[40] in bcs-newton
Re: Articles for the Newton Newsletter
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Sam Hunting)
Sun Nov 1 15:21:44 1992
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1992 15:18:34 -0500 (EST)
From: Sam Hunting <shunting@world.std.com>
To: Jim Rinaldo <bcs_jim@MIT.EDU>
Cc: bcs-newton@world.std.com
In-Reply-To: <9210292210.AA20240@MIT.EDU>
This sounds dynamite to me. I'm thinking of having a feature focus in the
first BCS magazine on pen stuff... It might set us in solid with Apple if
we could play up the "it's not a computer; it's an intelligent assistant"
aspect. The story might put some impetus behind your group, too. Anyone
want to take me up on this?
On Thu, 29 Oct 1992, Jim Rinaldo wrote:
> 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 !!
