Developments to Watch

A Notepad in Apple’s Future

At Apple Computer’s developers’ conference in May, the company’s Advanced Technology Group (ATG) provided a glimpse of a working notepad computer. The machine included a touch-sensitive screen and a stylus for input. The interface used a notebook tab or “bookmark” metaphor similar to PenPoint’s. The demonstration included the concept of wireless electronic mail being sent between the notepad machine and other computers. It’s no coincidence that Apple has applied to the FCC for a license to operate a wireless communications service at frequencies between 1850 and 1990 MHz. But, according to long-time Apple observer and correspondent for BYTE Magazine, Laurence Loeb, this notepad project is “a couple of years away. In the short term, they’re concentrating on clamshells; SonyMacs.”

Correction: It’s Windows for Pen Computing

First it was Windows/H, then it was PenWindows. Now, Microsoft’s official name for its pen-based operating environment is Microsoft Windows for Pen Computing. Granted that’s a mouthful, but a Redmond spokesman told us that the name change was put into effect because it more closely follows the corporate naming convention, presumably of not having Windows prefaced by a prefix.

For the sake of convenience, we’ll continue referring to Microsoft Windows for Pen Computing as PenWindows and we bet others will do likewise since no other acronym readily comes to mind.

Pen Computing Conferences Coming Up

Richard Shaffer’s Technologic Partners is sponsoring a one-day conference on pen-computing to be held in San Francisco on July 16th. The brochure lists an impressive lineup of speakers from most of the major companies in the pen-based field. For information, contact Technologic Partners at 212-696-9330.

An organization called Japan Entry is holding a “Japan-U.S. Marketing Partnering Summit” focused on pen-computing the day before Fall Comdex in Las Vegas (Sunday, October 20th). For more information, call Chris Payne-Taylor at 508-352-7788.