“While Newton OS’s handwriting recognition engine was impressive from an I’ve-never-seen-anything-like-this perspective, its real-world application was loaded with flaws and miscues, far more than iPhone OS’s autocorrect or Siri’s listening abilities,” Michael Simon writes for Macworld. “As the jokes piled up, the Newton became synonymous with silly errors, and it was never able to fully shake its reputation, no matter how much better it got.”
“By the time Steve Jobs killed the whole project in 1998, Newton OS — by then on version 2.1 — had a very solid handwriting recognition system that read both print and script with remarkable accuracy,” Simon writes. “It wasn’t just useable, it was widely regarded as the best in the industry. But despite its advances (not to mention his fondness for skeuomorphism), Jobs never really explored the possibilities for handwriting recognition, save the underpublicized Ink feature that was announced with OS X Jaguar, and Apple has done even less to promote the technology on its multitouch devices.”
Simon writes. “But it might finally be ready for its closeup.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Newton OS did indeed have rather amazing handwriting recognition by the time Jobs pulled the plug.
iPad Pro with Apple Pencil and Notes seems like a natural fit for Apple to utilize their long-dormant handwriting recognition talents.
SEE ALSO:
Apple Computer’s search for ‘Handwriting Recognition Engineer’ revives ‘Tablet Mac’ rumors – August 24, 2005
Ink or Inkwell? – Apple please pick one already! – November 19, 2002
Five years ago today Jobs axed Newton – February 27, 2003
MacDailyNews Note: Obviously, today is Martin Luther King Day in the U.S. and the markets are closed. As usual on such trading holidays, we will have limited posting today.