Newton 2.0 Awarded “Best of COMDEX” Honors
CUPERTINO, Calif. — November 20, 1995 — The Newton 2.0 operating system, which Apple Computer, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) recently announced, received top honors at the Comdex/Fall '95 trade show, held last week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Newton 2.0, the operating system for Apple's MessagePad personal digital assistant (PDA) as well as devices from Newton licensees, won "Best of COMDEX" in the "Operating System" category. The coveted "Best of COMDEX" awards, presented annually by Byte Magazine, recognize unique, technically innovative and cutting-edge new computer products at COMDEX, the largest computer tradeshow in the United States.
"This prestigious award is a testament to the great strides we've made in providing a PDA platform which offers customers enhanced personal computer integration, communications and organization capabilities," said Steve Andler, senior director of Mobile Products for Apple Computer. "The enormous support from developers, licensees, and system integrators, combined with the new functionality of the operating system, makes Newton 2.0 among the most compelling PDA platforms on the market today for mobile professionals and vertical markets alike."
"Newton 2.0 marks what could become the turning point for the platform," said Kimball Brown, vice president, Mobile Computing, Dataquest. "The new capabilities in Newton 2.0 are vastly improved over the previous version, providing new ways for developers to add functionality for customers."
Newton 2.0 is a major revision and refinement of the Newton operating system and is the result of more than two years of extensive customer feedback and user testing. It is designed to advance the Newton platform by providing improved organizational and communications capabilities, as well as the ability to integrate Newton PDAs with Windows and Mac OS-based personal computers and enterprise environments. The Newton 2.0 platform is also designed to provide a more flexible and extensible development environment for a growing number of partners and solutions providers, including independent software vendors (ISVs), systems integrators (SIs), and value-added resellers (VARs).
Last week in the Newton Pavilion, Apple's dedicated Newton booth at COMDEX, licensees such as Digital Ocean, Inc., Harris Corp. and Motorola Corp. showed connectivity solutions for mobile professionals and vertical markets. In addition, more than 40 developers demonstrated more than 50 different software solutions, illustrating the power and versatility of the Newton 2.0 platform.
Newton 2.0 is expected to be available on the Apple MessagePad 120 beginning December 1, 1995. Additional Newton 2.0 products that focus on giving customers the power to connect with their personal computers and enterprise structures are expected to be available in the marketplace over the next two quarters.
Product Availability
Existing customers in the United States will be able to upgrade their MessagePad 120 (1MB & 2MB versions with the Newton 1.3 operating system) with the new operating system for $109 beginning in December. For those customers with earlier MessagePad products (the original model and models 100 and 110), Apple also will implement a customer appreciation rebate program beginning on December 1. Owners of earlier models who buy a MessagePad 120 with the new operating system will receive a $100 rebate by sending in proof of purchase and the serial number from the early model. Customers may call the Newton Information Service at: 800-909-0260 for the rebate program, or the Apple Assistance Center at: 800-767-2775 to place orders for the upgrade program (beginning Dec. 1st), locate the nearest reseller, or receive additional information about Newton programs.
Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, on-line services, and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies and services for the business, education, consumer, scientific & engineering and government markets in more than 140 countries.
Customer Information Contact: If you are considering the purchase of an Apple product and would like to have product information faxed to you, please call 1-800-462-4396 in the U.S. or 415-598-4329 in Canada. If you do not have a fax machine or would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, please call 1-800-538-9696. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local Apple representatives for information.
Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com
Newton home page on the World Wide Web, the centralized location for obtaining information about the Newton platform: http://www.info.apple.com/newton
NOTE: Apple, the Apple logo, Newton and MessagePad are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other company and product brand names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby acknowledged.
CONTACT:
Jeni Johnstone, 408-974-2589, or Jennie Shikashio, 408-974-1867, both of Regis McKenna Inc., for Apple Computer