[37] in bcs-newton
Articles for the Newton Newsletter
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jim Rinaldo)
Thu Oct 29 17:11:40 1992
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 92 17:26:38 EST
From: bcs_jim@MIT.EDU (Jim Rinaldo)
To: bcs-newton@world.std.com
Hello;
You are being mailed this message because you posted interest in writing
for the Boston Computer Society's new Apple Newton newsletter.
We are currently in the process of setting up a mail list that will
exclusevly used for running the newsletter.
Below are a number of topics suggested by folks for articles. Which one
really grabs you? I would like to get people to write about things they
are motivated about.
One other thing to keep in mind: the Newton suite of technologies are
not computers; they are a suite of intelligent assistants, starting off
with the Apple Newton Notepad (the one you keep seeing on magazines).
The focus may need to be on how a business would "real-world" work with
the technology; the idea being a visually-oriented tour of an app and
some of the ways the tech works.
Posted by myself:
- The Newton Partners: Motorola, Skytel, Pac Bell, Random House,
others. There are a number of appealing apps and app classes that they
are producing. Some features on this would be great.
I [Jim R.] would like to tackle the Motorola end of this, because it
seems juicy and they have the most real-world infostructure/apps out
there.
- The ARM chip (set?). I think more info about the "WunderEngine" behind
the Newton would appeal to folks who want to develop for Newton. Are
there tools for it? Assemblers/compilers/etc? Is Radius the only company
that has done ARM development? Having one takin apart & photographed at
68000x/Electon Microscope would make a cool cover for an issue.
- A Directors Message/note; some ideas from Albert about where the group
should go, the revolution that is the technology, how this is not a
computer, etc.
- I spread on how the Newton works, on what jestures are, the doc format
shelf, and other stuff. Would have to be very graphical, and for the
paper version. A glossary of Newton terms would be good (Gesturing,
postureing, Vogueing, virtual notebook paper, whatever....)
- A dissection of building Newton Information apps. There has been talk
of doing a BCS Cal as the app. If we could get someone to do this then
show the steps gone through, I think it would again
appeal to deveoper types. Or, show how Random House built/is building
the Fodor's electronic version.
- What is this Dylan stuff? Is Apple seriously going to adopt it as the
dev.framework for the newton? How does one get the free Apple book?
What resources are out there (Kendal-DEC Thomas version; others)
I think the first issue needs both a strong consumer mix of how this
works and what you can do with it, combined with a developer/tech
standpoint on what is behind the magic. I think though that Apple says
it is aiming towards the business market. A look should be taken at The
Corporate Newton. How can this interact with enterprise resources and
servers back home to make scheduling easier or help people decide what
to wear to work or whatever.
Another nice thing would be a biography of magazine/information
resources about Newton and a glossary of terms.
How does one go about developing PCMIA cards for Newton? What info is
out there? What about those Slickum HP or whoever hard drives that fit
on a PCMIA card? Is there other generic PCMIA stuff that is needed?
Motorola seems to be taking the lead with PCMIA, and there are a few
laptops (Zeinith Safari's [I think] come to mind; Pournelle was writing
about them in a recent Byte) that use the standard.
Will Newtons be islands on the Net? What connects right out of the box
with a Newton? It seems that Infrared wireless comes out of the box,
according to a new Newton brochure. It also will have a simple-to-use
Newton fax accessory that plugs into any phone. What are the
possibilities for America Online on Newtons, or Comm. Kiosks in every
airport that one can plug a newton into an connect? Or have voicemail
readers, pagers, Celli Phones all in one? I realize Motorola has
announced cellular, Pac Bell and Skytel has stuff but there are other
exciting communications/telecomm issues.
That last section should especially be focused on those who couldn't
give a damn about AT codes, Internet sub.nets, etc etc. Just folks who
want to communicate.
Posted by Sam Hunting:
I would like to see a quick, easy, short monthly Newton publication,
small enough to fit into a Newton's case, and consisting mainly of tips
very concrete information on using the Newton; a kind of "Cheat sheet."
Then, quarterly, the larger Newton magazine would come out. Much like
New Media News (our best current newsletter), it would contain
*sponsors* rather than advertisers......
As to media:
My answer is "Yes." Each publication should be faxable, printable, and
downloadable, at the discretion of the users. (Note: sponsors will
probably want print!!) Note that the short, monthly newsltter can
contain pointers and indexes to the longer articles available online.
Posted by Ben Schaffer (paraphrased; Newt for mac subbed):
- explanations of the philosophy behind the Newton
- a look at how its hardware functions
- how to use Basic apps included and MacPaint effectively
- some programming exercises
- interviews with a few pseudo-leaders of the industry, examples of what
people have done with their Newtons,
- and [Ben's] my favorite, recollections from the Newton team.
OK; this should be enough stuff for the first 6 issues.
We need to get rolling. I will have the Newton Newsletter WORK WORK WORK
mail list up in the next two weeks. I think Albert should set a working
meet date to talk about thinks we want the group to do.
Let's Roll! Rawhide! Ya Ya !!
