9 Aug
2006
9 Aug
'06
1:23 a.m.
On Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:15:18 -0700, Don <THX1138 at dakotacom.net> wrote:
Pulled a Newton (110?) out of the trash today
(complete with power, faxmodem, carrying case, etc.)
Appears to work.
Can these be repurposed? Or, is it just an oversized,
underpowered "notepad"?
I've used my 120 as a portable terminal. Not too bad if you can get
by the handwriting recognition or tippy-tappin on the little graphic
keyboard with the provided toothpick.
A friend, a number of years back, hacked his box to be a TV remote.
CRC
9 Aug
9 Aug
2:47 a.m.
CRC wrote:
On Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:15:18 -0700, Don <THX1138 at dakotacom.net> wrote:
Can you "install" software (like on a Palm/Visor)? Or, do you
need to surgical "change it's mind" :>
Pulled a Newton (110?) out of the trash today
(complete with power, faxmodem, carrying case, etc.)
Appears to work.
Can these be repurposed? Or, is it just an oversized,
underpowered "notepad"?
I've used my 120 as a portable terminal. Not too bad if you can get by
the handwriting recognition or tippy-tappin on the little graphic
keyboard with the provided toothpick.
A friend, a number of years back, hacked his box to be a TV remote. 
5:32 a.m.
Am 8 Aug 2006 23:47 meinte Don:
CRC wrote:
> On Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:15:18 -0700, Don <THX1138 at dakotacom.net> wrote:
>> Pulled a Newton (110?) out of the trash today
>> (complete with power, faxmodem, carrying case, etc.)
>> Appears to work.
>> Can these be repurposed? Or, is it just an
oversized,
>> underpowered "notepad"?
> I've used my 120 as a portable terminal. Not
too bad if you can get by
> the handwriting recognition or tippy-tappin on the little graphic
> keyboard with the provided toothpick.
> A friend, a number of years back, hacked his box
to be a TV remote.
Can you "install" software (like on a
Palm/Visor)? Or, do you
need to surgical "change it's mind" :>
It's an open system. just unlike the Palm, it has an OS
worth the name, not just an underpowered bootloader.
Install the connection software on your PC/Mac (I prefer
an 68k as development platform for the Newt) search the
net, and install whatever you find - and there's quite a
lot to find.
Maybe first a freeze utility to 'unload' Apps would be a
good first choice - Storage is rare, especialy on the old
ones. But then again, huge (aka 16 MB :) PCMCIA memory
cards aren't expensive anymore. Unlike most other devices,
where you load and run programms like on a desktop, the
Newt never terminates an application - you install it, it
gets loaded, and it stays loaded and 'running' from there
on. The system is awsome - just not your standard crap.
Back then it was from outher space, today you might call
it a Widget-Environment with a plugin framework...
Whatever, don't forget to get the NewtonScript development
tools. Some OO knowledge and a bit learning required, but
it's realy worth.
H.
P.S.: Speaking of Macs, MS finaly dropt their VBA from
Mac Office and goes for AS :))
--
VCF Europa 8.0 am 28/29.April 2007 in Muenchen
http://www.vcfe.org/
11:25 p.m.
Hans Franke wrote:
Will do.
Am 8 Aug 2006 23:47 meinte Don:
Grrrrr... There is (soon to be past tense!) a graffiti
cheat-sheat attached to the lid. Since my Visor uses
graffiti, it seemed logical to assume that the same
is true on the Newton.
So, I have been cursing how piss-poor it's recognizer is!
Threw the video tape commercial/introduction into the
VCR to watch while preparing dinner...
*Ah*! This has a *smarter* recognizer that can
apparently recognize disconnected strokes, etc.
So, don't draw T's like 7's (graffitit) but, rather,
draw the crossbar with a second stroke!
Amazing! (of course it has issues with my cursive
writing but most PEOPLE have those same issues with it! :>)
OK, I will have to reconsider my criticisms...
CRC wrote:
> On Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:15:18 -0700, Don <THX1138 at dakotacom.net> wrote:
>> Pulled a Newton (110?) out of the trash today
>> (complete with power, faxmodem, carrying case, etc.)
>> Appears to work.
>> Can these be repurposed? Or, is it just
an oversized,
>> underpowered "notepad"?
>> I've used my 120 as a portable terminal. Not too bad if you can get by
>> the handwriting recognition or tippy-tappin on the little graphic
>> keyboard with the provided toothpick. >> A friend, a number of years back, hacked his
box to be a TV remote.
This can be done with the Visor -- but kind of clumsy
since the IR window is on the *side* on the Visor...
Can you
"install" software (like on a Palm/Visor)? Or, do you
need to surgical "change it's mind" :>
It's an open system. just unlike the Palm, it has an OS
worth the name, not just an underpowered bootloader.
Install the connection software on your PC/Mac (I prefer
an 68k as development platform for the Newt) search the
net, and install whatever you find - and there's quite a
lot to find. Maybe first a freeze utility to 'unload' Apps
would be a
good first choice - Storage is rare, especialy on the old
ones. But then again, huge (aka 16 MB :) PCMCIA memory
cards aren't expensive anymore. Unlike most other devices,
Are there requirements for which types of cards it supports?
E.g., I have a spare 20M flash card looking for a use...
where you load and run programms like on a desktop,
the
Newt never terminates an application - you install it, it
gets loaded, and it stays loaded and 'running' from there
on. The system is awsome - just not your standard crap.
Back then it was from outher space, today you might call
it a Widget-Environment with a plugin framework...
Whatever, don't forget to get the NewtonScript development
tools. Some OO knowledge and a bit learning required, but
it's realy worth.
Thanks! I'll start googling.
10 Aug
10 Aug
3:53 a.m.
Am 9 Aug 2006 20:25 meinte Don:
Hans Franke wrote:
> Am 8 Aug 2006 23:47 meinte Don:
>> CRC wrote:
>>> On Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:15:18 -0700, Don <THX1138 at dakotacom.net>
wrote:
>>>> Pulled a Newton (110?) out of the trash today
>>>> (complete with power, faxmodem, carrying case, etc.)
>>>> Appears to work.
>>>> Can these be repurposed? Or, is it
just an oversized,
>>>> underpowered "notepad"?
>>> I've used my 120 as a portable
terminal. Not too bad if you can get by
>>> the handwriting recognition or tippy-tappin on the little graphic
>>> keyboard with the provided toothpick.
*Ah*! This has a *smarter* recognizer that can
apparently recognize disconnected strokes, etc.
So, don't draw T's like 7's (graffitit) but, rather,
draw the crossbar with a second stroke!
Amazing! (of course it has issues with my cursive
writing but most PEOPLE have those same issues with it! :>)
OK, I will have to reconsider my criticisms...
A first step to understand why the Palm was seen as a
running Joke in the Newt community. Wait till you get
an idea about the application concept.
It's more than just a cheap hardware with a boot loader
and a few predefined Apps. You'll get a whole application
framework in addition to a comfortable OS (it just doesn't
reassemble your traditional CP/M alike concept). I think
the time wasn't just right. Microsoft might do it in the
right pace - and step by step they're coming where the newt
has been a long time ago. Of course, with WinCE and .Net,
it will be a bulky and resource eating thing, Hunderts of
MBytes of RAM and Gigs of ROM needed to do what the newt
did in a few 100 K, but hat's why PocketPC will win in the
long run ofer all other PDAs arround.
In that context it might be usefull to install the latest
(aka last) OS release. If it's a 120/130, 2.0 should work.
Or look for a Newt2k. A bit bulky, but awsome and fast.
>>> A friend, a number of years back, hacked
his box to be a TV remote.
This can be done with the Visor -- but kind of clumsy
since the IR window is on the *side* on the Visor...
Better for the Newt - IR is on the top - and it's just cool
to flap-open it. There is even a speech recognition software,
so grab you Newt and say 'Comuter, give me the news channel'.
Not to mention the awsome sound programm wich can even be
made to speak.
>> Can you "install" software (like on
a Palm/Visor)? Or, do you
>> need to surgical "change it's mind" :>
> Maybe first a freeze utility to 'unload'
Apps would be a
> good first choice - Storage is rare, especialy on the old
> ones. But then again, huge (aka 16 MB :) PCMCIA memory
> cards aren't expensive anymore. Unlike most other devices,
Are there requirements for which types of cards it
supports?
E.g., I have a spare 20M flash card looking for a use...
Perfekt.
Gruss
H.
--
VCF Europa 8.0 am 28/29.April 2007 in Muenchen
http://www.vcfe.org/
9:37 a.m.
Hans Franke wrote:
Well, you can "speak" with a one-bit D/AC running at ~20Ks/s
so that's not particularly impressive :> (e.g., old pinball
machines generated speech by bit-banging with a 1MHz 680x).
<frown> Installing the card and hitting Extras | Card says
"No card installed". So, I will assume it is incompatible
(though I found a web page that claimed "Intel Series 2"
SRAM cards were compatible -- this is an Intel Series 2
FLASH card :< )
I'll have to check to see if the SRAM memory expansion cards
for the HP LJ5L's are *true* PCMCIA cards or just LOOK like
them... (I think I have a few 8M cards)
More research required! :>
Am 9 Aug 2006 20:25 meinte Don:
The display is really horrid. A backlight *might* help
but the available contrast makes this impractical to read
in many lighting conditions (screen is too reflective
and contrast too low). My Visor has that beat hands down
(and the Visor is pretty bad! :< )
Hans Franke wrote:
Am 8 Aug 2006 23:47 meinte Don:
*Ah*!
This has a *smarter* recognizer that can
apparently recognize disconnected strokes, etc.
So, don't draw T's like 7's (graffitit) but, rather,
draw the crossbar with a second stroke! Amazing! (of course it has issues with my
cursive
writing but most PEOPLE have those same issues with it! :>)
OK, I will have to reconsider my criticisms...
A first step to understand why the Palm was seen as a
running Joke in the Newt community. Wait till you get
an idea about the application concept. It's more than just a cheap hardware with a boot
loader
and a few predefined Apps. You'll get a whole application
framework in addition to a comfortable OS (it just doesn't
reassemble your traditional CP/M alike concept). I think
the time wasn't just right.
A common problem :-(
Microsoft might do it in the
right pace - and step by step they're coming where the newt
has been a long time ago. Of course, with WinCE and .Net,
it will be a bulky and resource eating thing, Hunderts of
MBytes of RAM and Gigs of ROM needed to do what the newt
And, you'll need to upgrade the software every 2 years :>
did in a few 100 K, but hat's why PocketPC will
win in the
long run ofer all other PDAs arround.
Unfortunately, I've not found PDA's to be particularly
useful -- i.e. worth *carrying*. But, this little box
is almost the same size as my pen&paper address book
(I don't rely on a computer to store such things since
I don't want to have to boot a computer just to look
up a name/address!) so that would be an "appropriate" use.
A *decent* calculator wouldn't be bad (though the built-in
calculator application is a joke!)
Or, maybe write a little Soduku program as a time-waster...
In that context it might be usefull to install the
latest
(aka last) OS release. If it's a 120/130, 2.0 should work.
110. I think I can "upgrade" to 1.3 (?) but I haven't
done enough research yet.
Or look for a Newt2k. A bit bulky, but awsome and
fast.
Well, if one falls into my lap for the same price (free),
I'll consider it! :>
>>> A
friend, a number of years back, hacked his box to be a TV remote.
This can be done with the Visor -- but kind of
clumsy
since the IR window is on the *side* on the Visor...
Better for the Newt - IR is on the top - and it's just cool
to flap-open it. There is even a speech recognition software,
so grab you Newt and say 'Comuter, give me the news channel'.
Not to mention the awsome sound programm wich can even be
made to speak. >> Can
you "install" software (like on a Palm/Visor)? Or, do you
>> need to surgical "change it's mind" :>
> Maybe first a freeze utility to
'unload' Apps would be a
> good first choice - Storage is rare, especialy on the old
> ones. But then again, huge (aka 16 MB :) PCMCIA memory
> cards aren't expensive anymore. Unlike most other devices,
Are there requirements for which types of cards
it supports?
E.g., I have a spare 20M flash card looking for a use...
Perfekt. 
15 Aug
15 Aug
8 a.m.
On 8/10/06 4:37 PM, Don wrote:
But did they do text-to-speech?
You'll want to go here: <http://www.newtontalk.net/>
And here: <http://www.unna.org/>
,xtG
.tsooJ
--
I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of
natural causes.
--
Joost van de Griek
<http://www.jvdg.net/>
There is even
a speech recognition software, so grab you Newt and say
'Comuter, give me the news channel'. Not to mention the awsome sound programm
wich can even be made to speak.
Well, you can "speak" with a one-bit D/AC running at ~20Ks/s so that's not
particularly impressive :> (e.g., old pinball machines generated speech by
bit-banging with a 1MHz 680x).
12:27 p.m.
Joost van de Griek wrote:
On 8/10/06 4:37 PM, Don wrote:
But did they do text-to-speech?
Actually, depending on how you implement the synthesizer itself,
TTS on a 1MHz 6809 isn't hard :>
There is
even a speech recognition software, so grab you Newt and say
'Comuter, give me the news channel'. Not to mention the awsome sound programm
wich can even be made to speak.
Well, you can "speak" with a one-bit
D/AC running at ~20Ks/s so that's not
particularly impressive :> (e.g., old pinball machines generated speech by
bit-banging with a 1MHz 680x). You'll want to go here:
<http://www.newtontalk.net/>
And here: <http://www.unna.org/>
Thanks! I've been digging through the UNNA site for the past
few days. Poorly documented, unfortunately. I'll have a
look at the other site as well...
9 Aug
9 Aug
10:50 a.m.
On Wed, August 9, 2006 7:47 am, Don said:
I'd like to know this too, I've got 2 newtons that could be used for remotes.
--
adrian/witchy
Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UKs biggest home computer collection?
A friend, a
number of years back, hacked his box to be a TV remote.
Can you "install" software (like on a Palm/Visor)? Or, do you
need to surgical "change it's mind" :>
6557
days inactive
6563
days old
8 comments
5 participants
participants (5)
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Hans.Franke＠siemens.com -
jvdg＠sparcpark.net -
technobug＠comcast.net -
THX1138＠dakotacom.net -
witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk