From: Richard Plume (rplume_at_sympatico.ca)
Date: Mon Mar 29 2004 - 18:24:52 PST
In earlier messages Eagan Rackley <eagix_at_earthlink.net> wrote about possibly
programming an MPEG player for the Newton and Gavin McKenzie
<ntlk_at_gavinmckenzie.fastmail.fm> turned it around to ask about programming
for PDF support.
I'd like to turn that around once more and open a discussion on programs
that are really needed on the Newton platform.
There are some very talented programmers here, but their time, as well as
their numbers, are limited. Opening a new discussion on what users really
need to make the Newton platform work for them might be of interest to
developers.
And I'll start the ball rolling...
For all intents and purposes, I left the Newton platform a year ago. I still
read Newtontalk every day and my Newtons are always charged. They even get
the occasional workout. However, my day to day small computer is a MobilePro
700 running Windows CE 2.0. Why? The Newton can no longer meet my needs.
What would get me back to using my Newtons full time? A couple of things:
1 A JPEG extension for SimpleMail (I use version 4.3). I know others have
written these extensions, but they require you to use Newtscape. I donıt
need or want to run Newtscape. Iım looking for a stand-alone JPEG extension.
2 A new version of Tibet. I need the ability to see JPEG files on the
Newton and then either e-mail or FTP them to another server. Specifically I
need to take a CF card out of a camera and put it into the Newton and read
the JPEGs. I need to caption, resize, crop and rename the image.
3 An FTP program that doesnıt require the Newtonıs serial number as copy
protection. I know there is NewtFTP, however that requires the Newtonıs
serial number to work. I would have no problem buying the program, but what
happens if I break my Newton and need to resort to my backup and the
developer is no longer there? I would prefer a program that uses the more
normal method of a serial number copy protection method based on the userıs
name.
4 An extension that allows meetings to be entered that go past midnight.
DateMan and Iım sure other programs, allow this but I donıt need all of
DateManıs features, just a small extension.
5 A program that allows me to design a web page. I have nHTML and Iım
watching this work in progress.
6 A web browser that can do frames and JPEGs. I know Newtscape can do
JPEGs but Iım looking for something simpler, more like an updated Nethopper.
If I had the first two I would move back to the Newton in a minute. The
others would be icing on the cake.
Donıt get me wrong. I love the Newton. It works that way I do and I
would much prefer to use it instead of the MobilePro 700. However, at this
time, I can do most of the above on the MobilePro and not on the Newton. I
wish it were the reverse.
Rick
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