NewtNews-138-29Apr97 ==================== by Steve Holden . 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: + X-Port, KwikMenu, NewtPaint, Quicknames Pro, proCALC Ex - Newton 2.0 solutions - - + WinSlurp from Rare White Tiger Creations - Available via WWW at: . + PowerTrans 3.0 - Multilingual Customizable Translator and Vocabulary Trainer - Speech on MP2K, eMate - Demo at: + PDA & HANDHELD DIRECT - Putting Technology in the Palm of Your Hand! 800-279-4PDA 219-882-5228 [F]:219-845-0578 + QuickFigure Pro v.3.1 - New version of the spreadsheet solution from PelicanWare! - - + TeleType GPS and moving map for the Newton - Never get lost again - - + MORGAN - Organize your books, CDs, tapes, records, videos and other collections! - - + INFORMED FILLER FOR NEWTON - Custom Electronic Forms Integrated With Your Desktop - Shana Corp - - + PowerMedia presents 'Arcade Game Pack' - Birds With Lances, Rocks In Space, Frogs vs. Cars - US$29.95 - + RidgeNet - ARA, SLIP, PPP access to the Internet from Ridgecrest, CA. Table of Contents ----------------- 1. Top News 2. Comments from the Editor 3. Information from Email 4. Information from the Internet 5. Top Print Sources Of Interest 6. NewtNews Tips and Tricks You Can Use On Your Newton 7. Other Related Technology 8. Edupage, 21Apr97 thru 27Apr97 9. INNOVATION, 21Apr97 10. Dear Newton Developer 11. Other Tidbits of Information 12. Advertising Notes 13. Product and Service Information 14. Guest Opinions 15. Administrivia Top News -------- ** HANCOCK QUOTE ON THE NEWTON ** Benjamin Smith reports that Apple's Ellen Hancock was recently quoted on the WWW at Seybold conference via the following link: . In summary: In response to a question on whether Apple was brushing up its Newton handheld to possibly sell it off, Hancock said: "Newton is a viable platform. We are looking to our Newton partners for financial help." Sources have said that Apple explored selling the Newton business. In addition, sources said, Apple has talked to venture-capital companies about spinning the business off as a separate company. ** NEW GIS SOLUTION FOR NEWTON ** Richard Saint reports that Pocket Systems has released a new Geographical Information System (GIS) Newton interface called PocketGIS. The system can also interact with a Positioning System (GPS) receiver for data capture or location tracking. For more info: or . ** NEW MP2K GPS SAVVY SOLUTION AVAILABLE ** TeleType GPS reports that they have a new version of their flagship TeleType GPS software for the Newton that is MessagePad 2000 savvy. The new software is 300% faster running on a MP2K than running on a MP120 doing redraw, loadings, and refreshings of map overlays. For more info check out: ; pricing starts at US$195 (Windows CE version also available); and the upgrade will be free for customers who purchased after 01May96. ** NEW WORD PROCESSOR UTILITY SUITE ** Stand Alone has a new US$29.95 enhancement package called "Works Better" for the built-in Word Processor used on the MessagePad 2000 and eMate 300. Some features include: additional fonts & styles; page navigation; handwriting recognition; notepad importing; columns; key caps; headers & footers; page numbers; word count; and style definitions. For more information and to download a 30-day demo check out: . [EDITOR: Stand Alone also has a new 'heap' utility and 'button bar' utility in the works. They should be released very soon.] $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ 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 $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ 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: . To order 800.655.6398 or visit resellers. $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ Comments from the Editor ------------------------ ** BOOMING SALES TRANSLATION ** I have translated "Booming Newton Sales" in the recent Apple press releases to: "We haven't seen Newton sales numbers like these since August 1993." ** EMAIL REBELLION?!? ** There appears to be the 'beginning of an email rebellion" on the USENET newsgroup comp.sys.newton.misc by many MP2K users who are not at all satisfied with the EnRoute email package that is shipping with the MP2K. The apparent popular other options include: Go Fetch Software's Go Fetch and Qualcomm's Eudora Pro for Newton. One NewtNews reader has determined that if you wish to do away with Enroute you need to delete the following from your MP2K: - EnRoute Core - EnRoute Internet - inet Text Encoding - Message Rules Filter - Message Signature - Message Size Filter - POP List Manager - Resolve inet URL - EnRoute Rule Editor In related news, Scott Boss points out that the URL for the demo of Eudora Pro for the Newton that we mentioned in last weeks NewtNews was incorrect. The correct URL is the following: . You can learn more about Go Fetch at: . The Enroute folks are at: . ** HAVING FUN YET?!? ** Just got my "The Executive" Newton stand from MAR Software. Very nice looking ,and works very well with the new MP2K. Especially useful when playing the new game from iambic software called "Sub Patrol". This game is one of the few that I keep on my Newton for those excursions when I'm not using my Newton for getting stuff done. Both are highly recommended! For more info: - MAR Software - iambic software: $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ Need more Newton information?!? NewtNews suggests you check out: + Newton Reference: + Always Newton Central: + NewtUser: + NewtWorld: + The Ultimate Newton: $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ 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: or WWW to: for more information. $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ Information from Email ---------------------- ** CLUBPDA DEALS ** ClubPDA List had several Newton related email specials recently -- source code 931697 -- refers to a US$99 33.6K PC Card Modem by Axel; a MP120 for US$299; and Digital Objectives pURL Manger for US$34.95. This past week also had some Windows CE, Zaurus, & Pilot specials also. For more info: . ** GERMAN MP2K EXTENSION RELEASED ** Christian Schweizer reports the release of some free keyboard and location related fixes for those folks in Germany, Switzerland and Austria that are trying to use English MessagePad 2000s. For more info: . ** MP2K BUNDLED WITH POWERTRANS IN GERMANY ** Stefan Klocke <100121.2013@compuserve.com> reports that his weekly weekend Web surfing of Newton Webpages has turned up some information that might be of special interest for European Newton users: Propad , the largest German retailer for Newtons and other PDAs, is bundling the MP2K with Travel Concept Solutions PowerTrans 3.0 for DM 1998 only (with keyboard DM 2098). PowerTrans is according to Stefan the only language translator and vocabulary trainer for the Newton which is multilingual, customizable, speaking, contains huge vocabulary and full Newton 2.1 featured. This bundle is also very attractive because: - costs as much as you have to pay anywhere else - gives you via PowerTrans any European keyboard localization - and gives the prospective buyer in my honest opinion a true killer application if command of languages is important for your career or business Stefan discovered PowerTrans about a year ago, and found it indispensable in mastering technical translations between French, German and English. The unique learning mode of PowerTrans is another highlight. If you ever tried to learn a foreign language, than you will love this training mode: no more endless word lists, stupid repetitions of already known words, instead an intelligent Newton like learning that adapts to your individual abilities. With the latest version's support of speech, one can even get pronunciation right from the beginning. I think that the above decision of Propad is great news for all European Newton buyers. ** MORE CASE RECOMMENDATIONS ** Bill Houle has found the DayRunner Classic Edition (#580-37) to be a pretty good MP2K case alternative. The case costs US$69 and can be found at Staples or Office Depot. Marton Carungay reports that E&B Cases should begin manufacturing a leather case for the MP2K very soon called the "MP2K50" case. You should be able to get more info about availability and pricing via: . Donald Bushman has found the current 'camera case' from Eagle Creak to be an excellent case for his new MP2K. Howard Moftich reports that the US$30 Abcom CDP-A7 case is great because there is room for the MP2K and a keyboard, plus all the other little stuff you need for your Newton. If you don't want to add the keyboard to your case, then try the Abcom CDP-A5 -- it is smaller. Scott Darlington is still using his Calise Executive leather case that use to hold his MP120 with his new MP2K. The case is still big enough to hold the MP2K but it is a tight fit. His case is also still in good shape and looks great, so it is hard to pass up using. Robert Gallo has found the US$42 Daytime Personal Organizer System, model #82125, that measures 3.75 x 6.75 inches to be a pretty good MP2K case. For more info: . Alex thinks he found a great MP2K case that is 10 x 6.5 x 2.6 inches and is called CaseLogic CD player (model #DM2). The case sells for US$20, and there is also a larger version with more pockets. Laurie Cook likes the "At-A-Glanced" zippered organizer that you can find at many discount business schools. The cost is typically only US$24. NewtNews was out and about over the weekend to one of the local malls and noticed that the Eddie Bauer 'Gear Bag' (Model# 2574) priced at US$28 looked like a fine Newton & assorted other stuff case/bag. ** WIRELESS SOLUTIONS?!?! ** Jonathan Kay is very interested in finding out if Apple or another 3rd-party developer has plans to support Xircom wireless LAN PC Cards? Greg Brown wonders if anyone has any more news about Nokia's GSM Cellular PC Card that was in the press a few weeks ago, especially if the news includes some pointers on potential MessagePad 2000 support. For more information about the card check out: . ** NEWTON NOT AT COMDEX UK ** Roger Coleman reports that Apple UK was not at the recently held UK Comdex so he did not see the new MessagePad 2000 or any of the Macintosh systems either. ** NEWTON INTELLIGENCE CONTINUES TO CHAT WITH NEWTON DEVELOPERS ** Raven Zachary reported that Rob Bruce of Tactile Systems was the feature guest on Newton Intelligence on 27Apr97. Rob is the developer of many vertical health-related Newton solutions, as well as the developer of a IRC client for the Newton called ChatBuddy. For more information about Newton Intelligence check out the following URL: . ** SOME AIRPORT CODES ARE ON YOUR NEWTON ** Olivier Ozoux reports that some of the Airport Codes listed in Iverson Software's Newton Book of 5,000 codes can be found in the built-in TimeZone application. For more information about Iverson Software's very inexpensive, yet very helpful Newton book publishing offerings, you should check out this URL: . ** NEW NEWTON GAME RELEASED ** Scrawl Software has released Chiral v0.92b for the Newton -- "a game based on the formation of molecules -- kind of like a cross between Tetris and that 10th grade chemistry class you tried to forget." The original game concept is by Ambrosia Software and they have a Macintosh version available for the those interested. Check out: . ** NEW SPELLING UTILITY RELEASED ** Stand Alone reports the release of SpellMan -- a spell checker for the MessagePad 2000 that works with the built-in NotePad of the Newton, and enables developers to 'easily' integrate SpellMan into their applications. Spellman uses the built-in dictionary on the MP2K and eMate 300 to quickly spell check documents, notes, and more. The software retails for US$15 and a 30-day demo can be found at: . ** TOOL TO HELP APPLY WRIGHTRIGHTS?!? ** Looking for a way to apply the WritghtRight screen protection material without air pockets?!? Aaron Propes suggests trying out the Gerber Scientific squeegee -- originally designed to help apply vinyl lettering. The price of the 2.5 inch squeege is relatively expensive, and you can order them directly from his company called Tierney Brothers via: 800.933.7337. ** NAMES URL LAUNCHING UTILITY ** Serg Koren has announced a new 'freeware' utility called "WebJump v1.0" that enables "URL launching" from within the built-in Names application. For more information check out the following URL: . ** MEDICAL APPLICATION GOES INTO PUBLIC BETA TESTING ** J. Rick Adams reports that JRAd consulting has decided to post a beta of their Palmedic v2.0 -- a patient management Newton solution. This is the 7th beta release and should be pretty stable. The current price of Palmedic 1.x is US$100 and will be a free upgrade to version 2.0 (which will retail for US$200). For more information: . ** NEWTON PAGER CARD FOR SALE ** Michael Quattrocchi reports that he has an unused Apple Newton Message Card (numeric pager card) available for purchase if you are interested. This PC Card lets you receive pages on your Newton, and can also receive data even when it is not inserted. For more information send Michael an email. $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ $ 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. $ $ , , 416.264.5999 $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ PDA and Handheld Direct - MP2000 Coming March 21st - Apple MessagePad 2000 Standard Model only $949.00 Product (#22005) - Apple MessagePad 2000 Business Bundle only $1099.00 Product #22008 - Apple Message Pad 130 w/ Newton 2.0 OS $655.00 - Type II PCMCIA Flash Memory for all Apple MPs - Mfg Lifetime Guarantee 4MB $128 (41070) 8MB $224 (41073) 10MB $274 (41074) 16MB $424 (41077) - Revelar Connection Utilities for Win $49.95 #10070 Mac $49.95 #10071 - Newton Keyboard only $69.00 To receive special pricing please mention source code #158 To order call 800-279-4732 or 219-882-5228 or fax 219-845-0578 $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ Information from the Internet ----------------------------- ** ACT! FOR NEWTON SUPPORT POINTER ** Colin Harmer reports that Symantec does have an external USENET newsgroup that you can access for ACT! for Newton support via . ** ANOTHER NEWTON PROGRAMMER JOB ** James Robertson posted a message to the Newton related USENET newsgroups called "ADVERT: Programmer for Hire" on 23Apr97. If you are a 'serious' Newton programmer who is looking for challenging jobs in Australia and New Zealand; and are not completely locked into developing for Newton solutions -- then send your resume to James at the email address above. ** AREA CODE CHANGE 1.0 RELEASED! ** Adam Tow reports the release of a new utility called Area Code Change 1.0 that makes it easy to change area codes in your Names soup. The utility is freeware, and you can get more information via: or send an email to: . ** DIGITAL OBJECTIVES ANNOUNCES PURL V1.1 ** Jerry Kaplan reports a new version 1.1 of pURL -- a URL manager for the Newton that interfaces with Newton Internet Enabler (NIE) based applications -- will be released in Q2'97. New features include: - Import of bookmarks from Internet Explorer. pURL will continue to support the import of bookmarks from Netscape Navigator. - Export of bookmarks to Internet Explorer. - Export of bookmarks to Netscape Navigator. - pURLite: a new component with a very small memory footprint, designed for use on Newton devices with only a single PC Card slot. You can get more info at: . ** EMATE NEWS ** Andy reports some interesting eMate tidbits via: . Benjamin Smith reported that the following URL: has some eMate information in it like this: "Analysts were less enthusiastic about the eMate than the MessagePad 2000, saying it probably would appeal only to young children whose older siblings may already be used to full-fledged PC." [EDITOR: Ben notes that eMate purchases could be more emotional then actually practical.] ** EUROPEAN NEWTON FTP SITE ** Greg Newton-Ingham reports that the European Newton Archive is now back-up and running after a couple of problems last week. You can check it out at: . ** MSNUG NEWTON NEWSGROUP ** Douglas Luckie reports that the Michigan State Newton Users Group (MSNUG) has created a local newsgroup via: . For more information about MSNUG is: . ** USENET NEWSREADER FOR NEWTON IS UPDATED ** Serg Koren reports Newt'sPaper has been updated on 4/20/97-1 -- this NIE savvy application enables users to access USENET newsgroups from your Newton. Some new features: - Added a "Smiley" picker to the Posting window - Added heap low indicator in upper right corner of main window. If the heap drops below 25k. You can get more information about this 'unique' solution via this URL: . ** FOR SALE NEWTON SITE ** Anthony Matthews would like to remind NewtNews readers that if you have to buy or sell Newtons and/or Newton Stuff you should do so via his Newton Classifieds site. You can check out all the fun and excitement via: . ** NEWTON SOFTWARE DIGEST UPDATED ** Ian Robinson has posted a new version of his "most excellent" Newton Software Digest on 22Apr97. You can check it out at: . This version includes reviews and pointers to: Action Names 4.03 Demo; Airports; Backlight Control Button; Card Creator 1.0; Corrector 2.2; Earth; From The Earth; HexConv 1.1; Int Keyboards; Morgan 1.0; Morgan Pro 1.0; Newtiles 1.0; NewtNews 136 (15 Apr 97); Pocket DiabetiCare; Powernavigator 2.0; Quotemaker Pro 1.06; Spellman 1.0; Styles+2.0; Sub Patrol Demo 1.01; Super Names 1.0; Writehere 2.0 Beta 8; and Yazi 1.01. ** NS BASIC REFERENCE SITE ** George Henne reports that their NS BASIC BBS is back up and running again via: . ** PACKAGE FOR CHINESE DATE EXPRESSION ** Chun-Hsien Lin reports the release of a Chinese localization package that will change the date expression to "the Chinese way" (to do this you should install the Chinese Language Kit for Newton OS 2.0). You can download the localization package from the following URL: , and you can get the language kit from the following World Wide Site via: . ** WINDOWS NTK AVAILABILITY?!? ** David Fedor reported on USENET newsgroup comp.sys.newton.programmer that Apple is quickly trying to fill the backorders on the "very popular" Windows Newton Toolkit (NTK) as fast as possible. The delay shouldn't be more that 2-3 days at the moment. Anyone having a huge amount of problems should send an email message to: . ** MS OUTLOOK TO NEWTON SYNC ** Steven McPherson answered an interesting question posted by Shawn Laemmrich on comp.sys.newton.misc. Shawn would like to sync his Newton with Microsoft Outlook on Windows 95. Steven responded with: I use Outlook and the Newton Connection Utilities and export all appts from the Newton to my desktop PC with the Schedule Plus format. This seems to work well both for appts, todos, and contacts. ** SIEMENS ONLINE TERMINAL ** Rainer Joswig reports that the German newspaper 'Computer Zeitung' has a "really nice picture of the beautiful Siemens Online Terminal" in their latest issue. The supporting article also actually mentions that the unit runs Newton OS. ** MACWAY NEWTON MENTIONS ** Guy Kawasaki's MacWay email listserver had the following Newton pointers: - Parents can get more information about ordering an eMate 300 with a loan from Apple calling: 800-APPLELN (800-277-5356) or 800-434-3033 (ext. 502) - Pointer to a Mac Home Journal eMate review: - A recent Bob Levitus column for the Houston Chronicle. has a Newton mention as a 'killer new product' - European Smart Card venture uses MP2K: , , - Newton Book of Airports (US$10) posted via: . For more information: or send an email to: . ** GOOD THREADS AND ARTICLES ** There have been a ton of good threads and articles posted to the USENET newsgroup comp.sys.newton.misc and comp.sys.newton.programmer. Most of the them have had to do with new MessagePad 2000 and eMate 300 success stories and opinions. NewtNews encourages our readership to try and track down the following pretty good posts: - "What's right with the Newton, Part I" by Bryan Oakley - "Inside the Newton MP2000 - A Tour" by Mike O'Connor published on 21Apr97. A wild look at inside a MP2K -- yes, Mike opened his up. The groups comp.sys.handhelds and comp.sys.palmtops also had an interesting thread on: - "History of PDAs" In the past, NewtNews has had success tracking down recent USENET news posts via: . ** OTHER SITES WORTHY OF A BROWSE ** - FIPA 97 specification v1.0 [Agents]: - General Magic [Agents]: - WillowNet [Religion]: $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ 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: . $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ 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: . $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ Top Print Sources Of Interest ----------------------------- [EDITOR: This is a collection of articles of potential interest to NewtNews readers from the leading technology print newspapers, newsletters, and magazines.] ** MAJOR COOL NEWTON REVIEW ** Mary Hayes has a Newton article in the 'Hardware' section of Information Week published on 28Apr97. The article is pretty positive on the current Newton technology, but also mention the recent apparent pondering of Apple selling off the Newton technology. The article does mention that Apple's current MessagePad 2000 could be sold in the 'thousands' of units to the Defense Department to be used with a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) space system. The article also mentions the eMate 300, and that Apple has projects currently underway to improve Newton networking features, and to improve Newton access to corporate databases. There was also mention of a 'software modem' to lighten the 'weight' load on current MP2K systems. The article also highlights two vertical MP2K solutions being deployed at The Sally Jobe Breast Diagnostic and Counseling Center in Englewood, Colorado; and at Bell Atlantic's Nynex Mobile New York district. But the end of this article has some of the most interesting information seen recently: Ken Dulaney, VP of mobile computing at Gartner Group Inc., an IT advisory firm in Stamford, Conn., estimates Apple has sold no more than 350,000 Newton-based systems since announcing the line in 1993. During that same period, Dulaney says, Apple's total investment in the product line has "easily" reached about $1 billion. With the average MessagePad system selling for about $800, that would mean total sales have come to only about $300 million-or less than a third of Apple's total investment. ** BAD MP2K REVIEW LIVES ON ** Continue bad MessagePad 2000 news -- Stephen Manes from the New York Times News Service had a review we highlighted last week as one of the "Suckiest Reviews" NewtNews has ever seen. This MessagePad 2000 review has been picked up by the AP Newswire and is making its rounds across the United States and apparently the whole world. NewtNews saw the piece in the San Diego Union-Tribune's ComputerLink insert published on 22Apr97 [pages 12 - 13], and another NewtNews reader reported the review also made it to the front page of the IT section of the leading national newspaper in Australia. [SDH: Makes you wonder if the unit that Manes used in his review was a 'press seed unit' that was suppose to be sent to NewtNews, but for whatever reason ended up at the New York Times because you know -- they have a bigger readership.] ** MORE NEWTON SALES BOOMING NEWS ** Steve Baker reported that TipWorld's Tip of the Day on 25Apr97 covered Apple's MessagePad 2000 "booming sales" news. The article also quotes the Casio Windows CE product manager as saying "Our sales stink." And apparently the Windows CE hardware manufactures have submitted a list to Microsoft of all the stuff they need fixed before they release new hardware. Tom Unkefer responded to the Don Crabb news on comp.sys.newton.misc with a pointer to an independent market research report that he read awhile back. This report projected some 500,000 to 600,000 Windows CE devices would be sold in the first 3-6 months of shipping. The logic to this was apparently the large number of Windows users; and that the above numbers is definitely 'covered' by potential early adopters and 'techno-freaks.' If Casio did indeed make 200,000 units and only sold 120,000 this would probably be a 'big' problem with Casio financial and accounting folks. ** DROPPING PC LAPTOP PRICING?!? ** Acer has announced a 31% price reduction on their Extensa line of notebook computers, and IBM has a new PC 300GL laptop that will start at US$1200 and go up to US$2000. [InfoWorld, 21Apr97] Apple has cut the price of the PowerBook 1400 up to 30%. What was in the US$2900 range can now be found in the US$2000 ballpark. [Farcast] But then HP has new versions of their Omnibook 800 & 5700 that start at the US$4400 price range. [InfoWorld, 21Apr97] And Digital, NEC, and Micron all have fast, thin, light, but big screen systems on the table for release this summer with pricing starting at US$4000 and going up to US$6000. [PC Week, 21Apr97] ** SEVERAL OTHER NEWTON MENTIONS ** Paul Hood reports that the May97 issue of Bicycling magazine has a MP2K mention on page 91. The article with the mention is about the coolest computer related bicycle tools. David Gewirtz reports the posting of "A Review of the Newton MessagePad 2000 for Prior MessagePad Owners" via the following URL: . Gerard Grivois was the first to alert NewtNews of two recent Newton related reviews found in The Boston Globe on 24Apr97. The first was by Hiawatha Bray on the front page of Business section [D], and it is a good review of the eMate 300. The second is on D4 and was written by Simson Garfinkel . This is a follow-up story about four palmtop computers that he did several weeks ago. In the story he asked for feedback and the readership chose the PalmPilot as #1 for them, but Simson picked the MP2K as #1 for him personally. The MP2K did come in as a close #2 in the readership poll. Marc Schmitt reports that the latest issue of Business Week has a column by Stephen Wildstrom that has a MessagePad 2000 mention. The article gives "Apple an A" and is 'enthusiastic' about the Newton, but also reports that Apple is busy 'shopping' the Newton System Group to outside parties. ** PURE JAVA ** Sun Microsystems and JavaSoft are running some pretty major "100% pure JAVA: the future of networking computing is here" ads in many of the major technology magazines (PC Week, Mac Week, etc. ...). The twelve page insert is pretty informative on their 'grand scheme' and mentions PDAs and such on a regular basis. ** NEW SHARP ORGANIZER ** Mark Moore has a short article of interest on page 39 of PC Week published on 21Apr97 entitled "Sharp Develops Organizer: Palmtop SE-500 sends Web email via dial-up." The unit should be shipping in the United States at the Jun97 PC Expo. There are some good quotes about the unit from Terry Pendergast, a registered nurse, using the SE-500 for inputing patient data. For more information check out: . ** INTEL WILL PLAY IN NC WORLD ** Several of the big weekly technology magazines had pointers to articles pointing out the recent news that Oracle's Network Computer standard will in the future include Intel based machines. The first still appears to be a series of Acer Group personal computers tweaked to meet Network Computer standards. For more information: - "No NC success without Intel inside" by Rob Guth, InfoWorld, 21Apr97, page 5 - "Oracle subsidiary unveils software, new alliances", PC Week, 21Apr97, page 3 - "Java Finds Yet Another Niche: Embedded systems makers rally around JavaOS for low-end devices" by Cesar Alvarez, LAN Times, 28Apr97, page 38 ** OTHER ARTICLES OF POTENTIAL INTEREST ** - "Send, Receive E-Mail With AccessLink: two-way wireless pager from Motorola and service from SkyTel" by Brooks Talley, InfoWorld, 21Apr97, page 106 - "PCS Competition May Deter Deployment: CDMA vs. TDMA/GSM" by Matt Krammer, PC Week, 21Apr97, page 83 - "Inside CDPD Wireless Networking Technology" by Sara Humphry, PC Week, 21Apr97, page 90 [Review of a book called "Internetwork Mobility: The CDPD Approach" published by Prentice-Hall, ISBN #0-13-209693-5] - "Wireless Bridges the Price and Convenience Gap: Building-to-building links may challenge wired technology as wireless adds features, cut prices" by Michelle Rae McLean, LAN Times, 28Apr97, page 78 - "Autobahn Provides High-Speed Wireless Net Access" & "CDPD Software Links Patrols to HQ" by Mark Moore, PC Week, 21Apr97, page 105 ** MAJOR WEEKLY MAGAZINE WEB POINTERS ** - Web Week: - MacWeek: - InfoWorld: - Computer Reseller News: - PC Week: - Network World: - LAN Times: $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ K2 consultants, Inc. has the best Medical titles for Newton. Just out is Dr. Ferri's popular book for internists with special offers! Get the hit references like Lexi-Comp Drug Handbook, 5 Min. Clin Consult, Archimedes Programmable Calculator, etc. KJV Bible, Ole spanish translator & more, all working with our renowned ART engine. See ART make a big splash at or for info/sales. $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ INDISPENSABLE! The one word that describes The BARRIER Screen Protector. * Clearly Superior Protection * Abrasion, chemical, AND thermal resistant * Protecting Newton screens since 1993 For more info: or call 800-882-8382 $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ NewtNews Tips and Tricks You Can Use On Your Newton --------------------------------------------------- ** THE INSTANT GUIDE TO BECOMING A NEWT GURU ** By Roger Coleman [EDITOR: Roger is taking the week off. Expect his excellent column to return next issue. If you have tips for Roger send him email.] ** SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SECTION ** Flash Sheridan responded to a previous Tip where we talked about 'Light' restarts. Flash suggests that is one of the first things you should do when trying to track down a bug. Flash also noted that folks have been using the term 'Hard Reset' for when they push the resent button. Internally in the Newton System Group (NSG) they use that term for a complete erasing of the internal store. To be unambiguous, Flash has been using the term "brainwipe" for erasing the internal store. Timothy Errera recently made a good point about our 'tips and tricks' column -- any tip should list what hardware or software is required to accomplish the tip. For instance the many new keyboard commands are only Newton 2.1 and not possible in Newton 2.0. $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ PDA Panache is your single source for stylus solutions. Custom stylus upgrades for Newton MP130 and MP2000. Custom styli for WinCE, USR, and Sharp PDAs. Wide selection of Pocket Styli for all tastes and budgets. Duo multi-function stylus/pen combo. Beacon L.E.D. lighted stylus. Stylus inserts for Cross & other popular pens. More info: 800.270.7196 or 516.467.4042, FAX: 516.467.6329, (secure) $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ PowerTrans 3.0 - Translator and Vocabulary Trainer - 60,000 Words - English, Spanish, German, French and Italian (no storage card required). + Customize the vocabulary and/or create new languages, attach notes + MP2K and eMate featured - speech, classroom multi-user, keyboards + Vocabulary Trainer - based on approved didactical learning system Checkout demo: - contact: $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$----------- $ Other Related Technology ------------------------ [EDITOR: News collected via snail mail, major publications, USENET newsgroups, email, and the WWW. For more information about Farcast check out: and for more information about iNews use: .] ** WIRELESS & MOBILE ** Nikkei English News reports that NTT Mobile Communications Network has a new PDA and mobile telephone terminal in the works that they plan to sell this Fall'97. [iNews] Toshiba has licensed Silicon Graphics' MIPS Technologies' MIPS16 architecture. The current MIPS16 instruction set is 32-bit and 64-bit savvy. [iNews] Motorola has announced the availability of a new family of Universal Serial Bus (USB) 8-bit microcontrollers. [iNews] Some companies with recent wireless related press released posted to the newswires: Rantec Microwave & Electronics; The GameWorks; @Home Network; Spyglass; GTE Mobilnet; AMD; Harris; Sprint; Casio; Geoworks; C-Phone Corporation; One-On-One Sports; Unwired Planet; AT&T Wireless; Sharp Electronics Corporation; RadioMail; Motorola; Bell Labs; RAM Mobile Data; Nokia; AirTouch Cellular; Metricom; and Qualcomm. ** PALMPILOT ** MacCentral recently reported that Now Software has posted a 30-day demo version of Now Synchronize for PalmPilot (Mac OS) to their WWW site. Folks who purchased this software [SDH: Like at MacWorld SF 1997] should receive their copy the week of 28Apr97. Here is a collection of new PalmPilot links that should be of interest: - pilotGear H.Q.: - US Robotics' Palm OS 2.01 Update: - Pilot Chinese Viewer 04_24_97: - Wireless Pilot Modem Survey: - Pilot VT100 Alpha 5: ** WINDOWS CE ** ParaGraph International reports that their CalliGrapher 4.3 for Windows CE has been 'certified' by Microsoft as Windows CE compatible, and some analysts think that this handwriting recognition (HWR) software could be bundled in future versions of Windows CE. Chris Frost points out you can get more info about Paragraph and this recent news (which includes Newton mentions) via: . Paragraph also recently signed an agreement with Microsoft for their "Magic Resort" 3-D WWW-savvy technology. [iNews] The NEC Computer Systems Division of Packard Bell NEC has announced a new 'estimated street price' of US$499 for their MobilePro 400 HPC. [Farcast] Here is a collection of new Windows CE links that should be of interest: - Visual CE Forms builder for Windows CE: - Windows CE IRC Sessions: - Official Windows CE Information: ** PSION ** Psion Software was reportedly very active at the recent Handheld Systems Conference held 24-26Apr97 pushing their -- EPOC16 & EPOC32 platforms; Internet integration into Psion applications; integrating the Psion with desktop systems; and future Psion manufactured Java handheld devices. Here is a collection of new Psion links that should be of interest: - French 'Automobilia' User Group: - Procyon: - S3A TASK V1.3 Extended ToDo Manager - Solun: - LEDGER: ** OTHER HANDHELD ** Amanda Walker posted an English translation to a recent announcement of a DOS based WWW browser called WebBoy to USENET newsgroup comp.sys.palmtops. The browser was created by IBM Japan, and includes a graphical user interface that runs on Intel 386/486 compatible systems. T he software should be available on 29Apr97, and according Amanda this software combined with all that 'old' hardware laying around could be an ideal 'network computer' after adding a 10-MB PC Card for email and URL storage. Here is a collection of new/updated Other Handheld links that should be of interest: - Direct Mobile USA: - Breadbox Computer: ** APPLE & MACINTOSH ** Apple's QuickTime 3.0 for Mac OS and Windows was the "Editors' Pick of Show" Award by Television Broadcast Magazine at the recent National Association of Broadcasters conference. [iNews] Apple and Quintal Research Group have settled a two year patent controversy over a patent owned by Quintal that relates to "iconic data management system." [iNews] Apple announced at the recent Seybold Seminars a new version of their Color Management technology called ColorSync has been posted via: . [iNews] Apple has reportedly chosen DecisionOne Corporation to provide national hardware support and maintenance support to Apple and Apple's resellers. [iNews] Phil Pompa has been named marketing and strategic planning vice president of UMAX Data Systems' Macintosh business unit. [iNews] Uplate Software is now offering their log analyzer called Site Stat for Mac OS via: . Royal Software has a new version of their application developer tool called FTP Tool 1.2 for Mac OS that is fully scriptable and accessible from several scripting development environments. For more info: . The AIMS/EIMS server software add-on utility called DC&R Util 5 has been posted to: . DareHauf Technologies' has released version 2.0 of their HTML QuickTags Lite that enables an HTML programmer to access HTML reference material. MacXperts have a new version 1.05 plugin for WebSTAR called X20 that enables a Mac OS Web server to access a LAN based Oracle7 database. Purity Software has a new competitive upgrade program priced at US$150 for users of NetCloak or NetForms to upgrade to their WepSiphon v1.0.2 product. Users of v1.0.2 will get a free upgrade to v1.5 when it ships later this year. Apple has announced that developers will get a first hand look at Mac OS 8, and Rhapsody OS at their upcoming May97 World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC). [iNews] Apple has released their "next-generation server software" called AppleShare IP 5.0 -- offering AppleShare and FTP filesharing, WWW, and email services. [iNews] ** INTERNET ** A 'leading independent information technology analyst group' called Ovum has released a new report that states "agent's will have a big impact on how the WWW gets transformed in the near future. Agents will be specifically used as a catalyst for electronic commerce and for help systems." [iNews] DEC has announced that INTERSOLV has joined DEC's AllConnect for UNIX Program, and will offer their middleware technology called DataDirect to DEC's AllConnect customer base. [iNews] Microsoft is in the process of restoring one-and-a-half days of back-up messages from their mail service that went down last week. [iNews] ** OTHER ** Computer Reseller News Online reports that Intel is planning to begin showing off their 300-MHz Pentium based microprocessor sometime in May97. [iNews] In business news -- Microsoft's profit was up 85% during their last fiscal Q3 at US$1.04 billion. Quaker Oats lost US$1.1 billion their fiscal Q1, and Walt Disney Corporation has earned US$333 million in their fiscal quarter. [iNews] $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ To much info in NewtNews for you? Does all the Macintosh information make you want to puke? Then maybe you should check out NewtNews-Savvy. For $20 you get 40 issues of just lean and mean Newton/PDA/Wireless information directly to your inbox of choice. Send an email message with the subject containing 'NewtNews-Savvy' to 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: . $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ Edupage, 21Apr97 thru 27Apr97 ----------------------------- ** THE FIGHT OVER APPLE'S SOUL ** Stunned that Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison wants to buy Apple not for its Macintosh technology but as a builder of the stripped-down "network computers" (NCs) he wants to promote, some Apple loyalists are calling Ellison "a fool," "a villain" and a man who would "destroy Apple as a company." Ellison says his vision for Apple includes both Mac NCs and standard Macs: "I intend to use the Mac OS to build Mac NCs. Big Macs will continue. I am a Mac user. Have been since 1984. The only way to save the Mac is to increase unit volume. Big Macs -- like the one you and I have grown to love -- will continue. Networks of low-cost Mac NCs will be sold to schools and add to the overall Mac volume. At $500 for a Mac NC, more people will be able to afford a Mac. Big Macs plus little Mac NCs make for good business at Apple...and better schools." (San Jose Mercury News 22 Apr 97) ** EXPONENTIAL MISSES THE MARK ** Exponential Technology says its first prototype chips, which were predicted to blaze at 533-MHz, are chugging along at rates below 500-MHz, and a company VP says Exponential won't hit its target speed until the second half of the year. The new chips are destined for Apple Computer's Macintosh and clones. Exponential says it will ship the slower chips this quarter, as planned, and continue working on the speed problem. (Wall Street Journal 21 Apr 97) ** WINDOWS 97 DELAY MEETS WITH BIG YAWN ** Computer makers and consumers seem unfazed by Microsoft's announcement that Windows 97 will probably become Windows 98 instead. "We don't see it as a big demand issue at all," says a spokesman for Gateway 2000. "Obviously there's interest in it out there, but there's no rabid interest." For starters, some PC manufacturers say there are already too many Windows products on the market -- 3.1, 95 and NT -- which confuses consumers. "I don't think people are looking for Memphis (Window 97's code name). I think the financial markets are looking for Memphis," says a spokesman for Hewlett-Packard. And there's still plenty of room for growth in Windows 95 sales: a Forrester Research survey shows that 71% of corporations are still using Windows 3.1. Only 13% were using Windows 95, more than a year after its introduction. (Investor's Business Daily 21 Apr 97) ** NET STATS ** Did you know that Chrysler expects that 25% of its sales in 2001 will be conducted online (only 1.5% are online currently)? Or that the estimated number of new jobs worldwide created in 1996 by the Internet was 1.1 million? Or that the estimated total Internet advertising revenues in 1996 were $266.9 million? (Internet Index 16 Apr 97) ** INTERNET TELEPHONY TO HURT MAJOR TELECOM CARRIERS ** A report prepared by the London consulting firm Philips Tarifica predicts that Deutsche Telekom, which is the largest telecommunications group in Europe, will see revenues from international phone calls drop by at least $171 million in 2001 as the result of cheap Internet telephony, and that the same fate will befall other major telecoms, including AT&T, KDD of Japan, and VNSL in India. (Financial Times 26 Apr 97) $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ This space for rent. For more info: . Thanks. $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ INNOVATION, 21Apr97 ------------------- ** TRENDS: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY VALUE REDEFINED ** Traditional measures such as benchmarking and cost/benefit analysis have proven useless in identifying the competitive advantages offered by new information technologies, leaving CIOs vulnerable for big-ticket technology overhauls that can't be justified in the short term. In fact, a recent study by computer Economics Report estimates that 75% of information systems investments produced no easily calculable business value. To justify budget requests, many CIOs are switching to some combination of the following techniques: 1) Economic value-added -- measuring the benefit by assessing productivity gains in some specific area. 2) Activity-based costing -- determining the cost of providing a service to a particular business unit, with the goal of charging that unit for the service (this is the most common approach). 3) Options analysis -- evaluating corporate goals, without trying to tie the investment to a tangible business benefit; this system is better for evaluating major technology initiatives such as migrating to a client-server system. 4) Performance-based budgeting -- using a rigid system of measures, where percentages are tied to performance goals in order to evaluate the effectiveness of technology. And for multiyear projects, some IT directors use a formula that measures one-time costs against long-term goals -- say, the cost savings over 10 to 20 years of replacing one low-salary position with a technical solution. (Information Week 7Apr97) ** STRATEGIES: LET'S DECIDE WHO GETS TO DECIDE ** The greatest weakness in product innovation is the "fuzzy front end," when the product concept is in danger of becoming a moving target as product planners argue over whether the product does or doesn't "match the company strategy." Is there a solution? Yes, but not a cookie-cutter one: "We caution against oversimplification: not all companies should adopt the same front-end solution, and most will need to adopt more than one." In general, company size, decision-making style, operating culture, and frequency of new product introduction are principal factors to examine in seeking a solution, but the single most important thing you can do is explicitly define the roles and responsibilities of project leader, core team and executive review committee. The solution to fuzziness is ... clarity! And so the critical thing is to decide who gets to decide -- because it matters less who makes the decision than that the decision process is well-understood. (Anil Khurana & Stephen R. Rosenthal, "Integrating The Fuzzy Front End Of New Product Development," Sloan Management Review Winter 97) ** INNOVATIONS: ARTHUR C. CLARKE'S SPACE ELEVATOR ** Arthur C. Clarke has proven more than once that his science fiction imagination often can turn into science fact. Here's his latest: "Another thing I'm keen on is the space elevator. There's a counterweight beyond the stationary orbit, you see. Imagine Earth is like a sling, it has a long cable with a weight at the far end, and it just revolves, and if the cable is long enough, the weight at the far end will keep it taut. Until Richard Smalley at Rice University discovered how to make nanotubes out of carbon 60, the buckyball molecule, we didn't have (a cable with enough tensile strength). Now we've got it. We can't start building it yet, because we can't make carbon 60 nanotubes except in laboratory quantities, but someday we will. When we do, do you know what the cost of taking a human being to stationary orbit will be? A one-way trip, about a hundred dollars. A two-way trip, only ten dollars because you get 90 percent of the energy back on the return journey." (Arthur C. Clarke, interviewed by Fred Guterl, Discover May 97) ** MORE INFO ON INNOVATION ** Innovation is published weekly, with individual subscriptions available at $15 a year. Topics are organized under the following headers: TRENDS, STRATEGIES, and INNOVATIONS. For a six-week free trial subscription to Innovation, please send an email message to and in the subject line type the word: 'subscribe'. You can also use the trial registration form on their Web site at: . For more info, send email to: or $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ NEED A NEWTON PROGRAMMER? NewtNews has a list of over 48 Internet based Newton programmers who are interested in working on vertical or horizontal market solutions. Please send email to: if you would like the list or would like to be added to the list. $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ Dear Newton Developer --------------------- ** INTRODUCTION & INCENTIVE ** This area is dedicated to trying to solve NewtNews readers programming needs, and in turn hopefully lead to the creation of a legitimate Newton shareware solution for the developer solving the problem. If a developer solves such a problem, NewtNews will give them a 50% price reduction for any advertising service they order for that product in our Products and Services area. If you have a utility you need written, please let NewtNews know by sending an email to: . ** BETTER RECORDING TOOL?!? ** Douglas Ivers would like a better voice recording Notepad or utility that would have big buttons for easier tapping like when one is in their car. He would also like an 'instant' recording on feature when you power up the device. ** NIE EMAIL WAKE-UP CALL?!? ** Paul Gilna would be interested in an add-on utility to the NIE email products (specifically Eudora Pro) that would wake-up his Newton a certain time, and automatically connect and download his email. ** MP2K KEYBOARD EXTENSION?!? ** Joe Van Deventer would like an extension that would recognize when he hooks his keyboard up to his MP2K via the interconnect port and then automatically rotate his Newton screen to landscape mode. When you disconnect the keyboard the extension should rotate the screen back to the original position. ** INTERNAL MODEM IN THE WORKS?!? ** Jerry Velasco is interested in learning more about any hardware manufacturer that is thinking about or already developing in MP2K internal modem that fits into the 'slot' currently covered over by the top latch on a MP2K. Other Tidbits of Information ---------------------------- ** COMPUTER UNDER YOUR SKIN ** Andrew Plumb reports that Interval Research of Palo Alto, California have been awarded a 'programmable tattoo' patent. This "small liquid-crystal display is inserted just beneath the skin on the wrist, where most people wear a watch. Because human skin is partially transparent, the display is clearly visible." ** FORBES -- 05MAY97 ** Passing Newton mention on page 45 in an article written by Rita Koselka entitled "Solving the DEC Puzzle." The Newton mention is part of a list of 'DEC strengths' -- Alpha chip, StrongARM (growing at 30%), Internet data servers, AltaVista Internet Search Engine, and a 'giant' computer service and repair business. Bruce Upbin has an article called "Nextel's second chance: Nextel Communications' founder had a great idea, but ideas are worthless without good execution" on page 59. The article has an interesting quote about Motorola by Craig McCaw -- "Motorola's greatest weakness is its inability to work well as a partner with other companies, but what they have done for us is the best job they have ever done." Guy Kawasaki's "Pratfalls 101" column on page 177 also has a Newton mention in a 'highlight' that Apple is building an $800 laptop that uses the Newton OS for school systems (aka the eMate 300). Advertising Notes ----------------- If you are interested in advertising in NewtNews please send email to: . 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 ------------------------------- * INFORMED FILLER FOR NEWTON is your mobile data collection solution for Inspection forms, Health Care forms ... in fact, for any forms you use! Design custom forms on your Macintosh with Informed Designer. Then, fill out your forms on the Newton quickly and accurately using automatic defaults, choice lists, calculations and signatures. Finally, send completed forms directly to Informed Filler on your desktop for further processing. Now when you buy Informed Designer, you'll also get Informed Filler for the desktop AND a BONUS Newton Filler. For more details about this exciting offer, contact Shana Corp. at: (800) 386-7244, email at: or visit our Web site at: . * 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, , * 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: For more information contact: 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 * 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: , or (312) 262-5150. Also check out our Web site at: . * Tim Constantine has several cutting edge Newton solutions: Flash - A Speed Reading Tutor; CrazyDice - Multi-player Strategy Game, and Clean Notes - Stationary w/o Lines. For more info: or . Tim is also available for custom Newton application development. Send Tim email if you have a question about custom application development or about his cutting edge solutions. * NEW! 8th Volume of the Totally Incomplete PDA CD-ROM for Newton! This CD-ROM from AMUG CD, Inc. contains over 1400 packages, and 600+ megs in Mac and PC format. 2.x & 1.x Packages can be downloaded directly from the CD to your MessagePad. Maximize your Newton experience! $29 + S/H. Call AMUG 602.497-2244, or email to order! See our Newton CD web page at . * 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: , vox: 503-221-1148, fax: 503-221-8709, or . * CATAMOUNT SOFTWARE offers the following: - POCKETMONEY assists you in balancing your checking, savings, credit card and loan accounts. Export and import transactions to Quicken, MYM and other desktop based program. - NAMIGATOR gives rapid access to Names. I know, I have over 5000. - MPG helps you keep your vehicle records in order. Track fuel economy, record mileage for tax purposes, schedule repeating vehicle maintenance items for multiple vehicles. - MORGAN is the Newton Media ORGANizer. Track CDs, tapes, records books, laserdiscs, videos, and more... For more information call 802-372-9512, email , or visit our web site . * 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: or . * GET AMIGO NOW! Did you know you can order AMIGO the premier 8000+ word English/Spanish Dictionary Reference Tool and Translation program for the Newton over the World Wide Web at: ? AMIGO is available for US$24.95 and it comes with a full year of upgrades. For more information contact ACCSYS by email at: * GPS MAP and GPS MAP LITE -- GPS based navigation with real moving maps, showing all details as familiar from paper based maps. Features -- map calculator, route planning, database, history track, and mission recorder. Import your own maps from your Mac or PC at any scale. Connects to most GPS receiver's offering a NMEA183 interface. For more info/demo: or . * 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: or Guest Opinions -------------- ** LOSS OF MP130 WILL BE BAD NEWS FOR VERTICAL MARKETS ** Bruce MacWhirter at Tima Scientific has written the following letter to Apple. He thought it would be beneficial for NewtNews readers to read it also: "The sales we have achieved in our first 30 days and customer response validate our claim that the MessagePad 2000 is a compelling business machine," says Sandy Bennett, vice president of the Newton Systems Group. Great. But why the silence on the decision to discontinue the MP130? To be frank, as Newton developers working in vertical markets, we were STUNNED to learn from our supplier that the MP130 is no more. Why is Apple seemingly pushing this matter under the carpet? What about Bennett's public comment (at SF developer's conference) that there would always be an entry-level Newton? Moreover, as Bennett boasts, the 2000 is a BUSINESS MACHINE. What about those of us working in vertical markets outside of business, in which the MP2K's bundled software is more of a detraction than a benefit for our customers? Where is their expressed commitment to vertical markets? Where is the low-cost, bare bones Newton that allows us to add value to the brilliant OS and hardware and keep our prices at an acceptable level? For many of us, the increase in the base price of the MP will mean we absorb at least part of the increased cost of our solutions or raise our prices. The latter move will assuredly reduce the size of our market. Both moves reduce the viability of our company. Full stop. Discussions with 3 other Newton software dev. houses indicate that all are similarly SHOCKED and upset over Apple's decision about the MP130 and the rather underhanded manner in which the news was (or wasn't) made public. If Apple assumed that the response to the discontinuation of the MP130 would be received by developers in much the same way developers might respond to, say, the loss of a Performa model, they are seriously out of touch with their 3rd-party developers. So, Apple wasn't listening after all. We remain committed to the Newton OS and the MP because no other OS/hardware combination will work as well in our vertical market. Look out, though, if another platform emerges that can compete with the Newton OS. We'll be gone without saying good-bye. Sincerely, Bruce MacWhirter, Ph.D. ** MP2K - IT'S BETTER THAN A LAPTOP ** Klaus Felsche writes: I've been lucky enough to have a new MP2K. I used to own an original MP, upgraded to the MP120 and its Newton OS 2.0 when it became available, but I did not expect the quantum leap in the latest version. The reviews were right, there is nothing like it. I used to drag my Duo 2300 around with me, even on short trips but the MP2K has taken over that role. Economy (Coach) class seats are no longer a problem, the MP2K fits and can be read and there's even enough room for the keyboard. Handwriting is great, errors are easily corrected and the stylus makes the machine very portable. The OS is excellent. The only problems to date: - the NCU beta for Mac and Windows has rough edges (my version won't sync with my Claris Organizer 2 and the Win version doesn't like my Windows setup. - the little fiddle dock could be better - it is too easy to dislodge. By the way, the Newton's infra-red port is absolutely great. It sends files to the HP LaserJet 5MP flawlessly, and talks to other Newtons of all generations. Quicken (Win version) combines flawlessly with the Pocket Quicken version and synchronizes flawlessly (and it's very quick now). I have also used the NIE and a GSM (Nokia) cellular phone - perfect once you get the protocols to the ISP right and you get used to using only standard ASCII characters in the message (the poor old internet does not like umlauts!). All in all, it's great and Apple should make a bucket of money from this kit. If Apple wants to sell off the Newton, I'll buy shares in the new company. ** MP2K & CELLULAR PHONES ** Jeff Wright posted the following recently to comp.sys.newton.misc: Well, after spending the past few weeks getting my MP2K set up and tweaked for the road, I'm thrilled to say -- I'm a travelling machine! I've all but dumped my Win95 laptop and am able to do many of the things I've wanted to do before. The final piece of the puzzle came in today and I gotta tell you -- it's wonderful. I had purchased the XJ4336 Megahertz 33.6 PCMCIA modem for my MP2K thanks to a poster on this newsgroup. It runs without a hitch! I then decided to purchase the Nokia 2160 cellular phone that worked with my new modem and MP2K to keep sending and receiving information while in my car. IT'S WONDERFUL! I can send and receive faxes & email, and I can browse the web to my hearts content! What a wonderful world we live in!!! I just wanted to report back on my successes -- the Megahertz modem, cellular phone combo. This is truly a portable machine! Thanks! [EDITOR: Jeff is responsible for the site called NewtWorld which you can access via: .] Administrivia ------------- NewtNews Copyright 1994-97 Steve Holden. All rights reserved. Non-profit, non-commercial publications may reprint articles if full credit is given. Others please contact me. NewtNews doesn't guarantee accuracy of articles. NewtNews does not express or imply any endorsement of any businesses participating in this publication. My personal comments may be included in articles NewtNews reports by highlighting them as -- [SDH: Comments]. Official NewtNews Editor's comments are highlighted as -- [Editor: Comments]. Publication, product, and company names may be registered trademarks of their companies. All trademarks used in this publication are for informational purposes only and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringing on that trademark. Send contributions and comments to Steve Holden, Editor and Publisher at: . Other important NewtNews players include: - Reviews Editor: Bob Torres - Newton Book: Mark Heringer <4535904@mcimail.com> - NewtNews Pro: Dave Hina - FTP site & email list admin: Bob Torres - NewtNews Travel Guide: Andrew Wong SUBSCRIPTIONS: email with 'subscribe newt_news' as the body of your message (no quotes) UNSUBSCRIBE: email with 'unsubscribe newt_news' WWW: FTP: NEWTON REFERENCE: NEWTON CLASSIFIEDS: This edition of NewtNews was written with the help of: dinner at Oscar's in Mission Valley; and shopping most of the day on Saturday with Christy at UTC shopping center. Disclaimer: I am doing this on my own time, and on my own hardware *********** and software not the government's or my employer's.