Apple Newton

This article is about the Apple-brand PDA platform. For the series of hardware devices, see MessagePad. For the cookie, see Newtons (cookie). For the anecdote about Isaac Newton, see Isaac Newton's apple tree.

Newton
Apple Newton MessagePad 100, with its stylus
DeveloperApple Computer, Inc.
TypeBar PDA
Release dateAugust 3, 1993 (1993-08-03)[1]
DiscontinuedFebruary 27, 1998 (1998-02-27)
Operating systemNewton OS
InputTouch screen

The Newton is a specified standard and series of personal digital assistants (PDAs) developed and marketed by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1993 to 1998. An early device in the PDA category — the term itself originating with the Newton[2] — it was the first to feature handwriting recognition. Newton devices run on a proprietary operating system, Newton OS; unlike the company's Macintosh computers, Apple licensed the software to third-parties, who released Newton devices alongside Apple's own MessagePad line.[3]

Apple started developing the platform in 1987; concepted by Steve Sakoman as a tablet-like device with handwriting capabilities, he worked with AT&T Corporation to develop a low-power processor, Hobbit, for the project. However, slow progress and other issues led to Sakoman leaving Apple in 1990 to form Be Computer, Inc.[4] The Newton project would be revitalized by Michael Tchao and Steve Capps who pitched the idea directly to CEO John Sculley;[2][5] Apple invested in Acorn Computers who developed a specific ARM6-based RISC processor for the device.[4] Apple introduced the Newton on May 29, 1992 (1992-05-29),[6] and shipments began on August 2, 1993.[7]

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,[2] while post-release problems with its handwriting recognition feature led to negative publicity and became a source of mockery.[8] Sales of the Newton were well below Apple's expectations, and despite significant improvements in later hardware and version 2.0 of Newton OS,[4] 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.[4]

  1. ^ Luckie, Douglas. "Newton MessagePad". Luckie's Homepage. Michigan State University. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Hormby, Tom (August 6, 2013). "The Story Behind Apple's Newton". Low End Mac. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  3. ^ "Newton MessagePad". cf.psl.msu.edu. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Reimer, Jeremy (June 1, 2022). "Remembering Apple's Newton, 30 years on". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Foresman, Chris (September 29, 2009). "Apple hires former Newton designer to head product marketing". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  6. ^ Brown, Marcel (May 29, 2015). "Apple Newton Announced". This Day in Tech History. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  7. ^ eZine (July 11, 2021). "Newtons' Lutions Issue 1 • Neperos". Neperos.com. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Honan, Matt (August 5, 2013). "Remembering the Apple Newton's Prophetic Failure and Lasting Impact". WIRED. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2015.