card Modems"





$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

   WinSlurp! - Rare White Tiger Creations provides Newton Book publishing

   services and is NOW offering WinSlurp. A windows front-end to Slurpee

   which supports transferring notes back and forth between the Newton

   notepad and the PC desktop.  Available for downloading from this URL:

   <http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/heringermr/winslurp.htm>.

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$



$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

   PowerMedia is your source for all the latest cutting edge Newton apps:

     + Super NotePad: Quick access arrows, encryption, tags, filters, etc.

     + DateMan 3.0: Complete agenda and contact management.

     + Stationary Construction Kit: Build your very own custom stationary.

   Commercially available at your favorite Newton retailer.  Or check out

   online demos via the following site: <http://www.powermedia.com/~pmi>.

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$





TAPPED.IN

---------



** VOL. 1 ISSUE 31 -- APRIL 1997 **



ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Newton Toolkit for Windows is now available for purchase

through Apple Developer Catalog and selected retail outlets.  WinNTK

provides the same "rich object-oriented environment and NewtonScript

language" as MacNTK.  WinNTK requires a 486DX (or better) processor;

CD-ROM; and either Windows 3.1 (w/ Win32s), Windows95 or WindowsNT.

Memory requirements are 8MB RAM for Windows 3.1 users and 16 MB RAM for

Windows95 and WindowsNT users.  To order from the U.S. call:

800.282.2732, from International call: 716.871.6555.



HOW TO CONTACT THE NEWTON SYSTEM GROUP:



    - Marketing and Sales: <solutions@newton.apple.com>

    - Developer Technical Support: <newtondev@newton.apple.com>

    - NSG Webmaster: <webmaster@newton.apple.com>



INSIDE NSG: Q&A with Beth Clark, Program Manager within the Newton System

Group.  This job is the "connect the dot" role where all the 'big

picture' projects get tracked on a day-to-day basis, and any issues

between projects are handled.  She is currently working on the

localization of Newton OS to German which currently involves over 15

people and 30 pieces of "Whole Product Solution."



MARKETING FRONT: Q&A with Mike Zimmers, Solutions Marketing Manager, who

is responsible for managing the relations with third-party developers for

selected vertical markets (Sales Force Automation, Field Service,

Transportation, Inside Plant, Health Care, & Education).  One of the main

things he is working on is defining Whole Product Solutions (WPS) for

each segment so that it is easier to evangelize developers for missing

pieces, and to make sure that sales folks can identify all the parts

necessary to build a Newton solution.



VENDOR SPLENDOR1: GEOIDE Systemes S.A., a Vernon France based company,

was founded in 1994 to develop and market accessories for Apple

MessagePads.  The well-known protective case, the Rubber-Boot, was their

first product for the MP110, MP120, MP130. and a version for the MP 2000

will be available in May97.  They also have a laser bar code reader that

plugs directly into the inter-connect port of the MP2K in the works

called Scan2000.  The unit should also be available in May97.  For more

information: voice: 33 2 32 21 17 50, fax: 33 2 32 21 17 60, or email:

<geoidsys@imaginet.fr>.



VENDOR SPLENDOR2: Waverley Software Design provides both vertical and

horizontal Newton solutions.  On the horizontal side they have: Workout

Log which tracks, graphs and logs fitness information.  And on the

vertical side they just recently developed EZRx for EZ Cel Tech -- a

mobile prescription writing and management application for health care

professionals.  For more information contact Matt Brown by phone at:

415.322.5356 or by email at: <WaverleySD@aol.com>.



TECHIE TIP: J. Christopher Bell, DTS Engineer, tackles the subject of

"Word Processing in Newton 2.1 OS" in this issue.  Specifically giving a

short overview of the new Newton 2.1 OS Text Engine called "protoTXView".



TOP PROJECT: ETE, Inc. of San Diego, California demoed the latest in

wireless and navigation technologies on the new, handheld Apple

MessagePad 2000 at the Comdex'96 exposition in Las Vegas.   The demo was

also developed with help from MITRE Corp. as a prototype for the U.S.

military.  The system is called TASR (Tactical Automated Situation

Receiver), and is a combination of: Newton MessagePad, a Global

Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a wireless 2-way radio, MITRE

proprietary software and ETE's proprietary QuickFlight wireless

communications software.  For more info, contact Howard Griffith by phone

at: 619.793.5400 or by email at: <wireless@ete.com>.  You can also get

more info via: <http://www.ete.com>.



CALENDAR: The Newton Systems Group will have a presence at the following

upcoming events:



    - Forum for Handheld Computing in HealthCare,

      28-30May97, Cambridge, MA

    - PC Expo <http://www.pcexpo.com/>, 16-19Jun97,

      New York, NY



NEWTON PROGRAMMING COURSES: from NSG Developer Training.  Learn more via:

<http://devworld.apple.com/dev/newton/devservices/nsgtraining.html>, or

Arroyo Software <http://www.arroyosoft.com/> and via Calliope Enterprises

at: <http://www.pobox.com/~neil/training.html>.



    - Newton 2.1 Essentials+Comms; 19-23May97; Ann

      Arbor, MI' $1500' call 313.439.3828 to register

    - Newton 2.1 Essentials; 09-13Jun97; San Jose, CA;

      $1500; call 909.793.5995 to register

    - Newton 2.1 Essentials; 08-12Sep97; San Jose, CA;

      $1500; call 909.793.5995 to register



For more info about TAPPED.IN send an email to: <tapped.in@newton.apple.com>.





$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  K2 consultants, Inc. has the best Medical titles for Newton. Just out is

  Dr. Ferri's popular book for internists with special offers! Get the hit

  references like Lexi-Comp Drug Handbook, 5 Min. Clin Consult, Archimedes

  Programmable Calculator, etc.  KJV Bible, Ole spanish translator & more,

  all working with our renowned ART engine. See ART make a big splash at

  <http://www.skyscape.com/k2> or <http://www.1stopsoft.com> for info/sales.

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$



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  Still looking for a great screen protector?  Look at The BARRIER!!

     * Clearly Superior Protection

     * Abrasion, Chemical AND Thermal resistant

     * Indispensable!

  "Why doesn't Apple mount a Barrier on every unit? -- Marco Mailand (.ch)

  For more info: <http://www.losalamos.com/roadrunner> or call 800-882-8382

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$





Wireless for the Corporate User

-------------------------------



** MARCH 1997 - VOL.6/NO. 3 **



The front cover may have a picture of Casio's Windows CE savvy Cassiopeia

being weighed on a scale, but inside you'll find an article by NewtNews

editor and publisher Steve Holden covering the recent release of Apple's

MessagePad 2000.  This 'great' Cover Feature article starts on page 30.



Sean Keating points out in the 'From The Editor' corner that any success

a PDA device hopes to achieve in the future will be totally linked to how

well it connects and communicates, not how well it makes information

portable. [page 1]



Q&A with Unwired Planet's CEO & Chairman Alain Rossman on pages 8 - 9.



Steve Mann <smann@cdpubs.com> has a detailed article entitled "Make Way

for the PDAs! -- A New Generation of Personal Digital Assistants Promise

to Reinvigorate the Hand-Held Computer Market" starting on page 10.  The

article examines on the PDA front: PalmPilot, Windows CE, Newton, Sharp,

and Psion. The article also examines: wireless handhelds, hand-held

applications, custom solutions, and platform maturity.



This month's 'Utilities Vertical Market Focus' has a Q&A round table of

industry players moderated by Warren Hersch on page 16.  Hersch also has

a very interesting article following this one called "Attention: This is

a test of the new emergency alert system -- A range of wireless and

information technologies are helping Public Safety Officials Plan for,

and Manage, Civil Emergencies" on page 20.



Andrew Seybold has the Cover Feature story entitled "Hand-held PCs -- the

vehicles for wireless data" starting  on page 26.  Article looks at:

Windows CE, RAM Mobile, ARIDS, and the Portable Computer and

Communications Association (PCCA) that is attempting to 'standardize'

with help from Microsoft on wireless connectivity issues.  The article

does mention that folks like Palm Pilot, Psion, Sharp, and HP are also

working on remote access solutions.  No mention of the Newton or Apple in

the article.



Ron Lindsey <comarch@aol.com> has 'Special Feature' article entitled

"Strategic Wireless Implementation: implementing wireless technologies

may mean redefining the company's business process with new roles and

rules for employees" on page 32.



Interesting ad on page 35 -- Epson and Cardinal Tracking

<http://www.cardinaltracking.com> have an ad for the Epson EHT-400

touchscreen slate PC that runs Windows 95 with PenRight! for Windows.





The PDA Connection

------------------



** VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 **



This issue includes the following articles:



    - "Hand-Held & PDA Forum: PDAs in the Utilities

       Vertical Markets" by Phil Allingham

    - "PDAs aren't just PDAs anymore" by Jon Covington

    - "PDA Statistics: PDAia Implements New Research

       Program" by Phil Allingham

    - "Beyond Obvious: Marketing Where No PDA Has Gone

       Before -- Libraries" by Al Lieter

    - "Wireless Without Middleware" by Steven Baer

    - "Creating My Ideal PDA" by Al Beeman

    - "John Sculley Corrects The Red Herring" by John

       Sculley



IDC has published the following U.S. hand-held companion shipments in the

thousands:



    = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

    Categories           1996  1997   2000

    = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

    PDA                   163   256    624

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Personal

    Organizers             45   120    789

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    High-end organizers/

    PC Companions         581   733   1282

    = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

    Total                 789  1109   2696

    = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =



For more information about 'The PDA Connection' or PDAia (PDA Industry

Association) send an email to: <info@pdaia.org>.





NewtNews Pro

------------



** APRIL 1997 **



Dave Hina <nnpro@aol.com> reports that the latest issue of NewtNews Pro

is out and can be downloaded from:



    - <http://members.aol.com/nnpro/newton.html>



It will also be available shortly from the Newton forum on AOL (keyword

"Newton").  Read the newsletter either offline or online in "pdf" format

(online version requires Netscape Navigator and Adobe Acrobat version

3.0).  The ReadMe included with the download gives additional details

about the purpose and audience of NewtNews Pro.





$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  PDA Panache is your single source for stylus solutions.  Custom stylus

  upgrades for Newton MP130 and MP2000.  Custom styli for WinCE, USR, and

  Sharp PDAs.  Wide selection of Pocket Styli for all tastes and budgets.

  Duo multi-function stylus/pen combo. Beacon L.E.D. lighted stylus. Stylus

  inserts for Cross & other popular pens.  More info: 800.270.7196 or

  516.467.4042, FAX: 516.467.6329, <http://www.PDAPanache.com> (secure)

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$



$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  PowerTrans 3.0 - Translator and Vocabulary Trainer - 60,000 Words -

  English, Spanish, German, French and Italian (no storage card required).

   + Customize the vocabulary and/or create new languages, attach notes

   + MP2K and eMate featured - speech, classroom multi-user, keyboards

   + Vocabulary Trainer - based on approved didactical learning system

  Checkout demo: <http://www.travel-cs.com> - contact: <info@travel-cs.com>

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$----------- $





Handheld Systems

----------------



** ISSUE 5.2 -- MAR/APR 1997 **



Regular articles:



    - "Handheld News" by Steve Mann

    - "The New PalmPilot Hits the Streets" by Steve Mann

    - "The Year of Wireless Data?" by Andrew Seybold

    - "System Integrator Profile: River Run Software"

       by Scott Sbihli

    - "NS BASIC Corner: Building Newton Applications"

       by John Schettino

    - "NewtonScript Pearls: Overriding Parent

       Inheritances" by Mark Zeren



Reviews and Previews:



    - "The Nokia 9000" by Daniel Pfund

    - "CASL [Fera's newest multi-platform developer

       tool]" by John Blue

    - "Pilot GNU Tools for Unix" by Jeff Dionne



Getting Started:



    - "Going Digital in the US" by Lee Ann Fujii

    - "Cooking with Rosemary [Magic Cap]" by Ray

       Rischpater

    - "Handheld Lynx Browsing" by Paul Quinlan



Features:



    - "Unix and Pilots: The Protocol Stack, Part 1"

       by Kevin Flynn

    - "Nokia 9000 Puzzle" by Jouni Miettunen

    - "GEOS Data Exchange" by Marcus Groeber

    - "Debugging Newton Software" by Ray Rischpater

    - "The Dark Side" by M. Montclair



Handheld Systems is also holding a conference and expo for handheld

system development the 24-26Apr97 at the San Francisco Airport Hilton.

You can get more information by sending an email to: <hhsc@cdpubs.com>.



For a complementary sample of Handheld Systems, go to Creative Digital's

Web page at: <http://www.cdpubs.com> fill out a request for a sample

issue, and email it to: <hhsj@cdpubs.com>.





REVIEW: DateMan 3.0

-------------------



** DATEMAN GROWS UP! **



by Mike Blocker <mblocker@insightmcg.com>



DateMan, the contact management software with strong PIM links for the

Newton (NOS 2.x) by Ben Gottlieb at Stand Alone, Inc., has gone from a

useful, if awkward, adolescent in v2.0 to a flexible, mature and well

integrated product in v3.0.



I upgraded to DateMan 3.0 a couple of months ago, and love its well

thought out features, plus the little niceties I continue to discover the

more I use it. It is fast and stable, has tons of options available to

customize DateMan to your heart's content, and provides unlimited links

among contact items, name cards, and notes. It makes extensive use of

picklists that get updated as you enter info, and even lets you create

customized picklists for commonly used entries. You can print out your

agenda (based on the date range you define) or a To-Do list, as well as

email or fax contact info, as needed.



The Preferences menu included in v3.0 offers extensive customization

options covering the use of alarms, display fonts, linking, and item

priorities. DateMan also lets you customize how and where you can access

the program. You can choose where you want the 'DM' button to appear, and

how the Newton 'Dates' button should react when tapped. Common item

titles can be entered here, and will then appear in the picklist on the

item entry slip. Lots of options are available to customize Calls,

Events, To-Do lists and Meetings, and you can also choose how DateMan

should start up.



DateMan 3.0 offers four types of contact item templates: To Do's,

Meetings (for items where you need to specify date AND time), Events (for

items where you need to specify only the date), and Calls (to schedule,

make, document, or follow up on a call). You can also set up an Annual

Event such as an anniversary or birthday, plus the program also supports

Repeating Events (which did not work well in v2.0 but are great in v3.0!)

and Repeating Meetings.



Each type of item has a comprehensive entry slip where you enter the

subject of the item, date (and time), set alarms and priorities, identify

repeating choices, and choose names and the location associated with the

item. If the name does not exist, you can enter a new name using a

wonderfully complete name slip! You can set the date by tapping on the

displayed calendar, and pick the time by tapping and dragging on the

displayed timeline. It couldn't be easier or more intuitive! DateMan also

displays all existing items for the date entered right on the entry

slip--a very useful feature that lets you see any scheduling conflicts

before you finish the entry of the new item. You can also add notes here

(which are automatically linked to the item), and can establish links to

other items, names, or notes.



You have a choice of two ways to display your calendar of contact items:

Agenda or Day View. Day View provides the maximum info for each item for

the date specified, while Agenda View allows you to look at items over a

date range that you select. DateMan also provides some 'tappable' common

time frames such as 'This Week', This Month' and, my personal favorite,

'Until the Weekend'!



Any item you create can be linked to any other item, name, or note. You

can create a linked note on-the-fly, and can select from several note

types, including Outline, Checklist, or (if you have them) Message Slip,

Graph Paper, or Timecard. Once linked, you can call up any linked item by

tapping on the Link icon (a paper clip) and choosing the item you want.

Another DateMan 'nice touch:' when you bring up a name in the Newt's

Names application, DateMan places a Link icon in the upper left corner

that, when tapped, displays a list of links to that name. Even better,

DateMan displays a description of all upcoming links when you use the

"All Info" Names display option.



DateMan 3.0 has become an indispensable part of my Newton. But as much as

I love it, there are a few things I would like to see added or fixed in

the next update (By the way, if you already have v2.0, updates to v3.0

are free!) The Newt snooze function for the alarm is limited to 30

minutes--not very useful when you set the DateMan alarm for a day or more

in advance. It would also be nice, when you add a new name while you are

creating a new item, to have the option to automatically add the name to

your Names file (perhaps through a Preferences setting). And, while you

can rotate the display, the Preferences Menu gets cut off if you do. But

these are minor 'nits' compared to the power and flexibility that DateMan

3.0 gives you.



SUMMARY -- DateMan 3.0 provides a tightly integrated, completely

customizable, and very powerful contact management solution that goes way

beyond the Newton's built-in capabilities. Check it out, along with Ben

Gottlieb's other excellent Newton tools, via the following URL:

<http://www.standalone.com/newton>





$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  Back-up your Newton to a desktop Mac through your Ethernet Network

  without having to switch to Localtalk. Upload Newton packages and print

  to Appletalk network printers too. Farallon offers four Newton-to-

  Ethernet solutions, including EtherWave, the daisy-chainable technology

  that connects up to 7 devices to one Ethernet port. For more info visit:

  <http://www.farallon.com/markets/solutions/newtsolutions.html>.

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$



$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  To much info in NewtNews for you?  Does all the Macintosh information

  make you want to puke?  Then maybe you should check out NewtNews-Savvy.

  For $20 you get 40 issues of just lean and mean Newton/PDA/Wireless

  information directly to your inbox of choice.  Send an email message

  with the subject containing 'NewtNews-Savvy' to <newtnews@pobox.com>

  and you'll get a sample issue and an order form.  Thanks for reading!

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$





Edupage, 28Apr97 thru 04May97

-----------------------------



** ONE MORE REASON TO DRIVE A MERCEDES **



As part of a demonstration of technological feasibility, a Mercedes E420

automobile has been outfitted by Daimler-Benz research engineers with

equipment to allow its driver and passengers access to the Internet and

the World Wide Web.  The idea is that, sometime in the future, it will be

routinely possible for drivers to do such things as receive customized

traffic alerts, allow car repair centers to conduct remote diagnoses of

automobile breakdowns, do e-mail, and of course read Edupage.  The

demonstration vehicle is equipped with three flat-panel displays, a

wireless digital cellular phone and modem, a palmtop computer for

transferring data to the car system, and a global positioning

navigational system that uses satellite transmissions to display map data

and other information.  (New York Times 29 Apr 97)



** ARPA FUNDS RESEARCH TO SPEED UP INTERNET **



The Advanced Research Projects Agency is funding research projects at the

University of Utah, MIT, the University of Arizona and BBN Planet in the

hope of developing a new "active network" architecture that would enhance

the performance and flexibility of the Internet.  "An IP packet is

passive," says a computer scientist at the University of Utah.  "Any

IP-directed action is hardwired into the router.  This new work involves

injecting code into the packets."  The smarter packets could then convey

to the receiving computer what information is wanted, allowing them to

modify router information accordingly.  The data could then be handled in

the most efficient way possible.  (InfoWorld Electric 25 Apr 97)



** TRINITY U. STUDENTS COLLABORATE ON HOME-AUTOMATION PROJECT **



Three engineering students at Trinity University have developed a system

that enables a PC to control a household's appliances, including

lighting, a thermostat, a security device, and an answering machine.  The

system is designed to handle 256 electric appliances altogether,

including TV sets, radios and coffee makers.  (Chronicle of Higher

Education 2 May 97) <http://www.engr.trinity.edu/~ha/>.



** BOEING GETS IN ON TELEDESIC DEAL **



Boeing is partnering with Teledesic, a satellite data communications

venture partly owned by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and cellular

pioneer Craig McCaw, to build the $9-billion network of several hundred

low-Earth-orbit satellites.  As part of the deal, Boeing will purchase a

10% stake in Teledesic for $100 million.  When complete, the Teledesic

network will offer broadband Internet access, videoconferencing and

interactive multimedia services anywhere in the world.  (Investor's

Business Daily 30 Apr 97)



** XEROX TECHNOLOGY PROTECTS ONLINE COPYRIGHT **



Xerox has developed a Digital Property Rights Language (DPRL) that

encrypts any digital work -- book, movie, software or other -- and

delivers it in a "digital envelope" to a recipient with a designation as

to how the recipient may use that work:  "For instance, a Web publisher

could watermark a file if it is printed or disallow printing unless it is

sent to a trusted printer." The company, which began developing DPRL four

years ago, is now converting its software to Java, ensuring that DPRL

will run on all platforms. <http://www.parc.xerox.com/> (InfoWorld

Electric 26 Apr 97)



** E-MAIL ARCHIVES CREATE LEGAL BURDEN **



With untold billions of e-mail messages stored on tapes and disk drives

in companies and organizations throughout the country, legal experts now

say that the electronic discovery process in lawsuits is now becoming a

mini-industry, with the threat of having to pay the expense of delving

into mountains of e-mail archives now acting as a catalyst for settling

many commercial cases rather than defending them.  "On one hard drive

that takes up 10 square inches, you can store more than you can store on

the whole floor of a building," says the CEO of Electronic Evidence

Discovery, a company that provides computer support to parties in

litigation.  "Just the threat of conducting electronic discovery is a

very powerful negotiation tool."  Some judges have dealt with the issue

by placing the burden of the search on the plaintiff, but this raises

another problem -- most defendants don't want someone who's in the

process of suing them poking around in their computer files.  Judge Paul

Niemeyer of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Baltimore is engaged in a

national effort to re-examine the federal rules governing electronic

discovery:  "I sense that discovery is being used as a tool of

oppression, rather than as a tool of fairness."  (Miami Herald 1 May 97)





$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  If you are too cheap to pay $20 for weekly Newton/PDA/Wireless info,

  then check out the freeware-monthly-Acrobat-savvy-version of NewtNews

  called NewtNews Pro at: <http://members.aol.com/nnpro/newton.html>.

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$



$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

   This space for rent.  For more info: <newtnews@pobox.com>.  Thanks.

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$





INNOVATION, 31Mar97

-------------------



** TRENDS: EVERYONE A PROGRAMMER **



In his book, "What Will Be:  How the New World of Information Will Change

Our Lives," author Michael Dertouzos says, "The biggest promise of the

Information Age is the great and still unrealized potential of tailoring

information technology to individual human needs.  Today's applications

programs are like ready-made clothes -- one size fits all.  So most are

ill-fitting, and we have to contort ourselves to improve the fit...

Great gains will be achieved when individuals and businesses can bend and

fashion information tools to do exactly what they want them to do, rather

than bending themselves to what the tools can do.  This quest for

customizable information tools with specialized knowledge will be no

different than the current trend toward customized manufacturing.  It

could well be that by the close of the twenty-first century, a new form

of truly accessible programming will be the province of everyone and will

be viewed like writing, which was once the province of the ancient

scribes but eventually became universally accessible...  When I say

people will program, I am not talking about writing the detailed code and

instructions that make computers run...  Each individual's 'programming'

will account for a very small fraction of the software code, maybe 1

percent.  But it will be the crucial factor that gives the program its

specificity.  It will be like building a model railroad;  you don't make

all the track or engines or cars, but you do arrange the pieces to create

your own custom railway pattern."  (Michael Dertouzos, "What Will Be:

How the New World of Information Will Change Our Lives," HarperEdge,

1997)



** STRATEGIES: GUERRILLA MARKETING SCORES BIG **



In "The Way of the Guerrilla," author Jay Levinson says the only way for

small companies to prosper in the coming century is to operate as

guerrillas -- using unconventional tactics to outsmart the competition:

"A guerrilla enterprise is flexible, innovative, unconventional, low in

overhead costs, dependent, interactive, generous, enjoyable and

profitable.  The goal of the enterprise is to stay that way."  Levinson

says to do that, several misconceptions must first be clarified:  Owning

a business doesn't mean being a workaholic -- that condition actually is

indicative of poor planning.  Getting older doesn't mean you're over the

hill -- "Getting old means trading in some abilities to acquire others...

losing some body power but gaining mind power." Retirement can be lethal

-- you should strive to reduce, but not eliminate, your activities in

later years.  You're not the only one who can do the job right -- "Such a

mindset means you lack the ability to train or to link with others,

mandatory skills in the 21st century."  Levinson recommends having a

portfolio of work, that combines a primary source of income with

alternative sources, such as part-time or temporary work.  The variety

helps guard against burnout, and the alternative work acts as a safety

net.  "It's not easy to change your life when you have a full-time job

that is disconnected from your life, but change is at your fingertips and

at your command when you have a selection of work skills, a variety of

income sources."  Finally, don't forget to nurture your network:  "The

larger your network, the more work will come your way.  The better you

treat other members of the network, the better they'll treat you." (Jay

Conrad Levinson, "The Way of the Guerrilla: Achieving Success and Balance

as an Entrepreneur in the 21st Century," Houghton Mifflin, 1997)



** INNOVATIONS: SOFTWARE COULD AVERT TRAGEDIES LIKE MECCA **



Researchers at Barcelona's Polytechnic University of Catalonia have

developed software that models the intense traffic caused by millions of

Moslem pilgrims converging on the holy city of Mecca.  During the five

days of the annual event, traffic grinds to a halt with more than 2.5

million people and 67,000 vehicles retracing the trail linking the holy

sites.  That number is expected to increase by a third by 2010.  The

Spanish scientists say their software could be used by Saudi authorities

to test disaster scenarios and create traffic "clearways," enabling

emergency vehicles to reach disaster scenes more rapidly.  "If the

project goes ahead, these disasters could be completely avoided in the

future," says one of the researchers, referring to the fire that claimed

343 lives last week, a death toll that was exacerbated by the

excruciatingly slow access yielded to ambulances trying to transport the

injured to hospitals.  (TechWire 23 Apr 97)



** MORE INFO ON INNOVATION **



Innovation is published weekly, with individual subscriptions available

at $15 a year. Topics are organized under the following headers:

TRENDS, STRATEGIES, and INNOVATIONS.  For a six-week free trial

subscription to Innovation, please send an email message to

<innovation-trial@newsscan.com> and in the subject line type the word:

'subscribe'.  You can also use the trial registration form on their Web

site at: <http://www.newsscan.com>.  For more info, send email to:

<gehl@newsscan.com> or <douglas@newsscan.com>





$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$

  NEED A NEWTON PROGRAMMER? NewtNews has a list of over 48 Internet based

  Newton programmers who are interested in working on vertical or

  horizontal market solutions.  Please send email to: <newtnews@pobox.com>

  if you would like the list or would like to be added to the list.

$-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$





Review: The Barrier vs. WriteRights

----------------------------------



** BOTTOMLINE -- PERSONAL CHOICE **



Dave Lloyd<dlloyd@clover.net> posted the following review to the USENET

newsgroup comp.sys.newton.misc recently:



    I've owned 4 Newtons so far (110, 120, 130, 2000), and all

    of them have been protected with screen protectors.  I've

    used both the Barrier and the WriteRights on all of them.

    And both of these products are excellent and do a good job.

    The basic differences between the two are to me in the

    following areas:



        - How easy are they to install?

        - How they affect the clarity of the Newt's

          screen?

        - How much they affect the feel of writing

          on the Newton screen.



    Ease of Installation -- The Barrier is much more simple to

    install than the WriteRights.  All that is needed is to

    slide the edges of the Barrier under the edges of the Newt's

    case. The WriteRights on the other hand are a little more

    tricky! Since they actually adhere to the Newt's screen they

    take a little more care in getting them placed properly on

    the screen.  However by the time you do one or two they

    become second nature putting them on.



    Clarity of the Screen -- The Barriers while cutting down the

    glare of the Newt's screen seem to decrease the contrast a

    good bit.  Something you don't notice to you take one off of

    the Newton after a while.  The WriteRights once they settle

    onto you screen are about as clear as you will get unless

    you use no protection at all.



    Writing Feel -- The Barrier is more like writing on the bare

    Newt's screen while the WriteRights require a little more

    pressure to get the same results.  I guess it comes down to

    just how hard you usually press when writing.



    The only other difference between the two is that since the

    Barrier doesn't actually adhere to the Newt's screen it is

    still possible to get dirt and dust under the protector in

    some situations.  The WriteRights since they do adhere

    actually seal the screen from any dust and dirt.



    Like I said they both do good jobs and you should probably

    try them both to see which is best for you. :-)



** GETTING MORE INFO **



    - WriteRights: <http://www.ConceptKitchen.com>

    - The Barrier: <http://www.losalamos.com/roadrunner>





Advertising Notes

-----------------



If you are interested in advertising in NewtNews please send email to:

<newtnews@pobox.com>.  NewtNews is freeware because of the advertisers

that support this effort, and we appreciate their support.



When you purchase products from NewtNews vendors please mention that you

heard about their product in NewtNews.





Product and Service Information

-------------------------------



* SOLUTIONS FROM LANDWARE. All work in the Newton 2.0 OS.

  - PROCALC EX: Programmable calc. w/ SAN & RPN, includes: proCALC 12c.

  - QUICKNAMES PRO: Rapid access to names and much more.

  - X-PORT: The 2.0 connection utility. Send/receive notes, contacts...

  - KWIKMENU: the Newton dashboard, includes GestureLaunch Lite.

  - NEWTPAINT: "MacPaint" on your Newton, w/zoom-in and screen shot.

  - SYNC+: Dates to Schedule+ 1.0 or 7.0

LandWare, 201-347-0031, <sales@landware.com>, <http://www.landware.com>



* Frustrated by the amount of time required to input long notes?  Looking

for a faster method?  GESTURE MOSAIC is a hybrid keyboard/recognition

system which enables the rapid (30-40+wpm) pen-based entry of text.  Now

updated for OS2.0, you can use it to quickly input text anywhere in your

Newton. FREEWARE versions are available at: <http://www.amtelcom.com/Mosaic>

For more information contact: <amtelmit@aol.com> or call: 800-696-6724.



* ChessPad 2.0 turns the Newton into a digital chess book and a portable

chess set. It contains 28 fully-annotated games played by the greatest

players of all time, 100 brilliant winning combinations by Morphy, Tal,

Fischer, and Kasparov, and 100 chess problems.  ChessPad can also import

games in Portable Game Notation format. Only $39.95. Clear Lake Research

713.663.7513 <DavidL62@aol.com> <http://members.aol.com/clrsch/chesspad.html>



* STAND ALONE offers a variety of Newton applications for Newton 2.0:

   - PACKAGE POPUP: instant access to all your packages, launch

      with a tap, automatically thaw and re-freeze. $15.

   - SECURE-A-NEWT: Password protect folders in your NotePad, Names,

      and Extras Drawer. Protect your info from prying eyes. $20.

   - KEYMAN: Adds function keys, a multi-function calculator, and a

      new keyboard designed for one-fingered typing. $20.

   - NOTEMAN: Instant access to the NotePad from any package. $10.

   - BACKGAMMON: The classic board game, brought to Newton. $20.

   - SUPER SORTER: Fast, Usable list management, featuring fully

      expandable and customizable list creation and editing. $20

For information about any of these or other Stand Alone products,

contact us at: <info@standalone.com>, or (312) 262-5150. Also check

out our Web site at: <http://www.standalone.com/newton>.



* Tim Constantine has several cutting edge Newton solutions: Flash - A

Speed Reading Tutor; CrazyDice - Multi-player Strategy Game, and Clean

Notes - Stationary w/o Lines.  For more info: <timconstan@kagi.com> or

<http://www.kagi.com/timconstan>.  Tim is also available for custom

Newton application development.  Send Tim email if you have a question

about custom application development or about his cutting edge solutions.



* NEW! 8th Volume of the Totally Incomplete PDA CD-ROM for Newton! This

CD-ROM from AMUG CD, Inc. contains over 1400 packages, and 600+ megs in

Mac and PC format. 2.x & 1.x Packages can be downloaded directly from the

CD to your MessagePad. Maximize your Newton experience! $29 + S/H. Call

AMUG 602.497-2244, or email <sales@amug.org> to order! See our Newton CD

web page at <http://cdrom.amug.org/>.



* BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY PACKAGES FROM PELICANWARE

   All packages for Newton 2.0 OS - Upgrades also available.

 - QUICKFIGURE PRO 3.0: Spreadsheet application  $59.95

 - NEWTCASE 3.0: The Ultimate Utility Suite  $49.95

 - NOTION 1.5: High Performance List Manager  $59.95

 - AVAILWORKS 2.0: Text, spreadsheets, drawing, and graphing $79.95.

All from PELICANWARE.  For more details email: <info@pelicanware.com>,

vox: 503-221-1148, fax: 503-221-8709, or <http://www.pelicanware.com>.



* CATAMOUNT SOFTWARE offers the following:

   - POCKETMONEY assists you in balancing your checking, savings,

       credit card and loan accounts. Export and import transactions

       to Quicken, MYM and other desktop based program.

   - NAMIGATOR gives rapid access to Names. I know, I have over 5000.

   - MPG helps you keep your vehicle records in order. Track fuel

       economy, record mileage for tax purposes, schedule repeating

       vehicle maintenance items for multiple vehicles.

   - MORGAN is the Newton Media ORGANizer. Track CDs, tapes, records

       books, laserdiscs, videos, and more...

For more information call 802-372-9512, email <products@catamount.com>, or

visit our web site <http://www.catamount.com>.



* NEW BILLS TO PAY PRO 3.5.5 Rated 5 out of 5 by Gecko Magazine! Now

available in German! For NOS 2.0. Includes support for stationery,

enhanced overview, and new printing options! Easily track bills and

expenses; create budget projections; and set alarms to remind you of

bills. Send bill info to Pocket Quicken or Pocket Money. $39.95+S&H MAR

Software at: <info@marsoftware.com> or <http://www.marsoftware.com>.



* GET AMIGO NOW! Did you know you can order AMIGO the premier 8000+ word

English/Spanish Dictionary Reference Tool and Translation program for the

Newton over the World Wide Web at: <http://www.1stopsoft.com>?  AMIGO is

available for US$24.95 and it comes with a full year of upgrades. For

more information contact ACCSYS by email at: <rkaplan@well.com>



* GPS MAP and GPS MAP LITE -- GPS based navigation with real moving maps,

showing all details as familiar from paper based maps.  Features -- map

calculator, route planning, database, history track, and mission

recorder.  Import your own maps from your Mac or PC at any scale.

Connects to most GPS receiver's offering a NMEA183 interface.  For more

info/demo: <http://www.soaring.de/gps/GPS_Map.html> or <gerds@micronet.de>.



* Newt Development Environment: develop object-oriented applications in

NewtonScript on the Newton (shareware: $49.50; tools, examples, support).

* Newt's Cape: create Newton books with text, graphics, tables, links,

and forms from HTML (via web browsing or Notepad) (shareware: $38.50;

tools, examples, support). For details, software, and registration info:

<http://www.netaxs.com/~weyer/newton/releases.html> or <weyer@netaxs.com>



* INFORMED FILLER FOR NEWTON is your mobile data collection solution for

Inspection forms, Health Care forms ... in fact, for any forms you use!

Design custom forms on your Macintosh with Informed Designer.  Then, fill

out your forms on the Newton quickly and accurately using automatic

defaults, choice lists, calculations and signatures.  Finally, send

completed forms directly to Informed Filler on your desktop for further

processing.  Now when you buy Informed Designer, you'll also get Informed

Filler for the desktop AND a BONUS Newton Filler.  For more details about

this exciting offer, contact Shana Corp. at: (800) 386-7244, email at:

<info@shana.com> or visit our Web site at: <http://www.shana.com>.





Guest Opinion

-------------



** TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS **



Michael Masella <ace118@cycor.ca> writes:



    Dear NewtNews Readers,



    I've been a Newton user since they called the salesmen from

    my store in with about 200 other Apple salesmen from the

    Montreal area to roll out the newest product line from Apple

    in 1993.  The Newton MessagePad (now fondly called the OMP).

    After seeing it's potential and power, we were all

    clamouring over each other, credit cards in hand as they

    offered them at serious discounts in order to seed them in

    all stores around town.



    However, that attitude changed over time as Apple became

    complacent with the channel.  Although I was anxious to get

    the MP 110 and I was able to sell my OMP off to help finance

    it, Apple didn't exactly bend over backwards to try and get

    more customers for their new product.



    Thus, all I could do was watch and sigh as I saw the 120 and

    130 (with NOS 2.0) roll by. By the time I saw the 130,

    NewtNews was posting rumors about the "150" -- now the 2000.

     Two cards slots, backlight, websurfing and email, longer

    battery life and the StrongARM chip to give it the power it

    needs to chew through my less than perfect handwriting.



    So I bided my time and over a year later, the MP2K was a

    reality and I knew I had to have it.  Discount or no

    discount.  I didn't even have a customer lined up for my MP

    110.



    I have never regretted my purchase.



    Only a few days later (and before NewtNews posted it), I

    received a letter in the mail with the MP2K coupon for the

    free keyboard or the $80 rebate on the modem.  It wasn't an

    enormous discount, but it was forward-thinking on the part

    of Apple.  Here we are, the brunt of "egg-freckles" jokes

    for three years with hardly a thank-you from the Newton

    team.



    Finally, those of us who have been faithful because we

    believed in a product with the potential to be so much more

    can go and buy the MP2K and at least feel as though Apple

    has made an effort to reward those of us who were 'early

    adopters.'  As Ian Cargill said in the previous NewtNews

    posting, "look after your Newton users.  They sell more

    Newtons than the in-store salespeople."



    My congratulations and thanks to Apple and the Newton team.

    For their consideration, for their product and for their

    imagination.



    Sincerely,



    Mike Masella

    Compucentre Place Vertu

    St-Laurent, Que.





Administrivia

-------------



NewtNews Copyright 1994-97 Steve Holden.  All rights reserved.

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This issue of NewtNews was made possible by: Cindy and Brian's wonderful

wedding on Sunday, and all the 'fun' events surrounding the wedding event

(golf tournament, rehearsal dinner, pool party, and poker night).



Disclaimer:  I am doing this on my own time, and on my own hardware

***********  and software not the government's or my employer's.