New Newton - Not From Apple?

MacRumors · Mar 16, 2004, 03:17 PM

ThinkSecret provides followup on the earlier hints of a Newton revival.

According to statements from Stone Multimedia, while Apple is not interested in relaunching the Newton, a 3rd party is reportedly in negotiations with Apple to acquire and relaunch the Newton platform.

At the time of the Newton's demise, Apple had already spun the Newton division into a subsidiary, but after Jobs' return, the entire division was reabsorbed into Apple and discontinued.

AmigoMac · 03:25 PM

Nooooooo! I want it from apple! ...

Photorun · Mar 16, 2004, 03:22 PM

Intriguing, very intriguing. I wonder what OS it'd run?

arn · Mar 16, 2004, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photorun

Intriguing, very intriguing. I wonder what OS it'd run?

Newton OS

arn

0 and A ai · Mar 16, 2004, 03:26 PM

I wonder who is behind this. I think some mac friendly people with alot of money.

I guess they see a niche here they can fill. Very interesting nevertheless.

idkew · Mar 16, 2004, 03:27 PM

Unless the new Newton is more than a PDA, it will fail. It is 100% necessary that it be small, have cell phone capabilities, and the ability to expand and add GPS, WiFi...

I would love to see a Newton with tomorrow's technology today, once again.

kainjow · Mar 16, 2004, 03:31 PM

I'd buy one. All the other PDA's for Mac suck. I want a PDA that works just as smooth with my computer as my iPod does.

Phatpat · Mar 16, 2004, 03:33 PM

And its 100% necessary for the iPod mini to cost less than $200, or it will fail. Oh wait....

Photorun · Mar 16, 2004, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arn

Newton OS

arn

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of would it be OS X-ish.

gandalf55 · Mar 16, 2004, 03:36 PM

I would love a Newton reborn as long as it still used the data soup paradigm & used an enhanced Newton OS.

Jerry Spoon · Mar 16, 2004, 03:39 PM

I'm all for this. Let's see what enhancements they come up with and if it's a success that will be great...of course Apple will be pissed.

chubad · Mar 16, 2004, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Spoon

I'm all for this. Let's see what enhancements they come up with and if it's a success that will be great...of course Apple will be pissed.

Why would Apple be pissed if it is a success? I'm sure they would get $$ for the licensing.

Tommy Wasabi · Mar 16, 2004, 03:52 PM

I still have my MP2001 (and a 2000 and 110 and 130).

The last MP was the best - add some new functionality (bluetooth, wi-fi) and it would beat any iPaq on the planet.

But alas, someone will screw it up and it will end up in the bit bucket.

If only Apple would covert one of it's Powerbooks to be a Tablet - THEN I WOULD BE IN HEAVEN.

spinko · Mar 16, 2004, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photorun

Intriguing, very intriguing. I wonder what OS it'd run?

A scaled-down version of MacOSX with a fast processor, an ATI graphic chip and lots of mem

Mr.Hey · Mar 16, 2004, 03:52 PM

It has to be Woz and his company WOZ

varmit · Mar 16, 2004, 03:53 PM

Getting someone else to take the bill, but the Apple logo still gets slapped on it. Just the Third party has to do all the work. Split profits since Apple gives all the stuff about Newton to third party and will be the name brand for it and marketer, while third party get a good amount of profit and get to see all the info and code from old newton or anything that Apple has done in the PDA area so they can make the new Newton. If it fails, then Apple has nothing to worry about, if it succeeds, both parties make some money.

Tommy Wasabi · Mar 16, 2004, 04:03 PM

The cap trick? What's that? (Sorry - been living under a rock since superbowl sunday - something about a boob flashing that made me want to hide)

Tulse · Mar 16, 2004, 04:06 PM

I don't know if this is actually true, but I recall hearing a year or so ago that, in an interview, an exec had said that Apple couldn't locate the hard drive that had the source code for the Newton OS. This may be completely fabricated, though -- has anyone else heard a similar story?

(To be honest, I don't know that such a loss would be that critical, as I imagine a revived Newton would be a ground-up rewrite.)

pcp_ip · Mar 16, 2004, 04:09 PM

This is not going to happen. It was attempted after the Newton was killed. In 1998 Planet Computing as well as 2 other companies seperately approached Steve Jobs to purchase the Newton technology. Apple had nothing to sell. They had lost all the assets of Newton Division. Apple needed cash back then. If it was do-able sale, Steve would have dumped the Newton.

By '98 Apple had lost most of the Newton developers to Palm. The brain drain had left any remaining Newton projects in such disarray that there was little comprehensible code or hardware that could be resold. All of this is well documented somewhere on Newt Users Groups. Newton users tried hard to get anything out of Apple to allow them to continue to develop for their Newtons.

Today there's NO Newton developers left at Apple. No one there would know how to piece together the remaining Newton Projects.

This sale will never happen.

As a LONG time newton user- there was nothing like it. Long before palm/CE based handhelds had internet access Newtons could surf the web with javascript and frames support. Current developers have it isyncing, playing mp3s and using wi-fi. 7 years later and it's still a killer handheld. Show me a 7 year-old palm dog that can do new tricks, let alone a 2 year-old palm.

AngryAngel · Mar 16, 2004, 04:12 PM

Why would someone wanting to resurrect the Netwon ask Stone, a multimedia/presentations company to ask people's opinions of the idea? It makes no sense, apart from if Stone wanted to increase their hits.

Why would Woz want anything to do with someone else's idea- he had nothing to do with the Newton? However, I've done some Googling, and it seems Woz did like the Newton:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...=&threadid=460

Frisco · Mar 16, 2004, 04:19 PM

It's always a good thing when 3rd parties develop for the Mac. Hey Apple can't do it alone. I always see new gadgets coming out that are PC only. If Apple wants to get back into the game it is key that 3rd parties develop for the Mac. I would love to one day walk into a CompUSA and see items on the shelf that say Mac only

0 and A ai · Mar 16, 2004, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Spoon

I'm all for this. Let's see what enhancements they come up with and if it's a success that will be great...of course Apple will be pissed.

I'm sure if they show signs of being succesful apple will buy them.
Who knows this might be there plan.

0 and A ai · Mar 16, 2004, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcp_ip

This is not going to happen. It was attempted after the Newton was killed. In 1998 Planet Computing as well as 2 other companies seperately approached Steve Jobs to purchase the Newton technology. Apple had nothing to sell. They had lost all the assets of Newton Division. Apple needed cash back then. If it was do-able sale, Steve would have dumped the Newton.

Maybe jobs saw potential and decided to keep it to revive it one day if necessary looks like so far hes decided no. looksl ike its gonna be that way so apple might sell it.

CaptainScarlet · Mar 16, 2004, 04:36 PM

Beside the device coming from Apple, I really can't see why anyone would want Apple to invest time and money into a new Newton device.

Wouldn't you want Apple to spend time on making a better computer or more software???

Or improve the battery life on an iPod??

Or how about the ultimate quesiton??? Why hasn't Apple created any KILLER GAMES?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

That's what I want to know....

CS.....

pcp_ip · 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0 and A ai

Maybe jobs saw potential and decided to keep it to revive it one day if necessary looks like so far hes decided no. looksl ike its gonna be that way so apple might sell it.

Jobs killed the Newton because it was a pepsi kid project. The technology is too old now. They'd need major development to add color and rebuild the OS to run on faster chips.

The only piece of the Newton pie that would be worth anything today is the handwriting engine- and Apple has rolled that into OSX

Mar 16, 2004, 03:17 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	New Newton - Not From Apple? ThinkSecret provides followup on the earlier hints of a Newton revival. According to statements from Stone Multimedia, while Apple is not interested in relaunching the Newton, a 3rd party is reportedly in negotiations with Apple to acquire and relaunch the Newton platform. At the time of the Newton's demise, Apple had already spun the Newton division into a subsidiary, but after Jobs' return, the entire division was reabsorbed into Apple and discontinued.

Mar 16, 2004, 03:20 PM	#2
AmigoMac macrumors 68020 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: l'Allemagne	Nooooooo! I want it from apple! ... Last edited by arn : Mar 16, 2004 at 03:25 PM.

Mar 16, 2004, 03:26 PM	#5
0 and A ai macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2004	I wonder who is behind this. I think some mac friendly people with alot of money. I guess they see a niche here they can fill. Very interesting nevertheless. __________________ You Can Say I'm dreamer But I'm not the only one. - John Lennon

Mar 16, 2004, 03:33 PM	#8
Phatpat macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Washington DC	And its 100% necessary for the iPod mini to cost less than $200, or it will fail. Oh wait.... __________________ my flickr

Mar 16, 2004, 03:39 PM	#11
Jerry Spoon macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Historic St. Charles	I'm all for this. Let's see what enhancements they come up with and if it's a success that will be great...of course Apple will be pissed. __________________ "These days, new digital music download services are becoming more common than spare AOL CDs."

Mar 16, 2004, 03:22 PM	#3
Photorun Banned Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NYC	Intriguing, very intriguing. I wonder what OS it'd run?

Mar 16, 2004, 03:27 PM	#6
idkew macrumors 68020 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: where the concrete to dirt ratio is better	Unless the new Newton is more than a PDA, it will fail. It is 100% necessary that it be small, have cell phone capabilities, and the ability to expand and add GPS, WiFi... I would love to see a Newton with tomorrow's technology today, once again.

Mar 16, 2004, 03:31 PM	#7
kainjow Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jun 2000	I'd buy one. All the other PDA's for Mac suck. I want a PDA that works just as smooth with my computer as my iPod does.

Mar 16, 2004, 03:36 PM	#10
gandalf55 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: boston	I would love a Newton reborn as long as it still used the data soup paradigm & used an enhanced Newton OS.

Mar 16, 2004, 03:52 PM	#13
Tommy Wasabi macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago	MP2001 Rocked I still have my MP2001 (and a 2000 and 110 and 130). The last MP was the best - add some new functionality (bluetooth, wi-fi) and it would beat any iPaq on the planet. But alas, someone will screw it up and it will end up in the bit bucket. If only Apple would covert one of it's Powerbooks to be a Tablet - THEN I WOULD BE IN HEAVEN. __________________ TW

Mar 16, 2004, 03:52 PM	#15
Mr.Hey macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2002	It has to be Woz and his company WOZ

Mar 16, 2004, 03:53 PM	#16
varmit macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NJ	this could just be outsourcing Getting someone else to take the bill, but the Apple logo still gets slapped on it. Just the Third party has to do all the work. Split profits since Apple gives all the stuff about Newton to third party and will be the name brand for it and marketer, while third party get a good amount of profit and get to see all the info and code from old newton or anything that Apple has done in the PDA area so they can make the new Newton. If it fails, then Apple has nothing to worry about, if it succeeds, both parties make some money. __________________ Powerbook 1.67Ghz G4 - 1 Gig RAM Mac Mini 1.83Ghz Core 2 Duo - 2 Gigs RAM 60 Gig iPod - 4th generation http://ducktapeandglue.com

Mar 16, 2004, 04:03 PM	#17
Tommy Wasabi macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago	Cap Trick? The cap trick? What's that? (Sorry - been living under a rock since superbowl sunday - something about a boob flashing that made me want to hide) __________________ TW

Mar 16, 2004, 04:06 PM	#18
Tulse macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2003	I don't know if this is actually true, but I recall hearing a year or so ago that, in an interview, an exec had said that Apple couldn't locate the hard drive that had the source code for the Newton OS. This may be completely fabricated, though -- has anyone else heard a similar story? (To be honest, I don't know that such a loss would be that critical, as I imagine a revived Newton would be a ground-up rewrite.)

Mar 16, 2004, 04:09 PM	#19
pcp_ip macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2002	The facts. This is not going to happen. It was attempted after the Newton was killed. In 1998 Planet Computing as well as 2 other companies seperately approached Steve Jobs to purchase the Newton technology. Apple had nothing to sell. They had lost all the assets of Newton Division. Apple needed cash back then. If it was do-able sale, Steve would have dumped the Newton. By '98 Apple had lost most of the Newton developers to Palm. The brain drain had left any remaining Newton projects in such disarray that there was little comprehensible code or hardware that could be resold. All of this is well documented somewhere on Newt Users Groups. Newton users tried hard to get anything out of Apple to allow them to continue to develop for their Newtons. Today there's NO Newton developers left at Apple. No one there would know how to piece together the remaining Newton Projects. This sale will never happen. As a LONG time newton user- there was nothing like it. Long before palm/CE based handhelds had internet access Newtons could surf the web with javascript and frames support. Current developers have it isyncing, playing mp3s and using wi-fi. 7 years later and it's still a killer handheld. Show me a 7 year-old palm dog that can do new tricks, let alone a 2 year-old palm.

Mar 16, 2004, 04:12 PM	#20
AngryAngel macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2003	Why would someone wanting to resurrect the Netwon ask Stone, a multimedia/presentations company to ask people's opinions of the idea? It makes no sense, apart from if Stone wanted to increase their hits. Why would Woz want anything to do with someone else's idea- he had nothing to do with the Newton? However, I've done some Googling, and it seems Woz did like the Newton: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...=&threadid=460

Mar 16, 2004, 04:19 PM	#21
Frisco macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Nutley, NJ	It's always a good thing when 3rd parties develop for the Mac. Hey Apple can't do it alone. I always see new gadgets coming out that are PC only. If Apple wants to get back into the game it is key that 3rd parties develop for the Mac. I would love to one day walk into a CompUSA and see items on the shelf that say Mac only __________________ Frisco

Mar 16, 2004, 04:36 PM	#24
CaptainScarlet macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: CheeseLand	Don't get it!! Beside the device coming from Apple, I really can't see why anyone would want Apple to invest time and money into a new Newton device. Wouldn't you want Apple to spend time on making a better computer or more software??? Or improve the battery life on an iPod?? Or how about the ultimate quesiton??? Why hasn't Apple created any KILLER GAMES?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!? That's what I want to know.... CS.....

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