When I think about a computer, I usually don't think about a 5-ton assembly of brass gears, cams, and steel rods. Yet in 1847 - 1849, Charles Babbage first created his design for the Difference Engine No. 2, a large mechanical computer that used these non-electronic components.
Nathan Myrhvold, former Chief Technical Officer of Microsoft, commissioned the building of a Difference Engine No. 2 based on Babbage's design. It's on display at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA, and will soon grace the living room of Myrhvold's home.
What does this have to do with Apple? In this MarketWatch video, it's mentioned that Babbage had problems getting funding for a device that was considered to be ahead of its time. It kind of reminds me of Apple's Newton MessagePad. It was the progenitor of all PDAs and smartphones, but failed in the marketplace because of its price and the fact that few people understood what it was good for.
The video also highlights Daniel Janisch, PowerBook Guy, who upgrades and sells antique PowerBooks (8-year old "Pismo" PowerBooks, for example). You can run Tiger on the Pismos, but they're often abandoned for the new kids on the block.
It was ten years ago today, February 27, 1998, that the Apple Newton was officially killed. During the five years that the Newt was in production it garnered nearly as many detractors as admirers, was the butt of jokes and set the ground work for Palm, Handspring and the like.
There's still an active community of Newton users out there, and they've made some incredible accomplishments in those ten years, like:
The cat being Steve Jobs (absent from Apple in 1996) and the mice a team of Newton developers who found themselves alone with 4,000 modems and a video camera. As you've undoubtedly surmised, they created an impressive domino-type arrangement of the modems in the halls of Apple.
The video is longer than it needs to be, so skip ahead a bit. While you're at it, dig the 90's fashion statements. Flock Of Seagulls Nirvana concert, anyone?
"I installed [NewtSMS+ 1.10a beta] on my Newton MP 2100. I put the SIM card into my Nokia Card Phone. Plugged the card phone into my Newt. Let NewtSMS+ know the PIN of my SIM card, and was ready to go...For my money (exactly 35 euros / about 48 USD in this case), the Newton does a brilliant job."
He goes on to note that the Phone Card also works with his eMate and old Compaq laptop, plus the SIM card works with his Nokia 6310i. Nicely done!
"...[A US company] 'approached Apple willing to buy [the] Newton and relaunch it. They are in ... negotiations with Apple...'"
I think we all remember - and would like to forget - the iWalk.
Today, AppleInsider is beating this decrepit, old horse. According to their "well-respected sources," a team has been very busy at Apple building a multi-touch handheld successor to the Newton. Sure. In other news, everyone who paid $7500 for a Twentieth Anniversary Mac will receive $100 Apple Store credit, OJ Simpson is Steve Job's personal hitman and the next AppleTV will play Pippin games.
I never even realized such a thing existed, but apparently Hasbro (which now owns the Monopoly brand) had released a computer version of the famous real estate game, completely updated for 2007-- as in, there are Hybrid cars and RAZRs in the game (yeah, yeah, I'll get to that in a second), and luxury tax now costs you $150,000, instead of the quaint old $75. And it's now been released for the Mac-- you can pick it up for $20 over at Macgamestore, or grab the demo for free at Macgamefiles.
Gamespot users thought the PC version was pretty all right, so if you like the game a lot but don't always have the real opponents around to sit through the whole thing with you, this might be right up your alley.
But of course, what I'd like to see, in either virtual or realspace, is an actual Apple-branded edition of Monopoly-- the Newton and Lisa can be Mediterranean and Baltimore, and Park Place and Boardwalk get to be the iPhone and the iPod touch. You can have little Jobs and Woz figurines to move around the board (the shoe stays-- love the shoe), although I'm not sure what the railroads would be-- Apple keynotes at Mac conferences? Get on that, Hasbro!
Several of the TUAW bloggers are fans of David Allen's Getting Things Done. There are also a couple of Newton fans among our numbers (myself included), so it's inevitable that the two would come together.
A little while back we linked to ByteCellar's Apple //c terminal, and now he's gone and put a Newton online. You can check out the whole setup in the gallery, but the short story seems to be that he hooked up the eMate 300 to a serial-to-USB terminal, and then ran it through his Mini. Pretty easy, he says, since he'd already done it with the Apple //c, and apparently it's just an experiment-- while he could easily keep it around for IRC, he says the eMate is bound to its eFate as a paperWate.
And if getting the Newton hooked up as a terminal revs your engine, I was surprised to find out that TUAW houses the original Newton serial connector. Very impressive-- even in 1993, Sadun was doing stuff with Apple hardware that makes my head spin. Figgles, apparently, is her Newton.
And finally, if you don't have the knowhow or the patience to hook your Newton up to a serial internet connection, you could always just pull an Ihnatko and fake it. How long has he had that sticker sitting around? If you're not up for actually stickering your iPhone, Jer Wood's wallpaper might be more your speed.
While browsing Flickr from the luxurious TUAW offices this afternoon (read: That Starbucks on the corner), we came across the Apple Prototypes Flickr group. There's some very cool stuff pictured, including a penlite prototype with duodock and a transparent SE/20.
As the group's administrator notes, prototype Apple hardware rarely sees the light of day. If you've got something cool lying around, consider adding a few shots to this pool (Anonymity will be granted, if desired). Because sharing is caring.
Photograph used with permission from Sonny Hung. Photographer anonymous.
Donationware app MacTracker is great for those times when you need to look back at the history of Apple's products or the stats of one particular machine. If you're interested in more of a visual history, however, this picture from art director and designer Edwin Tofslie should satisfy your cravings for pretty pictures. Tofslie collected images from most of the major design revisions Apple has made to many of their most significant products, including the Mac, Newton, iPod, Xserve and iPhone, as well as their displays, mice and even the AirPort Extreme stations. It's an interesting look back over the evolution of Apple's industrial design that seems to include all the major landmarks.
The big news was the announcement that the Einstein Project - which brings the Newton OS to current hardware - has gone open source. It's now known as Open Einstein, and can be found here.
This is great news, as more collaborators means the more handhelds that can "go green" (and I'm not talking about environmentalism).
There's more of course, and you can get the full run-down at the link above. Here's to WWNC '08. Might I suggest the east coast of the US? Thanks, Grant!
If you've configured your dual-wield gadget skill for both Newtons and iPhones (as I have), you may want to check out this Newton 2100/iPhone photo gallery at Flickr. The images are beautifully lit and composed, and provide a nice comparison of the two devices.
It makes us happy to know that we aren't the only ones who love our toys this much.
Registration is now open for ¥3500 (this includes a 2-day passport to the conference, lunch and drinks). While you're waiting, check out these highlights from previous years' conferences.
Someday I'll attend one of these. But for this year...Tokyo is quite a ways away.
Michael Simon at Mac | Life takes a cautionary look at the iPhone from the perspective of the failed Newton. In the months before its launch, the Newton generated a lot of buzz and excitement, and boasted similar functionality. As Mr. Simon notes, the original Newton introductory video states, "The Newton MessagePad can find a phone number and dial the phone for you, fax a note, format a letter, and even set up a lunch appointment."
It's an interesting comparison, but I don't think it's entirely fair. When the Newton was introduced, not may people - if any - knew what a "PDA" was. The concept was even new for Apple.
Conversely, everyone knows what a cell phone is, and nearly everyone has used one. While it's true that Apple has a lot riding on the iPhone - you could argue even more so than the Newton - its path will be very different.
Casey Ryback, Steven Segal's character in Under Siege, never had it easy but he had great toys. Sure, he was "just the cook" but apparently SEAL cooks have access to some amazing gadgets. Like special communicators, explosives and Miss July. Under Siege was so successful, the filmmakers decided to create a sequel, Under Siege 2, which takes place on a train with his niece (that actress from Roswell and Grey's Anatomy) and a Newton. No, really! Not kidding here. Behold the glory that is Newton in Under Siege 2.
Update: My bad. This seems to be a repeat of a post from before my time here at TUAW. If you have a great (but non-repeat!) idea for Blast from the Past, drop us a note via our Tip form.
When I think about a computer, I usually don't think about a 5-ton assembly of brass gears, cams, and steel rods. Yet in 1847 - 1849, Charles Babbage first created his design for the Difference Engine No. 2, a large mechanical computer that used these non-electronic components.
It was 
Who needs an 
What's more annoying than 
I never even realized such a thing existed, but apparently Hasbro (which now 
Several of the TUAW bloggers are fans of David Allen's Getting Things Done. There are also a couple of Newton fans among our numbers (myself included), so it's inevitable that the two would come together.
A little while back we linked to ByteCellar's 
While browsing Flickr from the luxurious TUAW offices this afternoon (read: That Starbucks on the corner), we came across the 
The 
If you've configured your dual-wield gadget skill for both Newtons and iPhones (as I have), you may want to check out 
Michael Simon at Mac | Life 
