NewtNews-128-28Jan97

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



by Steve Holden <newtnews@pobox.com>.  This is a weekly freeware

newsletter that focuses on the Apple Newton and related technologies.

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>



 + PDA Panache is your single source for stylus solutions - ORDERS:

   800.270.7196 - FAX: 516.467.6329 - <http://www.pdapanache.com>



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

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



 + 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>



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

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



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

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





Table of Contents

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



 1. Top News

 2. Information from Email

 3. Information from the Internet

 4. Review of Top Weekly Magazine Headlines

 5. Top Weekly Magazine Stories Of Interest

 6. Other PDA News

 7. Edupage, 20Jan96 thru 26Jan97

 8. Other Sources of Information

 9. Wired

10. News Agent Summary

11. Advertising Notes

12. Product and Service Information

13. Guest Opinion

14. Comments from the Editor

15. Administrivia





Top News

--------



** KOREAN NEWTON! **



Smittie <smittie@enfour.com> recently confirmed rumors on USENET

newsgroup comp.sys.newton.misc that Enfour was working on a Korean

Language Kit for Newton 2.0.  The 'plugin' should be available soon.



[EDITOR: So, with their Japanese plugin Enfour opened the Newton to 130+

million people.  With their Chinese plugin they opened the Newton to 1.3+

billion people.  And this new Korean plugin will add another 60+ million

potential Newton users.  Absolutely amazing!  Kudos all around!]



** CLUBPDA PRICES ON NEWTON 2000 **



Raven Zachary <raven@rinzai.com> posted the following U.S. prices and

details to the USENET newsgroup comp.sys.newton.misc:



    A102-1397 Apple MP2000                       $  949

    A102-1396 Apple MP2000 w/ Keyboard, Case,

              and spreadsheet software           $ 1099

    A100-1483 Apple MP2000 Replacement Pen       $   13

    A100-1484 Apple MP2000 Rechargeable Battery  $   32

    A100-1485 Apple MP2000 Serial Adapter        $   20

    A100-1486 Apple MP2000 and Keyboard Case     $   99

    A100-1487 Apple MP2000 AC Adapter            $   33



    To place a back-order with ClubPDA call:

    1-888-CLUBPDA.  Shipping is expected to start late

    Feb97 or early Mar97.  Please make sure to mention

    source code PDAWWEML.  Orders can only be shipped

    within the United States.  For more information:

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



[EDITOR: I have confirmed that #A102-1397 will unfortunately not include

the spreadsheet application.  The word processor is included with all

MP2Ks.]



** HANDHELD FUTURE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED **



Steve Mann <smann@cdpubs.com> has announced that the 'Futures Keynote' at

The Handheld Systems Conference on 25Apr97 will be given by Thomas

Zimmerman from IBM's Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California.

Thomas will discuss and demonstrate "Personal Area Networks -- a

technology for the exchange of digital information between personal

devices on and near the human body using capacitively-coupling

nanocurrents."



In related news, Apple's Newton Systems Group and Psion have joined the

list of sponsors for the fourth Handheld Systems Conference.  Additional

sponsors include Microsoft, Geoworks, Hewlett-Packard, and General Magic.

U.S. Robotics and Pen Computing Magazine are supporters of the upcoming

conference.  For more information about the conference check out:

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



** PROJECT MANAGEMENT ON THE NEWTON **



Tom Unkefer <nomadict@ix.netcom.com> has announced that Nomadic

Technologies is nearly done with development of a new product for the

Newton called "NT Project (Personal Edition)" --  a full-fledged project

management application for Newton 2.0 and newer systems.  For more

information check out: <http://www.nomadict.com>.  A public beta seed is

expected to start in Feb97.





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

  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.

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





Information from Email

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



** 1997 WINTER CES SUMMARY **



Long time NewtNews reader Scott Leapman <twiki@ix.netcom.com> was kind

enough to send NewtNews blurbs about what was going on at the recently

held Winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada.  In

summary:



    - The show was fun but wasn't as "gee wiz" as the

      last couple of years

    - The upcoming new DVD technology was this year's

      'buzzphrase' with most of the big names: Sony,

      RCA, JVC, Pioneer, Hitachi, Samsun, Goldstar,

      Toshiba, Philips, etc. ... showing prototypes.

      IBM was showing DVD-ROM players in prototype

      computer systems

    - DirecTV along with PrimeStar and USSB were there

      in force.

    - HP, Philips, NEC, and Casio were showing Windows

      CE devices.

    - The 'Internet savvy TV' market is also heating

      up -- Sega was there with NetLink.  Sony, Philips,

      Magnavox, Zenith, and RCA either have units

      shipping or will have units shipping soon.  It

      does appear that the folks at Diba are teaming up

      'big-time' with Mitsubishi.



** NEW VERSION OF BILLS TO PAY PRO **



Edward Martin <Edmartin@marsoftware.com> reports that Bills to Pay Pro

version 3.5.5 is now available.  The new update contains the following

features:



    - Fixes a bug in version 3.5.4 where if a bill is

      marked as paid, the paid date would not be

      accurately displayed when scrolling to a new list.

    - Fixes a bug in version 3.5.4 where recurring

      bills with a due date set for the previous year,

      would not properly update to the new year.

    - When B2P sends a reminder to the To Do or the

      Calendar, the quote ''A bills to Pay Reminder!''

      is now placed at the end of the reminder so that

      it will display more information in the overviews

      of Action Names, Date Man, and MoreInfo.

    - When selecting a bill from the picker which has

      a blank or 0 for the amount, B2P will no longer

      fill the amount field with ''0.00'' and require

      you to scrub it out in order to input a new

      amount.

    - When selecting a bill from the picker which has

      a due date set before the current date, the

      current date is used instead of the old date.



The update can be downloaded from: <http://www.marsoftware.com>.  This

version of B2P also supports German, and they are working on a French and

Japanese version.  If you are interested in 'beta' testing the French or

Japanese versions please send email to: <EdMartin@marsoftware.com>.



** CHEAPER WEB PAGE HOSTING? **



Fluid Creations is offering Macintosh and Newton users, and developers a

'discount' on hosting Web pages via: <http://www.maxmac.com/>.  The site

will offer custom CGIs, with the ability to link into database systems.

For more information send an email to: <maxmac@maxmac.com>.



** NEW VERSION OF POCKET DIABETICARE **



Darin <dcapp@halcyon.com> has announced the public beta testing of

version 1.10 Beta 5 of Pocket DiabetiCare -- a personal diabetes

management software that lets you record blood sugar readings and analyze

your readings.  This version is a maintenance upgrade with the following

new features:



    - Improved user interface.

    - Addition of a preference screen to store defaults.

    - Ability to store either mg/dL or mmol/L readings.

    - Addition of TODAY to the data filter.

    - Ability to trim or remove ranges of old readings.

    - Allowing user to cancel from adding a reading.

    - Uploading data to a computer is more reliable.

    - Ability to view insulin taken in the overview.



The version posted to the following site is a 30-day demo and can be

downloaded from: <http://www.halcyon.com/dcapp/OrcaWare>.  The SRP of

Pocket DiabetiCare is US$20.  For more information send an email message

to: <OrcaWare@kagi.com>.



** MP2K PART OF APPLE'S WIRELESS PLAN?!? **



The FCC has reportedly given Apple the go ahead to use the MessagePad

2000 as a 'widespread wireless' device in the indoor and outdoor 5-GHz

spectrum recently parcelled out of the National Information

Infrastructure (NII) band.  [Information from CMP Publications's

Electronic Buyers News, 20Jan97]



** TCNUG MEETINGS **



Steve Deyo <SteveDeyo@aol.com> reports that the next Twin Cities Newton

Users Group (TCNUG) meeting will be on 29Jan97 at 5:30 p.m. in downtown

Minneapolis, Minnesota.  This meeting will be 'blessed' with appearances

of MP2K and eMate 300 units.  The meetings are typically on the last

Wednesday of each month.  For more information send Steve email.



** MP2K IS A HANDHELD **



Kieren Simon <ksimon@nelson.planet.org.nz> correctly points out that the

new official MessagePad 200 color brochure from Apple says:



    "Now with the Apple MessagePad 2000 handheld

     computer, you don't have to carry a heavy laptop

     around anymore."



    "In terms of speed, the new StrongARM processor in

     the MessagePad 2000 allows it to run up to 10

     times faster than any current versions of personal

     digital assistants".



[EDITOR: It should be noted that the average Newton application seems to

be about 3 times faster than on a MP130.  Pure math on the MP2K is indeed

10 times faster than the MP130.]



** NEED FOR AN IR PRINTING IS STRONG **



Jean-Louis Pitteloud  <100745.443@compuserve.com> writes:



    I'm looking for a way to print orders, bills,

    delivery slips, quotes, etc. ... directly thru

    infra-red (IR) to a Sharp IR parallel receiver

    (CE-IR1).  Both the Newton (up to MP130) and the

    Sharp receiver use the same Sharp ASK IR protocol.

    The latter directly connects to a PC parallel

    printer using a normal printer cable (with DB-25

    to Amphenol plugs).  Having the correct PC drivers

    in my Newton I just need a redirection of the

    output to the IR port instead of the serial port.

    I manage a NewtonShop here in Switzerland, and

    there is a market for this kind of application

    here.



** NEW WWW ADDRESS FOR NEWTON JAPAN **



Newton Japan (aka the Japanese Newton Users Group) at the following email

address: <newtonj@cyborg.or.jp> reports a new Web address for their

organization.  This is a Japanese only page.  You can check it out at:

<http://www.cyborg.or.jp/~newttonj/>.  Newton Japan will also have a

booth at MacWorld Expo/Tokyo '97 being held 19-22Feb97.



** NEWTON PROGRAMMER WANTED **



Ed Friedman <ejf11796@teletype.com> at TeleType reports that his company

is looking to hire another Newton programmer.  The position is to enhance

their flagship product 'TeleTypeGPS' -- so experience with wireless

communications would be ideal.   Future versions of TeleTypeGPS will

include features like "transmitting position from the Mobile Unit back to

a Central Station."  If you are interested send Ed an email message for

more information about the position and your qualifications.  For more

information about TeleType check out: <http://www.teletype.com/>.



** NEWTON - RECOMMENDED AS NEUROLOGICAL DISABILITY AID **



Kate Gladstone <kate@global2000.net> forwarded to Guy Kawasaki's MacWay

listserver information about a new book on "Attention Deficit Disorder"

written by Dr. David Sudderth and Dr. Joseph Kandel by Prima Publishing.

The book recommends (on page 156) the MP120 as an 'easier and more

convenient' to use PDA then other PDAs tested by the authors.  You can

get more info about the book at: <http://www.neurologist.com> and you can

get more info about the publisher at: <http://www.primapublishing.com>.



** NEW UTILITIES RELEASED **



Scott Jenson <jscott@jenson.org> has recently released three new freeware

utilities to AMUG's Newton FTP site.  The first is version 2.1 of

PhoneMemo -- a NotePad Stationary for Newton 2.0 systems to help you

track phone calls.  The second is RollOver 2.0 that adds a button to

Checklists to help you split a list into completed and incomplete items.

RollOver should be installed on internal memory to protect against "grip

of death" problems.  The third is TravelDate 1.0 that helps you track

pending travel in the built-in dates application.  TravelDate will also

change your time and area code on your Newton automatically based on the

travel data you enter.



** PAPERBACK 2.0 **



Stefan <klocke@ibm.net> points out that David Fedor has posted version

2.0 of his freeware Paperback desktop 'pseudo' Newton Book creator to:

<http://www.pobox.com/~fedor>.  This version supports creation of a

simple table of contents, and Newton 2.0 landscape mode.



** HONG KONG NEWTON WEB PAGES **



Social <social@asiaonline.net> reports that new Hong Kong Newton Users

Web page can be found at: <http://www.asiaonline.net.hk/~social>.



** NEWTON IS KEY TECHNOLOGY FOR MAJOR STUDY **



Bill Murray has a Newton mention in an article entitled "Resources

tallied with PDAs" in Government Computer News published on 09Dec96.  The

article is about a study done in the Agriculture Department called "The

National Resources Inventory."  To complete this study, the director of

this group, Dean Thompson, turned to using the MP120 and MP130 because it

was "small, portable, and relatively inexpensive."  Plus it handles

'handwriting recognition.'  The MessagePads in this study will in the end

collect over 800,000 sample points in 1997 using software written by

Avistar that connect to DEC workstations running Oracle.  Thompson did

say that he was going to evaluate Windows CE technology even though he

likes the Newton PDA and the software.



** FINALLY GET TO SELECT ALL IN SOME BUILT-IN APPS **



Gert Sanders <gert.sanders@alcatel.com.au> reports the release of a

freeware extension for Notes, Names, and Calls called "Select All"

written using Steve Weyer's NewtEnvDev/Slurpee combination.  With this

Newton 2.0 package installed, you can do a select all in the overview of

Notes, Names, and Calls.  You should be able to download version 1.0

from: <ftp://ftp.amug.org/pub/amug/bbs-in-a-box/files/newton/recent/>.



** NS BASIC BENCHMARKS ON NEW MACHINES **



If you are still interested in checking out more details about NS Basic

benchmark information in regards to the MP2K and the eMate 300 then

follow this URL to Technote #30 on the NS Basic World Wide Web pages:

<http://www.nsbasic.com/technotes.html#30>.



** ANOTHER BETA OF WRITEHERE **



Foundation Systems <http://www.tow.com/> has released another pubic beta

for WriteHere 2.0.  The #5 release was on 23Jan97.  Improvements include:



    - Fixed the lingering and annoying (from Beta 4)

      problem of inserting text.

    - Register can now display up to six lines of

      text, up from one.

    - Minor UI improvements.

    - Minor tweaks and bug fixes.





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

  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 Web at: <http://www.unboxed.com>?   Did you know

  that the price online is $5 less than the snail mail price and it comes

  with a full year of upgrades?  Don't delay, this Fall there will be a

  new version and a price increase.  More info: ACCSYS <rkaplan@well.com>

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



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

  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.

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





Information from the Internet

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



** NEWTON WINS ANOTHER AWARD **



Apple Developer News edition #41 published on 24Jan97 reports that BYTE

magazine awarded the Apple Newton OS 2.0 an "Award of Merit" in their 1997

Editors' Choice Awards.  For more info about Apple Developer News check

out: <http://www.devworld.apple.com/>.



** TIDBITS#361/13-JAN-97 HAS NEWTON MENTION **



The Macintosh newsletter TidBITS#361/13-Jan-97 has a Newton mention in

their review of what was happening at MacWorld San Francisco 1997.  The

eMate 300 was highlighted as the "Coolest Computer Case" at the show, and

'could/should' be renamed "Power Purse."  Adam Engst is the author of the

article and he points out a 'feature' you don't hear much -- the eMate is

'tripod' savvy.  There is a 'standard' tripod mount on the bottom of the

unit.



** RFD - NEW NEWTON NEWSGROUP **



Matt Perry <techind@ilcnet.com> continues his excellent work on REQUEST

FOR DISCUSSION (RFD) for an unmoderated USENET newsgroup group called

comp.sys.newton.marketplace.  This is not a Call for Votes (CFV).  If you

would like to discuss this proposal check out news.groups.  This group

would be used by individuals to sell Newton related stuff, and a forum

for businesses to periodically post details about their Newton offerings.



** AMUG NEWTON ARCHIVE **



Michael Bean <bean@amug.org> reminds users of the Newton FTP archive that

you can purchase registered FTP access from AMUG for 24 hour non-busy

access.  Send Michael email for more information.  There are also AMUG

archives at:



    - <ftp://newton.sys.uea.ac.uk>

    - <ftp://dec59.ruk.cuni.cz

    - <ftp://ftp.shadowmac.org/pub/mirrors/amug_mac/bbs-in-a-box/>

    - <http://www.shadowmac.org/mirrors>



** PICTS OF THE MP2K AND EMATE **



Raymond Kam <raymondk@portal.ca> reports that he has posted pictures of

the MP2K and eMate 300 with Jake Koseleci from the Newton Store via:

<http://www2.portal.ca/~raymondk/Spider/movies.html>.



** NEWTON PROMINENT IN ANNUAL REPORT **



Don Vollum <donv@teleport.com> reports that the 'eMate 300 being held by

a smiling kid' graces the cover the Apple's latest annual report.  There

is also a dedicated 2-page eMate picture in the center of the report, and

the report does mention the MP2K.



** REMOTE CONTROL PACKAGE* *



Sine of the Times <ash@sineware.com> has announced the release of the

US$15 shareware ShowMate Remote Control package for Newton 2.0.  The

utility supports Sony and Panasonic devices, and offers scripting and

scheduling.  For more information check out: <http://www.sineware.com>.



** NYCNUG MEETINGS **



Eric Sohn <ericsohn@aol.com> would like to remind New York City NewtNews

readers that the New York City Newton User Group (NYCNUG) now meets the

3rd Thursday of each month (6:30-8 PM) at Apple Computer, in the Citicorp

building at 53rd & Lex, on the 29th floor.  The next meeting will be on

26Jan97.



** NEW VERSION OF PACKAGEBUDDY **



Robert Bruce <rbruce@tactile.com> reports that new versions of

PackageBuddy have been posted.  This version fixes various bugs reported

by users.  You can check out the software via:



    - Mac: <ftp://www.eye.utmem.edu//pub/tactile/PackageBuddy.sit>

    - Windows : <ftp://www.eye.utmem.edu//pub/tactile/PKGBUDDY.ZIP>



** ALL WEATHER NEWTON HARDWARE **



Georg Oehl <oehl@pobox.com> suggests that those looking for a more sturdy

Newton, but aren't really looking for something as expensive as a Digital

Ocean Newton that they check out RubberBoot information posted at:

<http://pobox.com/~oehl~newtoncases.html>.



** LOOKING FOR A NEWTON TO BAR CODE READER SOLUTION? **



Kenneth R. Knight <knight@sphinx.biosci.wayne.edu> suggests you check out

bar code readers by Data Path Systems by emailing:

<datapath@earthlink.net> or calling: 415.325.0379 for more information.



Tom Sublewski <toms@avg.com> suggests TPS Electronics based in Palo Alto,

California.  For more info call: 800.526.5920 or 415.856.6833.



** CHESS FOR NEWTON? **



Looking for a Newton chess program that will play against you?  Scott

Silverman <info@silverware.com> suggests you check out Type Solutions'

ChessPro at: <http://www.typesolutions.com>.



** LAN EMAIL SOLUTION **



If you need to connect your Newton to LAN based email systems like

Microsoft Mail, cc:Mail, or Lotus Notes then you might want to check out,

according to Ngiam Shih Tung <stngiam@pacific.net.sg>, River Run's Mail

on the Run via: <http://www.riverrun.com/MOTR-NT.HTM>.



** ANOTHER EMAIL SOLUTION FOR NEWTON **



Sydney Low <syd@instant-info.com.au> has begun a public testing of eNotes

2.0b4.  This is a NIE savvy email client.  Previous versions used a shell

login to get Unix based email to your Newton.  For more information check

out: <http://www.pobox.com/~enote>.



** NTK CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT?!? **



Are you a Newton developer looking for some configuration management

support?  Then you'll be happy to know that several Newton developers

have reported on USENET newsgroup comp.sys.newton.programmer success

using Newton Toolkit (NTK) with the VOODOO configuration management

software for the Macintosh.  For more info about VOODOO check out:

<http://www.unisoft.co.at/products/voodoo.html>.



** GETTING DATA TO YOUR CUSTOM APPLICATION **



If you have a Newton application that you want to feed data to it, then

check out NS Basic's WWW site at: <http://www.nsbasic.com> for TechNote

#29 that outlines how to read data out of a Newton Book into a Newton

application (built-in NTK, NS Basic, NewtDev, etc. ...).  NS Basic users

can also use this method to use Newton Press to enter in programs and

access them on the Newton.



** SOME NEWTON LINKS **



    - Newton Source Europe: <http://www.newtonsrc.be>

    - DataRescue:

      <http://www.ifi.unizh.ch/groups/mml/people/ameyer/DataRescue.html>

    - PowerPrefs <http://www.tiac.net/users/jdb/index.html#PP2>

    - Oliver's Newton Easter Egg Page:

      <http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ofross/newton/eggs.html>

    - Motorola Montana modem drivers:

      <http://www.mot.com/MIMS/ISG/Products/montana/software.html>

    - SNUG Newsletter: <http://pobox.com/~snug/SNUG_News_latest.txt>

    - Remapper: <http://www.he.net/~searsbe>

    - Styles+: <http://www.tow.com/>

    - Newton QuickTime VR movie: <http://www.communique.net/~mjsnola/>



** OTHER SITES WORTHY OF A BROWSE **



    - Global Internet News Agency: <http://www.gina.com>

    - Dave [Windows NT access for Macs]: <http://www.thrusby.com>

    - COL Base by Caldera [OS for Linux]: <http://www.caldera.com>

    - Rev 1.0 by 6prime [Macintosh]: <http://www.6prime.com>

    - ChezMark's MacPicks: <http://www.ualberta.ca/~mmalowan/Picks.html>

    - MacaJava: <http://www.macajava.com>

    - PartBank [Java]: <http://www.java.partsbank.com>

    - Digitool Applied Technologies's InfoStop [Macintosh]:

      <http://www.zami.com/infostop.html>

    - Network Multimedia's Microbrew: <http://www.networkmultimedia.com>

    - Interport's Vanity Domain: <http://www.interport.net/domain>

    - Z AUCTION <http://www.zauction.com>

    - Linux on a 8086 processor:

      <http://www.uk.linux.org/Linux8086.html>

    - Laptop Central [Portable Computing FAQ]:

      <http://www.enteract.com/~epbrown>





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

$ 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 & HANDHELD DIRECT - December96 Specials - Cool Stuff for your Newton!

   - Apple MessagePad 130 $689 (#22003) Free Win2Go Software with Purchase

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

     4MB $128 (#41071)  8MB $224 (#41073)  10MB $274 (#41074)

   - Revelar Connection Utilities $53.95 - Windows (#10070) Mac OS (#10071)

   - King James Bible for Newton $34.95 (#10260) Archimedes $39.95 (#62030)

   - FreeStyle Handwriting Recognition $39.95 (#10151)

   - MessagePad Wireless Communications Case $73.95 (#31150)

  To receive special pricing please mention source code [#151]

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

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





Review of Top Weekly Magazine Headlines

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



** JUST NEWS **



    - Apple has a host of new Mac OS hardware to be officially

      released on 17Feb97 at Tokyo MacWorld Expo



** MAJOR TRENDS **



    - Lotus Notes continues to strongly compete against Microsoft's

      Exchange Server

    - Web developers continue to have success migrating databases

      to the Internet and intranets

    - Apple/Next future OS news and direction continues to be at the

      forefront



** MINOR TRENDS **



    - IBM, Lotus 'talk' of thinner applications in the future



** NOISE **



    - MMX hype and lack of journalistic reporting on the chip

      is getting old



** WEB POINTERS **



    - 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>





Top Weekly Magazine Stories Of Interest

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



** WIRELESS ATM BRIDGES BEGINS TO SURFACE **



Lucent <http://www.lucent.com> is reportedly working on a prototype

system at Bell Laboratories that links enterprise ATM networks cooking

along at 155-Mbps to 10-Mbps infrared LANs serving mobile desktops and

handhelds.  The key is migrating the slower 10-Mbps LAN to support

"delay-sensitive applications" which need to "nail up chunks of bandwidth

for reliable packet delivery." [Stephen Lawson, InfoWorld, 13Jan97, page

51]



In related news, Mark Moore has an article about a company called Netro

(408.654.7500) that is offering similar solutions on page 98 of PC Week

published on 26Jan97.  The ATM and frame relay product is called AirMAN

2000, and they also offer Token-Ring (AirMAN 3000) and Ethernet (AirMAN

4000) solutions that start at US$15,000.



[EDITOR: LAN TIMES published on 20Jan97 also has a Netro related article

about the AirMAN products on page 10.]



** MORE SMART PHONES **



The Winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES) recently held in Las Vegas,

Nevada had demos of a new Philips smart phone that should be in the US by

the 2nd-half of 1997.  In related news, LG Electronics has the Intelligent

Personal Communicator (IPC) 1000 also coming out in the 2nd-half of 1997.

The first version of the IPC-1000 will support AMPS, followed by a CDMA

savvy version. [PC Week, 13Jan97, page 3]



** HANDHELDS AT CE SHOW **



Mark Moore has a detailed look at the state of handheld systems at the

recently held Winter CES held in Las Vegas, Nevada on page 50 of PC Week

published on 13Jan97.   Mark covers -- the release of the Sharp ZR-3500X;

a quick look at the prototype Sharp laptop called the PC-9000; Hitachi's

upcoming Handheld PC (HPC) based on Windows CE; and Franklin's Rolodex

Electronics products that will start at US$300.



** HANDHELDS MAKE FOR MORE VAR CHANCES **



Kelly Spang has an article that examines upcoming VAR opportunities with

handheld systems in the near future on page 65 of Computer Reseller News

published on 13Jan97.  The article includes a picture of a Compaq HPC

running Physix's pocketChart for Windows CE, and a picture of a

MessagePad 130 using a pager.  Tom Giannulli at Physix is quoted as

saying that in "five years, every healthcare provider will have a

handheld device -- there is no alternative."  Another good quote was from

Madeline Duva at Communications Intelligence Corporation (CIC) -- "PDAs

are really a node into a larger system.  But the minute people think of

handheld devices as a PC, that will be the point of failure."



** NEW SECURE PCS CARDS ON THE WAY **



Mark Moore has a front page article in PC Week published on 20Jan97 about

future secure PCS smart cards being developed by a consortium lead by

Pacific Bell Mobile Services (PBMS).  The generic term for this new

technology is being called 'E-Cash' and will enable, according to PBMS, a

wide range of business to mobile customer services.  Field trials are

reportedly underway using 'special' PBMS phones [reportedly the Nokia

9000] that except smart cards.  Nearly all the messaging that will take

place for 'E-Cash' centers around using Short Messaging Service (SMS) and

an authentication server that communicates with the smart card to

"identify caller identity and digital encryption."



** PAGING IS STILL A PLAYER **



Philips is reportedly busy working on a new two-way and voice pager that

supports Motorola's Flex protocols.  This device should be available by

mid-1997.  Motorola is also working on a new two-way pager that is called

"PageFiner."  This device will 'acknowledge' that a page has been

received.  It should be out by mid-1997.  In related news Philips is also

working on a smart phone that is able provide "digital cellular voice and

data capabilities."  The device should be in Europe by mid-1997.  Smart

phones are also on the horizon from Motorola's Cellular Subscriber

Section by the second-half of 1997. [Mark Moore, PC Week, 20Jan97, page

43]



** REALLY SMART DESKTOP PHONES COMING SOON **



Mathew Woollacott and Jackie Poole take a look at upcoming "thin-client"

phones on page 47 of InfoWorld published on 20Jan97.  These phones offer

screens, keyboards, and Internet connectivity.  Navitel Communications

<http://www.navitel.com> will be using Windows CE as the operating system

for their "TouchPhone."  Philips <http://www.philips.com> has a

text-based system (called the P100 [business] & P200 [home]) that is

'ideal' for application-specific tasks like billing.  Both Navitel and

Philips appear to be going after the SOHO market with a focus on

communication not computing.  InfoGear's iPhone <http://www.infogear.com>

is a complete client/server solution that is going to be marketed towards

service carriers to enhance customer services.



** NEW WIRELESS BANDWIDTH OPEN **



The FCC has recently created the Unlicensed National Information

Infrastructure (U-NIH) that totals 300-MHz of frequency between 5150-5350

and 5725-5825 MHz. (PCS is in the 1850-1990 MHz range).  This range

should enable communication speeds up to 25-Mbps, and expected to be

supported by companies like Apple in schools and libraries for wireless

LAN solutions. [David Rohde, Network World, 20Jan97, page 19]





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

   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>.

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





Other PDA News

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



[EDITOR: News collected via snail mail, major publications, USENET

newsgroups, email, and the WWW.]



** PSION **



David Kurtz <David@kurzbyrn.demon.co.uk> has released a new Psion 3a

agenda tool called "AGNMERGE".  This utility will merge multiple agenda

files into one single file.  For more information please check out:

<http://www.kurzbyrn.demon.co.uk/psion.htm>.



Johan Van Barel <jvb@ockham.be> has a new version of his shareware Chess

for Psion available.  Version 1.1 has been posted to the following site:

<http://www.ockham.be/jvb>.



Tim Kiel <helpline@postoffice.co.uk> has posted his 'Future Trader' for

Psion Siena to comp.binaries.psion.



David Rushall <dave@between.demon.co.uk> has released 'HexClock" a

utility that will show the time and date of up to six cities in a single

display.  For more info: <http://www.between.demon.co.uk/dave/>.



Steve Litchfield <slitchfield@cix.compulink.co.uk> has released version

2.4 of his shareware golf simulation/game for the Psion called "Fairway".

You can get more information about how to register and about Fairway at:

<http://web.ukonline.co.uk/Members/slitchfield/>.



Phil Spencer <nicko@nildram.co.uk> reports that Al Richey has released

v1.7 of his oil change/scheduling service utility called "S3AFUEL".  Al

also release v1.5 of his Planning Software called "S3APLAN". Both are

available via: <http://members.aol.com/alanrichey>.  There is also a beta

version of S3ABANK V1.9.



Kristian Nielsen <knielsen@pip.dknet.dk> has posted his Psion savvy

program called "Satinfo" that is full of satellite TV channels

information to comp.sys.psion.binaries.



Dr H.R. Matthews <hrm1@cam.ac.uk> has posted version 1.11 of ShopList to:

<http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/3275/>.



Fionn Behrens <fionn@informatik.uni-siegen.de> has created an interesting

Web site called "Psion Inside" that examines all the ins-and-outs of the

Psion hardware.  For more info and to look at some cool pictures check

out: <http://home.pages.de/~fionn/e/Psion/index.html>.



Phil Spencer <nicko@nildram.co.uk> has released TimeMan v3.6F and JWIN

v1.3F via: <http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~nicko/>.



** PILOT **



Now Software recently sent out an email to their current Now Up-To-Date

and Now Contact customers with a 'special offer deal' on U.S. Robotics

Pilot 5000 units for US$299+S&H.  This deal also includes Windows 95 or

Macintosh versions of Now Up-To-Date and Now Synchronize for Pilot.  A

Macintosh user also gets Pilot MacPac.  This offer is good until 14Feb97

and you can get more information via: <http://www.nowsoft.com> or by

calling: 800.714.6295.



Calvin Parker <calvin@myself.com> has posted the log from a recently held

IRC chat about the Pilot to: <http://www.mitec.net/~calvin/pilotfaq.htm>.

This site should have pointers to future IRC chats about the Pilot.



Stu Slack <slack@redtailsoft.com> reports that Redtail Software moved its

Web site to: <http://www.RedtailSoft.com>.  RedTail is the developer of

Pilot Blackjack.



You can get more information about Cutting Edge Software's QuickSheet for

Pilot via: <http://www.cesinc.com/index.htm>.



John Feras <jferas@netaxs.com> has announced the release of a Pilot

development tool called CASL (Compact Application Solution Language) for

Windows.  For more information check out: <http://www.caslsoft.com> or

send an email to: <sales@caslsoft.com>.



In related news, Greg Alt <galt@lal.cs.utah.edu> recently suggested to

readers of the USENET newsgroup comp.sys.pen that you can get information

about other 'free' Pilot development tools via the following URL:

<http://www.massena.com/darrin/pilot/tanda.htm>.



Holger Klawitter <holger@uni-muenster.de> suggests that those looking for

Pilot shareware check out: <http://www.inforamp.net/~adam/pilot> and

<http://users.aol.com/aslan/index.html>.  You can also get a lot of

info about the Pilot out of these links:

    - <http://www.usr.com/palm/pilotfaq.html>

    - <http://www-etb.info.nih.gov/~weisen/pilot_faq.html>

    - <http://www.nicholson.com/rhn/pilot.html>



** WINDOWS CE **



DataViz continues to work on their Windows CE to desktop integration

solution for Windows 95 PIMs, word processors, and spreadsheets called

"Desktop To Go".  This solution is also available for OEMs who want to

use their technology in custom solutions or to support their current

desktop applications.  For more information call: 800.733.0300 or send an

email to: <mailto:info@dataviz.com>.  The software should ship in Feb97

and the SRP will be US$75.



Microsoft had announced at the recent Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show

that Navitel Communications <http://www.navitel.com> is working on a

Windows CE savvy smart phone which will offer Internet access.  No

shipping date was mentioned though. [InfoWorld, 13Jan97, page 3]



Infowave Wireless Messaging has reportedly finished their Infowave CE

product that lets wirelessly enabled Windows CE device assess LAN based

Microsoft Exchange servers. [iNews]



Mobile PDA Solutions reports that they have details about a new product

called " Kiwigreen II" that works with Cassiopeia units via:

<http://www.mobilepda.co.nz/hpc.htm>.



Chris De Herrera <pdcchrisd@aol.com> at Pen Based Computing reports that

the Philips' Velo-1 will be able to accept a PC Card slot add-on that

makes the unit thicker.  For more information about Pen Based Computing

check out: <http://members.aol.com/pdcchrisd/>.



Glen Raphael <raphael@pobox.com> reports that those folks that want to

get the LandWare ProCalc Financial Consultant that is bundled with the

Casio Casseopeia can purchase the software via the following Web site:

<http://www.landware.com>.  If you are a current Casseopeia owner and

want the software, send an email to: <sales@landware.com>.



Jeff Goodman <jeff@waysoft.com> at PDA Information Central writes in a

post to comp.sys.handhelds that the "HP200LX is the past and WinCE is the

future." And that while the "LX is still a great machine", that when the

Philips' Velo-1 and HP HPC hit the market in the next month or two, WinCE

will "really take off."  For more info about PDA Information Central

check out: <http://www.waysoft.com/>.



For more information about the Velo check out: <http://www.velo1.com/>.

For more information about HP's HPC unit that supports Windows CE check

out: <http://www.hp.com/handheld/>.



** MAGIC CAP **



Word on the street is that General Magic executives are swearing to

developers that when the next version of Magic Cap ships (codename

"Rosemary") that there will be hardware to support it from at least "one

major player."



** OTHER **



Toby Reed <toby@eskimo.com> reports that he has updated "the Unofficial

Dauphin DTR-1 Home Page" via: <http://dtr1.home.ml.org/>.  You can also

get more info about the Dauphin via: <http://www.eskimo.com/~toby/dtr1/>

and from<http://www.dauphintech.com/index.html>.



Jacob Schwartz <jschwart@motown.lmco.com> reports that the Web page for

Jim Lawson's HandiCalc business that focuses on various HP based solution

has moved to: <http://www.waterw.com/~jake-s/handyclc.htm>.



Bill Clark <wbc@idx.com> reports on comp.sys.handhelds that the only

folks that he knows are for sure are working on a Java based mobile

network computer are DEC and Wyse (formerly the Zenith CruisePad).





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

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

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





Edupage, 20Jan96 thru 26Jan97

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



** POKING HOLES IN NET SECURITY **



Dan Farmer, author of SATAN software, which is designed to find holes in

Web site security systems, has conducted a nonscientific survey of about

2,200 Web sites, and found about 70% to 80% had "serious security flaws."

The survey consisted of 1,700 "high profile" sites, and another 500 that

were selected at random.  The high profile sites were found to have

security problems at about twice the rate of the random sample.  "Many of

the really interesting sites are juggling," explains Farmer.  "They offer

a bunch of services -- electronic mail, Internet news, user accounts and

the like.  Any one of these isn't that difficult to keep up in the air.

But put enough "balls" up there and you start losing track...  It's

simply difficult to manage all this stuff over a long time.  And often

employees are being screamed at just to keep things running -- not

necessarily secure.  System administrators almost never get the proper

budget or training to do security properly."  Of the 660 banks surveyed,

about 68% had sites that Farmer considered highly vulnerable. (Investor's

Business Daily 20 Jan 97 A6)



** OLIVETTI SELLS ITS PC UNIT **



Italian conglomerate Olivetti S.p.A is selling its personal computer

company to an investor's group called Piedmont International, which will

license the Olivetti brand name for 20 years (renewable for 20 years

more) and lease Olivetti's personal computer plant for four years.

(Financial Times 21 Jan 97)



** U S WEST EXPANDS SERVICES **



U S West Communications, the Denver, Colorado-based local phone service

provider, plans to begin offering long-distance phone service by the end

of the year, as well as wireless personal communication services allowing

customers to connect wireless phones with computers, fax machines and

pagers.  The company will offer new high-speed digital Internet access to

customers in 10 cities in the next six months:  Minneapolis, Seattle,

Phoenix, Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City, Boise, Cedar Rapids, and

Rochester, MN.  (AP 20 Jan 97)



** GARTNER VP SAYS DON'T THROW THOSE PCs OUT YET **



"Don't throw away your PCs.  Network nirvana is not yet a reality," says

the Gartner Group's VP of research.  A study released this week by

Gartner says network computers from Oracle, Sun Microsystems and IBM will

result in only a 41% savings over regular PCs running Windows 95, far

below the 80% number used by Sun when it debuted its machine last

October.  But Sun says it got its PC figures from an earlier Gartner

study, and criticizes the latest report because it includes an analysis

of the NetPC design (a joint product by Microsoft and Intel), which does

not have any test models currently available.  Both Gartner and Sun do

agree on the annual costs of running the JavaStation -- roughly $2,500.

(Investor's Business Daily 23 Jan 97 A6)



** VIRTUAL PET SWEEPING JAPAN **



The newest high-tech consumer fad in Japan is tamagochii, an electronic

bird creature which starts life as an endearing, bird-like image on the

screen of an egg-shaped key ring device, and then changes from a chick to

a fully grown adult in around 10 days.  However, the owner must push the

right buttons to feed, groom and soothe the digital creature or else see

it waste away and die from neglect.  (Vancouver Province 23 Jan 97 A27)



** MUPPETS GO TO MICROSOFT **



Jim Henson Productions, which created Kermit the Frog and all the other

Muppets, has agreed to a three-year deal with Microsoft Network, under

which the puppet company will develop nine shows for MSN.  A Microsoft

executive says:  "It's a very big win for us.  When you think of family

programming, you think of Henson.  This shows we can play with the big

boys."  The expectation is that the programs will make use of real-time,

computer-controlled digital puppetry."  (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 23

Jan 97 G3)



** APPLE WANTS "MOST COMPATIBILITY IN INDUSTRY" **



Apple CEO Gil Amelio concedes some "disappointments" in the past year and

admits that "it has been tougher to turn Apple around than I had

expected," but insists that within two or three years the company will

"have the most compatible personal computer in the industry, able to run

more software than anyone else -- period."  Eleven days ago Amelio and

top associates (Ellen Hancock and Steve Jobs) met with Microsoft CEO Bill

Gates to discuss ways of cooperating, including the possibility of Apple

licensing from Microsoft the Windows NT operating system for the

corporate market.  Amelio says: "We're not in the world by ourselves.  We

have to be able to support the commodity technology standard."  In

addition, a number of new Macintosh products are in the works, and next

month will see the introduction of a new line of Powerbook notebook

computers, which, at 200 megahertz, will run at faster speeds than most

"Wintel" notebooks running on Windows software and Intel chips.  (New

York Times 26 Jan 97 p16)





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

  NEED A NEWTON PROGRAMMER? NewtNews has a list of over 40 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.

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





Other Sources of Information

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



** RECENT SPRINT PCS INFORMATION **



According to a story written by Bill Pietrucha for Newsbytes News Network

<http://www.newsbytes.com/> it looks like some of the Sprint PCS partners

may be in the need of cash and are looking for a way out.  A Sprint

spokesperson disagrees with this "rumor" and has said that all partners

in Sprint PCS (40% Sprint, 30% Tele-Communications, 15% Comacast, and 15%

Cox Communications) are committed to the venture.



In related news, Sprint PCS recently won 160 new licenses in 139 markets

across the United States including licenses in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto

Rico and the US Virgin Islands for a report cost of US$554 million.

Sprint PCS has reportedly already invested US$3 billion in this venture

and plans to spend at least another US$1.2 billion.

Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 21:40:03 -0800



** WEARABLE COMPUTERS **



The First International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC) will be

held 13-14Oct97 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Initial submission papers

are due by 04Apr97.  For more information (papers, exhibitions, and

posters) check out: <http://mime1.marc.gatech.edu/wearcon/>.



** ADAPTING TO MOBILE ENVIRONMENTS **



Nuno Neves and W. Kent Fuch have an article called "Adaptive Recovery for

Mobile Environments" in the Jan97 issue of Communications of the ACM that

might be of interest to some NewtNews readers.  You should be able to

find this magazine at any university library or a very good book store.

[Pages 68 through 74]



** WIRELESS GADGETS SHINE **



Cliff Lehman has a MP2K mention in the "Dr. Device" column of

Self-Employed Professional published Jan/Feb'97 on pages 18 - 21.  The

article is called "Excercise Remote Control: Gadgets that let you slip

the copper leash" and examines: pagers, cellular phones, wireless modems,

and personal digital assistants. The Newton mention is part of the PDA

section.  The only other PDA mentioned in the article is the Sony

PIC-2000 running Magic Cap OS.  The article does include two pictures of

the MP2K.  Newton developer Ex Machina's paging software Reach Me! is

also mentioned in the article.  Overall, Cliff points out that PDAs are

"serious toys" with "wireless opitions," and are good replacements for

laptops.



** MACWORLD - MARCH 1997 - <HTTP://WWW.MACWORLD.COM> **



The following may be interesting:



    - Pointer with picture to the new the ultimate

      "Mac for Disabled People" called FreeStyle by

      Assistive Technology (617.731.4900) on page 35

    - Review with picture of Intelligent Peripheral

      Devices' AlphaSmart Pro 2.1 - [Four Stars/8.5] -

      on page 82 - <http://www.alphasmart.com>

    - Pilot ad on page 90

    - 20th Anniversary Macintosh on pages 105 - 109

      with pictures of two different color eMates and a

      MP2K on page 109



** IBM'S AGENT WORK **



IBM is slowly letting information flow out of their Intelligent Agent

Center of Competence.  The goal of this organization to "development a

framework under which agent-based products from different vendors can

work together."  Their first product is the Web Broswer Intelligence

(WBI) for Windows 95 and OS/2.  The other 'developer product' out of the

organization is Java based 'Agent Applets'.  [Michael Conney, Network

World, 13Jan97, page 37]



** MORE AGENT POINTERS **



Timothy Finin <finin@cs.umbc.edu> has recently released two excellent

issues of his UMBC AgentNews webletter.  You can check it out at:



    - version 1.18; December 31, 1996;

      <http://www.cs.umbc.edu/agents/agentnews/1996/18/>

    - version 2.1; January 19, 1997;

      <http://www.cs.umbc.edu/agents/agentnews/1997/01/>



The issue 1.18 has pointers to company called Reticular Systems in San

Diego, California that is working on 'Intelligent Agents and Handhelds'

for the U.S. Navy.  You can get more information via the following URL:

<http://www.reticular.com/Projects/intellagent.html>.





Wired

-----



** FEB'97 **



Tired vs. Wired -- Cell phones are now Tired, PCS is now Wired. [page 51]



AT&T (800.552.3373) has a new US$500 CDPD PocketNet Phone. [page 70]



Brother (800.284.1739) is now selling the US$349 Kitchen Assistant for

those that want a paperless kitchen. [page 70]



Hitachi <http://www.hitachi.com> has a great ad on page 71 and a repeat

on page 109 for their SuperH RISC engine that highlights a 'future

concept' called the Soft-Touch Digital Wallet Prototype.



Karl Fant wants to do away with clocks in processors and through studying

'biological systems' may have come up with something.  His recently

created company called Theseus Logic has raised millions in private stock

offers, and is also supported by a contract with DARPA.  The 'circuits'

are called Null Convention Logic (NCL) based circuits.  [page 80]



Philips has an ad for their much heralded Velo 1 Windows CE savvy HPC on

page 134.  It looks nice, it includes a built-in modem, and voice

recording. It is not shipping yet.



Roger van Bakel <http://www.li.com/rogier> has a one page interview with

Microsoft's Steve Capps (aka "Father of the Newton") on page 143.  Steve

has a good attitude, direction, and 'futurethought.'  He is busy doing a

ton of Web stuff -- specifically on GUI issues for the Web.  BTW, he

doesn't seem to like the U.S. Robotics' Pilot much.



Steve Steinberg has an article called "LifeStreams" that starts on page

150 with a Newton mention on page 206 of the article which examines the

'timeline that encompasses' Yale Computer Science Professor David

Gelernter.  For more info: <http://www.wired.com/5.02/lifestreams/>.



Casio Cassiopeia ad on page 179.







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

  For $20 you get 52 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>

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

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

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

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





News Agent Summary

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



For more info about [Farcast] check out: <http://www.farcast.com>.

For more info about [iNews] contact INDIVIDUAL, Inc. at 800.414.1000.



** HANDHELD **



CompUSA has announced that they will expanding the offering of

Communication Intelligence Corporation's (CIC) Handwriter to all their

stores nationwide. [iNews]



LXE has a new handheld system, the "2330", that runs DOS 6.22 on an Intel

386 processor that is customized for outdoor use.  The unit also includes

built-in wireless connectivity. [iNews]



TriTech Microelectronics has some new "3-volt pen input processors that

are ideal" for batttery-powered handhelds and portables. [iNews]



Norand has announced that their new PEN*KEY 6622 mobile computer will

come with CIC's Handwriter Recognition System software pre-installed.

[iNews]



** MOBILE **



Willows Software has announced a new cross-platform tool for porting

Windows applications to non-Wintel environments such as embedded systems.

[iNews]



** WIRELESS **



The recent FCC future cellular wireless phone auction reportedly raked in

some US$2.5 billion from 125 companies. [iNews]



Motorola's Dr. G. David Forney, Jr. has been awarded the "23rd annual

Marconi International Fellowship for his contributions to the field of

data transmission technology" by  the Fellowship's Executive Council

announced today.  This award is the 'Nobel Price" of communications.

[iNews]



Motorola recently won a US$120 million contract with Total Access

Communications Public Company for cellular network expansion in Thailand.

[iNews]



** APPLE **



The Macintosh community continues to struggle with the Apple/NeXT deal

according to the industry press who seem to be searching out those who

are discontented. [iNews]



MacUser Magazine has awarded the Apple's Network Server 700 two Eddy

Awards -- one for best "Hardware Product of the Year" and one for "Best

New Networking Product." [iNews]



Apple lost a reported US$120 million in financial Q1'97, and does not

"expect to return to profitability until Sep97" according to Reuters.

[iNews]



Apple's Chief Technology Officer -- Ellen Hancock -- will be the Tuesday

dinner speaker at the Upside's 1997 Technology Summit held in Feb97.

[iNews]



Claris reported "record revenue of US$67 million" for its financial Q1,97

that ended on 27Dec96. [iNews]



Apple Canada and EveryWare Development are working together to market

Apple's new Internet Commerce Bundle.  Using hardware from Apple, and

software from EveryWare, the bundle is designed to offer "out-of-the-box"

Internet commerce. [iNews]



Apple's top engineers were reportedly recently treated to a demo of some

new "groundbreaking graphics object server technology" created by XAOS

Tools as Adobe PhotoShop Plug-ins. [iNews]



NewMedia Magazine has awarded Apple's QuickTime multimedia architecture

with their highest honor -- the 1997 Hyper Award. [iNews]



Reuters is reporting that Sega Enterprises and Bandai Company have

decided to merge by Oct97.  Bandai is has licensed Pippin technology

from Apple. [iNews]



** MACINTOSH **



The Acer Group has been awarded a contract by Apple to be a major source

of motherboard components for future Apple MacOS systems.  In related

news, ACER has announced the signing of a 'definitive agreement' with

Texas Instruments (TI) to purchase their complete line of mobile

computing business products. [iNews]



U.S. Robotics has a new PC Card that supports the currently shipping PC

Card savvy Apple PowerBooks.  The card offers 33.6 modem connectivity and

Ethernet LAN access.  The PC Card also ships with FaxAction software and

an XJACK connector. [iNews]



The software reseller Dr. Mac reportedly sold out of Insigna Solutions'

SoftWindows 95 for Power Macintosh at MacWorld Expo SF 1997.  In related

news, Insignia Solutions has announced that Apple UK will be bundling

SoftWindows 95 with most Power Macintosh 7600/132 and 8200/120 sold in

the UK. [iNews]



** INTERNET **



On 14Jan97, the  World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) released an updated

recommendation specification for HTML 3.2.  This new version is suppose

to "bring a richer, more stable version of HTML to the Web Developer and

to the User Community." [iNews]



The return of flat-rate Internet service may come sooner than some folks

thought.  In return for flat-rate fees, customers will expect to always

get access to the Internet from dial-up lines, instead of getting busy

signals. [iNews]



International Data Corporation (IDC) have a new report that states that

Sun Microsystems continues to widen its lead in the Unix workstation

market.  IDC forecasts Sun to continue to gain revenue and marketshare in

this market in the near future. [iNews]





Advertising Notes

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



Steve Weyer has updated his Newt Development Environment and Newt's Cape

ads.



Stand Alone Software is now a Sponsor of NewtNews.  Thanks!



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>.



* NEW! 7th Volume of the Totally Incomplete PDA CD-ROM for Newton! This

CD-ROM from AMUG CD, Inc. contains over 1800 packages, and 590 megs in

Mac and PC format. 2.0 & 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 3000.

   - 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.

   - SILK makes your MP130 GLOW. Floating silk screen palette so

       the built-in buttons can be seen in the dark.

For more information call 802-863-5256, email <info@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>.



* 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>



* PDA Panache is your single source for stylus solutions. Our stylus

upgrades for your MessagePad are the ultimate in writing comfort and

control. Screen-safe writing tip guaranteed for life.

 - Telescoping styli for all Newtons in Black-Chrome, Gold & Sterling.

 - The "Duo" multi-function stylus/ball pen or pencil combo. With

   "EasyView" orange tip.

 - The "Beacon" LED lighted-tip stylus. Functional, slim and  elegant.

 - Low-cost Stick Styli. Custom Stylus Solutions for VARs/OEMs.

More info or Visa/MasterCard orders at: 800.270.7196, FAX: 516.467.6329,

Int'l: 516.467.4042, or visit our Web site: <http://www.pdapanache.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 (included).

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 Manager on your desktop for

further processing.  For a limited time when you mention this ad, you'll

receive both Informed Filler for Newton AND Informed Manager (for

desktop integration) for $99US (SRP $390US).  Contact Shana Corp. at:

800.386.7244, email: <info@shana.com> or WWW: <http://www.shana.com>



* MoreInfo 4.0 - This new version adds even more useful features to this

already essential product.  Version 4.0 now allows you to link together

any number of names, meetings, events, to dos, notes or calls all

through a single screen.  A powerful new "At a Glance" screen makes

managing your schedule effortless.  From SilverWARE at $69.95+S&H.  For

more info: <info@silverware.com> <http://www.silverware.com> 508.521.5262





Guest Opinion

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



** WINDOWS CE ONLY 75% DONE **



Karen Nakamura <karen.nakamura@yale.edu>, a Newton user, reports that as

a Support Person at Yale's Internet Help Desk she recently had a chance

to play with a client's Casio Cassiopeia (Windows CE) device.  The client

had been struggling to get PPP connectivity to work, and she noticed the

following as they tried to get the Cassiopeia to work:



    - The interface is very much like Windows 95, but

      it is also different enough to cause problems.

      For instance the control panels aren't were you'd

      think they'd be.

    - The PC Card modem will suck the batteries dry in

      no time.

    - The touch screen feels "cheap and flimsy."

    - The keyboard is also bad making touchtyping

      difficult.



Overall though, Karen was impressed that they managed to get Windows on

such a small unit, but it seemed like only "75% of the job was done --

and that remaining 25% is really critical.  Because of these problems,

especially in the critical communications portions of Windows CE, the

Internet Information Center at Yale will not support these devices until

these problems are worked out."





Comments from the Editor

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



** MP2000 U.S. TOUR FEEDBACK?!? **



Have you attended one of the "Newton Handheld Computing for Professionals

On-The-Go Tour" seminars?  Several folks have emailed NewtNews about the

lack of any real substance to the "rambling" presentation, and if you

were totally new to the Newton you might even think worse of the

technology after going to the seminar.



** ADVERTISING IN AIRLINE MAGAZINES **



Word on the street is that Apple has in the past placed ads into various

airline magazines, and the result was very encouraging at first.  It

turns out that 'interest' for the Newton was typically always the highest

'inquiry rate' via a 800 number.  But in attempting to track actual

sales, it turned out that the return rate on the ads were very low.  It

would probably make more sense, for Apple to team with 3rd Party

Developers and a Newton hardware reseller to do the airline ads so that a

'direct sale' would be possible.



** COMPUTER RESELLER NEWS WOES **



I have been reading Computer Reseller News for about 6 months now, they

usually do a pretty good job of reporting about the computer and

technology industry, but of late, I have found a complete lack of

'objectivity' in their reporting and 'opinions' about Apple --

specifically about Apple's recent purchase of NeXT.  They even recently

had an opinion piece saying that resellers shouldn't carry Apple products

in the future.  While, I am not comfortable just banning them as a news

source for NewtNews, I would like to let you know that when they do

report something, it should be taken, just like everything else, with a

grain of salt.



[EDITOR: Don't even get me started on Stewart Alsop's recent opinions in

Fortune about Apple, Be, and NeXT.]





Administrivia

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



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

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This edition of NewtNews was written with the help of: dinner with Jim

and Shelia, my new Sprint PCS phone (619.218.3911) and SuperBowl XXXI

(congrats Green Bay!).



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

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