The Backdrop Plus screen

Backdrop Plus is an alternative to the NotePad as the backdrop, or background, application for the Newton. With the NotePad closed, you save as much as 10k in heap (similar to RAM on a desktop machine.) This means that you can have more extensions and applications loaded at once, and you will get fewer memory-related problems and restarts.
 Each loaded application or extension takes up a small amount of heap (freezing applications will eliminate their heap usage while frozen). Since the NotePad is not used all the time, closing it when not used means there's more heap available the rest of the time.
 You should usually try to keep your heap above 35-40k after a restart (it will drop lower as you use your Newton. This is normal. Simply tap the screen anywhere to do a garbage collection, which will raise it back up again).

Optionally, you can install a mini-silk control button

 in the status bar which will open the

 This floater is useful in backlit situations, as the silk screen buttons are not backlit, and when the screen is rotated. Tapping the Quick Note button

will open a Quick Note scrreen:

All of the buttons that would normally appear in the NotePad are here, as well as a delete button, to instantly delete the current note. In addition, if you do not add any writing to the note, it will be discarded when you close the window.
 You can tap and hold on the Quick Note button to popup a list of all installed stationery:

 Tapping one of these items will open a new note of that type. (Note: this list shows items from the Stand Alone Stationery Pack, coming soon.)
 Both the Apps button and the icon dock (the area at the bottom) are fully customizable, via the list below:

You can also give us a custom icon, and have your own, customized backdrop. Here's an example of a customized screen: