Since leaving Apple, Tchao has served as, among other things, general manager of Nike Techlab, the company’s technology arm, which designed armbands and sneakers that integrate with the iPod. "It is not clear what his new duties at Apple will entail," says the Times. "Apple would not comment further on the matter, and Mr. Tchao did not immediately respond to a phone message."

So what's a Newton?

If you're new to the Apple world, you may be wondering, "What's a Newton?" Let's bring you up to speed.

The idea for a personal digital assistant was first introduced by then-Apple CEO John Sculley in 1987, and the Newton project was initiated in 1990. The Newton prototype was announced two years later. In 1993 the Newton MessagePad was announced just shortly after Sculley resigned, ironically. Unfortunately, the MessagePad ended up as the butt of many jokes (including a famous "Doonesboro" cartoon) because the handwriting recognition, a vital part of the device, didn't work properly and would often misinterpret the written text.

By 1995, only two years after the release of Newton, Apple's CEO Michael Spindler was looking for possible investors for the Newton project. In January 1996, when Spindler left Apple and Gil Amelio became CEO, Apple was in dire straits (the often-used term "beleaguered" certainly fit at that time).

Amelio resigned on July 9, 1997, and Jobs returned to Apple. Newton, Inc., was quickly reabsorbed into the mothership proper again. A new and improved Newton, the MessagePad 2100, was released. It was probably the best Newton yet, but it was too little, too late, at least in Jobs' keys. In February 1998 Apple officially discontinued the Newton project.

At the time, Palm dominated the PDA market and Apple was looking for ways to cut costs and trim production after some staggeringly unprofitable years. Canceling the product caused an uproar among Newton fans, but Jobs wouldn't relent.