Apple Computer Inc’s recent spin-off, Newton Inc (CI No 3,167), has come out with its first plans to enable local area network and Internet connection on MessagePad 200 and eMate 300 handhelds using the Newton Internet Enabler Kit 2.0. Newton plans to enable seamless connection of the products into school and business networks. The eMate 300 with Newton Internet Enabler will be demonstrated this week at the National Education computing Conference in Seattle. The eMate, aimed at the education market, is licensed to Apple, which will continue to support and market it, while the Newton MessagePad 2000 is a Newton-only product. The Internet browser software has been developed by Los Gatos, California-based AllPen Software Inc, which will continue to develop its NetHopper embedded browser separately. The PCI Ethernet card comes from Farallon Communications Inc and wireless local area networking software from Proxim Inc. Other software using Internet Enabler is under development at 20 or so third party software houses, the company said. The kit will be available in the autumn bundled with new Newtons, and will support Ethernet, LocalTalk, and usual Internet protocols.
