Hello,
I've finally gotten around to drafting a letter to Puma Technology concerning the possility of making NCU open-source,
considering its (near certain) incompatibility with MacOS X. Any suggestions as for additions to the letter before I
send it?
I remember a mention once of an often-used PIM package on the list that didn't work with NCU and a question about
whether there was an IntelliSync SDK. What was it?
--- letter follows ---
to be sent to: busdev@pumatech.com
subject: Defunct Newton Connection Utilities open-source possibility
I am a member of the Newtontalk mailing list (hosted at www.planetnewton.com), comprised of over 1000 individuals who
still believe the Newton to be the revolutionary and versatile PDA platforms to be created yet. We continue to believe
in and the Newton even after it's discontinuation by Apple Computer in 1998 (There are over 1000 members of the
Netontalk list). I personally own Messagepad models 130 and 2100, and am in the process of planning a driver for using
the Newton with the Franklin REX organizer.
With every new Macintosh operating system release, a prominent concern among the community has always been whether the
principle connection software, Newton Connection Utilities (NCU), will continue to function. Up to now, this has been
the case, but with the introduction of MacOS X, those of us who want to continue to use the Newton to its fullest will
have to maintain a backup system with the classic MacOS to continue to use NCU. As newer macines which do not support
the older systems are intoduced, NCU will become obsolete. There is also interest in being able to synchronize the
Newton with newer Personal Information Manager (PIM) software, most notably Day???***
For this reason, I am spearheading an effort to attempt to persuade Apple to release the source-code for NCU as
open-source for the use of the remaining Newton users and developers. I am aware that Puma Technology wrote the
IntelliSync engine used by NCU, and would like to ask how the end of open-sourceing NCU could be achieved while
protecting Puma's intellectual property.
I am going to organize a petition to send to Apple about this, but would like to obtain Puma Technology's aggrement
and approval first, in view of the above issue regarding intellectual property.
Thank you for you time,
Jim Witte
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