3Com has announced plans to acquire France's Smartcode Technologie for US$17.5 million, and will use their "wireless data" technology to build future "mobile information appliances" based on the Palm OS. The purchase also gives 3Com's Palm Computing division a European HQ.
Duracell--"the sworn enemy of the Energizer bunny"--has announced a new Ultra line of alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, and 9 volt). These new models offer 20% increase in performance which according to Duracell's tests should mean that digital cameras, flash cameras, and cell phones should run 60-80% longer. Non-digital devices (like flashlights) are also supposed to have similar performance advantages. [Source: "PC Briefs", Newsbytes, 11Feb99]
Novatel Wireless has announced plans at "CTIA Wireless '99" to team with Casio to build a future class of wireless Windows CE savvy handheld devices. Their first joint product is expected to be released in Q3'1999.
SOME QUICK LINKS
Mark/Space has announced two new beta test opportunities for Palm OS users: Online v1.1 (VT100 terminal emulator) and PageNOW! 1.5 (advanced pager and SMS interfaces).
Michael Pohl has announced a beta release of "Positronic Poetry v0.8b"--a Newtonized version of those magnetic poetry words that you can attach to metal surfaces. Drag and drop your way to poetic enlightenment. You can learn more via screenshots and downloads from Newtopia.
-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)