Word on the street is that Microsoft has decided to move up the "official" announcement date of their new line of handheld PC products called "Handheld PC Professional" (formerly known as "Jupiter" devices) to Thursday, 08Oct98.

A front-page article entitled "Microsoft scales down SQL Server" written by Jon Cornetto appeared in the InfoWorld published on 05Oct98. It notes that a scaled down version of Microsoft's SQL Server will be shipping with Microsoft Office 2000, leaving the future of "Access" according to industry experts questionable.

Wired Digital (which just got purchased by Lycos) is now publishing an interesting technology blurb entitled "Oracle's Net Platform For Appliances" that examines Network Computer's new eNavigator devices.

John Spooner has a major article on page 41 of PC Week published on 05Oct98 entitled "IBM Puts WorkPad (PalmPilot) to Work: New suite of productivity applications helps users check in at the office." The article notes that IBM Research has put together a "software bundle" for their customers using WorkPad products that include the following solutions: Aportis Technologies' AportisDoc, JP Systems' BeamLink, Oracle's Oracle Sales & Marketing, AvantGo's AvantGo Web browser, and IBM's own internal enhanced PIM and connectivity tools.

SanDisk reports that Best Buy is now selling "SanDisk-branded products--including removable CompactFlash (CF) memory cards for digital cameras, handheld PCs, audio recorders, and other portable devices."

Motorola CIG's Wireless Access Systems Division has announced plans to incorporate fax capabilities into future CDMA (code division multiple access) WiLL (wireless local loop) terminals. [SOURCE: Steve Gold, Newsbytes, 24Sep98]

Cross's Pen Computing Group has announced the general availability of their new CrossPad XP "Portable Digital NotePad." The new device is smaller than the original CrossPad--now 6-inches wide and 9-inches long. You can now also store over 80 pages in their 1MB storage card and the device is now bundled with IBM's Ink Manager software for better desktop connectivity and manipulation.

Andreas Briell has announced MobileBackup Beta 0.98b3 for the Newton. This utility package supplements Apple's general back-up tool with a host of customized features that allow an end-user to better decide how often and what to back-up. This beta will expire on 18Oct98.

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)