Reuters and China's Xinhua News Agency are reporting the recent release of a Chinese-language savvy version of Microsoft Windows CE v2.1 operating system to hardware manufacturers for integration into their choice of form factors. The initial units appear to be palm-size form factors. This version of Windows CE OS will also be available in Taiwan for manufacturers there to build devices of their choice.

JP Systems has released their PalmPilot email package called "One-Touch Communicator" for a suggested retail price of US$49. JP Systems has also recently announced InfoBeam (US$9.95 + $4.95 a month for service)--"a PC based infrared-linked Web information retrieval software system"--for Palm III devices and Glenayre's AccessLink II pager devices.

Franklin Electronic Publishers are now selling "extra" PC docking stations for their Rex-3 PC Companion (first generation device, US$110) and their Rex Pro PC Card Organizer (second generation, US$240) directly for just under US$40 plus S&H by calling 888.739.6400.

TealPoint Software has released v3.0 of TealPaint--a new version of their paint and sketch application for PalmPilot devices. The new version includes a host of new features related to scrolling, compression, animation, image rotation, and scaling. The new version can also handle either 8-bit or 24-bit images.

Toad Hollow Software has announced the freeware release of "Holidays 1999" for the Newton OS 2.0 that will add "one hundred fifteen U.S. Civil, Christian, Jewish, Islamic (approximate), UK Banking, and just plain fun holidays" to the built-in Newton Dates application. For more info send email to Brian Ogilvie.

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)