Newton Sync Utility for Mac OS X

zdryer writes "The Newton refuses to die! John Anderson has released nSync Public Preview 1, a Newton sync program designed for Mac OS X 10.2. It's rough right now (only supports serial connections, only syncs clock and AddressBook), but Anderson has big plans (TCP/IP connections, iCal support) and an open plug-in architecture. Also, once he sells 300 copies @ $34 each, he's going to release the source under a BSD-style license."

Comments

That 'Ol Newton

[MBCook]

Once he sells 300 copies? That's like 80% of all newtons ever sold! (*rimshot*)

OK seriously, that's pretty cool. I had one of the origional ones way back. It was really nice. I still think that it's one of the best PDAs ever made (especially for that time). It's only real failing was that as expensive as it was, YOU HAD TO PAY EXTRA for a sync cable/software. And it's not like you had $15 or $20, or even $50. If I remember correctly you had to pay $100. Because of that, I could never put any software on my newton, I couldn't afford to sell that cable. That's one of the reasons (IMHO) that Palm succeded. They were one of the first (or at least as it appeared to me) major PDA makers to include the cable, instead of charging extra. The handwriting on the things was actually very nice, especially considering how long ago they first appeared.

As for the name, I like how he's "appelized" it, but as many other comments have pointed out, nSync is not that great a name. Personally, I'd prefer "iNewt". That name is just cool.

I have a question about sync methods though. I know newtons could be synced by serial. I seem to remember you could use IR (is that right)? Did they ever support using TCP/IP to sync? I remember trying to use a PCMCIA modem, but it drew too much power so I never got to mess around with it's "internet" ablilities.