January 2002

PCM opposes HP/Compaq merger
Pen Computing Magazine opposes the proposed HP/Compaq merger and supports the Red Herring Editors' Open letter.
-- Posted Thursday, January 31, 2002

Palm i705 hits the streets
Palm today announces the i705 which replaces the Palm VIIx with a sleeker unit that can remain on all the time for pager-like receipt of email. Running a Dragonball 33MHz with a monochrome screen and an SD slot, the new unit is available immediately from Palm's website for US$449. Our review, sans photos for now, is up for your perusal. -Shawn Barnett
-- Posted Sunday, January 27, 2002

Fujitsu announces iPAD
Fujitsu Transaction Solutions, Inc., announced the iPAD at the Jan. 13-16 National Retail Federation Expo in New York. The sleek 10 ounce device is based on Microsoft's CE .NET (Windows CE 4.0). See press release.
-- Posted Friday, January 25, 2002

Backlit reflective color TFT device from Sony
Sony has announced their new CLIE T615C, which is available for preorder on the SonyStyle website. Slated to replace the N610C, the 16MB machine has a new screen technology that is backlit color while reflective. Competing reflective technologies are frontlit, which has a tendency to both cast shadows and light up the glass, reducing contrast. Our first look indicates that this new screen is excellent. Available in blue and silver, the price is US$399.
-- Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2002

New Sony 16MB Palm OS device for US$199
Also made available today from Sony is the new CLIE S360, packing 16MB RAM for the low price of US$199, keeping the monochrome Sony line the best bargain on the market in terms of price:power ratio according to PCM's Palm Editor, Shawn Barnett. His previous bargain choice was the S320, with 8MB, now unavailable on the Sony site.
-- Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2002

Compex wireless router offers wealth of features
Compex has released their new wireless router, the NetPassage 16, with several interesting features. In its simplest form it is a 4-port 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet Switch that is "wireless ready." You can add an 802.11b card and make it a wireless router, and you can even plug in a V.90 modem as a backup in case your DSL goes down. US$169. Bundled with a Compex Wireless LAN Card, it can be purchased for US$165 at Buy.com and Shopping4Sure.com.
-- Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2002

Handango cuts prices on older Minstrels to move inventory
Handango.com has Novatel Minstrel V and Minstrel S CDPD modems on sale for US$49. Formerly in the over US$300 range, this represents quite a bargain, and a great way for a Palm V or Handspring Visor owner to get into wireless.
-- Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2002

Athsma software for Palm OS replaces paper
FireLogic today announced the release of the second generation of their HealthEngage Asthma software for Palm OS. The software replaces the standard paper diaries that athsma sufferers usually use. "This new release will allow the 17 million asthmatics in the United States to take better control of their condition," said Irena Slage, CEO of FireLogic. A free trial download is available at www.healthengage.com. Also available for Pocket PC.
-- Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2002

Palm Bluetooth SDK beta released
Palm today introduced its beta release of its Bluetooth Software Developer Kit. This will allow programmers to begin planning for upcoming Bluetooth products. They also announced that they are working with Bluetooth hardware manufacturers Northstar Systems, Red-M, and TDK Systems. "Bluetooth is a key component of Palm's integrated wireless vision," said Palm's Wireless Product Manager Lars Redher. The SDK is available for free download from www.palmos.com. The SDIO Hardware Developer Kit, with two SDIO Bluetooth cards, is also available for purchase for US$199. Developers need only register for Palm's free PluggedIn Program and go to www.palm.com/pluggedin to order. Northstar, Red-M, and TDK also have HDK's ready. Find out more at www.palmos.com.
-- Posted Monday, January 14, 2002

Ectaco releases voice-activated Universal Translator
Ectaco has announced that its Universal Translator is available for Pocket PC. The user says a phrase in English, and UT recognizes your words and speaks the Spanish, French, or German phrase. US$99. They've also announced a voice activated GPS controller. A demo for the Compaq iPAQ is available for download.
-- Posted Monday, January 14, 2002

Handspring offers rebate on Visor Pro
Handspring is offering a US$50 rebate on its top-end Visor Pro. The unit has a 33MHz processor, 16MB RAM, and a rechargeable battery. Though it was reported in the New York Times that the Handspring Treo 180 would be available today, it is not so. Handspring representatives say, "Soon."
-- Posted Monday, January 14, 2002

Pendragon 3.2 announced
Pendragon Software has announced version 3.2 of their forms software. Included among its new features is data backup to SD, Memory Stick, and CF storage cards (for Palm OS 4.0 devices). Users can also password protect their files, and take full-screen "sketch" notes for HotSync to the database. Single user license is US$149.
-- Posted Monday, January 14, 2002

AvantGo gets award for M-Business Server
AvantGo has received an award for its M-Business Server from Customer Inter@ction Solutions Magazine. "The award is the publication's highest honor, recognizing exemplary contributions to the industry," according to the release.
-- Posted Monday, January 14, 2002

PPC takes multimedia to Sundance Film Festival
Film festivals have become a popular place to debut hot new technology, and the ongoing Sundance Film Fesival is no exception. This year, Symbol, HP, and FluxNetwork have teamed up to equip 500 attendees with Jornada 568 Pocket PCs. Symbol provided the WiFi cards and access points, and FluxNetwork the software. Users are able to visit five separate "Hot Spots" to sync the data of the day, which includes full video, audio, text, animation, and images.
-- Posted Monday, January 14, 2002

T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone launch
T-Mobile and Microsoft launched the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone, the first piece of hardware running the Microsoft Pocket PC Phone Edition. For our full review of the T-Mobile click here. -- Posted Tuesday, January 8, 2002

T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone launch
T-Mobile and Microsoft launched the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone, the first piece of hardware running the Microsoft Pocket PC Phone Edition. For our full review of the T-Mobile click here. -chb -- Posted Tuesday, January 8, 2002