Short Cuts: Roaming Around the Mobile Computing Industry

New Newton Titles From StarCore

Always looking for ways to make the Newton a more rewarding experience, StarCore—Apple Computer’s publishing arm—has announced three new applications for the MessagePad. The new applications complement StarCore’s existing 40+ titles for the PDA.

The first application, dubbed Equate, enables people to move spreadsheet data between the Newton and Microsoft Excel on the desktop using the Newton Connection Kit. The spreadsheet can be created on either platform, and using Equate, users can sort and format numbers, formulas, and text using familiar Newton gestures. StarCore expects a retail price of US $89.95.

StarCore classifies the second application, Zagat Guide To Top U.S. Hotels & Restaurants, as a mobile information solution. This application, which contains nearly 1,500 listings for top hotels and restaurants in 26 destinations in the United States, draws from the popular Zagat Survey. The estimated price for the Zagat Guide is $69.95.

The third application may prove to be the most popular of all, especially for movie buffs. The Martin Film Guide is a well respected source of movie review information which will now allow Newton users to access a comprehensive catalog of film reviews by well-known critic Leonard Maltin.

Users interested in movies by a particular actor/actress, director, or awards won can use the power of the Newton to query the catalog. People can also request film recommendations based on movies they’ve already enjoyed. StarCore estimates a retail price of $69.95.

For more information, please contact Jennie Shikashio of Apple Computer, at (408) 974-2042, (408) 974-2885 (fax).

Motorola Cautious With Envoy

The early months of this year featured a series of high-profile product previews and announcements based on General Magic’s innovative Telescript and Magic CAP technology. At the time, a few companies including AT&T, Motorola, and Sony promised to have products available roughly in time for the summer.

Perhaps learning from the experience of Apple and EO, each of these companies are now showing a bit more caution in making sure that their first version meets user expectations. In particular, Motorola announced that it will delay the introduction of its Envoy personal wireless communicator until the end of the year.

In light of recent news and the general trend in the market, this is probably not a bad idea. Motorola claims to be performing additional testing on the device before bringing it to the consumer market. The Envoy, which stresses communication to a greater degree than most other mobile computing devices, seems to have time to spare as the wireless market begins to sort itself out in the next couple of years.

In fact, while Motorola has done a better job than most others at controlling the hype surrounding this machine, early customer rejection because of poor engineering or integration would blemish the company’s outstanding reputation for solid products.

By using this extra time to develop a more robust product, Motorola is also showing its foresight and commitment to the long term, in what promises to be a very exciting market for wireless services and mobile communicating devices.

For more information, please contact Samantha Rutherford of Motorola at (617) 494-8202.

Intel Improves Flash Technology

Flash memory technology offers many advantages over rotating media, however, cost and storage size are generally the listed disadvantages today. Intel is working on these and other problems and has announced a new technology that it claims permits it to store more than one bit per flash memory cell.

Intel boasted that the new technology, called Multilevel Cell, is a breakthrough that should enable enhanced flash memory applications in future mass storage, audio, and digital photography.

Multilevel Cell technology works by using more than one voltage level to storage multiple bits per flash cell. Dr. Stefan K. Lai stated that: “Our goal by the year 2000 is to develop gigabit flash technology and a flash media cost of 50 cents per megabyte.”

At a technology demonstration in Santa Clara, California on July 27, 1994, Intel showed two bits being stored in the cells of a prototype 16 Mbit flash device using Multilevel Cell technology.

Using Intel’s ETOX flash technology, the company feels that it can eventually store up to four bits per cell. Intel hopes to start commercialization of this technology in 1995.

For more information, contact Cynthia Lempert of Walt & Sommerhauser at (408) 496-0900.

ARM Licenses its RISC

Advanced RISC Machines (ARM), maker of the ARM RISC processor used in Apple’s Newton PDA, has signed a licensing agreement with Japan’s Asahi Chemical Industry Company, together with its semiconductor division, the Asahi Kasei Microsystems Company.

Asahi Kasei plans to integrate the ARM7 RISC processor with its CMOS-based mixed signal technology to produce a semiconductor solution to be used in communication systems.

ARM was formed in 1990 by U.K.-based Acorn Computers, and U.S.-based Apple Computer and VLSI Technology to create low-power consuming, 32-bit RISC processors. Later, Nippon Investment and Finance joined as an equity partner.

ARM is clearly stepping up its effort to license its RISC architecture with hopes that its processor will power a broad range of devices. Earlier, ARM announced that it has licensed the ARM6, ARM7, and ARM610 RISC processors to the Korean electronic giant Samsung for inclusion into its line of peripherals including hard disk drives and laser printers.

Samsung is said to be planning a PDA device, but has not announced a release date. The ARM architecture is also at the heart of 3DO’s innovative Interactive Multiplayer system aimed at the still-growing advanced home video game market.

Asahi Kasei which builds components used in the telecommunication and mass storage industries, will offer ARM a new level of visibility in the important Japanese market.

For more information, please contact Robin Saxby of ARM at 44-223-400410, 44-223-400410 (fax).

Intel and VLSI Freeze Polar Chip

AT&T wasn’t the only large company to get cold feet in the topsy-turvy mobile computing market this past month. Industry giant Intel Corp., and smaller VLSI Technology Inc. have agreed to end their two year old partnership to develop advanced chipsets for low-power consuming handheld computers.

Intel initiated the split by announcing that it plans to sell its 14.25 percent stake in VLSI that it had acquired just two years earlier for approximately $50 million. At the time, the two companies had agreed to work together to create a series of chipsets that combined the processing capabilities of Intel’s popular 386 and VLSI’s peripheral control functions.

The resulting components, called Polar, featured a two-chip set that contained many of the features to build an advanced handheld computer that consumes very low power and occupies little space.

Intel and VLSI both claim that future development of Polar, and other chipsets, is being curtailed due to the lackluster performance of the handheld market to date. Like everyone, they point to the Apple Newton as an example.

The two companies did state that they intend to deliver Polar to existing customers, however, they don’t plan on pursuing new customers for this technology. While the partnership is off, VLSI remained slightly upbeat by stating that they will keep an eye on the market and introduce new products in the future as demand increases.

One high-profile customer has had its own second thought about the industry. Compaq was scheduled to bring out a Polar-based handheld sometime this year based on Microsoft’s WinPad operating system. Recent word from Compaq suggests that the earliest we can expect to see a device from them is next year.