View source for Apple Newton

{{Short description|PDA platform by Apple Inc.}}
{{About|the Apple-brand PDA platform|the series of hardware devices|MessagePad|the cookie|Newtons (cookie)|the anecdote about Isaac Newton|Isaac Newton's apple tree}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Newton
| title = 
| aka = 
| logo = Apple Newton logo.svg
| logo_upright = 0.25
| image = Apple Newton MessagePad 100 with stylus.jpg
| caption = Apple Newton [[MessagePad]] 100, with its stylus
| developer = [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer, Inc.]]
| manufacturer = 
| family = 
| type = [[Bar (form)|Bar]] [[Personal digital assistant|PDA]]
| generation = 
| releasedate = {{Start date|1993|8|3}}<ref name="msu-newton-mp100">{{cite web|last=Luckie|first=Douglas|title=Newton MessagePad|url=https://www.msu.edu/~luckie/gallery/mp100.htm|website=Luckie's Homepage|publisher=Michigan State University|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226043247/https://msu.edu/~luckie/gallery/mp100.htm|archivedate=2014-02-26}}</ref>
| lifespan = 
| price = 
| discontinued = {{End date|1998|02|27}}
| unitssold = 
| unitsshipped = 
| media = 
| os = [[Newton OS]]
| power = 
| soc = 
| cpu = 
| memory = 
| storage = 
| memory card = 
| display = 
| graphics = 
| sound = 
| input = [[Touch screen]]
| controllers = 
| camera = 
| touchpad = 
| connectivity = 
| platform = 
| service = 
| dimensions = 
| weight = 
| topgame = 
| compatibility = 
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| related = 
| website = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
}}

The '''Newton''' is a specified standard and series of [[personal digital assistant]]s (PDAs) developed and marketed by [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer, Inc.]] from 1993 to 1998. An early device in the PDA category{{snd}}the term itself originating with the Newton<ref name="hormby">{{cite web |last=Hormby |first=Tom |date=August 6, 2013 |title=The Story Behind Apple's Newton |url=https://lowendmac.com/2013/the-story-behind-apples-newton/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407063212/https://lowendmac.com/2013/the-story-behind-apples-newton/ |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |access-date=March 29, 2021 |publisher=Low End Mac}}</ref>{{snd}}it was the first to feature [[handwriting recognition]]. Newton devices run on a proprietary [[operating system]], [[Newton OS]]; unlike the company's [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] computers, Apple licensed the software to third-parties, who released Newton devices alongside Apple's own [[MessagePad]] line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Newton MessagePad |url=https://cf.psl.msu.edu/gallery/epad.htm |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=cf.psl.msu.edu}}</ref>

Apple started developing the platform in 1987;<!-- See Apple confidential 2.0 by O. Linzmayer --> concepted by [[Steve Sakoman]] as a [[Tablet computer|tablet]]-like device with handwriting capabilities, he worked with [[AT&T Corporation]] to develop a low-power processor, [[AT&T Hobbit|Hobbit]], for the project. However, slow progress and other issues led to Sakoman leaving Apple in 1990 to form [[Be Inc.|Be Computer, Inc.]]<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Reimer |first=Jeremy |date=2022-06-01 |title=Remembering Apple's Newton, 30 years on |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/06/remembering-apples-newton-30-years-on/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> The Newton project would be revitalized by Michael Tchao and [[Steve Capps]] who pitched the idea directly to CEO [[John Sculley]];<ref name="hormby" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Foresman |first=Chris |date=2009-09-29 |title=Apple hires former Newton designer to head product marketing |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/09/apple-hires-former-newton-designer-to-head-product-marketing/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> Apple invested in [[Acorn Computers]] who developed a specific [[ARM6]]-based [[RISC processor]] for the device.<ref name=":0" /> Apple introduced the Newton on {{Start date|1992|5|29}},<ref name="thisday">{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Marcel |date=May 29, 2015 |title=Apple Newton Announced |url=https://thisdayintechhistory.com/05/29/apple-newton-announced/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419060047/https://thisdayintechhistory.com/05/29/apple-newton-announced/ |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |access-date=March 29, 2021 |publisher=This Day in Tech History}}</ref> and shipments began on August 2, 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |last=eZine |date=2021-07-11 |title=Newtons' Lutions Issue 1 • Neperos |url=https://www.neperos.com/article/qw2pm40f92cb8077 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Neperos.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Newton was marred with issues before its public release; bugs and software instability played a part in a series of continuous delays of its shipment date,<ref name="hormby" /> while post-release problems with its handwriting recognition feature led to negative publicity and became a source of [[mockery]].<ref name=":1">{{cite magazine |last=Honan |first=Matt |date=August 5, 2013 |title=Remembering the Apple Newton's Prophetic Failure and Lasting Impact |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/08/remembering-the-apple-newtons-prophetic-failure-and-lasting-ideals/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112015207/https://www.wired.com/2013/08/remembering-the-apple-newtons-prophetic-failure-and-lasting-ideals/ |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |magazine=WIRED}}</ref> Sales of the Newton were well below Apple's expectations, and despite significant improvements in later hardware and version 2.0 of Newton OS,<ref name=":0" /> the platform was discontinued in 1998 at the direction of CEO [[Steve Jobs]]. Despite its commercial failure, the Newton was considered technologically innovative for its time and influenced many ideas for Apple's later popular products, the [[iPhone]] and [[iPad]].<ref name=":0" />

==Product details==
[[File:Newton Lewt (2200371795).jpg|thumb|right|Three Newton MessagePad devices with keyboard and LinearFlash [[PCMCIA]] memory card accessories]]

=== Application software ===
Most Newton devices were pre-loaded with a variety of software to aid in personal data organization and management. This included such applications as Notes, Names, and Dates, as well as a variety of productivity tools such as a calculator, conversion calculators (metric conversions, currency conversions, etc.), time-zone maps, etc.<ref name="Grandfather to iPhone">{{cite web|title=Revisiting the great-grandfather to the iPhone: The Apple Newton|url=https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/classics-rock/revisiting-the-great-grandfather-to-the-iphone-the-apple-newton/|website=TechRepublic|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=December 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211101201/https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/classics-rock/revisiting-the-great-grandfather-to-the-iphone-the-apple-newton/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Retro Apple Newton">{{cite web|title=Retro Apple: The Apple Newton MessagePad Was Well Ahead of Its Time|url=https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/64664-apple-newton-messagepad/|website=Rocket Yard|date=August 21, 2020|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=March 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330084908/https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/64664-apple-newton-messagepad/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Old Computers Newton">{{cite web|title=Newton MessagePad - 1993|url=http://oldcomputers.net/apple-newton.html|website=Old Computer Museum|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=April 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412010838/http://oldcomputers.net/apple-newton.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In later/2.x versions of the [[Newton OS]] these applications were refined, and new ones were added, such as the Works word processor and the Newton Internet Enabler, as well as the inclusion of bundled [[Third-party developer|3rd party]] applications, such as the QuickFigure Works spreadsheet (a "lite" version of Pelicanware's QuickFigure Pro), Pocket [[Quicken]], the NetHopper web browser, and the Netstrategy EnRoute email client. Various Newton applications had full import/export capabilities with popular desktop office suite and [[Personal information manager|PIM (Personal Information Manager)]] application file formats, primarily by making use of Apple's bundled [[Apple Newton Software|Newton Connection Utilities]] and also the [[Apple Newton Connection Kit|Newton Connection Kit]], which was sold separately and only worked for Newton devices that used the 1.x versions of the Newton OS.<ref name="Treading Lightly">{{cite web|title=Treading Lightly in a Sea of Hand-Held Computers|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/082197handheld.html|website=New York Times|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=March 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330084904/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/082197handheld.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AllThingsD Review">{{cite web|title=The Apple Newton MessagePad Review|url=https://allthingsd.com/19930812/the-apple-newton-messagepad-review/|website=All Things Digital|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=April 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417065444/https://allthingsd.com/19930812/the-apple-newton-messagepad-review/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Newton Heights">{{cite web|title=Today in Apple history: Newton MessagePad reaches new heights|url=https://www.cultofmac.com/473067/today-apple-history-newton-messagepad-2000/|website=Cult of Mac|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=March 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330084904/https://www.cultofmac.com/473067/today-apple-history-newton-messagepad-2000/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MP2000 Exceeds">{{cite web|title=MessagePad 2000: New Newton Exceeds Expectations|url=https://tidbits.com/1997/05/12/messagepad-2000-new-newton-exceeds-expectations/|website=TidBITS|date=May 12, 1997|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=March 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330084907/https://tidbits.com/1997/05/12/messagepad-2000-new-newton-exceeds-expectations/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MSU Newton">{{cite web|title=Newton MessagePad|url=http://cf.psl.msu.edu/gallery/mp100.htm|website=Michigan State Univ. CF Research Laboratory|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=March 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330084908/http://cf.psl.msu.edu/gallery/mp100.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Apple Handbook">{{cite book|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=1995|title=Apple MessagePad Handbook|url=https://www.newted.org/download/manuals/0307258ANEWTONMP.PDF|publisher=Apple Computer|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=April 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412003841/https://www.newted.org/download/manuals/0307258ANEWTONMP.PDF|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Notes====
The Notes application allowed users to create small documents that could contain text that had been typed, or that had been recognized from handwriting, as well as free-hand sketches, [[#User interface|"Shapes", and "ink text"]].<ref name="First Look OS 2">{{cite web|title=First Look: Newton OS 2.0|url=http://www.pencomputing.com/developer/newton_20.html|website=Pen Computing|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=March 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330084907/http://www.pencomputing.com/developer/newton_20.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Retro Apple Newton" /><ref name="MSU MP120">{{cite web|title=Newton MessagePad 120 (with OS 1.3 or 2.0)|url=http://cf.psl.msu.edu/gallery/mp120.htm|website=Michigan State Univ. CF Research Laboratory|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=December 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211062156/http://cf.psl.msu.edu/gallery/mp120.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MP Net Specifications">{{cite web|title=Apple Newton H1000 & MessagePad 100 – Specifications|url=http://message-pad.net/apple-newton-h1000-messagepad-100/|website=Message-Pad.net|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120203210/http://message-pad.net/apple-newton-h1000-messagepad-100/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Image:Apple newton messagepad checklist jk.jpg|left|thumbnail|Photograph of screen displaying Checklist, some bullet points [[Tick (checkmark)|checked]] and/or "collapsed"]] In version 2.0 of the [[Newton OS]], the Notes application (as well as Names) could accept what Apple termed "stationery", 3rd-party created plug-in modules that could extend the functionality of the basic applications.<ref name="First Look OS 2" />

One of the new types of Notes stationery added to Newton OS 2.0 was a [[Hierarchy|hierarchical]], [[Bullet point|bullet-ed]], collapsible, multi-line "[[Checklist]]", an implementation of [[outliner]] software.<ref name="MP Facts and FAQs">{{cite web|title=NEWTON MessagePads Facts and FAQs|url=http://matejhorvat.si/en/newton/nwtfaq1x.txt|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=December 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211062206/http://matejhorvat.si/en/newton/nwtfaq1x.txt|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Newton 2 New Features">{{cite book|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=1995|title=New Features of the Newton 2.0 Operating System|url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/55991776/apple-newton-os-20-new-features-newton-os-20-new-features|publisher=Apple Computer|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=March 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330084904/https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/55991776/apple-newton-os-20-new-features-newton-os-20-new-features|url-status=live}}</ref> This could be used for organizing tasks, [[Time management|"to do" lists]], sub-tasks, etc.  Each bullet point could contain as many lines of text as desired. A bullet point could be dragged and placed underneath another bullet point, thus forming a hierarchical [[Outline (list)|outline]]/[[Tree structure|tree]]. When a bullet point was dragged, the entire sub-[[Tree structure|tree]] of child bullet points underneath it (if any) would be dragged along as well. If a bullet point had child bullet points, tapping the parent's bullet point once would "roll up" all the children ([[WindowShade|"windowshade" effect]]). Tapping the parent bullet point again would make the children re-appear.<ref name="Apple Handbook" /> Because this functionality arrived in Newton OS 2.0, several third parties made similar software before for OS 1.x Newton machines, the most notable of which was Dyno Notepad, released in 1993.<ref name="MP Facts and FAQs" />

====Names====
The Names application was used for storing contacts. Contacts created either on the Newton device or on a Windows or Macintosh desktop [[Personal information manager|PIM]] could be synchronized to each other.<ref name="InfoWorld Apr 18 1994">{{cite magazine |title=Organized time |magazine=InfoWorld |date=18 April 1994 |volume=16 |issue=16 |page=81 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FjsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=pdas&pg=PA81 |access-date=2021-12-11 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926135217/https://books.google.com/books?id=FjsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=pdas&pg=PA81 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Apple Computer. [http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=38006 "Newton Connection Utilities ReadMe"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215144351/http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=38006 |date=December 15, 2007 }}, Apple, July 24, 1997</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Newton Connection Utilities |url=http://www.oldschool.net:80/newton/papers/ncu.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060810112659/http://www.oldschool.net:80/newton/papers/ncu.html |archive-date=August 10, 2006 |publisher=Apple Computer, Inc. |via=Oldschool.net}}</ref>  Entering a date in Names for fields such as birthday or anniversary automatically created corresponding repeating events in the Dates application.<ref name="AllThingsD Review" /><ref name="Newton revolution">{{cite web|title=Today in Apple history: Newton MessagePad inspires mobile revolution|url=https://www.cultofmac.com/440737/apple-history-newton-messagepad-launch/|website=Cult of Mac|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=December 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211063721/https://www.cultofmac.com/440737/apple-history-newton-messagepad-launch/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MSU Newton" /> Each contact had an attached free-form notes field available to it, that could contain any mix of interleaved text, ink text, Shapes, or Sketches.<ref name="First Look OS 2" /> Like Notes, Names could be extended by developers, to create special new categories of contacts with specialized pre-defined fields. Names shipped with three types of contacts, "people", "companies", and "groups", but a developer could define new types, for instance "client", "patient", etc.<ref name="Apple Handbook" /> [http://standalone.com/ Stand Alone Software, Inc.] also created a Newton software package called the Stationery Construction Kit, which allowed users to make stationery themselves without aid of any other tools.<ref name="SA SCK">{{cite web|title=Stationery Construction Kit|url=http://standalone.com/products/sck.html|website=Stand Alone, Inc.|date=Jan 19, 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980119100219/http://standalone.com/products/sck.html|access-date=Dec 11, 2021|archive-date=January 19, 1998}}</ref>

====Dates====
Dates supplied calendar, events, meeting, and alarms functions, including an integrated [[Time management|"to do" list]] manager.  It offered many different display and navigation styles, including a list view, graphical day "time blocking" view, or a week, month, or year grid. As with Names and Notes, Dates items created either on the Newton or on a Windows or Macintosh desktop [[Personal information manager|PIM]] could be synchronized to each other.<ref name="InfoWorld Apr 18 1994" /><ref name="Apple Handbook" />

===Hardware models===
[[File:Newton MessagePad 120 opened.JPG|thumb|150px|MP120]]
[[File:Applenewton emate300.jpg|thumb|150px|eMate 300]]
[[File:Apple Newton.jpg|thumb|150px|MP2000]]

'''From Apple''':
* [[MessagePad]] (also known as the H1000, OMP or Original MessagePad)
* MessagePad 100 (same hardware as OMP, but newer system version)<ref name="msu-newton-mp100" />
* MessagePad 110
* MessagePad 120
* MessagePad 130
* [[eMate 300]]
* MessagePad 2000
* MessagePad 2100

'''From Motorola''':
* [[Motorola Marco]]

'''From Sharp''':
* [[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]] ExpertPad PI-7000 (equivalent to OMP)
* Sharp ExpertPad PI-7100 (equivalent to MP 100)<ref name="msu-expertpad">{{cite web|last1=Luckie|first1=Douglas|title=Sharp's Newton ExpertPad|url=https://www.msu.edu/~luckie/gallery/epad.htm|work=Luckie's Homepage|publisher=Michigan State University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990129071045/http://www.msu.edu/%7Eluckie/gallery/epad.htm|archive-date=1999-01-29}}</ref>

'''From Digital Ocean''':
* Tarpon<ref>{{cite news|last1=Quinlan|first1=Tom|title=Newton-based PDA announced|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nToEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39|access-date=18 July 2015|work=InfoWorld|issue=2|publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.|date=9 January 1995|volume=17|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325095402/https://books.google.com/books?id=nToEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Seahorse<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ortiz|first1=Kedesh|title=Back before iPhones and Androids, we had these...|url=http://www.hypeorlando.com/tech-under-the-sun/2014/03/11/the-history-of-the-first-smarphones/|website=Tech Under The Sun|access-date=18 July 2015|archive-date=April 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419162737/http://www.hypeorlando.com/tech-under-the-sun/2014/03/11/the-history-of-the-first-smarphones/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''From Siemens''':
* [[Siemens]] Note Phone<ref>{{cite web |last=Hohl |first=Fritz |date=August 16, 2013 |title=Siemens NotePhone |url=https://randoc.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/siemens-notephone/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411105529/https://randoc.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/siemens-notephone/ |archive-date=April 11, 2020 |access-date=2020-04-11 |website=Rare & Old Computers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lee |first=Yvonne L. |date=1993-12-13 |title=Third-party vendors to offer Newton hardware |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IjsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10 |journal=[[InfoWorld]] |pages=10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Siemens Newton NotePhone |url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_1191463 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=[[National Museum of American History]]}}</ref>

'''From Harris''':
* Harris SuperTech 2000<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schmidt|first1=Tim|title=Discord in hardwareland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cw4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47|access-date=18 July 2015|work=Network World|issue=8|publisher=IDG Network World Inc|date=19 February 1996|volume=13|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411135628/https://books.google.com/books?id=cw4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Operating system and programming environment===
[[NewtonScript]] is an advanced [[object-oriented programming]] language, developed by Apple employee [[Walter Smith (programmer)|Walter Smith]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://waltersmith.us/|title=Walter Smith, software guy|work=waltersmith.us|access-date=November 10, 2015|archive-date=November 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102135527/http://waltersmith.us/|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Some programmers{{who|date=November 2023}} complained about the $1000 cost of the Toolbox programming environment. Additionally, it required learning a new way of programming.{{Clarify|date=November 2023|reason=Impressively vague. If this means anything at all, can we please clarify what that might be?}}

[[Newton OS]] had a [[file system]], [[Soup (Apple)|Soup]], that enabled flexible ways of storing and retrieving data.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Walter R. |chapter=The Newton application architecture |date=1994 |title=Proceedings of COMPCON '94 |chapter-url=https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=a35f0ff04c461f13d6f20422da3bdf8432e31700 |publisher=IEEE |pages=156–161 |doi=10.1109/CMPCON.1994.282931 |isbn=978-0-8186-5380-3}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Development and lifetime==
[[File:Apple Newton ASIC.jpg|thumb|right|The custom ASIC chip inside the original Apple Newton H1000]]
[[File:Apple Newton PCB.jpg|thumb|right|Inside the Apple Newton Messagepad H1000, with back cover removed]]
The Newton project was a [[personal digital assistant]] platform. The PDA category did not exist for most of Newton's genesis, and the phrase "personal digital assistant" was coined relatively late in the development cycle by Apple's CEO [[John Sculley]],<ref name="hormby" /> the driving force behind the project. [[Larry Tesler]] determined that an advanced, low-power processor was needed for sophisticated graphics manipulation. He found [[Hermann Hauser]], co-founder of [[Acorn Computers]] which had developed the Acorn RISC Machine as first [[ARM architecture]] device, and put together Advanced RISC Machines, now [[Arm Ltd.]]<ref name="macobserver john sculley 2">{{cite web |author=Kuehl Julie |author2=Martellaro, John |author3=Greelish, David |date=January 13, 2012 |title=John Sculley: The Truth About Me, Apple, and Steve Jobs Part 2 |url=http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/john_sculley_the_full_transcript_part2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330084903/http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/john_sculley_the_full_transcript_part2/ |archive-date=March 30, 2022 |access-date=January 20, 2012 |work=The Mac Observer |quote=[...] Larry [Tesler] realized that if you're going to do very sophisticated graphics manipulation on a handheld product, that no processor existed at that time that was both powerful and low powered enough to be able to even attempt that. Larry Tesler found a man in the UK named Hermann Hauser who had founded the Acorn computer company. [...] a new company that we had to put together that was 47 percent owned by Apple, it was 47 percent owned by Olivetti, a name from the past, and the rest of it was owned by Hermann Hauser. And this company we called ARM.}}</ref>

A smaller device was then designed by [[Jonathan Ive]].<ref>{{cite journal |date=September 25, 2006 |title=Who Is Jonathan Ive? An in-depth look at the man behind Apple's design magic |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_39/b4002414.htm |url-status=dead |journal=[[BusinessWeek]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221080506/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_39/b4002414.htm |archive-date=December 21, 2008 |access-date=December 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |year=2000 |title=Cyber Elite: Jonathan Ive |url=http://www.time.com/time/digital/cyberelite/44.html |url-status=dead |journal=Time Digital |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000819145006/http://www.time.com/time/digital/cyberelite/44.html |archive-date=August 19, 2000}}</ref>

Although [[Personal digital assistant|PDA]]s had been developing since the original [[Psion Organiser]] in 1984,<ref>{{cite web |title=PDA |url=http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest22971-219207-pda-enter-tags-rohith-girish-shyamprasad-entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191622/http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest22971-219207-pda-enter-tags-rohith-girish-shyamprasad-entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=November 10, 2015 |work=authorSTREAM}}</ref><ref name="PDA history blog">[http://www.bloggersbase.com/gadgets-and-Mobile/history-of-pdas-part-1/ History of PDAs blog] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708015619/http://www.bloggersbase.com/gadgets-and-Mobile/history-of-pdas-part-1/|date=July 8, 2011}}</ref> the Newton has left one particular lasting impression: the term ''personal digital assistant'' was coined to refer to the Newton.<ref name="PDA history blog" />

According to former Apple CEO [[John Sculley]], the company invested approximately $100 million to develop Newton.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kawamoto |first=Dawn |date=October 2, 2003 |title=Riding the next technology wave |url=http://news.cnet.com/2008-7351-5085423.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205201219/http://news.cnet.com/2008-7351-5085423.html |archive-date=February 5, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 |work=Newsmaker |publisher=CNET}}</ref>

===Release and reception===
The Newton was considered innovative at its debut, but it suffered from its high price and problems with the handwriting recognition element, its most anticipated feature. The handwriting software was not ready by 1993 and its tendency to misread characters was widely derided in the media. This was parodied in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Lisa on Ice]]", where a scene makes fun of the Newton's handwriting recognition turning "Beat up Martin" into "Eat up Martha".<ref>{{cite news |last=Hide |first=Nick |date=September 23, 2013 |title=The Simpsons' 'Eat Up Martha' was the first autocorrect fail |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/the-simpsons-eat-up-martha-was-the-first-autocorrect-fail/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807020209/https://www.cnet.com/news/the-simpsons-eat-up-martha-was-the-first-autocorrect-fail/ |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |access-date=August 6, 2019 |publisher=CNET}}</ref> [[Garry Trudeau]] also mocked the Newton in a weeklong arc of his comic strip ''[[Doonesbury]]'', portraying it as a costly toy that served the same function as a cheap notepad, and using its accuracy problems to humorous effect. In one panel, [[Mike Doonesbury|Michael Doonesbury]]'s Newton misreads the words "Catching on?" as "Egg Freckles", a phrase that became widely repeated as symbolic of the Newton's problems. This phrase was subsequently included as a trigger for an [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] in later editions of the MessagePad, producing a panel from the strip when it was entered on the device. In acknowledgement of the strip, Apple subsequently gifted a MessagePad to Trudeau.<ref>{{cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=December 18, 1995 |title=Doonesbury' and Apple Hatch a Comic Surprise |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/18/business/doonesbury-and-apple-hatch-a-comic-surprise.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713053040/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/18/business/doonesbury-and-apple-hatch-a-comic-surprise.html |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 |newspaper=New York Times}}</ref>

Although the software improved substantially in Newton OS 2.0, it was not enough to inspire strong sales.<ref name="Evans">{{cite book |last1=Evans |first1=David S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5Wx6-uv-DSkC&q=Newton&pg=PA397 |title=Invisible Engines: How Software Platforms Drive Innovation and Transform Industries |last2=Hagiu |first2=Andrei |last3=Schmalensee |first3=Richard |publisher=[[MIT Press]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-0262262644 |pages=159–161 |access-date=October 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926135216/https://books.google.com/books?id=5Wx6-uv-DSkC&q=Newton&pg=PA397 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Cancellation ===
The Newton became popular in some industries, notably the medical field. However, the debut of the competing [[Palm Pilot]] substantially reduced its market share. Apple struggled to find a new direction for the Newton, and when [[Steve Jobs]] returned to the company in 1997, he killed the product line. He was critical of the device's weak performance, the management of the development team, and the stylus, which he disliked as it prevented the use of the fingers. Furthermore, with Apple already suffering heavy losses which jeopardized its survival, this made the unprofitable Newton a tempting target to axe. Jobs was likely also motivated by the fact that the Newton was the pet project of his old adversary Sculley.<ref name="Evans" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name="fortune19960219">{{Cite magazine |last=Schendler |first=Brent |last2=Martin |first2=Michael H. |date=1996-02-19 |title=Paradise Lost: Apple's Quest for Life after Death |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1996/02/19/207747/index.htm |access-date=2025-06-28 |magazine=Fortune}}</ref> However, Jobs saw potential in the technology and concept, if not the execution, and eventually led Apple to create its [[multi-touch]] devices inspired by [[FingerWorks]], the [[iPhone]] and [[iPad]].<ref name="Evans" /><ref name=":1"/>

==Newton post-cancellation{{anchor|Newton, Inc.}}==
{{plain image with caption|Newton, Inc. logo.svg|caption=Logo of Newton, Inc.|upright=0.75}}
Before the Newton project was canceled, it was spun off into an Apple wholly owned subsidiary company, '''Newton, Inc'''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Today in Apple history: Newton spins off as its own company|url=https://www.cultofmac.com/482679/today-apple-history-newton-spins-off-company/|website=Cult of Mac|date=2020-05-22|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en-US|first=Luke|last=Dormehl|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129192435/https://www.cultofmac.com/482679/today-apple-history-newton-spins-off-company/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="apple-newtoninc">{{cite web |title=Newton, Inc Unveils New Corporate Identity and Headquarters |website=newton.apple.com |date=1997-08-06 |url=http://www.newton.apple.com/press_releases/19970806branding_newloc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980204044151/http://www.newton.apple.com/press_releases/19970806branding_newloc.html |archive-date=1998-02-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Speculation continued for several years that Apple might release a new PDA with some Newton technology or collaborate with [[Palm (PDA)|Palm]]. Feeding a bit of speculation, Apple put the "Print Recognizer" part of the Newton 2.1 handwriting recognition system into [[Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar]]. It can be used with graphics tablets to seamlessly input handwritten printed text anywhere there was an insertion point on the screen. This technology, known as "[[Inkwell (Macintosh)|Inkwell]]", appears in the System Preferences whenever a tablet input device is plugged in. [[Larry Yaeger]] was the author of the original Rosetta recognizer on the Newton, and was also responsible for porting it to Mac OS X.<ref>[http://wwnc.newtontalk.net/2004/program/larryyaeger/slides-larryyaeger.pdf Handwriting Recognition Technology in the Newton's Second Generation "Print Recognizer" (The One That Worked)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903111830/http://wwnc.newtontalk.net/2004/program/larryyaeger/slides-larryyaeger.pdf |date=September 3, 2008 }}, By [[Larry Yaeger]]{{Snd}} Apple Computer, World Wide Newton Conference, September 4–5, 2004, Slides</ref>  Patent applications were issued for a tablet based Macintosh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appleinsider, ''Euro filing reveals Apple handheld design images'', August 13, 2004 |url=http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=600 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018023838/http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=600 |archive-date=October 18, 2006 |access-date=December 11, 2008}}</ref> At an ''[[All Things Digital]]'' conference in 2004, Steve Jobs made reference to a new "Apple PDA" which the company had developed but had decided not to bring to market.<ref>[http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/04/06/07/jobs_apple_developed_but_did_not_ship_apple_pda.html Jobs: Apple developed, but did not ship Apple PDA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229032006/http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/04/06/07/jobs_apple_developed_but_did_not_ship_apple_pda.html |date=December 29, 2008 }}, By Kasper Jade, June 7, 2004, AppleInsider</ref>

In September 2009, Michael Tchao, who pitched the original Newton concept to John Sculley,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Honan |first=Mat |title=Remembering the Apple Newton's Prophetic Failure and Lasting Impact |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/08/remembering-the-apple-newtons-prophetic-failure-and-lasting-ideals/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112015207/https://www.wired.com/2013/08/remembering-the-apple-newtons-prophetic-failure-and-lasting-ideals/ |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |access-date=2023-08-11 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> returned to Apple.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stone |first=Brad |date=September 28, 2009 |title=Apple Rehires a Developer of Its Newton Tablet |url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/apple-rehires-newton-and-nike-marketing-whiz/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518221827/http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/apple-rehires-newton-and-nike-marketing-whiz/ |archive-date=May 18, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 |work=Bits |publisher=New York Times}}</ref> Michael Tchao is now the VP of iPad Product Marketing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Secret Apple Execs You've Never Heard Of |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-execs-2011-6?op=1#dan-riccio-is-vp-of-the-ipad-division-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804111319/https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-execs-2011-6?op=1#dan-riccio-is-vp-of-the-ipad-division-4 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |access-date=21 April 2020 |website=Business Insider}}</ref>

===Emulation===
Since 2004, the Einstein Project<ref>{{cite web|url=https://code.google.com/p/einstein/|title=pguyot/Einstein|work=GitHub|access-date=November 10, 2015|archive-date=March 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312204242/https://code.google.com/p/einstein/|url-status=live}}</ref> has been working on emulating the Newton for use as an alternative OS on other platforms. It is currently available for the Sharp [[Zaurus]], Apple's [[Mac OS X]], [[Nokia]] [[Maemo]], [[Microsoft Windows]], and the [[Pepper Pad]] 3. The emulator is an open source project, but requires an original Newton ROM to be installed in order to function. [[iPhone]]s and [[iPads]] run Einstein since September 2010. The [[Android operating system]] runs Einstein since March 2011.<ref>[http://myapplenewton.blogspot.com/2011/03/apple-newton-on-android.html Apple Newton on Android] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428121357/http://myapplenewton.blogspot.com/2011/03/apple-newton-on-android.html |date=April 28, 2019 }}, March 13, 2011, My Apple Newton</ref>[[File:Apple_Newton_and_iPhone.jpg|thumb|The Apple Newton MessagePad 2100, a 1997 model, running Newton OS, alongside the original [[iPhone]] from 2007 running [[iOS]]]]

===Software development===
Programs have been written for the Newton since its cancellation,<ref>{{Cite web|title = United Network of Newton Archives|url = http://www.unna.org/recent/|website = www.unna.org|access-date = 2015-11-25|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051023130015/http://www.unna.org/recent/|archive-date = October 23, 2005|url-status = dead}}</ref> including an RSS reader.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 40Hz|url = http://40hz.org/Pages/40Hz|website = 40hz.org|access-date = 2015-11-25|archive-date = November 25, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151125105115/http://40hz.org/Pages/40Hz|url-status = live}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
The Apple Newton and its poor handwriting recognition was lampooned on season six ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Lisa on Ice]]", when Kearney (one of the three teenaged thugs/school bullies) tells Dolph to take a memo on his Newton to "Beat up Martin," and the message comes up as "Eat up Martha".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evon |first1=Dan |title=Did 'The Simpsons' Predict Autocorrect? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/simpsons-predict-autocorrect/?collection-id=210994 |access-date=March 26, 2021 |work=[[Snopes.com]] |date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019185612/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/simpsons-predict-autocorrect/?collection-id=210994 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 1995 anime series ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', handheld devices modeled on the Newton can be seen multiple times, serving various internal functions within NERV.<ref>{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Madison |title=tweet |url=https://twitter.com/MVictoriaKing/status/1392611449810399237 |website=Twitter |access-date=17 May 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512224448/https://twitter.com/MVictoriaKing/status/1392611449810399237 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{better source needed |reason=[[WP:UGC|user generated content]] |date=February 2022}}

In the 1995 film ''[[Under Siege 2: Dark Territory]]'', the main character Casey Ryback ([[Steven Seagal]]) connects an Apple Newton PDA to the telephone network of the hijacked train on which the film is set, and sends a fax to his workplace, which is then forwarded to Admiral Bates, Ryback's contact at the Pentagon. The hijackers subsequently discover and hack the Newton, thus learning of Ryback's presence on the train.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S8en3TIqmeQC&dq=apple+newton+in+Under+Siege+2:+Dark+Territory&pg=PA242|publisher=[[Citadel Press]]|via=[[Google Books]]|author=Molinari, Matteo; Kamm, Jim|title=Oops! Movie Mistakes That Made the Cut|language=en-US|url-status=live|page=242|isbn=9780806523194|date=April 1, 2002|access-date=May 16, 2022|archivedate=May 16, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516175105/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Oops/S8en3TIqmeQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=apple+newton+in+Under+Siege+2%3A+Dark+Territory&pg=PA242&printsec=frontcover}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=[[Ebert, Roger]]|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/under-siege-2-dark-territory-1995|title=Under Siege 2: Dark Territory|publisher=RogerEbert.com|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=July 17, 1995|access-date=May 16, 2022|archivedate=June 18, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618132134/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/under-siege-2-dark-territory-1995}}</ref>

In the 1998 interactive video game ''[[The X-Files Game]]'', the main character uses an Apple Newton to make notes, read e-mail and navigate the different locations of the game.<ref name="CNN Article">{{cite web |title=Computer X-Files: The game is out there |website=CNN |url=http://edition.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9806/19/xfiles.game/ |access-date=February 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411141111/http://edition.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9806/19/xfiles.game/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During Apple's March 21, 2016, keynote conference, a celebration video called "40 Years in 40 Seconds" was unveiled. The video featured flashing text of names from Apple's most notable products and taglines in their forty-year history, including Newton. However, in Newton's case, it was the only name depicted in the video being explicitly scratched out, mimicking how users deleted text on the device, and referencing the full cancellation of the product line.<ref>Hackett, Stephen (March 22, 2016) [https://512pixels.net/2016/03/0-years-in-40-s/ Apple’s ’40 Years in 40 Seconds’ Video Annotated ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330084914/https://512pixels.net/2016/03/0-years-in-40-s/ |date=March 30, 2022 }} ''512 Pixels'' (blog). Retrieved 2019-10-11</ref>

In the TV series ''[[For All Mankind (TV series)|For All Mankind]]'' season 3, episode 1, an alternative 1992 history Newton MessagePad with backlit (possibly color) display is shown at a briefing scene.<ref name="For All Mankind">{{cite web |title=For All Mankind |website=Apple |date=November 2019 |url=https://tv.apple.com/de/show/for-all-mankind/umc.cmc.6wsi780sz5tdbqcf11k76mkp7 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613213647/https://tv.apple.com/de/show/for-all-mankind/umc.cmc.6wsi780sz5tdbqcf11k76mkp7 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[iPhone]]
* [[iPad]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}

===Newton technical documents for programmers===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080724074742/http://newton.vyx.net/documentation/COMPCON-Arch.pdf The Newton Application Architecture]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080528081216/http://newton.tek-ed.com/NewtonToolKit_win/NTK/Winntk16.pdf Newton Tool Kit (NTK) Integrated Development Environment Manual]
* [http://beepdf.com/doc/122155/newton_archi.html The Newton Application Architecture]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081014160506/http://home.satx.rr.com/dumbstart/tutorial/tutorial1.htm A quick introduction to programming in NewtonScript using NTK]
* [http://www.newted.org/download/manuals/NewtonScriptProgramLanguage.pdf The NewtonScript Programming Language (Apple Manual).]
* [http://www.newted.org/download/manuals/NewtonProgrammerGuide20.pdf Newton Programmer's Guide, OS 2.0]
* [http://www.newted.org/download/manuals/NewtonProgrammerGuide21Add.pdf Newton Programmer's Guide, OS 2.1 Addendum]
* [http://www.newted.org/download/manuals/NewtonProgrammerRef20.pdf Newton Programmer's Reference, OS 2.0]
* [http://www.newted.org/download/manuals/NewtonOS21EngDoc.pdf Newton OS 2.1 Engineering Documents]
* [http://waltersmith.us/wp-content/uploads/2005/12/OOPSLA95.pdf Explanation of NewtonScript Prototyping] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903111832/http://waltersmith.us/wp-content/uploads/2005/12/OOPSLA95.pdf |date=September 3, 2008 }}
* [http://www.newted.org/download/manuals/Newton20UIGuide.pdf Newton User Interface Specification Guide]

===General historical information on pen computing===
* [http://ruetersward.com/pens/penhist.html Notes on the (relatively unknown) History of Pen-based Computing]
* {{YouTube|4xnqKdWMa_8|Notes on the History of Pen-based Computing}}
* [http://ruetersward.com/biblio.html Annotated Bibliography in Pen Computing]

{{Apple hardware before 1998}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Apple Newton| ]]
[[Category:Apple Inc. personal digital assistants]]
[[Category:Handwriting recognition]]
[[Category:Personal digital assistant software]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1993]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1993]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 1998]]
[[Category:Discontinued Apple Inc. products]]