Rae Assist
Encyclopedia
Rae Assist was a software developed and distributed by Rae Technology
from 1993 to 1995. Rae Assist (or shortly "Assist") was one of the first Personal Information Manager
s (PIM) and available for Apple Macintosh.
employees had developed under the direction of Samir Arora
. The so-called SOLO (Structure of Linked Objects) architecture was an object-oriented application framework
, which could work with a variety of databases, including 4th Dimension
and SQL
databases, as well as communication-based services like e-mail
.
After Samir Arora founded Rae Technology
in 1992 as a spin off from Apple Computer
, the first release of Rae Assist was due in 1993.
In 1993 Rae Assist 1.0 was released, followed shortly by release 1.0.2 at the beginning of the year 1994.
Rae Assist 1.0.2 combined several functions in one program and automatically linked contact and company information. The usage of 5 MB disk space and a minimum of 2.5 MB RAM were seen as cons at the time. A review in MacWorld found Rae Assist "innovative" but "too slow".
Rae Assist 1.0.2 came with combined contact management, scheduling, and note taking. It used the 4th Dimension
database engine and was targeted at PowerBook
users. It had a list price of US$199.
Rae Assist 1.5
With the release of Rae Assist 1.5 in 1995 Rae Technology addressed performance issues and improved some features.
Rae Assist 2.0
Rae Assist 2.0 was scheduled to be released in the 4th quarter of 1995. It was rewritten in PowerMac code and "smaller and faster, coming in under 1.5 MB with a launch time of 3 seconds". Colour, windows resizing and floating palettes were also introduced.
Also in 1995 and as a cooperation with CE Software Rae Technology had started an application called DayAssist to integrate Assist into QuickMail.
market was emerging yet small with competitors like Symantec
and Lotus
.
Samir Arora, his brother Sal Arora and David Kleinberg, who ran Rae Technology, saw the World Wide Web on the rise. Together with Clement Mok
they founded NetObjects, Inc. in 1995 to market one of the first web site building tools, NetObjects Fusion
, which also should rely on the SOLO framework.
Rae Technology
Rae Technology was a software company founded as a spin-off from Apple Computer in 1992. Rae Technology was best known for its Personal Information Manager Rae Assist and for being the predecessor of NetObjects, Inc.. After transferring new developed technology for web site design to NetObjects, Inc...
from 1993 to 1995. Rae Assist (or shortly "Assist") was one of the first Personal Information Manager
Personal information manager
A personal information manager is a type of application software that functions as a personal organizer. The acronym PIM is now, more commonly, used in reference to Personal information management as a field of study...
s (PIM) and available for Apple Macintosh.
Origin
At the core of Rae Assist was a technology that a group of AppleApple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
employees had developed under the direction of Samir Arora
Samir Arora
Samir Arora is best known as the founder, CEO and Chairman of the web design pioneering company NetObjects, Inc. from 1995 to 2001, and also as the co-founder, CEO and Chairman of Glam Media since 2003. Samir Arora holds 13 US software patents as co-inventor.- Education :Samir Arora grew up in New...
. The so-called SOLO (Structure of Linked Objects) architecture was an object-oriented application framework
Application framework
In computer programming, an application framework consists of a software framework used by software developers to implement the standard structure of an application for a specific development environment ....
, which could work with a variety of databases, including 4th Dimension
4th Dimension (Software)
4th Dimension is a relational database management system and IDE developed by Laurent Ribardière. 4D was created in 1984....
and SQL
SQL
SQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
databases, as well as communication-based services like e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
.
After Samir Arora founded Rae Technology
Rae Technology
Rae Technology was a software company founded as a spin-off from Apple Computer in 1992. Rae Technology was best known for its Personal Information Manager Rae Assist and for being the predecessor of NetObjects, Inc.. After transferring new developed technology for web site design to NetObjects, Inc...
in 1992 as a spin off from Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
, the first release of Rae Assist was due in 1993.
Release history
Rae Assist 1.0 and 1.02In 1993 Rae Assist 1.0 was released, followed shortly by release 1.0.2 at the beginning of the year 1994.
Rae Assist 1.0.2 combined several functions in one program and automatically linked contact and company information. The usage of 5 MB disk space and a minimum of 2.5 MB RAM were seen as cons at the time. A review in MacWorld found Rae Assist "innovative" but "too slow".
Rae Assist 1.0.2 came with combined contact management, scheduling, and note taking. It used the 4th Dimension
4th Dimension (Software)
4th Dimension is a relational database management system and IDE developed by Laurent Ribardière. 4D was created in 1984....
database engine and was targeted at PowerBook
PowerBook
The PowerBook was a line of Macintosh laptop computers that was designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1991 to 2006. During its lifetime, the PowerBook went through several major revisions and redesigns, often being the first to incorporate features that would later become...
users. It had a list price of US$199.
Rae Assist 1.5
With the release of Rae Assist 1.5 in 1995 Rae Technology addressed performance issues and improved some features.
Rae Assist 2.0
Rae Assist 2.0 was scheduled to be released in the 4th quarter of 1995. It was rewritten in PowerMac code and "smaller and faster, coming in under 1.5 MB with a launch time of 3 seconds". Colour, windows resizing and floating palettes were also introduced.
Also in 1995 and as a cooperation with CE Software Rae Technology had started an application called DayAssist to integrate Assist into QuickMail.
NetObjects Fusion
Rae Assist 2.0 was the last release and Rae Technology was soon to close its doors as a software vendor. The Personal Information ManagerPersonal information manager
A personal information manager is a type of application software that functions as a personal organizer. The acronym PIM is now, more commonly, used in reference to Personal information management as a field of study...
market was emerging yet small with competitors like Symantec
Symantec
Symantec Corporation is the largest maker of security software for computers. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 stock market index.-History:...
and Lotus
Lotus Software
Lotus Software is a software company with headquarters in Westford, Massachusetts...
.
Samir Arora, his brother Sal Arora and David Kleinberg, who ran Rae Technology, saw the World Wide Web on the rise. Together with Clement Mok
Clement Mok
Clement Mok is a graphic designer and author.Mok founded several design-related businesses — Studio Archetype , CMCD and NetObjects, Inc.. In 1997, Mok helped to launch the advertising campaign called the "The Internet Guy". From 1998 until 2001, he was Chief Creative Officer of Sapient...
they founded NetObjects, Inc. in 1995 to market one of the first web site building tools, NetObjects Fusion
NetObjects Fusion
NetObjects Fusion is a web design tool, from 1996 - 2001 developed and distributed by NetObjects, Inc., marketed from 2001 until 2009 by Web.com , which acquired the application in 2001, and from July 2009 on distributed again by the re-established NetObjects, Inc.NetObjects Fusion has a graphical...
, which also should rely on the SOLO framework.