Who's Newton? SynPet VHS Promo, 1989

"Meet Newton" theme now on iTunes --
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/meet...

My uncle was CEO/owner of SynPet back in the 1980s-90s and gave us a VHS copy of the promo those ages ago. I remember taking it to school and getting permission to show it to my 5/6th grade classmates. Hard to believe anything like that could have run on an IBM XT, much less with 1200 baud. Anyhow, enjoy!

Original blog post:
http://ablestmage.wordpress.com/2008/...

~ NEWS ~

Zeppotron, a production company in the UK, has signed papers with my uncle (whereupon my uncle delegated/granted me full authority to handle future copyright matters) to use on their Channel Four program, "8 out of 10 Cats." The clip was reportedly used during the filming of an episode in early October 2010 with a studio audience, but did not make it to the final broadcast cut. Zeppotron still has signed rights to use it on an upcoming episode, if it wishes, and the blessing to do so.

As of late November 2010, negotiations have begun with Endemol, Zeppotron's parent company, about the possibility of using the clip for an (unannounced?) upcoming British television program not even in its first season/series yet.

In December 2010, papers were signed with Endemol to use the clip on that then-upcoming television program hosted by British comedian, Frankie Boyle.

In February 2010, services by TuneCore.com were employed, to release the jingle portion of the promo from about 06:22 thru 07:15 onto music services like iTunes, Rhapsody, and several others. Plans for releasing the entire clip's audio (minus the ender logo for Training Media Services) will depend on how well the jingle does on the market.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Lachlant1984]

I swear there were a few times in this video when I heard the floppy disk drive operating, that noise of the stepper motor moving on its track. How much was this robot when it came out in the 80's? How long did the battery last between charges? I never really knew something like this existed back then, but personally I don't think I'd like to have something like this roaming around my house all day.

[ablestmage]

On the other Newton video I posted, watch?v=JhtUT59WOMQ says the basic package was around $8k. They also show a brief clip of Newton without his plastic cover =P

[BigFatLoserDude]

I have a question. Computer hardware and processing power and software has progressed so much since the 80's. for example 12 gig usb drives 1 terabyte harddrives. Cell phones that have countless more processing power now then PC's of the 80's. (the I-phone for example) (pocket PC's) (wifi, bluetooth,) etc etc.

But what about personal robots? why have they not progressed? Where are they?

[ablestmage]

- Just as speculation, I suspect that the higher degrees of information retrieval without the use of personal robots has progressed so much that personal robots are no longer even a dream on the horizon. You can simply and inexpensively use the Internet to do most everything Newton could have done for you =/

[6G3rm4N9]

Bitch who's Newton!!!!!!!!! D:<

[ThatRunescaper]

lol the 80's

[GoldKnightProduction]

1:25 To find out who's Newton.

[Ball4184]

Where can i get one of these? i want one :(

[Lachlant1984]

Still, I wonder if big companies like Google for example are working on personal robots for the future, I've just been thinking about it, I see your point, but I've just been thinking that it wouldn't surprise me if Google is working on something very much like Newton that's based on Google Android of course.

[joelwarfe306]

Is this the real version of ' the domesto-bot' from Vice City?

[JimtheHermit1]

must have been a bitch to program

[Lurker1979]

Thanks for uploading! To bad home robotics did not take off like envisioned back then.

[BluTrilobite]

Where is Newton now? I can't help but see an image of all those robot toys and devices from the '80s on some large, Jawa Crawler-like garbage truck headed for a recycling plant.

Where are your "heart beeps" now?!

[halonerd4life17]

Newton see's the post man when on guard duty "calls police"

[volkswag12]

exactly. everything else has advanced but not personal robots. we need to get back with personal robots