NewtNews-129-04Feb97

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



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:



 + 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>



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

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



 + 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, 27Jan96 thru 02Feb97

 8. INNOVATION, 27Jan97

 9. Other Sources of Information

10. News Agent Summary

11. Advertising Notes

12. Product and Service Information

13. Guest Opinions

14. Comments from the Editor

15. Administrivia





Top News

--------



** AMELIO TO EXAMINE FUTURE NEWTON SUPPORT **



The San Jose Mercury News (SJMN) and USA Today ran with big stories on

Friday, 31Jan97 about the state of Apple and included the following

blurbs from Apple CEO Dr. Gil Amelio.  SJMN reported:



    Amelio also said he is taking a close look at

    Newton, Apple's $1,000 hand-held computer, which,

    after three years, has yet to turn a profit.

    "Maybe we missed the boat," he said.



    Whatever happens, Amelio said, Apple would

    continue to support current Newton customers.

    Apple has licensed the Newton operating system to

    a dozen other companies that make hand-held

    computers.  He remains committed to the eMate,

    Apple's $800 portable for kids based on the

    Newton.



USA Today ran with:



    Although these cost cutting measures are definite

    there is one more technology that Amelio will be

    keeping a close eye on, Newton.  Newton is Apple's

    US$1,000 handheld computer, which, after three

    years, has yet to turn a profit.  Amelio says,

    "Maybe we missed the boat".  Amelio did say he is

    committed to the eMate, Apple's US$800 portable for

    kids based on the Newton.



[EDITOR: Thanks to Larry Reich at: <Lreich2@ix.netcom.com>, Scott

Cressler at: <cressler@hpeapsvr.cup.hp.com>, and Karel Uyttendaele at:

<karel.uyttendaele@ping.be> for forwarding tidbits of good, timely

information to NewtNews.]



** SELLING THE NEWTON DIVISION?!? **



The Los Angeles Times was one of the first with 'the Newton forsale' spin

mentioning it in their Saturday, 01Feb97 "Top Story".  This link appears

to be to the daily top story but you should be able to find more info

using this link: <http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/BUSINESS/topstory.html>.



The Associated Press ran with a story on 03Feb97 that list the Newton

division has a key asset that Apple could sell off to cut costs. Analysts

are saying that Apple will have to cut 20% of its workforce to survive at

the project income level of US$8 billion they are expected to bring in

this current fiscal year.



The Wall Street Journal <http://www.wsj.com> reportedly also has a

similar story on its site with 'rumors' of recent meetings with venture

capitalists to purchase the Newton Systems Group employees and

technology.  The article did point out that sheding the Newton product

would reduce Apple's near term costs, could provide a future revenue

stream, and could even accelerate Newton development if the Newton was

under new ownership.



The San Jose Mercury News (SJMN) also had an Reuters article posted via:

<http://www.merc.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=1374679-851>.



** APPLE WILL SHIP MP2K AND EMATE 300 **



As NewtNews goes to press, Apple has released a press release stating

that they plan to ship the MessagePad 2000 and the eMate 300 in Q1'97 as

previously announced.  They also pledged future support for these

devices.  For more information:



    -

<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q2/970203.pr.rel.emate.htm

l>

    - <http://www.maccentral.com/news/0297/feb04.shtml>

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



** OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION **



Still interested in more info about Apple's woes, then check out:



    - MacWeek: <http://www.macweek.com/mw_1105/nw_layoffs.html>

    - USA Today: <http://www.usatoday.com/money/mds012.htm>

    - CNN Financial: <http://cnnfn.com/hotstories/companies/9701/31/apple_a/>



** NCU BETA EXPIRATION MISTAKE **



If you recently tried to use the latest beta of the Newton Connection

Utility (NCU) 1.0 for the Macintosh you found out that the current beta

has expired (it was suppose to run through the end of Mar97).  Folks in

the Newton System Group are busy trying to put together another beta and

will post it to: <http://newton.info.apple.com> when it is ready.

NewtNews will keep you posted on the status and availability of the next

beta.





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  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>

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  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.

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Information from Email

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



** ENFOUR ON THE MOVE IN JAPAN **



NewtNews just received this late breaking news from Richard Northcott

<richard@enfour.com> at Enfour:



    "The Newton Shop, the only Newton specialty shop in Japan,

     opened new premises in Tokyo on 23Jan97.  Leaving the Ginza

     location it opened 6 months ago, The Newton Shop has moved

     to Shinjuku -- the new business center of Tokyo.  Positioned

     between Shinjuku Station, the world's busiest, and the Tokyo

     Metropolitan Government building, The Newton Shop is now

     right in the center of Tokyo's business and hotel district.



    "Following the very successful launch of the MessagePad

     130/UniFEP bundle in Japan, the move is part of an effort to

     expand the MessagePad's acceptance amongst Japanese business

     users.  The Newton has been well received among hobby users,

     and proven to be a viable horizontal product.



    "The Newton Shop stocks a full range of Newton software and

     accessories and will be expanding its lines of original

     Newton accessories and software."



The new address for the shop is:



    The Newton Shop

    1-13-7 2F Nishi-Shinjuku

    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160

    TEL: -81-3-3347-0801

    FAX: -81-3-3347-0802

    email: <newtonshop@root.or.jp>

    Japanese WWW: <http://www.root.or.jp/newtonshop/>



[EDITOR: It should be noted that 'The Newton Shop' is projecting the

Newton market in Japan to be at least a 50,000 unit market per year.]



** ANNOUNCEMENT OF HOLIDAYS97 **



Toad Hollow Software <http://www.pobox.com/~toadhollow/> is please to

announce the release of Holidays97 -- a NewtonOS 2.0 freeware utility

that adds twenty-seven U.S. civil and Christian holidays to the Newton

datebook.  The following are included:



    New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day,

    President's Day, Election Day, Mother's Day,

    Father's Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial

    Day, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, John F.

    Kennedy's Birthday, April Fool's Day, St.

    Patrick's Day, Washington's Birthday, Ash

    Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter, Valentine's Day,

    Lincoln's Birthday, Holocaust Remembrance Day,

    Groundhog Day, National Quilting Day, St.

    Patrick's Day, Earth Day, International Left

    Handers Day, Halloween, Christmas.



** CNET HAS HANDHELD REVIEWS **



Long time NewtNews reader Joop Kaashoek <jck@insaltd.com> reports that

CNET has a "not that great review of the Newton" in a 'review of

handhelds.' The article is reportedly very bullish on the new Windows CE

devices.  To read the actual article check out the following URL:

<http://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Compare/Handheld/>.



** TWO NEW UTILITIES **



Richard Schaeren <rschaeren@newton.ch> has released two new utilities:



    - Backlight Control Button 1.6: creates an

      'invisible' button to let you turn on and off

       backlighting on a MP130

    - PowerNavigator 1.7: gives you instant access to

      your most used packages and instant Fax and Beam

      receive.



For more information check out: <http://www.newton.ch/compower/>.



** UNIX TO NEWTON LINK! **



Reinhold Schoeb <schoeba@str.daimler-benz.com> reports the release of a

new freeware Linux to Newton data exchange utility -- "Newtonlink for

Unix."  The software will let you transfer data between Unix applications

like Xrolodex, Addressbook, and Plan.  For more information check out:

<http://privat.swol.de/ReinholdSchoeb/Newton/newtonlink-doc-en.html>.



** RAD TOOL FOR NEWTON CONNECTIVITY RELEASED **



Network Multimedia, developer of Microbrew, a visual, rapid application

development tool for desktop and Internet software, has announced the

availability of a specialized version of its tool for Newton developers.

In addition to its support for building standalone applications and CGIs,

the new toolkit, Microbrew for Newton, provides numerous high-level

objects and over 100 functions for real-time data exchange with the

Newton from Macintosh and Windows desktops.



Microbrew for Newton is the foundation for another of Network Multimedia

Newton products -- the Revelar Connection Utility (RCU) -- a commercial

connection package for Newton that is customizable and extensible.  RCU

lets users add, delete, modify, import, and export data on a Newton PDA

from Windows and Macintosh desktops.  The utility supports not only

built-in applications (Notes, Names, Dates), but any Newton soup.  Using

a simple text description file, Newton developers can extend RCU to

support custom Newton soups.



The suggested retail price of the Personal Edition of Microbrew for

Newton is US$695.  A Commercial Edition is available for US$2995. Through

01Mar97, the Personal Edition of Microbrew for Newton is available at a

special intro price of US$299.  RCU lists for US$59.95.  For more info

contact: Robyn Buckwalter, 801.485.3291, <robyn@revelar.com> or Sarah

Firmage, 801.261.8232, <sales@networkmultimedia.com>.



** PROJECT MANAGEMENT BETA AVAILABLE **



Tom Unkefer <nomadict@ix.netcom.com> has posted the beta of their new NT

Project (Personal Edition) 1.0.1.  You can get the software via anonymous

FTP at: <http://www.root.or.jp/newtonshop/>.  The purpose of the NT

Project beta is to get feedback from users with a range of equipment and

uses for the application.  So Nomadic needs to hear from you about bugs,

suggestions, constructive criticism, whatever.  Reports should be sent

to: <nomadict@ix.netcom.com> with the appropriate subject either -- NTP

Bug, NTP Question, NTP Wish, or NTP Misc.



** NEW VERSION OF DIABETES NEWTON TOOL **



Darin Capp <dcapp@halcyon.com> at Oracware has announced the Beta 6

release of Pocket DiabetiCare 1.10 -- a personal diabetes management

software that lets you record blood sugar readings and analyze your

readings.  For more info: <http://www.halcyon.com/dcapp/OrcaWare>.



** NEW COOL NOTE TOOL **



Burr Oak Software <http://infoweb.magi.com/~burroak/> has posted a recent

beta of their new application called "Sticky Newts" for Newton 2.0.  This

US$20 shareware product makes floating resizable Note windows easily

accessible within any Newton application.  If for whatever reason, you

still use paper sticky notes, this utility should cure you of this habit.

For more information send email to: <burroak@magi.com>.



** WIRELESS COMMS MAKE DEAF COMMS EASIER **



Elizabeth Weise, an AP Cyberspace Writer, had a recent story called

"Palmtop Computer Aids the Deaf" circulating on the AP newswire.  The

only handheld mentioned in the article is the HP 200LX.  The majority of

the article is focused on explaining and documenting how the deaf

community is turning to wireless technology, like RadioMail, to

communicate easier with each other and with the hearing community.  The

typical end-user cost with modem rental is around US$79 a month.



** RUSSIAN NEWTON WEB SITE **



Fuzeev Alexander <fuzeev@maccentre.ru> reports that his company MacCentre

has created a Newton site in Russia: <http://www.newton.ru>.  The focus

of the site is to discuss Russian specific MessagePad problems, and to

provide a forum for Russian Newton developers to discuss their software

offerings.



** SDNUG SITE -- POINTER TO EUDORA DEMO **



Scott Gruby <sgruby@notifymail.com> reports the creation of a 'rough

draft' of the San Diego Newton User Group (SDNUG) WWW pages via the

following URL: <http://www.notifymail.com/sdnug/>.  The page does have

link to the recently release demo of Eudora Pro for Newton (requires

MP130 or better, with Newton 2.x, and Apple's Newton Internet Enabler).



** GOOD NEWTON DEALS?!? **



Robert Durff <rdurff@earthlink.net> reports that since many of the

Incredible Universe stores around the United States are closing, some of

them are having some pretty good sales on Newton related products.

Robert bought the Apple Leather Wireless Communication Case for US$7.50

at the Denver, Colorado store.



[EDITOR:  FYI, I checked out the San Diego store ... there weren't any

Newton deals available.  Not sure if California stores are going to have

a 'fire' sale because Fry Electronics has announced plans to buy the

majority of stores in California including the stores inventory.]



** HWR IN WORD PROCESSOR **



Stand Alone <info@standalone.com> has announced the release of a freeware

utility called HWRWorks 1.0 that will 'enable' handwriting recognition in

the new Newt Works Word Processor that is expected to ship on MP2000s and

eMate 300s.  For more information: <http://www.standalone.com/newton>.



** COOL NEWTON PROJECT UNDERWAY **



Word on the street from a recent Armed Forces Communications and

Electronics Association (AFCEA) conference held in San Diego, California

comes with news about an innovative Newton based solution being used my

United States Marine Corp (USMC).  Expect more information about this in

the future as the 'veil of secrecy' gets lifted.



** CONSTRUCTION TOOL AVAILABLE **



PDA Construction <EstiMATEmm@aol.com> has a Newton 2.0-savvy cost

estimating application called "EstiMATE."  This solution is ideal for

mobile architects, engineers, and construction trade professionals.  The

application supports: divisional cost data, standard cost data, and

composite cost data.  For more information call: 909.653.3344.





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  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>

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  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

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



** BARCODE PRODUCT SPECIAL OFFER **



Peter Collins <barcode@mac-barcode.com> reported on Guy Kawasaki's MacWay

list that the Mac-Barcode Company also has Newton barcode hardware and

software solutions available including the: Walk-About Pen Scanner,

Walk-About Laser Scanner, DataGrabber Software, and the Newton Rubber

Boot.  For more information send email to: <barcode@mac-barcode.com> or

check out: <http://www.mac-barcode.com>.



** NEWTON COLUMN IN ALUG EZINE **



NetHappenings Digest published on 30Jan97  had a blurb from Monica Ertel

<ertel@apple.com> about Apple's  Library Users Group (ALUG) Newsletter

which can be read at: <http://www.alug.apple.com/alugn.html>.  This ezine

includes a regular column called "Newton" that is a bibliography of

information about the Newton.



** NSG OPENS TECH SUPPORT ONLINE **



Rob Cox <robcox@austin.ibm.com> reports that Apple's World of Newton at:

<http://www.newton.apple.com/newton/newton.html> has opened up a

technical support discussion list to talk about Newton issues.  This is

*NOT* the place to post "Save The Newton" messages.



** DENVER AREA NEWTON GROUP (DANG) MEETING **



Steve Sande <steve@pdantic.com> reports that the next Denver Area Newton

Group (DANG) will be on 04Feb97 at 6:45 PM.  The meeting will be held at

at the Ross University Hills Branch Library, located at 4310 E. Amherst

Avenue in Denver.  For more information, to get directions, or to get on

the DANG mailing list send email to Steve at the address listed above.



** NEW SOUNDS FOR YOUR NEWTON **



Robert Bruce <rbruce@tactile.com> reports that he has posted several new

sound packages that you add to your Newton via the following WWW site:

<http://rainbow.rmi.net/~rbruce/tactile/sounds.html>.



** MEDICUS CAN BE PURCHASED VIA FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK **



Jack Starmer <jack@simplemed.com> reports that you can now purchase

Morgan Creek Medical's Medicus Newton software via First Union National

Bank's CommunityCommerce site at: <http://www.firstunion.com/>.  For more

information about Medicus or Morgan Creek Medical check out:

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



** PLAYSTATION REFERENCE BOOK **



Hayes Haugen <hayes@eskimo.com> has announced the release of a new Newton

Book for "PlayStation Ratings, Codes and Passwords".  The 143 page book

(89K installed) can be downloaded via for Macintosh users via:

<http://www.eskimo.com/~hayes/PSXCodes.hqx>, PC users can use:

<http://www.eskimo.com/~hayes/psxcodes.zip>.



** UPDATED NIE SAVVY APPS **



Serg  Koren <archimag@netaxs.com> recently posted new versions of his

Newt'sPaper (1/26/97-1) and Newt'sWeather (1/26/97-1) to his WWW site.

These NIE savvy applications are shareware.  For more information:



    - <http://www.netaxs.com/~archimag/Newton/MyStuff/NewtsPaper.html>

    - <http://www.netaxs.com/~archimag/Newton/MyStuff/NewtsWeather.html>



** NEW NEWTONCENTRAL URL **



John Catlin <john@theonly.com> reports that the new direct URL to

NewtonCentral is: <http://newton.theonly.com/>.



** NIE 1.1 POSTING LOCATION ANNOUNCED **



Newton Developer Information <newtondev@newton.apple.com> reports that

when the Newton Internet Enabler (NIE) 1.1 is released for the MessagePad

130 with PAP and CHAP authentication support along with support for

SecurID cards it will be posted to the Newton Development Website at:

<http://devworld.apple.com/dev/newton>.  For more information about

Newton Developer Programs you can check out the following URL:

<http://devworld.apple.com/dev/newton/newdevprogram.html>.



** ANOTHER NEWTON PROGRAMMING JOB **



Guru Samy <guru@way.com> is looking for a developer willing to work on a

contract basis on a wireless Newton solution that lets the Newton connect

to 'home base' using ARDIS data network via an ARDIS PC Card modem.  The

basic idea is to send/receive data to/from Microsoft BackOffice and

several mobile Newton systems



** UPDATED DAILY MP2K INFO **



Rik Ahlberg <rik@newtontoday.com> the Editor at the ezine Newton Today

has created a daily news page called "MP2000 Watch" at:

<http://newtontoday.com/news/mp2000avail.html>.



** NEWTON OS UPDATES **



Peter Richardson <webmaster@newton.apple.com> recently reminded readers

of comp.sys.newton.misc that the latest updates to the Newton OS are

posted to the following page on the Apple servers:

<http://www.newton.apple.com/newton/solutions/solutions.html#Updates>.



** NATIONAL PARKS REFERENCE TOOL *



Thomas Pfaff <thomas@zippy.sonoma.edu> has announced that his USA Parks

West Newton application that documents 130+ national parks in the Western

United States is now available for free via the following URL:

<http://www.cs.sonoma.edu/~thomas/forNewton>.  Version 2.0 supports

Newton OS 2.0, version 1.0 supports Newton OS 1.x.



** OTHER SITES WORTHY OF A BROWSE **



    - CACI [Network Analysis]: <http://www.caciasl.com>

    - Road Trips Door to Door [CDROM]: <http://www.travroute.com>

    - Best Rate [Mortgage Rates]: <http://www.bestrate.com>

    - Norman Berns columns [Opinion]: <http://www.tripod.com/triteca/warehowz>

    - Sierra Wireless [communications]: <http://www.sierrawireless.com>

    - CDW [hardware reseller]: <http://www.cdw.com>

    - NEC Electronics [plasma display]: <http://www.nec.com>

    - Filez [Search Engine]: <http://www.filez.com

    - Insignia Solutions [emulation]: <http://www.insignia.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 & 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

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Review of Top Weekly Magazine Headlines

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



** JUST NEWS **



    - IBM has teamed with Netscape to offer Netscape server products on

      IBM's RS/6000 server systems

    - Microsoft releases their own Java Abstract Windowing Toolkit

    - Apple has slashed prices on several 'older' machines, expects new

      machines to be launched on 18Feb97

    - Metrowerks buys Latitude Group: will use new technology to help

      port Macintosh apps to Apple/NeXT's Rhapsody OS



** MAJOR TRENDS **



    - Java based Network Computers vs. Microsoft/Intel NetPCs

    - RAID technology continues to mature and get easier to deploy

    - Lotus Notes and Domino continue to get supporters



** MINOR TRENDS **



    - Internet traffic and hacker woes on the rise

    - MMX 'hype' getting less and less



** NOISE **



    - Microsoft's OLE DB to replace ODBC?



** 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

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



** SPEECH RECOGNITION SAVVY NEWTON **



Mac The Knife has a Newton blurb in his/her column on page 70 of MacWeek

published on 27Jan97.  It appears that Dragon Systems is indeed planning

to integrate speech-recognition technology into the 'almost released'

MessagePad 2000.



** EASY-TO-USE VIDEO CONFERENCING SOLUTION?!? **



8BY8 has plans to sell by the Christmas 1997 season a new $499 video

phone that connects to most TV sets.  The 'ViaTV Phone' will support the

H.324 standard and will work over 'normal' phone lines.  It should also

be complete compatible with desktop video-teleconferencing (VTC) solutions

like Intel's ProShare.  This system will need to be complimented with

audio and visual input devices. [Sam Masud, Computer Reseller News,

27Jan97, page 59]



** CONSUMER ELECTRONICS GET INTERNET SAVVY?!? **



Netscape's independent affiliate Navio Communications has reportedly

begun shipping to their "large consumer-electronic partners" their new

Internet software for 'non-PCs to connect to the Internet'.  This market

is projected to ship some 75 million devices by the end of 1999.  Another

emerging big player in this market is Unwired Planet which is already

shipping their 'UP Link' software platform to many telecommunication

companies who are planning Internet-savvy smart phones. [Camille DeMarzo,

Computer Reseller News, 27Jan97, page 75]



** CRN QUICK BLURBS **



Computer Reseller News has two small blurbs of interest on page 107 of

the issue published on 27Jan97 -- Melard Technologies has a new US$3147

ruggedized, wireless savvy handheld called the 'Scout' that can support

up to four PC Cards; and resellers for Psion handhelds are planning to

meet 06-08Feb97 in Palm Beach Shores, Florida for a free conference.



** THE PRICE OF A PC **



PC Week with help from MicroDesign Resources has an interesting

"part-by-part cost analysis" of a US$1400 IBM 350 P166 system in the

issue published on 27Jan97 on page A4 of an insert called "PC Week

Inside." T he 'single' most expensive part is the 166-MHz Pentium CPU at

US$341, followed by the 'Riser card design IBM motherboard" at US$213.

For more info about MicroDesign check out: <http://www.chipanalyst.com>.



** MOTOROLA CONTINUES TO PUSH WIRELESS LAN TECHNOLOGY **



Motorola <http://www.motorola.com> was reportedly showing off version 2.0

of their AirMobile Software that runs on Windows NT for cc:Mail users at

the recent Lotussphere conference held in Orlando, Florida.  The software

makes it 'easy' to use cc:Mail savvy wireless devices, and can support

Data-TAC, Mobitex, and CDPD networks at a cost of $150 for 25-user

license.  [Amy Doan, InfoWorld, 27Jan97, page 47]





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

   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 **



Gunter Aigmueller <100101.1660@compuserve.com> reports that a small

company in Germany has developed a new Psion 3a/3c application called

"SIUFax" that will enable a Psion to receive a fax (usually 50k in size).

For more info check out: <http://www.psiologic.com/> or send an email

message to: <106044.2274@compuserve.com>.



Odd Gripenstam <gripenstamol@decus.se> has posted a beta version of HOL

v2.1 for the Psion -- which supports UK and Hebrew holidays.  You can get

more info at: <http://www.decus.se/~gripenstamol/hol.html> or try:

<http://decus.se/~gripenol/hol.html>.



Johan Van Barel <jvb@ockham.be> has released version 2.0 of Chess for the

Psion.  This new version has among many new features a better algorithm

engine, installs on any drive, and you can save/load to any file.  For

more info about this shareware app check out: <http://www.ockham.be/jvb>.



Steve Litchfield <slitchfield@cix.compulink.co.uk> has posted his results

of testing the main Psion chess programs against each other via:

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



Louis David Berk <lberk@maple.win-uk.net> reports that you can get 'duty

free' prices on Psions by visiting Business On The Move on the WWW at:

<http://www.21store.com/>.



Michael Banditt <banditt@cell.biol.ethz.ch> has posted an IR printer

driver plug-in for the Siena that enables printing to any IR capable

printer.  For more information check out: <http://www.ethz.ch>.



** PILOT **



LandWare has announced that they are now shipping their Financial

Consultant for Pilot. This calculator has been designed specifically for

real estate, retailing and business professionals who need to use their

Pilot units to make fundamental financial decisions quickly and

accurately.  Some primary functions: Time and Money Calculations;

Investment analysis; Keystroke depreciation; Retail-style percentage

calculations; and Scientific Functions.  For more information:

<http://www.landware.com> or send an email to: <info@landware.com>.



Franklin Quest <http://www.franklinquest.com> recently released US$99.95

Ascend 4.0 for Mac OS and plans to release a 'conduit' for Ascend users

on Windows and Macintosh desktop systems to the U.S. Robotics Pilot by

Q2'97.  Franklin Quest is also now an official Pilot reseller and is

marketing a complete line of products and accessories that include Ascend

desktop software bundled with the Pilot.  You can place an order by

calling: 800.877.1814.



Alexander Scott Hinds <ahinds@best.com> has released version 0.98a3 of

SuperPad for the Pilot.  New features: Sort On Startup; Enable Kill

Button; and Confirm Deletes.  For more information check out the

following site: <http://ahinds.vip.best.com/~ahinds >.



** WINDOWS CE **



LAN Times has a short blurb about Navitel's <http://www.navitel.com>

recently announced Windows CE savvy 'TouchPhone' on page 41 of the issue

published on 03Feb97.  PC Week published on 27Feb97 also has a Navitel

blurb on page 50.  It notes that the price of the TouchPhone should be

between US$299-499.



David Rauch <rauch@visi.net> suggests that those interested in the Casio

Cassiopeia and Windows CE check out <http://www.Xtremeweb.com>.



GEO Systems <http://www.goesys.com> has some new geographic software for

Microsoft's Windows CE HPCs.  Features include: geographic-based tools,

high-quality map display, search engine, and an ability to integrate into

custom solutions.  For more information or pricing call: 717.293.7500.



New Media <http://www.newmedia.com> has an 'ALERT' article about several

of the new Windows CE HPCs on the market on page 23 of the issue

published on 10Feb97.  The article does have Newton, Zaurus, and Pilot

mentions; and has a very good 'recap' of the what HPCs are available in a

table on page 28.



Manuel Silva <manuel@fieldworker.com> suggests that those interested in

using GPS with their new HPCs check out their product called: FieldWorker

2.3.  You can get more information at: <http://www.fieldworker.com>.



Merv Carroll <rgw@voyager.co.nz> has announced successfully taking a

picture at a rural location using a Casio QV10 digital camera hooked to a

Cassiopeia HPC.  Then using Landware's EncloseIt Software for Windows CE

to bundle the picture up for email delivery, and then transferring the

picture using Piiceon PCMCIA modem and Motorola Cellular phone via email

back to the home office.  For more info: <http://www.mobilepda.co.nz>.

For more about EncloseIt, check out: <http://www.landware.com>.



Riley McArdle <rmcardle@www.atech.tec.clark.nv.us> reports the

availability of a WWW reference page that attempts to highlight all the

available shareware/freeware for Windows CE via the following URL:

<http://www.atech.tec.clark.nv.us/~rmcardle/windowsce/>.  In related

news, Steve Makofsky <smakofs@iconn.net> also reports the availability of

two shareware Windows CE applications called mobileNews and mobileIRC via

the following link: <http://www.ararat.com/wince>.



William Ofosu-Amaah <XI6W-OFSA@asahi-net.or.jp> reported on USENET

newsgroup comp.sys.palmtops several Windows CE applications being

distributed in Japan.  For instance:

    - MyFTP: <http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~ym1-cc/myftp.html>

    - Hotkey for WinCE:

      <http://www.justnet.or.jp/home/hiraide/hotkey.html>

    - WceLHA: <http://www.justnet.or.jp/home/hiraide/wcelha.html>

    - LX Fileserver for WinCE:

      <http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~hl1e-itu/WCEFILER.EXE>

    - Other Japanese Software: <http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~hl1e-itu/>



** MAGIC CAP **



Cliff Wester <eagle_1@BELLSOUTH.NET> finds Luke Derossi's Text Chopper to

be a 'groovy' edition to is PIC-1000.  You can get more information about

this application at: <http://www.spies.com/lderossi>.  BTW ... PIC-1000s

are selling for under US$100 in most mail order catalogs.



Looking for a MagicCap FAQ information?  Then check out:

    - <http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/Magic/index.html>

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

    - <http://members.aol.com/DarkDan/DDDomain.html>

    - <http://www.spies.com/MagicCap>

    - <http://www.concentric.net/~gadwest/index.htm>

    - <http://www.mbay.net/~brendah/index.html>

    - <http://www.eurekanet.com/~zztong/>

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



Looking for a terminal emulator software for MagicCap? Then check out

Josh Carter's CujoTerm freeware package at:

<http://www.genmagic.com/Develop/MagicCap/Internet/Downloads/index.html>.



Eric Townsend <jet@genmagic.com> has announced the availability of "Magic

Sync" -- which lets you synchronize your Magic Cap device with Magic Cap

for Windows 95.  For more information check out the following URL:

<http://www.genmagic.com/MagicCap/Upgrades/MagicSync>.



** OTHER **



Phil Hood <phood@newmedia.com> has several PDAs mentions about several

devices including the Psion, the Newton, Zaurus, and Windows CE in his

last opinion piece of New Media on page 14 of the issue published on

10Feb97.  The article is about Phil's ideas on the future of desktop PCs

and how there will be even more future non-PC devices that are Web

browsing savvy making a "universal media delivery framework" very

important.  In the future you will find Phil working at the Alliance for

Converging Technologies.



Interested in a Casio Boss Mailing List?  Then you will want to follow

these directions:

    Email To: <listproc@sppc.org>

     Subject: Ignored

        Body: subscribe Boss-L YourFirstname YourLastName

For more information about this list: <listmaster@slic.cts.com>.



Recent handheld prices at CompuUSA (San Diego, California):

    - Compaq Handheld PC Companion, US$699.99

    - Sharp Z Lite, US$399.99

    - Sharp 2MB PDA, US$499.99

    - Casio Cassiopea HPC, 2MB, US$499.99

    - Casio Cassiopea HPC, 4MB, US$599.99

    - HP OmniGo 120 Electronic Organizer, US$359.99

    - Pilot 5000, US$259.99 (after rebate)

    - Pilot 1000, US$199.99 (after rebate)



Gotta watch those sales droids and managers at Office Depot.  Joshua

Finkler <finkler@symcom.math.uiuc.edu> had a post on comp.sys.palmtops

that relayed some 'Office Depot facts' like:

    - the HP200LX is not a computer, and cannot run

      any software except that which is built into it

    - the Casio Cassiopeia can run any software which

      runs on a Windows 95 system



Toby Reed <toby@eskimo.com> has updated the Dauphin DTR-1 Web Site with

more information about availability, and additional hardware

enhancements.  Check it out at: <http://dtr1.home.ml.org/>.



George Czajkowski<georgec@cyberus.ca> was circulating the official Sharp

Zaurus ZR-5800FX press release on most of the handheld USENET newsgroups.

Some interesting tidbits:

    - includes integrated 14.4/9.6 kbps Data/Fax Modem

    - includes Internet savvy email client

    - bundled with Windows to Zaurus sync tool

    - offers backlighting

    - built-in word processor and spreadsheet are

      compatible with Microsoft Word and Excel

    - built-in IrDA/ASK infrared port

    - 320-by-240 pixel touch screen LCD

    - can runs continuously up to 100 hours on two

      included AA batteries

    - measures 6.3" x 3.5" x 1.0" inches and weighs

      11.8 ounces

    - available in Feb97 with SRP of US$499

    - for more info call: 800.BE.SHARP.





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

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

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





Edupage, 27Jan96 thru 02Feb97

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



** DONKEY KONG U. TO OFFER DEGREES IN VIDEOGAME DESIGN **



The DigiPen Applied Computer Graphics School, nicknamed "Donkey Kong

University" after the popular videogame, will open a four-year campus in

Seattle next year, replacing the two-year program it's sponsored in

Vancouver, B.C. for the last few years.  DigiPen has already been

approved as a nonprofit institution by the Washington State Higher

Education Coordinating Board, and plans to admit the first class of 100

students, each paying $12,000 a year in tuition, next fall.  The school

says it's the first institution to offer a four-year degree in videogame

design.  Its only competitors are a few programs in Japan, all of which

are two-year. (Chronicle of Higher Education 31 Jan 97)



** MICROSOFT MOVING UP IN BROWSER BATTLES **



Microsoft is gaining ground in its war with Netscape over browser

software penetration.  In the business market, which numbers 30- to

34-million users, Netscape's share has dipped to 70%, down from 87% early

last year, according to Zona Research Inc.  And its share of the business

server software is falling, too -- 75% last September, down from almost

100% the previous year. Netscape's strategy to reverse its fortunes is

pinned on its new suite of Communicator software, which allows corporate

workers to collaborate on documents and scheduling over company

intranets.  (Wall Street Journal 28 Jan 97)



** SURFING FOR PORN, PAYING IN PHONE BILLS **



A scam on the Internet has cost some Canadian victims up to $1,200 to

download pornography from certain Web sites.  In the scam, surfers are

told that looking at nude pictures is free but that a "special image

viewer" must be clicked on and downloaded to your computer.  The viewer

is actually a virus that disconnects your modem from the regular local

Internet service provider and surreptitiously reconnects the call to a

number in Moldavia, in the former Soviet Union, generating long-distance

charges.  Canadian federal police have ordered that all calls from Canada

to the number in Moldavia not be connected.  (Toronto Star 29 Jan 97)



** E-MAIL FORGER FACES JAIL TERM **



A former Oracle employee faces up to six years in prison for perjury,

falsification of evidence, and breaking into a computer network, because

she forged an e-mail message to support her charge that she was

terminated from the company for breaking up a personal relationship with

the company's chief executive.  (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 29 Jan 97)



** UPSIDE'S LOOKS DOWN ON WIRED'S DOWNSIDE **



Upside and Wired, two magazines competing for a high-tech readership,

seem to be stuck in a long-running feud.  Responding to an Upside

reporter's request for an interview with Wired cofounder Louis Rossetto,

a Wired spokesman said that Rossetto "is in no mood to cooperate with

Upside in any way.  They've gone out of their way to trash us for no

apparent reason." On Upside's Web site a columnist had characterized

Wired Ventures' attempt at an initial public offering as a "mangy dog of

a stock offering that deserved, if only for mercy's sake, to be taken out

and shot," and in the current issue Upside says that, on a balance sheet

basis, Wired Ventures should sell for about $6 million to $10 million --

"a far cry from the pie-in-the sky $447 million" the company claimed its

value to be last May or "the nearly-as-silly $293 million it tried to get

away with in the revised September offering."  (Upside Feb 97)



** SATELLITE LOSS SCRAMBLES DISTANCE EDUCATION **



The recent failure of AT&T's Telstar 401 satellite has upset budgetary

plans for many institutions that offer distance learning classes, as

universities scramble for replacement time in the high-priced spot

market.  Telstar 401 was known as the "educational neighborhood

satellite," and was expected to function until 2007.  AT&T now says it's

hoping to convert another satellite, Telstar 402R into an

education-oriented replacement, depending on the successful positioning

of another satellite scheduled for launch in May. The failed satellite

was used by the Public Broadcasting Service, Lehigh University, the

National Technological University, the University of South Carolina,

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of New Mexico, PBS

systems in Florida, Georgia and Louisiana, and many others. (Chronicle of

Higher Education 31 Jan 97)





INNOVATION, 27Jan97

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



** TRENDS: FROM POSTAGE STAMPS TO CELL PHONES **



As the number of wireless services proliferates and companies jockey for

prime real estate on which to locate the necessary cellular antennas,

many communities, concerned with neighborhood aesthetics and potential

health hazards, are stymieing progress by denying permits.  The stalemate

has led the U.S. Postal Service to sign an agreement with Texas-based

Unisite, giving it the go-ahead to erect monopoles (200-foot high towers

that support clusters of antennas) at any or all of the 11,500 U.S. post

offices situated on federal land.  By using the federal land, the USPS

can circumvent local planning boards, and pocket some handy cash in the

process.  Depending on the location, a monopole can garner rental fees

from $300 to several thousand dollars a month -- all of which is split

51% to 49% with Unisite. In addition to the post office siting, look for

monopoles on national park land and other federal lands, as mandated by

the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  (Tele.com Jan 97 p20)



** STRATEGIES: TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR STRATEGIC THINKING **



If you're designing software to support strategic thinking, what do you

need to do?  Don't follow the crowd;  follow the group -- because "most

strategic thinking happens in groups."  What do groups do?  They get off

the beaten track (good), they get lost (bad), they get stuck (bad).  So

the goal of software should be to provide a clear and straightforward

process that can guide group discussion "with an open mandate to depart

from this process" whenever necessary.  "Overall, technology for

strategic thinking should help groups produce good plans quickly and

develop shared mental models of their markets, products, and

organizations."  But perhaps the most important thing strategic software

can do is offer "surprises" -- by being able to digest information, see

patterns or trends, and then provide advice or guidance that the group

would probably not have thought of alone."  That doesn't mean that

software should (or could) provide magical answers;  it does mean that

the goal of software should be to suggest possibilities to "be explored

until participants can realign their intuition with the results."

(William B. Rouse, "Technology For Strategic Thinking,"  Strategy &

Leadership Jan/Feb 1997 p40)



** INNOVATIONS: DETECTION IS A HEARTBEAT AWAY **



A security device developed at the Department of Energy's Y-12 facility

in Oak Ridge, Tenn., is capable of picking up the sound of a heartbeat,

even when the person is well hidden inside a large vehicle.  The

heartbeat detector can be used to catch terrorists attempting to gain

access to secure sites, prisoners escaping from jail, illegal immigrants

crossing borders, and even endangered animals being smuggled into the

U.S. The machine works using a special algorithm based on vibrational

analysis of the ballistocardiac signal emitted by a beating heart.  "We

have rolled people in bubble wrap, in mattresses, in comforters, put them

in tractor trailers and in garbage trucks three-quarters full of garbage,

and the technology still works," says an Oak Ridge technical operations

manager.  The device is being tested in maximum security prisons in

California and in Tennessee. (Technology Review Jan 97 p14)



** 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 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 INFORMATION **



Sprint PCS has begun a new "Charter Subscriber Program" in the Pittsburgh

metropolitan area that offers 800 minutes of air time for US$40 a month

for the first six months.  This monthly fee and air time can be

reportedly continued past 6 months if you agree to switch your

residential long-distance carrier to Spring.  For more information call:

412.249.4980.



Sprint PCS current plan is to have by mid-1997 65 cities coast-to-coast

up in running in a 100% digital wireless network (called "Phase One.").

In Phase Two, Sprint PCS expects to expand coverage into the new license

realms that they recently purchased giving them access to a total of 260

million people in all 50 states, including Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Virgin Islands.



The new head honcho for Sprint PCS in the retail markets is Ali Zanjani

the new Vice President of Retail.  Zanjani will be responsible for

developing overall distribution strategies for mass merchants, retailers

and company-owned retail stores for Sprint PCS.  The new Chief Marketing

Officer at Sprint PCS has also been recently announced by CEO Andrew

Sukawaty -- Charles Levine, formerly of Octel Communications Corporation.



Sprint and Vail Associates have created a "business communications

center" called the Sprint Communications Center in Vail, Colorado.  The

goal of the center is to make it easier for guest to Vail to conduct

business with out having to leave the mountain resort.  Some technology

at the site: Windows 95 Compaq computers with email & Internet access,

FAX, and PictureTel Venue 2000 access.



[EDITOR: I have been more interested in Sprint information after picking

up one of their new PCS phones.  As relevant information about Sprint

crosses my path I will continue to update this section.]



** PUBLIC WIRELESS DEVICES **



David Whitford has a "Field Notes: Hot Starts" article about a new

company called Real Time Data (RTD) on page 17 of the Feb97 edition of

Inc. Magazine.  RTD was founded by Kit Eldredge a former 13-year veteran

of Motorola.  The company leases their "VendLink" wireless hardware and

software to vending machine service companies for $25 a month.  The goal

of VendLink is to lower a companies costs by wirelessly providing data

about inventory like what product is sold-out.



This issue also has an article by John Grossman that examines Yincent

Yost's Intelligent Devices company that builds parking meters.  The

latest prototypes include vehicle sensing technology, and wireless data

hooks. [page 63]



** PALMTOP TO DESKTOP STANDARD?!? **



Mary Thyfault has an article entitled "From Palmtop to Desktop: Committee

plans to set remote wireless access standards" on page 122 of Information

Week published on 27Jan97.  The article examines a new committee created

by the Portable Computer and Communications Association (PCCA) which

includes representation from Microsoft, Novell, Compaq, AT&T Wireless,

Ardis and RAM Mobile Data.  The chairman of PCCA is Andy Seybold.  For

more information check out: <http://www.outlook.com/pcca>.



** WIRELESS LAN SALES TO GROW **



Beth Davis has an article about wireless LAN projected growth on page 122

of Information Week published on 27Jan97.  By the year 2002, Frost &

Sullivan are projecting hardware based wireless LAN sales to be over US$1

billion.  The biggest problem for wireless LAN deployment in enterprise

environments continues to be the that lack of vendor interoperability.



** INTERESTING BOOKS **



AP Professional <http://www.apnet.com/professional> continues to have a

good selection of Macintosh books forsale.  They also are currently

offering two Newton books in their current snail mailing:



    - Programming for the Newton Using Macintosh, 2nd

      Edition, US$34.95

    - Newton's Second Law: The Digital Nomad's Guide

      to Newton 2.0 (Coming Spring 1997), US$24.95



Some interesting new books to be published in the future include: Claris

HomePage Companion (Mar97), FileMaker Pro and the WWW (Jul97), Claris

Emailer Companion (Mar97), and FileMaker Pro Developer's Guide (May97).

For more information call: 800.3131.APP or send an email to:

<app@acad.com>.



** COOL PHONE **



Gina Imperato has a short blurb about Comsat and NEC's Planet 1 satellite

phone on page 42 of Fast Company published Feb/Mar'97.  This unit is

"about the size of a laptop, weighs less than six pounds, and retails for

US$2995."  Hooked to a laptop you can do email and faxing (send and

receive) from the unit.  There is a US$25 a month service fee, and calls

are billed at US$3 a minute.  For more info email: <planet1@comsat.com>

or <http://www.comsat.com>.



** FUTURE KITCHEN DEVICE **



Coach Master International has a new product called Kitchen Coach that is

being distributed by Salton/Maxim Hardwares (800.272.5629).  The Kitchen

Coach is a just under $1000 TV that plays custom CD-ROMs like: Chef's

Secrets: The Fundamentals, Classic Accompaniments, Essential Techniques,

30-Minute Gourmet, and Lowfat and Healthful.  While the technology is not

revolutionary and the price is really too high -- the marketing and

packaging are cutting edge for a 'single' usage device.  If the TV had

a 'serial connection' and a coax-cable port, the device would be much

more attractive.



** OUR HOPES, OUR VISIONS, OUR PLANS **



This is the main theme of the 50th year anniversary edition of ACM

Communications published on Feb97 (Volume 40, Number 2).  This issue is

jammed full of ideas, thoughts, opinions, research, and other 'good info

stuff' from some of the leading minds in computer science. It is a very

good read, and highly recommended. You should be able to find it at any

'good' bookstore or at a university library.





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

  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 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>

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

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



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

  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>.

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





News Agent Summary

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



** HANDHELD **



Mobile Insights recently announced nominations for the 3rd annual

"Mobility Awards" to be presented at Mobile Insights '97, a 3-day

conference for leaders in the mobile computing and communications

industries that will be held 23-25Feb97 at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna

Niguel, California.  The MP2K is being nominated in the "PDA (Handheld

Pen Tablet)" category along with the: Sony/MagicLink PIC-2000,

Ricoh/G-1200, and the US Robotics/Pilot 5000.  For a complete list check

out: <http://www.mobileinsights.com>. [Farcast]



A U.S. based market survey company called Personal Technology Research

(PTR) has concluded a survey of handheld retail shelf space in the United

Kingdom (UK).  This "HOT Market Monitor" has found that Franklin

Electronic Publishers <http://www.franklin.com> 'dominates' the market

and has a high brand name awareness. [iNews]



SanDisk <http://www.sandisk.com> has announced that their latest

CompactFlash cards have been certified by Microsoft to work with Windows

CE. [iNews]



Reuters is reporting that General Magic has plans to "cut its workforce:

from 187 regular and contract works down to 138. [iNews]



Geoworks <http://www.geoworks.com> recently reported revenues for the

Q3'97 were up to US$3.2 million from US$2.8 million in Q3'96.

Unfortunately the company also reported a loss during the last quarter of

US$2.1 million ($0.15 per share) versus a loss of US$646,000 ($0.05 per

share) in the same quarter in 1996.[Farcast]



Teklogix International has won a $1.55 million contract to provide the

city of St. Petersburg, Florida with 81 rugged TKX-3000 color notebook

computers using a mobile radio network provided by Motorola. [Farcast]



** MOBILE **



Rhode & Schwarz Bick Mobilfunk GmbH has reportedly licensed Motorola's

FLEX paging technology <http://www.mot.com/FLEX> and plans to use the

licenses to build infrastructure equipment. [iNews]



The National Basketball Association (NBA) has lost their injunction that

blocked Motorola from selling pagers <http://www.mot.com/pagers>that

updated NBA scores. [iNews]



Motorola <http://www.motorola-dsp.com> has a new 3-volt, 24-bit,

ROM-savvy DSP56304 chip that is part of the DSP56300 core family.  This

chip is capable of 80 MIPS and will evolve to over 100 MIPS.  Another

unique features is a ROM that can accept 33.75-Kb of programming code.

[Farcast]



** WIRELESS **



SNET Mobility and Cerulean Technology <http://www.cerulean.com> are

teaming to provide a complete wireless solution using CDPD technology to

law enforcement agencies in the Northeast of the United States. [Farcast]



TELITAL based in Italy has signed an agreement with QUALCOMM to

incorporate CDMA technology in TELITAL's future Globalstar satellite

communications systems. [Farcast]



Apple sent out a press release last week 'applauding' the FCC recent

decision to "unanimously grant 300-MHz for unlicensed U-NII usage."

[iNews]



Tricom S.A. has award Motorola a US$24 million contract to a provide CDMA

wireless telephone network in the Dominican Republic. [iNews]



Socket Communications <http://www.socketcom.com> and Cetronic (based in

Sweden) have "announced a joint agreement to build and market the next

generation of wireless data paging products to enable new applications

and markets for mobile computing." [Farcast]



CellNet Data Systems <http://www.cellnet.com> has reportedly recently

completed (on-time) a new wireless network for Kansas City Power & Light

Company for Network Meter Reading (NMR).  The number of nodes in this

network is over 365,000 meters (residential, commercial, and

industrial). [Farcast]



** APPLE **



Apple has announced price cuts up to "27% across much of its product

line."  Apple is also expected to layoff 2,000-3,000 of Apple's 13,500

employees worldwide in the hopes of restructuring to break even on US$8

billion in revenue during 1997. [Farcast]



Ellen Hancock, Chief Technology Officer at Apple Computer, and Avie

Tevanian, Vice President of NeXT Software have announced that the

'Rhapsody' release that integrates Apple's core technologies with NeXT's

core technologies will be based on the Mach kernel.  [Apple Developer

News, #42 Supplement, 31Jan97]



Apple's Mike Dionne, Vice President of Apple's Support Services

Organization, has been awarded InfoWorld's 'The Best of 1996: Technical

Support Award."  The article that goes along with the award does have a

small Newton blurb in the context that the only complaint about Apple on

InfoWorld's online service was that the Newton hasn't been supported that

well. [InfoWorld, 27Jan97, page 80]



The New York Times and Reuters ran stories last week that Apple was

considering closer ties to Intel and Microsoft. [iNews]



Apple was one of the key sponsors at Lotus Development Corporation's

yearly conference called Lotusphere '97. [iNews]



** MACINTOSH **



Apple Australia has announced the release of Mac OS 7.6 in Australia to

be available in stores by 26Mar97.  The full package will cost A$149, but

upgrades from System 7.5 will be A$74.[Farcast]



Apple has released their QuickTime MPEG <http://quicktime.apple.com/>

extension which enables "full-screen, software-only playback of MPEG-1

and VideoCD audio/video files" on Power Macintosh systems. [iNews]



Ambrosia Software <http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/> has released version 1.0.1

of Snapz Pro a new Mac OS savvy screen snapshot utility.



Marlin Software <http://www.marlinsoft.com> is getting ready to release

a PC and Mac compatible two CD-ROM set that features a complete

collection of Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy museum pieces from Forrest J.

Ackerman.



Willow Technology <http://www.willowtech.com> has recently signed an

agreement with IBM that grants them the ability to develop and market an

IBM MQSeries client for the Mac OS. [Farcast]



Adobe has release a beta version of Adobe SiteMill 2.0 software for the

Macintosh via: <http://www.adobe.com>. [Farcast]



Power Knowledge Software's PowerTab, a desktop marketing tool for

conducting customer survey's was featured in Apple Fellow Guy Kawasaki's

Keynote Address at the MacWorld Expo/San Francisco.  The are currently

offering a pre-release version 0.9 for sale for US$90 (SRP will be

US$199). For more information: <http://www.powerknowledge.com>. [Farcast]



** OTHER **



Hilton is currently in the process of trying to acquire ITT Corporation

for "US$10.5 billion in cash, stock and the assumption of debt." [iNews]



Motorola has signed a licensing agreement with RSA Data Security for

security technology that Motorola plans to broadly implement in a host of

future products. [iNews]



International Data Corporation (IDC) is reporting that worldwide computer

unit shipments were up 16% over shipments in 1995.  The % of increase in

United States was 15%. [Farcast]



Symantec <http://www.symantec.com> has announced Norton Utilities for

Windows NT.  Symantec was also showing off new versions of ACT! for Notes

at the recently held Lotusphere '97. [Farcast]





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>.



* 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 Opinions

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



** DON'T ABANDON NEWTON! **



Thomas Diessel <100270.341@compuserve.com> writes:



    Dear Dr. Amelio,



    I was really shocked when I just read that you told "USA

    Today" you are thinking about giving up Newton. Facing the

    latest losses of Apple you as the CEO have to rethink all

    business. But can not tell that the press. This risks the

    introduction of the MP 2000, a superb machine that will

    redefine mobile computing. (I'm just expecting my seed

    unit.)



    Keeping the eMate and giving up the MP line (as I read)

    won't make sense because the share most of the technology.

    IMHO there is also a market for a "business eMate".



    I think that Apple should introduce a small Message Pad in

    the size of the USR Pilot, too (without PC Card slot and not

    necessarily using a StrongARM processor). This would

    supplement the MP line at the lower end, give users a pocket

    size alternative, and be a rival to the USR Pilot and

    Windows CE in price and size. In the meantime Apple should

    sell the MP130 as cheap as possible and/or even reintroduce

    the MP120. (In Germany the last MP120s are sold at nearly

    the same prize as the USR Pilot 5000; that's below 800-DM.)



    An important key to the future success of the Newton is the

    availability of a good Windows desktop integration software.

    This software must be as good as the one provided for

    Windows CE. Most potential MessagePad customers have to live

    with a Windows PC.



    As a Macintosh and Newton user I'm sceptical about Pippin.

    But I don't know too much about it and especially not all

    the implications of the Sega-Bandai merger.



    Please keep the Newton alive!



    On Monday your PR dept. should clarify that Apple is still

    committed to the future of Newton.



    Sincerely yours,



    Thomas Diessel



** NOT A MAC GUY - I AM A NEWTON GUY **



The following was written by Loren Lovhaug <sparrow@cris.com> and

posted to USENET newsgroup comp.sys.newton.misc:



    Dear Dr. Amelio,



    I have absolutely no interest in the Macintosh. I am not a

    Mac guy. However, I am a Newton guy.



    I purchased an original MessagePad one week after it was

    released. Despite its flaws I loved it and carried it with

    me everywhere until last year when I purchased an MP130. My

    wife now carries my old Newton.



    When, or if, the MP2000 is released I will probably purchase

    one. Despite the fact that I am quite happy with my desktop

    computers which run Windows 95 and Windows NT I have

    absolutely no interest in the Windows CE machines. They do

    not even come close to what I want in a handheld computing

    device.



    I know a lot folks like me who will likely never spend any

    money with Apple for a Macintosh but would seriously

    consider the purchase of a slightly revised Newton. My quite

    informal, and non-scientific research tells me these folks:



        1. Don't want handheld machines with itty-bitty

           keyboards.

        2. Don't care if the machine runs a variant of

           Microsoft Windows

        3. Are concerned about spending a lot of money on

           a handheld device

        4. Do care about form factor (most consider my 130

           too big)

        5. Want sophisticated communications options (i.e.

           email and easy information

           synchronization/exchange with desktop computers).

        6. Also want possible add-on options for

           paging/wireless messaging and voice telephony



    I truly believe that if you take Newton's software

    sophistication, bundle it with an Internet email client

    software (Eudora for Newton for instance), add quality

    software for interfacing with both Windows and Mac desktop

    systems, and pack all of this into a machine that is about

    the height and width of the MP130's screen (with most of

    that space being used for the screen) at 1/8" thick and sell

    it $349 retail that you would have a run away hit on your

    hands.



    Yes, I know this sounds a lot like a "Pilotized Newton".

    Obviously there is a lot to learn from the success of the US

    Robotics product.



    I know that is quite a challenge, but it seems to me that if

    Apple is going to survive it has to do truly innovative

    things that are going to bring new customers to Apple.  I am

    sorry, but nothing I have seen or read over the past several

    years has made me want your desktop computers.  Despite the

    love that the Mac faithful have for your machines, the "rest

    of us" have not been convinced and have voted this notion

    with our wallets.   While I know that folks could say the

    market has voted against Newton as well, I truly believe you

    folks have a better shot at getting dollars from us non-Mac

    types by competing in areas where you can truly win rather

    being an "also ran" in the marketplace for desktop computing

    platforms.



    I hope you and your staff will consider these thoughts.



    --Loren





Comments from the Editor

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



** JUST IGNORE THE NEWTON **



[EDITOR: I wrote this on Thursday evening last week, before the recent

news.]



There appears to be the beginnings of a disturbing trend in the

technology review business when it comes to reviewing and writing about

PDAs or handhelds -- 'just ignore the Newton.'  For instance:



    Fast Company published on Feb/Mar'97 has a review

    of current PDA/handhelds by John Quain starting on

    page 145.   No mention of the Newton, not even a

    slam.  Reviews: NEC MobilePro 400, HP OmniGo 120

    Organizer Plus, Sharp Zaurus ZR-3000, Psion Series

    3c, and Pilot 5000.  Same review does mention

    MagicCap for Windows as a viable PIM.



    Jean Vicklin has an article on page 20 of Computer

    Resource <http://www.crol.com> published on

    07Feb97 (Volume 4, Number 12) called "Desktop,

    Notebook or PDA?"  When discussing what PDAs have

    to offer, again no Newton mention, with a short

    mentioned of the Pilot, and the majority of the

    article focused on how great Windows CE is.



    Go back to the issues of NewtNews that covered

    what was going on a Comdex Las Vegas.  Even though

    Apple had several MP2Ks and eMate 300s available

    for test drives, nearly all the reporters from the

    major industry magazines failed to mention this news.



** WHEW -- BUSY LAST COUPLE OF DAYS **



I am pretty much totally drained getting this issue out.  What a week?!?

I think that both Thomas and Loren's opinion pieces listed above have

captured a lot of my own thoughts on the recent Newton news.



I do think that the "Newton" will live on no matter what happens.  And if

it's life is not at Apple, then hopefully in it's new home the Newton will

find a place where it can thrive like it seems destined to do.





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

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

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