Macpaint 3D (lost paint program; 1990s): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:05, 12 May 2020

This article has been tagged as Needing work due to its lack of references and clarity.

The original Apple tablet running "MacPaint 3D" nearly 20 years before the invention of the iPad.

Status: Lost

The Apple Computer Company needs no introduction. They were a pioneering business in the 1970's and 1980's, and are still a big competitor today. They were responsible for bringing computing to the masses with the Apple II, Lisa, and Macintosh, which was originally introduced via a now-famous Super Bowl commercial in 1984. In 1985, after numerous conflict with Apple's Board of Directors, Steve Jobs was fired from the company he helped found. He then found another company, called NeXT Computer. During this period in time, Apple was starting to lose direction, which led to poor sales and constant threats of bankruptcy.

During this era (which lasted for 13 years), the company produced many prototypes that never made it to market, ranging from mobile phones to home appliances. One of the prototypes that showed potential to be successful was an ultra-thin, drawing board designed for professionals. The board utilized a drawing program known as the MacPaint 3D. The program was a variant of the standard MacPaint application but used a 3D CAD and restrictive touchscreen technology to make it work.

Although the project showed potential, in 1997 Jobs returned to Apple and bought NeXT for a reported $400 million, and soon this project was cancelled along with many others in an effort by Jobs to make Apple profitable again.

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-Apple Computer needs no introduction. They were a pioneering computer company in the 1970's and 1980's, and are still a big competitor today. They were responsible for bringing computing to the masses with the Apple 2, Lisa, and arguably most famously, the Macintosh. In 1985, Steve Jobs left the company and founded another company called NeXT. This caused Apple to lose direction, leading to poor sales and eventually putting the company under constant threat of bankruptcy. During this 13 year period, Apple created all sorts of weird prototypes that never were produced, most being mobile or home devices. One such device was an ultra thin, professional grade drawing tablet, running a unique drawing program known as Macpaint 3D. The program was a Macpaint application with 3D CAD and resistive touch screen capabilities. However this was not the end of crazy Apple prototypes.
+{{NeedingWork|lack of references and clarity}}
+{{InfoboxLost
+|title=<center>Macpaint 3D</center>
+|image=Prototype.jpg
+|imagecaption=The original Apple tablet running "MacPaint 3D" nearly 20 years before the invention of the iPad.
+|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
+}}
+The Apple Computer Company needs no introduction. They were a pioneering business in the 1970's and 1980's, and are still a big competitor today. They were responsible for bringing computing to the masses with the Apple II, Lisa, and Macintosh, which was originally introduced via a now-famous Super Bowl commercial in 1984. In 1985, after numerous conflict with Apple's Board of Directors, Steve Jobs was fired from the company he helped found. He then found another company, called NeXT Computer. During this period in time, Apple was starting to lose direction, which led to poor sales and constant threats of bankruptcy.
-Although today Apple are well known for their phone line, Hartmut Esslinger (the designer of the Apple IIc) originally developed a phone-tablet hybrid which ran a unique version of Mac OS System 1 back in 1983. Whilst the phone had the ability to make notes, find contacts and send cheques, as well as having a touch screen, it never made it past the prototype stage. Although it was never released, it is currently on display at the Frog Design Museum in California.
+During this era (which lasted for 13 years), the company produced many prototypes that never made it to market, ranging from mobile phones to home appliances. One of the prototypes that showed potential to be successful was an ultra-thin, drawing board designed for professionals. The board utilized a drawing program known as the '''MacPaint 3D'''. The program was a variant of the standard MacPaint application but used a 3D CAD and restrictive touchscreen technology to make it work.
-In 1991, Apple debuted many products in the [https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacislost/sets/72157612785537412/ Japanese magazine Axis], including 2 wrist communicators, a GPS, and a currency exchanger. The first wrist communicator was the [http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2012/03/16/apple-devices-that-never-were-all-of-cupertinos-most-secret-concepts/ Apple Timeband], a virtual watch that may have included a world clock or GPS, and possibly even a cellular function, whereas the second was a flip style communicator with a joystick operated OS, (sadly the OS was not seen in the pictures provided). The GPS unit was designed to be attached to a bicycle and ran a unique OS with limited GPS capabilities, using images of landmarks to denote your route and end destination. The currency exchanger was, as the name implies, a currency exchanger with another unique OS, which would scan money to check exchange rates.
+Although the project showed potential, in 1997 Jobs returned to Apple and bought NeXT for a reported $400 million, and soon this project was cancelled along with many others in an effort by Jobs to make Apple profitable again.
-Apart from these prototypes, Apple begun developing [https://www.msu.edu/~luckie/newtgal.htm various PDA devices] to accompany their Newton line, advertising them in the 1994 "Newton-only" magazine, [http://www.normalkid.com/collector/IN.html Intelligent Newton Magazine]. These Newton devices include a Kids Newton, a "Big City" Newton, a Sports Newton (for coaches), and a sleeker version of the MessagePad 2000. Not much is known about these products, although it's possible they didn't even get past the prototype stages.
+[[Category:Miscellaneous lost media]]
-<gallery mode=packed heights=125px>
+[[Category:Completely lost media]]
-File:Prototype.jpg|The original Apple tablet running "Macpaint 3D" nearly 20 years before the invention of the iPad.
-File:Image-1.jpg
-File:Apple-concepts-timeband.jpg|The Apple Timeband.
-File:Screen Shot 2015-03-11 at 9.16.05 pm.png|The second wristwatch design (name of which was in Japanese in the original magazine).
-File:Gps.jpg|The GPS unit running a version of Newton OS.
-File:Cur.jpg|The currency exchange in action circa 1991.
-File:Kn.jpg|The Kids Newton (note the robust construction).
-File:Bcn.jpg|The 'Big City' Newton.
-File:Rosetta,Rosetta,Rosetta_.jpg|The Sports Newton, lacking an Apple logo (note the handle grips).
-File:Iguana,iguana,powersurgis.jpg|The sleeker MessagePad with a protective covering.
-</gallery>