General Magic Delivers Magic Cap Developer Tools for Communicating Devices; Enables the Creation of Web Applications That Look Like Magic Cap
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — December 4, 1996 — General Magic, Inc. (NASDAQ:GMGC) today announced the immediate availability of a series of developer tools for the creation of next generation applications for Magic Cap-based communicating devices including personal Internet communicators (PICs), smart phones and personal computers. The new applications can leverage the content and services of the Internet with the popular, engaging Magic Cap user interface – not browsers, URLs or the arcane communications mechanisms of traditional software.
The tools can be used to develop applications for both the existing or next generation of the Magic Cap operating system, code-named "Rosemary" (see Next Generation Magic Cap press release today). Rosemary is the central topic for Magic Cap Workbench '96 being held in Santa Clara, California, today and tomorrow. This technical briefing is an intensive introduction to Rosemary for developers who are currently or are considering developing Magic Cap applications.
The tools include the Web Access applications programming interface (API) and the Magic Internet Kit. Web Access allows developers to build applications for Magic Cap-based devices that communicate via Internet standard protocols. The Magic Internet Kit provides developers "point and click" simplicity, and saves them the task of writing code to specific hardware ports or communications protocols. It also takes advantage of the Internet Center found in Rosemary, allowing Magic Cap device users to set up all of their Internet Service Provider (ISP) configurations in one place. Additionally, General Magic is delivering Magic Developer for Magic Cap for Windows '95 for the creation of applications that run on the company's newest software product. Magic Cap for Windows '95 is integrated communications software for personal computers, announced in October.
"General Magic's strategy is to provide developers with the tools to create communicating applications quickly and easily," said Steve Schramm, vice president and general manager of General Magic's Communications Products Division. "These tools enable developers to create customized vertical applications that leverage the Web while retaining the user interface of Magic Cap applications, not browsers – a welcome relief for users."
Powerful Tools
Developers can use the Web Access API to support communications with the Internet and corporate intranets, and to build custom applications which use the Magic Cap user interface to submit and retrieve data from a Web site. For example, a developer may want to create an application for copier technicians to order replacement parts using a PIC device. The developer can create a customized form which the technician can fill out and drop into the Magic Cap "mailbox." The developer can use the store-and-forward Magic Cap feature to exchange information with the backend system via the World Wide Web. Web Access supports the easy creation of applications with a variety of features such as store-and-forward, cards and stacks, simplified browsers, and calendars that run more efficiently than traditional Web browsers.
The Magic Internet Kit is a developer kit for creating communicating applications for Magic Cap-based devices. At the heart of the Magic Internet Kit is a powerful yet easy-to-use object framework embodied in Magic Cap that provides:
— TCP/IP support for writing full-featured Internet/intranet applications
— Supporting connection protocols for TCP/IP such as PPP, with PAP and CHAP authentication and DNS for resolving host names
— Serial communications over a communicator's built-in modem or MagicBus port
— Ability to add additional TCP/IP hardware drivers without needing to change or rebuild client applications
The Internet Center in Rosemary allows developers to integrate centralized ISP configuration into their applications or add hardware drivers. Developers using the Magic Internet Kit can utilize the Internet Center as a central location for all connectivity information rather than recreating this information for each application.
The Magic Developer for Magic Cap for Windows '95 is a development environment based on Microsoft Visual C++, including compilers, linkers, a service-level debugger and a full Windows-based Magic Cap simulator.
Availability
Developer tools for building the next generation Magic Cap applications are immediately available at no cost in pre-release form directly from General Magic. Final developer tools are expected to be delivered in concert with the Rosemary release to device manufacturers in first quarter, 1997. Developer tools for building applications for existing Magic Cap-based devices and for Magic Cap for Windows '95 are immediately available at no cost from General Magic. Developer tools from General Magic are hosted on a variety of platforms including Macintosh and Windows.
In accordance with U.S. securities law, General Magic notes that this press release contains forward-looking statements. There are risks that may cause actual results to vary materially. These risks include, but are not limited to, reliance on key technical and management personnel, potential schedule changes, difficulties inherent in the development of complex software technologies, and dependence on third party developers. Additional risk factors are detailed in General Magic's 1995 10-K and its third quarter 1996 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About General Magic
General Magic, Inc. (NASDAQ:GMGC) was founded in 1990 and provides engaging, active Internet software for business professionals, developers, device manufacturers, service providers and enterprises. General Magic is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Paris, Tokyo and Columbia, South Carolina. For more information on General Magic and its products, visit the company's Web site at http://www.genmagic.com/.
Note to Editors: General Magic and Magic Cap are registered trademarks of General Magic, Inc. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. General Magic acknowledges the rights of the trademark owners for all trademarks referred to herein.
CONTACT:
Marilyn Kilcrease, 415/356-1031
Fleishman-Hillard for General Magic
[email protected]
or
Sandy Jones, 408/774-4369
[email protected]
http://www.genmagic.com/About/press.html