Just who are these five Apple employees with the title of Apple Fellow? And what is it that they do? In this month's issue of Quick Connect, we'll meet them and find out.
STEVE WOZNIAK
As most Apple( users are well aware, Steve Wozniak engineered the original Apple computer and co-founded Apple Computer, Inc. in 1977.
Steve is a familiar face to most User Groups. Chances are very good that you've heard him speak, or met him face-to-face at one of your meetings. "Woz" is a regular on the "User Group Circuit." He estimates he makes about twenty visits a year to User Groups, both those inside the United States and those in other countries. A visit to a User Group in Wellington, New Zealand, for example, is on his schedule for the early part of 1987.
"I'm their patron," says Steve, "I go every year."
User groups, he says, were key to the launch and success of the young Apple. Consequently, they will always be special to him and in fact, the Steve maintains a high profile in the User Group community.
Steve-- who is Apple employee number 1--contributed greatly to the development of Apple's newest computer the Apple llGS . Currently, Steve, is busy with his own company, CL9 (known affectionately as Cloud 9). The company is soon to release its first product, CORE (Control Of Remote Electronics), which Steve describes as a "smart remote control." Steve is a frequent visitor at Apple headquarters, and continually stays in touch with the various product development teams.
ROD HOLT
Rod is the hardware wizard who served as Apple's chief engineer in the company's early years. He was instrumental in developing the computer power supply, and automatic clamping and ejecting disk drives.
At present, Rod is taking some time away from computers, sailing the Pacific Ocean from Australia to Japan. But who knows--there may be a computer stowed away somewhere on board!
ALAN KAY
Alan is considered one of the personal computer industry's most creative and accomplished scientists. At Apple, Alan's contributions were instrumental to the development of the popular Macintosh( user interface, with its pull-down menus , windowing and graphics interface.
Continuing to focus on interfaces, Alan is currently working in Los
Angeles on an Apple-funded project called Vivarium. Vivarium is a unique educational project for children. Working with special Macintosh computers, children create and run simulated environments or ecologies using 3-dimensional color graphics.
AL ALCORN
Al is Apple's most recently appointed Fellow. As some of you "old-timers" may remember, he co-founded Atari back in 1972 with Nolan Bushnell.
According to Al, it was the risk-taking experience he gained at Atari, combined with an enthusiasm and drive that makes products happen, that got him the title of Apple Fellow.
Right now, Al says, he's involved at Apple "in a challenging project that of course I can't tell you about." He did go so far as to say that the project has to do with "increasing the market potential of the Macintosh user interface." You'll have to use your imagination to fill in the rest.
"I'm probably the only Apple Fellow right now who actually shows up at the office," he says.
Not surprisingly, Al can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else. Apple, he says, provides him with the most exciting work environment in Silicon Valley.
"Apple encourages risk-taking," he says, "The team I lead has a truly entrepreneurial feeling." Apple is one of the few companies "Apple encourages risk-taking," he says, "The team I lead has a truly entrepreneurial feeling." Apple is one of the few companies that expects and encourages that attitude, Al says.
Al feels User Groups are instrumental in communicating important issues in a rapidly changing technological environment. User Groups provide a network of support, he says, that is absolutely essential to helping users unleash the full potential of new developments in technology.
BILL ATKINSON
Bill, the fifth Apple Fellow, was not available for comment in this month's Quick Connect, but rumor has it he's busy working on an incredible new product that will more than justify his silence. You may know that Macintosh graphics lovers owe heartfelt thanks to Bill. Author of MacPaint, he's the computer graphics wizard who developed the QuickDraw graphics routines for Macintosh. You can be sure Bills next product will be every bit as astounding as the tools he developed for the Macintosh back in 1984.
Apple Kicks Off
New Ad Campaign
The Power To be Your Best
If you're a Red Sox or a Mets fan, you're sure to have witnessed the debut of Apple's new television ad campaign.
The first of 11 new television ads were aired October 18 during the opening game of the 1986 World Series.
The theme for the new ads, The Power To Be Your Best, reflects the special sense of personal satisfaction that so many Apple users report receiving from using Apple products, says Apple chairman and CEO John Sculley.
The campaign's style, adds Apple advertising manager Bruce Mowery, projects "the warm, human approach to computing that has made Apple successful for ten years."
In fact, the focus of the new ads is so people-oriented that you won't even see a computer in four of the Macintosh ads!
The ads feature the Apple II product line, as well as the Macintosh Plus and LaserWriter printer. Apple II ads, as you might guess if you haven't seen them yet, focus on the education and home markets, while Macintosh ads target business users.
The ads are the creation of Apple's new ad agency, BBDO.
As users already familiar with Apple products, what is your impression of the new ads? Drop us a line and let us know!
WHEELS FOR THE MIND AWARDS
Apple Computer will honor developers of outstanding educational applications for Apple computers by presenting the Wheels for the Mind awards in June of 1987.
The grand prize winner will receive $20,000, with $7,500 going to each of four runners-up.
Students, faculty, and staff from colleges and universities all over the United States are invited to compete for the prizes.
Bud Colligan, Apple's manager of higher education marketing explains, "The Wheels for the Mind awards are Apple's way of demonstrating our appreciation for these individuals and their dedication to producing products that make a difference in teaching and learning."
Entries will be accepted in the following categories:
* In Class Instruction: Applications associated with demonstration and presentation materials used by an instructor in a classroom.
* Teaching Tools: Applications associated with a specific course but used outside the classroom (tutorials, programming aids, simulations, lab and data analysis).
* Study/Research Tools: Application tools for helping students, faculty, or staff in areas not associated with a specific course (library searches, word processing, productivity, spreadsheets, desktop communications, desktop publishing, and networking).
* Development Tools: Applications supporting the development of courseware and other educational tools (authoring tools, expert systems, and presentation aids.)
Entries must be received no later than February 28, 1987. Winners will be announced at the Apple University Consortium (AUC) meeting in June 1987.
For official submission form and guidelines, write to:
Wheels for the Mind Awards
Apple Computer, Inc.
20525 Mariani Avenue MS 23-E
Cupertino, CA 95014
TELEPHONE FOR YOU MAC
The Macintosh recently got a boost into the expanding world of voice/data integration.
New products provide high-speed communications and office applications for businesses over ordinary telephone lines between the Macintosh and computers from other manufacturers.
Developed through the joint efforts of Apple Computer Inc. and Northern Telecom Inc.--a leader in telecommunications and integrated information services--new hardware and software products establish telephone links between the Macintosh and computers from IBM, DEC, and Hewlett-Packard.
This joint venture represents Apple's commitment "to integrate Macintosh technology into the business environment," says Charles W. Berger, vice president for business development at Apple. It will provide business users with a range of applications, such as electronic mail and desktop publishing, in the most economical way possible.
Don't hang up, Macintosh. Business users like what they are hearing!
THE WRITE STUFF LASERWRITER TIPS
Looking to get the highest quality output from your LaserWriter?
Follow these tips:
1. Before inserting cartridge, make sure the toner is evenly
distributed by holding cartridge horizontally and slowly
rocking it 45 degrees back and forth several times (see manual
for drawing).
2. After inserting cartridge, remember to remove sealing tape
to release toner.
3. Some cartridges print with a light print density for the first
100-200 pages. If print density is too light, adjust print density
dial on back of LaserWriter. You may want to run 100-200
pages to "break in" new cartridge.
4. Clean toner cartridge wire as necessary, following instructions
in manual.
5. When density begins to decrease towards end of cartridge life,
rock cartridge as noted above to prolong its usefulness.
