Apple's technology has been scalled down to what is now the Newton. The
universal voice recognition in the new Apple machines, the AppleSearch and
Egar projects, Telescript from General Magic (an Apple spinoff), Taligent,
Sweet Pea & Kalida tecnology, represents a vast software arsnal. This
doesn't even include Apple's existing Macintosh tecnology.
While my first Newton could be a little better in some places, it gets better
every day. Recognition is near perfect now (and my writing is not that
neat). Consistency and distinction is important in making the Newton "learn"
your style. Remember how long it took to learn to type!!! Apple will have a
ROM patch out the middle of September that will improve recognition and
memory problems considerably. In fact Apple is planning to release many
"patches" to extend the abilities of Newton before Christmas. Three other
models of Newton (a notebook size, a 3 X 5 inch, and an educational product
of some kind) are due out before the end of the year.
Apple has announced it has already pre-sold 75,000 Newtons to various heavy
hitters such as Coca Cola, Bell South, and even the defense department. 1500
developers are currently working on applications for the Newton and because
they are writing in an integrated object oriented development enviornment
instead of C these applications should be available very quickly. Sharp's
version of the Newton should help bring confidence to consumers immediately
that it is a quality device. Most people think of Casio as a cheap watch
maker (sorry no insults intended) and while Tandy has some respect in the
computer market, Apple has been the company that has really been able to sell
new computer concepts and vision.
While its easy to point out the problems people suggest with mis-recognition,
remember people have higher expectations of Newton. It can recognize cursive
and print. Wait till the negative criticm on Zoomer hits as most users have
to revert to a writing style they gave up in the 3rd grade!!!! You can even
print part of a word and write cursive the other part and Newton will still
recognize (and alot of people do that). Zoomer will have its day under the
clouds as people criticizing it pick apart the things it doesn't do (no clean
up graphics, no assistant, no data soup enviornment, no interactive
development enviornment, no cursive handwriting , no Mac conectivity, etc.),
and overlook the things it does well (such as digital ink, more built in
application, and possibly better out of the box print recogntion). This is
what has happened to Newton and as a Newton owner I can say that most all
critism is highly over done and mostly passed on by people who don't have a
Newton or just used one for a day or so.
I have no intention of running the Zoomer down. I just believe that the
major critisms of the Newton will be present in the Zoomer also. It
simplying won't adapt to all the different styles of handwriting and
reviewers will surely bash it on that. Furthermore, there is no possibility
of improvement like the Newton and that will weigh heavily on people's minds
when considering purchase. At least Newton offers hope of better recognition
after use, and most will be very happy with its ability to learn. In order
to compete down the road cursive recognition is manditory and it should be
provided free to all initial Zoomer purchasers. I will buy a Zoomer when it
is available but by then my Newton will have learned its way even further in
to my life.
Just a biased Newton owner... :)Subj: Z-7000 on AOL