Like any personal computer, a Newton PDA has a limited amount of RAM called "heap". Just like its larger desktop cousins, Newton PDAs use the heap to run programs and the more heap available for use when launching an application, the better. More available heap space equals faster load and execution times which means LESS WAITING FOR YOU!!! BackDrop + frees up more memory by removing the Notepad app from the background. Notepad ties around 20-30 K of heap which is then unavailable to other applications when you try to run them. In place of Notepad, BackDrop + installs the BackDrop + Desktop. The Desktop is more than a memory saver, it serves as a control station for most system functions on Newton PDAs.
1. Keep track of the current time and date with the on-screen display. Tap here to reset time/date.
2. This is the amount of heap currently available. The Newton OS sometimes needs a little coaxing to collect unused heap. Tap this number to free up all available memory. The new amount of heap will then be displayed.
3. Always know how much battery power remains with the battery power display.
4. The standard screen graphic is the PMI Newt. It can also be changed to the Stand Alone figure, or No Graphic. For $30 PMI will take any business logo and convert it to a format displayable as the BackDrop + Desktop graphic. Contact PMI via email below for more info.
5. Personalize the Desktop with a name, phone #, fax #, email, company name, etc.
6. NEW FEATURES:On MP130 PDAs, tapping this small PDA icon will toggle the backlighting function on and off. The icon has been updated in the new version of BD+.
Tapping the speaker icon will allow the sound level to be set.
8. NEW FEATURES: If you have a data card and hate the hassle of installing to the internal storage and then moving the new app to the card, now it is easy to toggle between saving to the internal storage or the card. Tapping this icon will switch the saving function from whatever it is currently on, to the other storage option. If the icon shows a small MessagePad, tapping it will change the icon to a memory card, and new items will be saved to the card; and vice versa.
9. Tapping this small note icon will bring up a quick entry note. Tap and hold this icon to bring up a list of all types of Newton stationary which are currently installed: Note, Checklist, Outline, etc. From this list any type of new note may be selected.
10. Tap the large note icon to launch Notepad.
11. Tap the i icon to set pref and edit the displayed apps list.
12. Tap the circular arrow icon to rotate the screen. Tap and hold to restart the PDA.
13. Tap the box icon to bring up a list of all folders in the Extras drawer. Tapping a folder name opens it.
14. The Apps icon is a user-definable list of applications. Tap the Apps icon to bring up the list of apps and tap the name of the app you wish to launch. Applications can also be placed right onto the BackDrop + Desktop where they may be launched by simply tapping the appropriate icon.
15. The up/down arrows activate a set of silk-screen buttons which appear on the screen (for MP130 users who use their PDA in the dark, where the Names, Dates, Extras, Undo, Find, and Assist, icons are difficult to see. The silk-screen buttons also work in landscape mode on MP130 units.
The preferences are set by tapping the i in the bottom left corner. From this icon, you can edit Personal Info, Edit App List, and set the Prefs.
The Displayed Applications window shows a list of all currently installed apps, and allows you to select which will appear when the Apps button is tapped (check In List), and which will appear on the Desktop (check In Dock).
The BackDrop Plus Prefs screen allows you to set all the text which appears on the Desktop Set the text size, font, face, and the actual text itself from here.
The Prefs window allows you to toggle several simple options, as well as setting the main graphic, the default note type when tapping the Small Note icon, and the font info for the date and time display.
All information on these pages is copyright PMI, 1998, all rights reserved. Apple Newton 2.0 OS is a trademark of Apple Computers, Inc.