Austin, Texas-based Planet Computing Inc, a wireless and mobile software developer that’s been writing for the Apple Computer Inc’s Newton, is said to have approached Apple with an offer to buy the Newton technology, which Apple decided to kill off at the beginning of March (CI No 3,358). Unfortunately, Planet is not the largest of companies, and Apple appears not to be taking the offer seriously. Apple is not commenting publicly, but an unnamed spokesperson for the company told the Planet Newton web site – not associated with the company – that Apple has specifically stated that it will not sell Newton OS technology, but will instead use it in forthcoming MacOS-based devices. Those devices are expected to come to market some time early next year. It’s unlikely that Planet, or any other of the small Newton developers, could take on the expensive business of continuing to develop hardware devices, and there are few obvious candidates among larger companies likely to be interested.
