Email from Apple public relations today, Andy Ihnatko's(whew, thought for a sec his last name was a user group acronym, this from a guy named Kerry) May MacUser column on his Newton application, Nanug BIOS request, the second most asked Newton question; how do you use your Newton? I tend to see mine as a central database; yes I'm away from my desktop computer alot, as a digital book reference tool to Andy's point (I use digital price lists for faxing quotes and for spec information, have the King James Bible), and as customizable, I even have different sets of apps on different cards.
It was Motorola's Marco Madness at the 2.22 meet of the Chicago, IL Newton User's Group. T-shirts, free software courtesy of Robert Johnson of PDA Direct, dueling Marco's! One Marco (wireless Newton) on loan for our meeting, a special guest appearance by a product manager from the wireless division of Motorola, with her a second Marco, wireless ink, email, faxes fill the RadioMailwaves (cellular paper).
Then it was a shareware showcase at the 3.16 meet; featuring prolific shareware author Ben Gottlieb; with Wake up Week, More Folders, Key Man, etc, a total of 26 share/free ware Newton apps. Ben's Deli counter, his powerbook 540C, had sitting room only for downloads.
2.22 Recap
This meet pizza was here when the meeting started. We had the free Motorola T shirts and the free software from PDA direct strewn around the conference room.
Since we had two wireless Newton's, it was easy for everyone to get a chance to try out the Marco. There was also a new 120, some original MP's, 110's for a variety of Newton form factors.
We sent wireless faxes, ink peer to peer (Marco to Marco), totally cool. In all the excitement of the Marco's we forgot to pick our top ten shareware apps.
We had the totally Newton CD there for those who had not been able to try it; as of 12.5.94 it had most everything you would want for your Newton on one resource.
There was some technical discussion of the new processors coming available; one of the attendees commented that there are two new generations of processors coming the second being five times as powerfull as the current Newton cpu.
Look for the review of Marco to follow; it has been emailed to Motorola for their input.
3.16 Recap
On spring break from his last year at RPI, Ben Gottlieb was showcasing his most popular and latest shareware. Members took turns downloading from this new powerbook 540C, earned by his authoring efforts. Ben can be reached at gottlb@eworld.com
Personally, I added More Folders, Clipper and Keyman.
More folders is self explanatory, is without an extra drawer icon, it allows one to exceed the twelve folder limit imposed by Apple. Early on one learns that the names app, and the notepad share the same folders, rather limiting unless you file some names as goals. I quickly added four more with Ben's app, and no, I don't know the new limit. It also reduces the regular filing procedure by one tap, eliminating the File button. You've got to love the ability to have a specific folder for the notebook for maintaing your email address lists. If you don't try this cool app, see tips below for folder shortcuts in FWIW.
Keyman replaces the built in qwerty keyboard, with an extended version. There is no icon in the extras drawer. I primariliy like the graffiti button which allows me to use graffiti to respond to email. Other buttons are all(select), cut, copy, paste, special (paste date/time/your name, and an option to eliminate that pesky add to dictionary question), and a forward delete button. There is also a shift key which allows you to use cut/copy/paste buttons with "clipper" functionality, ie add to your own text string library.
It also replaces your numeric keypad with one with a basic calculator function. One needs to tap the On/Off button to use/disable the calculator.
It also adds a calendar to the time keypad, and three buttons; all (select all), today, and an icon for pasting the currently selected date. One taps the today button for example, taps the icon, and the text for today's date is pasted.
Ben left the phone keypad unchanged, he did not have a good idea of what to add. How about one's email address from the preferences, or a pick list of all of one's phone numbers from the preferences? Try Keyman, it is cool.
Clipper is in the vein of Letter Express, adding user defined text strings for recall. A button appears, which one can float, or anchor to the bottom of the Newt screen. To add a text string, select it in the notepad, and tap the clipper scissor's icon. Once added, you have an option to paste one time, paste, remove an item or all items, and in a nice touch: name an item. This allows you to name a long string like the body of a standard letter. Sincerely, Rusty Nail becomes closing. To some degree Keyman adds much of this functionality to the keyboard without an icon; but Clipper is a well written app; worth the download time to try.
Some Reviews
Procalc
A new entry into the crowded calculator field hails from New Zealand. This is a neat scientific one which replaces the standard calculator, so it saves heap space. There is a sliding on/off button for esthetics, but you can quit the app by tapping in the lower right corner of the calculator. User prefs include the font size, decimals/floating, and angle (degrees/radians/grads).
There are nine memory locations (stores) easily accessed by tapping store and the number of the store. Recall is the same operation. So for adding #123 to store # 1, enter 123, tap sto, tap 1, to recall store 1, tap rcl, tap 1.
There is some cool percentage functionality; examples like $21.00 minus 6%, etc. For me, I won't use near the capability of this powerfull calculator, but I like the interface, the percent features, and the memory locations.
The shareware fee is only $10.00, and I found a mere .50ยข will have the post office deliver your letter to New Zealand. Check out ProCalc.
The author is Clinton Logan, email is Clinton@iconz.co.nz
Flip Stand
From the Modelshop, courtesy of Rollin Bancroft, email at modshop@aol.com are two unique Newt add ons; one for the original message pad, one for the 110/120. They are lightweight aluminum stands with a non slip(anodized black) cover to adjust the viewing angle of your Newt, and in the case of the OMP's, they also flip over to cover the screen ala the 110/120. I tested the Flip Stand, the one for the 110. It adhere's to the cover of the 110 where the quicktips are. When not in use it fits perfectly in the space between the lid and the screen. The 110 version has two "belts", one for folding flat and one to adjust the Newt to about a 10 degree angle. I found it ideal for reading while eating. For those who have the OMP, the Flip Lid classisc, with it's screen cover, is a must. I used to have the original message pad, and one of the things I like best about the 110 is the cover (and the extra heap space). The Flip Stand retails for $19.99, the Flip Lid Classic for $39.95, and are available at the Newton Source at 1.800.Newton1. Rollin can additionaly be reached by phone at ?.
FWIW
Here are some of my latest Newton Tips..by switching to the smallest thickness ink I was able to add a full page on ink notes before the "this note can not be changed wall"...in a pinch at home, one can use a Mac printer cable to download apps...when selecting a folder, the last note in each folder is opened; decide which note you use in each folder the most, duplicate this note, delete the original, and your most used note is now dated today, and appears automatically when opening the folder...faxing/printing a note to more than one person in your names file? Entering the name without highlighting a name in the notepad causes you to write/type a name in the routing slip while Newt sloooowly guesses-jotting a name on the corner of the note makes for quick name selection, but the name appears as a line in your document-just write the name in the note, changing/editing is much faster, and highlight and drag the name to the clipboard, the result is a fast name selection, without the name printing with your note/template ...you can add notes in the middle of a folder in date sequence by drawing a line under a note in the middle of a folder...grip of death?(newton needs the card, etc), archive your newly added apps until you find the culprit...Books in Newton Connection format are larger than on the Newton, a 1.1 MB file only took up 500K, I have 3.18 MB of books on my 4MB card, including the King James Bible, indeed when choosing card in the extras drawer, it shows the same size...file some of your biggest customers in a folder called AAA customers for an overview in the names file of your big hitters...create Paperback books of company price lists for copying to a note for faxing, etc-or use paperback as a quick way to get documents from your computer to Newton, highlight and copy to notes for easy Newton Note templates, then toss your book.
ChiILNUG Meeting 4.20.95 7:00PM
The eleventh meeting of the Chicago IL Newton Users Group will be held at McCarthy & Magee, Inc. 9950 West Lawrence Ave., Suite # 200, Schiller Park, IL 60176 VOX 708.671.0444.
The site is one stoplight south of the intersection of routes 190 and Mannheim road, or the corner of Lawrence and Mannheim. Our building is the Starlight Building, the one right on the northeast corner of Mannheim and Lawrence. Take the elevator to the second floor, our suite is right in front as you exit the elevator.
Hope you can see us on Thursday April Twentieth! Questions? Contact Kerry T. McCarthy at Compuserve 72520,1334, eWorld/Newton Mail/AOL KTMcCarthy, VOX 708.671.0444, FAX 708.671.0499, US Mail Kerry T. McCarthy, McCarthy & Magee, Inc. 9950 West Lawrence Ave., Suite # 200, Schiller Park, IL 60176.
