NewtNews - 11.28.94 - 0120
==========================
by Steve Holden (sholden@owens.ridgecrest.ca.us)

This is a summary of the information that I come in contact with that
deals with the Newton and related technologies.

NewtNews is Copyright 1994 Steve Holden. See the Administrivia at
end.

Table of Contents
-----------------
  1. email
  2. Network World, November 21, 1994
  3. InfoWorld, November 21, 1994
  4. Edupage 11/20/94
  5. Edupage 11/22/94
  6. The HiTek Report, Vol 1 - Number 17, November 28, 1994
  7. iNews
  8. MUST READS!
  9. Product and Service Information
 10. Comments from the Editor
 11. Administrivia

email
-----
* GERMAN NCK 2.0 MAILED TO NCK 1.0 OWNERS
    Michael Henze (100302.443@compuserve.com) reports that he just
received his Newton Connection Kit 2.0 German Edition. It was a free
upgrade for owners of NCK 1.0 and it also comes with StarCore's Newton
Data Viewer.
    Mike is also a lucky owner of a MP120.  He is planning to do a
review for NewtNews soon. We are looking forward to his review!

* MPG 2.0 RELEASED!
    Hardy Macia (HardyMacia@eworld.com) of Catamount Software reports
that he is pleased to announce version 2.0 of MPG.  Version 1.3 of
MPG was ranked 4th in MacWeek's top 10 list in June.
    Catamount Software is offering one free copy to MPG 2.0 to each
user group. It is up to the user group to decide what to do with the
program. It can be given away as a door prize or given to a user that
wishes to write up an evaluation of the program. Please contact
Catamount Software for more information.

* GENERAL MAGIC COMDEX INFORMATION
    In response to my request for COMDEX information, Christian Moskal
(dimento@cs.tu-berlin.de) forwarded a report posted to the Internet
written by Mark Ressa (A5133643615@ATTPLS.NET). All the information
in " " is from Mark.
    The focus of the article is on Motorola's General Magic device
called Envoy.  The biggest difference between the Envoy and the Sony
MagicLink is that the Envoy is wireless. This is accomplished using
Ardis and gives you access to AT&T's PersonalLink, AOL, Market
Square, and RadioMail. The bottom line is that "you'll be spending
about $110 per month to 'stay in touch' and 'fax from the beach.'"
    The price should be between $999-1499 and shipping date should be
around March 1995.
    The other major tidbit was on MarketSquare.  While the AT&T's
Customer Care Center report "that it should be out this December" it
probably won't be out until "March 1995." It will also cost $0.21/min
but customers' should expect to be subsidized by the venders in
MarketSquare. AT&T also feels that while the future will have 1000s
of venders, at first the Market Place will focus on "one of
everything."

* ANNOUNCEMENT: "NEWT REPORT"
    Gerald Mesaric (gmesaric@iicm.tu-graz.ac.at) has release his zero
issue of the NewtReport.  The NewtReport is a freely available
hypermedia journal on Newton Technology over the Internet, which you
can access using your favorite Mosaic browser by using the following
URL: (http://www.iicm.tu-graz.ac.at/CNewtReport).

* MOTOROLA LAUNCHES NEW WIRELESS PCMCIA MODEM
    Motorola launched their Personal Messenger 100D on Friday the 25th
of November to be available during the first week of December.
    The PM100D is a intelligent wireless modem card for wide area data
communications use. The modem is a PCMCIA Type II card that is
self-powered, or programatically can draw on the host for power, it
has been designed to work with the Australian Telecom MobileData
network. The modem provides support for numerous platforms, ie,
Laptops, Palmtops and PDA devices (Newton), a number of applications
for the Newton where demonstrated after the launch.
    PCMCIA card is the standard size with a bulb the size a box of
matches on the end of it not on top but attached to the end of the
card. It contains a 68330 processor and a CustomASIC chip, has 128K
ROM, 8K RAM or an optional configuration is 64K RAM, I/O is 8bytes,
CIS 128bytes.
    The device was demonstrated sending an email message to and from
the service here in Australia, delivery time was 4 seconds, the
person doing the demo said it was a bit slow today and that the
normal time to delivery is about 2 seconds.

* APPLICATION TO REGISTER YOUR SHAREWARE BECOMES BETA
    Flash Sheridan (FlaSheridn@rahul.net) reports that you should now
be able to access  his beta Register application and example code
for developers. Register lets a user pay via email for shareware with
a credit card, NetCash, or First Virtual debit.  Payment goes via the
Kagi Shareware clearing house (which handles registrations for Peter
Lewis's Anarchie, among other things).  The user just picks the
program from a pop-up list of the programs in his Extras and enters
his credit card info.
    Programmers who want to receive checks from Kagi Shareware should
do two things: create a top-level slot called sharewareFee,
preferably containing an integer number of US dollars, and email
their developer signatures to (shareware@kagi.com), so that Kagi will
accept payments instead of bouncing them back to the user. Kagi takes
a 4% commission, I take 1%, and the credit card companies take their
usual amount; the rest is forwarded to the author.
    The first beta should be available at the URL
(ftp://ftp.rahul.net/pub/flasheridn/Register.sit.hqx) The
registration sample code is already available at the URL
(ftp://ftp.rahul.net/pub/flasheridn/developers/RegisterSampleCode.sit.hqx)

Network World, November 21, 1994
--------------------------------
* DSVD SUPPORT IN THE MODEM WORLD
    US Robotics, Rockwell, Hayes, Intel, and Creative Labs have all
pledged support for Digital Simultaneous Voice and Data (DSVD) that
is an enhancement to V.34 modems.  The International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) has not yet seen the DSVD standard,
and is currently studying the Packet Media Multiplexing (PMM) spec
championed by Motorola. [p. 8]

* NEW MIDDLEWARE FROM MOTOROLA
    Interested in doing wireless development? Then you should look into
AirMobile from Motorola.  Its' API will shield application developers
from the underlying packet radio network protocols.  It also supports
Novell's Message Handling Service (MHS).

InfoWorld, November 21, 1994
----------------------------
* FRONT PAGE ARTICLES
    DB2 will join desktop fray: IBM to take on Microsoft, Borland; PC
makers balk at bundle: Microsoft wants OEMs to quick-march to
Windows95; IBM envisions key role for x86-enhanced 615 chip; Gates
unguarded: Hot Seat Microsoft's CEO & chairman goes off-line and on
the record; and Windows95 shakes up Apple's plans.

* MORE MAGIC-CAP DEVICES PLANNED FOR FUTURE
    Matsushita (Panasonic) and Motorola will be competing again next
year when they both introduce Magic-Cap devices next year.  Each
device will come with varying types of communications, but all will
have built-in modems. [p. 14]

* MAGICLINK SELLS OUT
    Yes, it is true. Sony reported that many stores have sold out of
their share of MagicLink devices.  Of course, when pressed, officials
did admit that most stores only have 4 or less devices available for
purchase.  Production of the device is low, so the inventory is being
depleted as expected. [p. 14]

* GECKO WILL ROLE OUT WITH ENVOY?!?
    It appears that Motorola's Newton (codename 'Gecko') will ship when
the Envoy ships in Q1, 1995.  It will have the same Envoy
claimshell design and include Ardis wireless network connectivity.
It was also released that the Newton, Magic Cap and WinPad devices
being built by Motorola are engineered by separate teams but
marketing efforts have been consolidated into one single department.
[p. 14]

* V.34 MODEMS SHIPPING NOW, WITH MORE TO FOLLOW SOON
    Motorola, Rockwell, and AT&T all have chips based on the ITU V.34
28.8Kbps standard.  The following companies have products or plan to
have products by early 1995 based on these chips: Computer
Peripherals, Hayes, Microcom, TDK, and Zyxel. [p. 54]

Edupage 11/20/94
----------------
* IBM TO LICENSE MAC OPERATING SYSTEM
    Act I, they fall in love. Act II, there's a misunderstanding. Act
III, the lovers reunite. We seem to be in Act III, and IBM now says
it will indeed license Mac OS and load it unmodified into IBM systems
based on the PowerPC chip. Apple will also license the software to
eight or more other PC manufacturers. Will there be a single common
operating system from Apple and IBM, as many customers want? Apple
and IBM say no. We'll check again when the curtain rises on Act IV.
(New York Times 11/18/94 B4) ... Meanwhile, in another theater, a
different IBM spokesman denies that the company is in negotiation
with Apple to license Mac OS, or that it has any plans to do so.
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11/19/94 C3)

* MODEMS IN A COMMODITY MARKETPLACE
    The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Atlanta-based Hayes
Microcomputer Products was caused not only by problems of cash flow
and production control, but also by the steep descent of modem prices
in a commodity market in which brand names are not very important
anymore. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11/18/94 F1)

* PC MAKERS REJECT NEW MICROSOFT PRICING PLAN
    When Microsoft releases its Windows 95 software it plans to up the
license fee it charges PC companies by more than 100%, resulting in a
cost increase of $100 to $150 per PC, say manufacturers. Rebellious
PC makers are talking about boycotting the Windows upgrade, and
instead installing the 3.1 version. This means Microsoft would have
to handle the upgrade through traditional retail channels.
(Investor's Business Daily 11/18/94 A5)

Edupage 11/22/94
----------------
* MCI'S PIPELINE TO THE INTERNET
    MCI Communications is building a pipeline to the Internet, hoping
to capitalize on Internet access as a major part of its business plan
for the future. The "internetMCI" initiative will begin early next
year, with MCI's network hooking up to several regional providers of
Internet services. MCI will also offer interactive shopping on its
"marketplaceMCI," using NetScape Communications' new Mosaic software.
"The message is basically going to be: When you think Internet,
you'll think MCI," says Vint Cerf, an MCI senior VP and one of the
Internet's original designers. (Wall Street Journal 11/21/94 B5)

* TIME WARNER'S RESALE STRATEGY FOR CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS
    In the battle between phone and cable companies over the wireless
communications market, Time Warner Communications has adopted a
resale strategy under which it will buy time from other cellular
companies and resell it to its own customers. "There is a huge time
benefit. It allows us to jump right into the market" says a Time
Warner executive, during an announcement of the company's plans to
begin cellular service soon in Rochester, N.Y. (Wall Street Journal
11/22/94 A4)

* FCC NETS $522.3 MILLION IN PCS EARNEST MONEY
    The auction hasn't even started, and the FCC is already $522.3
million richer. Thirty companies anted up the earnest money required
to bid on the coveted personal communications services licenses
scheduled for the auction block starting Dec. 5. When it's all over,
the sale is expected to net some $10 billion. (Wall Street Journal
11/22/94 B6)

The HiTek Report, Vol 1 - Number 17, November 28, 1994
------------------------------------------------------
* NEXT AND SUNSOFT RELEASE FINAL OPENSTEP SPECIFICATION
    NeXT and SunSoft have released the final specification which
defines the API for OpenStep. The OpenStep specification is now
available to the public via anonymous FTP from NeXT's archive server:
(ftp.next.com). [#1445]

* EPSON INTRODUCES NEW DYO(TM) DRIVE
    Epson has announced the availability of its new DYO drive that
combines a full-function PCMCIA Type III socket and a 1.44MB,
3.5-inch floppy disk drive in a single half-height package. [#1448]

* THE INTERNET METAMORPHOSES FROM FAD TO ESSENTIAL BUSINESS TOOL
    The latest ACM Communications states that the Internet, regarded
as the "techno fad of the decade" only a year ago, suddenly has
become a serious and immensely valuable - if not indispensable -
instrument for corporations and entrepreneurs to do business, locally
and globally.
    "The worldwide scope and volume of the Internet makes it perhaps
the most valuable tool" a business can use "to gain timely and
significant insights into overall market trends, competitive
pressures and market opinion," writes Brian A. Nejmeh in a new CACM
column, "Enterprising Innovations," that covers software enterprise.
[#1458]

* MEGAHERTZ AVAILABILITY OF V.34 PCMCIA MODEMS
    Megahertz Holding Corp has announced immediate availability of its
new PCMCIA Modems, making it the first company to ship PCMCIA modems
based on the new standard. The Megahertz 28.8Kbps PCMCIA Fax Modem
provides data communications speeds up to twice that of previous
V.32bis standard modems (14.4Kbps) and features Meghertz's patented
XJACK(R) connector system.[#1459]

* ZYXEL ADDS VOICEVIEW THROUGHOUT MODEM LINE
    ZyXEL has completed the implementation of the VoiceView protocol
across its complete line of modems, including its new line of V.34
modems. VoiceView, developed by Radish Communications Systems, Inc.
Voice View is an open protocol designed to enhance the exchange of
both voice and data during a single telephone Call 714-693-0808 for
more information [#1462]

* APPLE RAID SWR NOW SHIPPING FOR RISC SERVERS
    Apple is now shipping Apple RAID (Redundant Array of Independent
Disks) Software for their PowerPC microprocessor-based Workgroup
Servers 6150, 8150, and 9150. Apple RAID technology provides
Workgroup Server customers an easy way to protect critical data and
improve disk performance. Apple RAID Software will be bundled with
all PowerPC-processor based Workgroup Servers at no charge. [#1463]

iNews
-----
    Apple has announced the PowerMac 6100 DOS Compatible System and DOS
Compatibility Card for PowerMac 6100 and Mac Performa 6100 Series.
[Newsbytes]
    Motorola has demonstrated that both competing digital cellular
phone technologies -- CDMA and TDMA -- will work fine for the new PCS
systems about to be installed across the US. Both technologies have
been proved practical in the 800 MHz range. [Newsbytes]
    Thinking Machines said that it plans to emerge from Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection sometime next year as a software and service
provider. [Reuters]
    Cray Computer is setting its final hopes for survival on its Cray-4
machine, which it is targeting to deliver in second quarter next
year. [Reuters]
    MCI has unveiled its Internet service to consumers and businesses,
becoming the biggest brand name to sell access to the global computer
network. [Associated Press]
    The San Jose Mercury News has launched a low-cost news clipping and
screening service called NewsHound. [Newsbytes]
    America Online, Apple, and Medior have announced the formation of
2Market Inc., a new company that is delivering personal, innovative,
convenient, and entertaining ways of shopping for consumer products
and services from home. [Business Wire]
    Apple has announced the availability of the Apple Ethernet 10T/5
Workgroup Hub. [PR Newswire]
    Motorola's microcontroller Group revealed its newest, 24-bit
Digital Signal Processor: the 56007. They also showed off as well a
low-voltage version of the 56007 and a ROM-based version of the
56004. [Business Wire]
    Lynx Real-Time Systems announced  LynxOS support for Motorola
PowerPC single board computers [Business Wire]
    Mobile Telecommunication Technologies and Motorola announced that
the first in a new generation of two-way messaging units have been
shipped to Mtel's Destineer Corporation subsidiary. [Business Wire]
    Motorola reports that its new high speed FLEX paging system has been
adopted by the Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications as
the basis for a next-generation paging standard in Japan. [Reuters]
    Intel acknowledged that it has knowingly sold its flagship Pentium
microprocessors with a "bug" that can lead to errors in sophisticated
mathematical calculations. [Reuters]
    For more info about iNews contact INDIVIDUAL, Inc. at
800.414.1000.

MUST READS!
-----------
* _Intelligent Newton Magazine_, September/October 1994. See NewtNews
- 10.31.94 - 0117 for details on this issue. Contact IN Magazine at
(inmagazine1@eworld.com) or 415.433.2755.

* _PDA Developers_, Volume 2.5, Nov/Dec 1994. See NewtNews -
11.21.94 - 0119 - P2 for details on this issue.  Contact Steve Mann at
415.621.4252 or email at (cds@netcom.com).

* _Pen Computing_ , November 1994. See NewtNews - 10.31.94 - 0117 for
details on this issue.  Contact Nigel Ballard
(Nigel@dataman.demon.co.uk) if you'd like to get subscription
information.

Product and Service Information
-------------------------------
* SOLAR CHARGING FOR NEWTONS. Mention Newton_News and get 30% off SRP
of a Sun Runner, solar charging unit for all MessagePads. That makes
the price either $139 or $111 for a Sun Runner (two models
available). Add $5 S&H and you'll have an unlimited power source for
your Newton! Call 800.327.6882 or send e-mail to (KISS4@aol.com).

* QuickFigure Pro is Connected: Beam a spreadsheet to a co-worker.
NewtonMail a price list to a customer. Copy your analysis to the
notepad, and integrate it into a letter. Export your sales order to
Excel or Lotus 1-2-3 on your Mac or Windows machine. QuickFigure Pro
has the right connections. From PelicanWare, Inc., $49.95 plus S&H.
e-mail (donv@teleport.com) for more details, or 800.655.6398 for
ordering.

* WriteWare offers multi-function pen/styluses, and retrofits for the
Newton. The Stealth Stylus II is a dual function Pen/Stylus while the
Super Stealth Stylus is a Pen/Stylus/Pencil in either plastic or
metal case. Email (WriteWare@eWorld.com) for a full catalog and
pricing. Orders may be placed at International DataWares, Inc. at
800.222.6032.

* The BARRIER, screen protection system engineered specifically for
the Newton Message Pads. Features: long life, glare reduction,
improved writing surface, no adhesives, easy installation. For more
information: Email: (Mellow.S@eworld.com) Call: 800.882.8382; Fax:
505.662.2752. Package of 4 ($21.95 + $2.50 S&H)

* Special Newton Software Offer. Mention "Newton_News" and we will
give you $5 off any Coherent Visual software product! Available:
Rahmel Utilities for Newton, Common Words, and Spanish FlashCards.
VISA/MC accepted. E-mail: Coherent Visual (cvisual@cerf.net) or
call/fax for FREE catalog 619-944-8973, fax: 619-944-8522.

* Mention "Newton_News" when ordering Clear Lake Research's ChessPad
and receive a 25% discount off the SRP of $69.95. ChessPad is a
combination of a digital chess book and a portable chess set. It
contains 28 annotated games from the greatest players of all time and
100 chess problems. Demos on AOL, eWorld, and CompuServe. Phone:
713.663.7513; email: (DavidL62@AOL.COM).

* The WriteRight screen enhancement from the Concept Kitchen is a
specially designed clear plastic film that protects the Newton screen
from scratches, reduces screen glare and improves the feel of
writing.  The WriteRight is available in 4-packs for $11.95, 8-packs
for $18.95, and 12-packs for $24.95. We accept all major credit
cards.  Simply E-mail the Concept Kitchen for more details at
(kdmc@eworld.com) or call 415.929.1002.

* BBS in a Box, by the Arizona Mac Users Group, is a Macintosh CD
which also contains Newton files - over 270 files (11 megs
compressed). There is also an ISO version which can be mounted on a
PC. Newton_News readers can get the CD for $45 plus shipping. E-mail
(ashley@amug.org) or call 602.553.0066.

* The WEDGE, a desk stand for your PDA and pen. Features: holds your
PDA at a convenient working  angle, keeps your pen handy, sleek
lines,  made of durable clear Lucite, inexpensive.  For more
information: Email: (Mellow.S@eworld.com) Call: 800.882.8382; Fax:
505.662.2752. [$15.95 + $4 S&H]

* PDA Panache has fine styli available for both the Original MP and
MP110.  Our Telescoping110 pen is available in either 24K gold or
sterling silver for $29.95.  Original MP styli are available in
aluminum for $9.95 or gold (polished or brushed) for $19.95. We can
be reached for Visa/MasterCard orders at: 800.270.7196,
FAX:516-467-6329 or email (PDAPanache@eworld.com)

* Time To Go by Extra Lead: 10 Timepieces and LOUD, continuous
DataBook alarms. Includes: Travel Alarm, Meeting Cost Tracker,
Full-Screen clock, Hourglass, Parking Meter,  Stopwatch and more.
Mention "Newton_News" for $10 discount to $39+S&H. 800.642.4321,
(extralead@aol.com) for orders or further details.

Comments from the Editor
------------------------
* BUSINESSES: TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
    There has been a change in the advertising policy of NewtNews that
will take place in the first issue in December 1994. This means this
is the last NewtNews with free advertising! If you are interested in
continuing to advertise in NewtNews please send me mail and I will
forward to you the necessary information. Thanks!

* USER GROUPS
    The User Group section really started to grow, so to keep NewtNews
small for distribution, I have created a whole new document for User
Groups.  This means that there is more space available for User
Groups instead of the 3-4 lines I was trying to limit each group to.
Please send me your Newton User Group information and I'll
incorporate it into the document. I plan to post this to the email
list and Usenet News on a weekly basis. If 10 people send me email
I will distribute it in Newton book format also.  Thanks!

* BACK TO MY NEWTON
    My thee weeks of travels did not allow me to use my Newton that
much.  Now that I am back in my home town of San Diego, my Newton is
again always within reach.  I really missed it!  My life was 100%
less organized without my Newton.
    Thanks to everyone for their support while I was on travel.  I am
busy trying to catch up with the Newton books and html docs. These
should be done by the end of this week.  Until next week ...

Administrivia
-------------
    If you'd like to contribute some information that you have --
anonymously or not -- write to: (sholden@owens.ridgecrest.ca.us) You
can also send any comments, corrections, reviews, or suggestions to
the address above.
    Non-profit, non-commercial publications may reprint articles if
full credit is given. Others please contact me. I don't guarantee
accuracy of articles. Publication, product, and company names may be
registered trademarks of their companies. TidBITS is copyright
1990-1994 Adam & Tonya Engst (ace@tidbits.com).
    To read the text version, use Easy View or any other setext browser
to read this as an outline. All versions of NewtNews: the text, the
Newton book and HTML version are now being published by Steve Holden
(sholden@owens.ridgecrest.ca.us).
    You can anonymously FTP the latest and past issues of NewtNews in
both text and Macintosh Newton book format from
(ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/btorres/NewtNews) This is the official home
of NewtNews. There is also a very useful document in this directory
called NewtNews_Info. Please read it. It will tell you about the
email listserver and other important information. The FTP site is
administered by Bob Torres (btorres@netcom.com).
    There is also a WWW site for NewtNews.  Use your favorite Mosaic
browser to check out:
(http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/NewtNews/NN_top.html)

Disclaimer:  I am doing this on my own time, and on my own computer
***********  not the government's or my employer's.
