NewtonOS - cctalk

30 Aug 2023

Some of you might recall that Apple released a series of machines based 
on the Newton OS in the early 1990s.  There were eight models in total 
from Apple, and a few more from third parties who licensed both the 
hardware and software to make eg. ruggedized handhelds, or "smart" 
(landline) phones.

The operating system was bespoke.  It had a Lisp influence during 
development, but by the time it was released, it used a language called 
NewtonScript that had an Algol-ish syntax with Lisp/Self-like 
semantics.  Although the OS core was written in C++, large parts of the 
system were written in NewtonScript as well, as were the built-in 
applications.

Newtons ended up as a dead-end branch of computer evolution.  The 
product line was cancelled by Jobs following his return to Apple, and 
despite a few little respectful nods, iOS has basically no commonality 
with NewtonOS.  Ironically, the handwriting recognition engine (the 
focal point for most Newton criticism) outlived the devices and was 
ported to and shipped with Mac OS X.

A Newton emulator, called Einstein, exists.  It's able to run the OS, 
the built-in apps, and to install and run third-party applications with 
good fidelity to the original experience.  It requires a ROM image to 
function.  Apple made various ROM images available, and it's possible to 
extract the image from a physical Newton device, but the consensus is 
that it isn't legal to distribute these ROM images.  This makes setting 
up the emulator more complex than is ideal.

The NewtonTalk mailing list is a group of Newton fans that remain 
engaged with the platform to this day, and we're currently discussing 
the possibility of legally obtaining the Newton ROM images from 
Apple.    We've been heartened by Apple's recent releases of MacPaint 
and the Lisa OS to the CHM, and are wondering if Apple might be 
persuaded to release at least the NewtonOS ROM, or (ideally) system's 
source code.

If there's anyone who was either involved in those previous 
negotiations, or could introduce us to someone who was, and is willing 
to offer advice and/or assistance with our quest ... really, any helpful 
pointers would be useful, and much appreciated.

Cheers,

d

https://github.com/pguyot/Einstein
http://newtontalk.net/