Newton designer returns to Apple
By Stuart Turton
Posted on 29 Sep 2009 at 08:48
One of the principal designers behind the ill-fated Newton Message Pad has returned to Apple, sparking further speculation that an Apple tablet is on the cards.
Michael Tchao has rejoined Apple as vice president of product marketing, reporting directly to Phil Schiller, senior vice president for worldwide product marketing.
Tchao spent ten years at Apple and, according to lore, was responsible for the integration of handwriting technology into the Newton Message Pad, after pitching the software to former Apple chief executive John Scully aboard a private jet.
Unfortunately, the handwriting software failed to pass muster among users, resulting in a rash of poor reviews. This led Apple to can the Newton and all related products in 1998.
Tchao left Apple in 1994 for Nike's Tech Lab were he oversaw the creation of products such as the Nike + iPod pedometer.
His return has prompted a fresh round of debate that Apple is working on a new tablet. The latest speculation suggests the nearly mythical device will feature a 10in touchscreen running the iPhone OS that can also hook up to a Mac and be used as a secondary screen, or clever touchpad.
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What goes around... comes around
The Newton was way ahead of it's time. The technology has now matured to a point where a tablet device (with all the multimedia bells and whistles) would sell well.
The irony is that it was Steve jobs who killed off the Newton last time around!
By Stiggy on 29 Sep 2009 
I don't honestly think the Newton was way ahead of its time, if anything Palm, Psion and even sharp had similar devices around at the time and some of those flopped too, the Newtons price was like Apples too high compared to its competitors and failed to attract serious business folks as well as compatibility and connectivity issues. If they make a new device now, they might get it on to the market only on the back of the iPod OS (or literally on the back of an iPod or iPhone ;) )but they will have to face up to more fearce competition these days. But hey call it an iNewton and watch it sell amazingly fast to those iGullible fans out there who only buy it because its an Apple.
By nicomo on 29 Sep 2009
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