Developers and Solutions Providers Declare Support for Apple's New Generation of User-Centric Information Appliances

Major Third-Party Support for Newton-Based Mobile Handheld Computers, Licensees Create Vertical Devices Using Newton Technology

Cupertino, Calif. -- Oct. 28, 1996 -- Apple Computer, Inc. today unveiled the first in a new generation of hand-held and mobile computers that leverage the Company's pioneering Newton technology. The MessagePad 2000 and the eMate 300 are user-centric devices designed for business and education, respectively. They are the first products from Apple's Information Appliance Division, and have garnered wide-ranging support from the developer community.

Leading hardware manufacturers are licensing Newton technology to create their own user focused information appliances (see separate press releases). They include: Digital Ocean, Harris and Schlumberger, who will participate with Apple at next month's Comdex show in Las Vegas. Some solutions providers simultaneously announced applications which have been optimized to run on the MessagePad 2000 and the eMate 300. They include: AllPen, Holosoft, Knowledge Revolution, Netstrategy, PelicanWare, Physix, Point-of-Care, Qualcomm, Sunburst and Wright Strategies. In addition, scores of third party Newton developers and solutions providers declared their support for products from Apple's Newton Systems Group. Some of them include: AllPen, Ascribe, Balcones, Bear River, Business Brothers, Callahan Roach Products & Publications, Catamount Software, CHS Systems, Claris Corporation, Compower,Comprehensive Health Services, Concierge, Cyclops Computer Solutions, 3S Datacom, Dayna, DreamSoft, Ltd., Dragon Systems, ETE, Inc., Ex Machina, Farallon, Fastline, Fetch Software, Gaia Software, Geoide Systems, Greenleaf Medical Systems, Green Mountain, GTE Telephone Operations, HealthCare Com., Holosoft, INS, Jay Klein Productions, Joey Technologies, Knowledge Revolution, KPMG, Landware, Lotus, LunaTech, MAR Software, Morgan Media, Inc., Netstrategy, Nomadic Tech., Now Software, NS Basic, Paragone, PDA Construction, PDA Dimensions, PelicanWare, Pen Vision, Personal Power Technologies (Pennon Systems), Phamis, Inc., Physix, PICA, Planet Computing, Point-of-Care, Power Media, Inc., Pythia Communications & Computer GmbH, Radio Mail, Real World Solutions, Revelar, Rindle & Partner, RiverRun, Shana, SilverWARE, Simione Company Inc, Socket Communications, Softcare Clinical Informatics, Sunburst, Stand Alone, Steton Technology, Tactile Systems, TBS Systems, Teamsoft, True North, US Robotics/Megahertz, WalletWare, Wright Strategies, and Wynd Communications.

The MessagePad 2000 and eMate 300 Run the Newton 2.1 Operating System

The Newton 2.1 operating system will support most applications that currently run under Newton 2.0, and has been optimized for the additional features of the MessagePad 2000 and the eMate 300, including voice notes, gray scale screen technology, and a new auto-docking feature.

There are over 250 independent software vendors (ISVs) creating commercial applications for the award-winning Newton 2.0 operating system and over 300 systems integrators and value-added resellers (VARs). A variety of vertical applications have already been developed by third parties which meet specific user needs, including healthcare, field service, transportation, and sales force automation.

The MessagePad 2000 is one of the first to incorporate the new StrongARM processor that delivers unprecedented performance in a hand-held computer. The chip is the result of a collaboration between Digital Equipment Corporation and Advanced RISC Machines (ARM). In separate press releases issued today, both Digital and ARM announced their support for Apple's new information appliances devices. Next week, developers from around the world will be in attendance at Apple's third Newton Technology Conference. The four day conference will take place from November 4 - 7, 1996 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel. Interested parties can find out more by sending email to: newtonconfhq@batnet.com/ or by calling 1-800-865-6380 (from within the U.S.) and (408) 865-6930 from outside the U.S.

Apple Computer, Inc., an information industry innovator, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, on-line services and personal digital assistants. Based in Cupertino, Calif., Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies and services for the business, education, consumer, scientific, engineering and government markets in more than 140 countries.

NOTE TO EDITORS: To access Apple press releases, background material, and contact information on the web, visit The Source at: http://www.apple.com/source/. If you are interested in receiving Apple press releases by fax, call 1-800-AAPL-FAX (1-800-227-5329) and enter your PIN number. If you do not have a PIN number, contact Apple's Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042 to request one. If you would like to receive Apple press releases by email, please send an email message to pressrel@thing2.info.apple.com. In the subject field, type the text "subscribe [your full name]." To remove your address from the mailing list, send an email message to pressrel@thing2.info.apple.com. In the subject field, type the text "unsubscribe [your full name]."

Customer Information Contact:
If you are considering the purchase of an Apple product and would like to have product information faxed to you, please call 1-800-462-4396 in the U.S. or 1-800-263-3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax machine or would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, please call 1-800-538-9696. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local Apple representatives for information.

Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/
Apple's Newton home page: http://newton.info.apple.com/

Apple, the Apple Logo, Macintosh, MessagePad, and Newton are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other brand names mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby acknowledged.