Hitachi and Intel will reportedly announce in the near future plans to join Sharp and Mitsubishi in "creating standard packaging for their computer chips." This should make it possible for companies to design "stacking flash memory and static random-access memory (SRAM) chips" much easier for smaller devices like smartphones and other mobile handheld devices. [SOURCE: Reuters via Yahoo]

Cedar Systems has announced a new Windows CE-based terminal (WBT) called "NutShell" thin-client that will be "ideal" for integration with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server (Terminal Server capabilities are bundled in Windows 2000 server) when it ships in late 1999. The US$399 devices uses MediaGX 233-Mhz processor and offers: USB port; PCI/ISA slots; keyboard; mouse; built-in audio; smartcard slot; TV-out; and support for TCOSoft's Thin-Client Director 1.1 management software.

CompUSA continues to grow their handheld offerings. Here is a sampling of deals published on 04Jul99 for the San Diego County area in California -- Intellisync for PalmPilot 3.0 (US$40), PalmPilot Ultimate Guide (book, US$5); Desktop To Go for PalmPilot (US$50); Plus Pack for Palm Computing Organizers (US$40); bUSEFUL CE (US$60), and PlusPack for WIndows CE (US$40). [NOTE: Prices are with in-store discount and mail-in manufacturer rebate.]

SanDisk Corporation has announced: #1.) That e.Digital Corporation will be using SanDisk CompactFlash (CF) memory cards in Lanier's new digital Cquence Mobile (dictation device for the healthcare and legal industries); #2.) Sears, Roebuck and Co. will be selling SanDisk-branded flash memory cards for the growing number of consumer electronics products like digital cameras, handhelds, and MP3 players; and #3.) Texas Instruments, Liquid Audio, Fraunhofer, & SanDisk are teaming up to offer complete "Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI)" solutions for devices shipping in the U.S. by Christmas 1999.

The mail-order catalog called "Herrington" Summer 1999 (The Enthusiasts' Catalog) has the following products available for the mobile professional: SunPower Battery Saver (US$40); Otter Boxes (Waterproof, US$10-70); Rotring & Faber-Castell pen/pencil/styluses (US$30-60); Coach Leather Cases (US$70-110); and Incase Neoprene Cases (US$30). For more info call: 800-903-2878.

Mark Rollins has announced the release of a couple new Newton books posted in "universal" book format to the Newton Intelligence Hotline server (ni.syr.edu in the "Uploads" directory) -- "rcra.zip" [a summary of how state RCRA (hazardous waste) regulations differ from federal EPA]; "stern.zip" [a listing of all (as of 5/99) radio stations that carry Howard Stern]; and "npr.zip" [a listing of all (as of 5/99) radio stations that carry National Public Radio].