Hitachi America has announced a "next generation tablet-style" handheld device (no attached keyboard) that will be running a "future" version of Windows CE Professional. The handheld will called the "HPW-600ET Handheld PC." The device should be shipping in North America in Q2'1999 at a price starting at under US$1200.
Puma Technology has announced that Japan's DoCoMo/NTT Mobile Communications Network has agreed to join a strategic alliance between the two companies. In doing so, Puma Technology gains access to DoCoMo's 22 million subscribers, and DoCoMo users will in the near future be able to leverage Puma's Intellisync Anywhere software platform for wireless handheld devices.
Motorola's new "dual-band GSM phone" called the "cd900" is, according to the Malaysian New Straits Times, consistently "sold out" since it began shipping in Malaysia last week.
Reuters, Asia Computer Weekly, and the UK's The Guardian have all in recent days had Psion and Symbian related articles that focus on future marketing efforts that will be underway as soon as more new EPOC devices are released in the coming months.
Lisa Bowman at ZDNET has published a interesting Newton related article entitled "Love for Newton lingers." The article is focused on how Newton users continue to "love" and use their Newtons and how organizations like Stanford Newton User Group (SNUG) continues to hold meetings and even grow in membership.
A new version of Jet File Plus for the Palm OS has been released by Land J Technologies that will allow Palm OS based JFile databases to interact with databases hosted on desktop PCs.
NTT Mobile Communications Network and Symbian have announced a new "wide reaching agreement to create joint research and development programs for new wireless communication technologies."
Secure Computing has announced a new suite of "software authentication" tools for Palm OS, Windows CE, and Sharp Zaurus devices. The tools will also be ported in the near future to various embedded operating systems for use in new smart phone, network computers, and other digital devices.
ComputerLiteracy.com has reported a new agreement with 3Com that will bring "on-demand hard-copy developer documentation" to Palm OS developers via a new customized online store available via www.palm.com/devzone.
Symbian has announced a new range of specifications that they are calling "Device Families" that are supposed to "promote innovation and differentiation" of future wireless mobile devices like smartphones and wireless "communicators."
Hitachi Semiconductor has announced that their SuperH RISC processor called the "SH7709A" is being used in Hewlett-Packard's (HP) newly announced HP Jornada 680 Handheld PC. The new chip is giving HP 27% more battery life than previous devices while still offering 133MHz performance (133 MIPs).
SanDisk reports that they will be supplying 32MB MultiMediaCards to LG Electronics to bundle with their new AHA-A1F and AHA-A2F Secure Portable MP3 Audio Players.
Little Wing Software has released their "mileage, fuel consumption, and automotive records" software package called VehicleLog for Palm OS. You can use this tool to log both personal and business auto expenses, and use it to remind you of scheduled oil changes and periodic maintenance.
Microsoft is reportedly nearly ready to announce a new "special Spring 1999 promotion" of Windows CE to increase the number of Palm-size PC, Handheld PC, and Handheld Professional PC devices sold for Q2'99. In related news, Vadem's Clio PC Companion that is Windows CE savvy has been awarded another "innovative design award" at the Mobile Insights 1999 conference.
Eric Brown reports that Saugus.net continues to post via anonymous FTP Newton Books that list the Saugus Town By-Laws, and books from the non-profit group SAVE. The books are available in many formats: .pkg, .gz, .zip, .bz2, .Z, .sit.hqx, and .sea.hqx.
Flash Sheridan has announced that the Stanford PalmPilot User Group (SPUG) meets at 7pm on the first Tuesday of each month. So the next meeting will be on 06Apr99. The Guest of Honor will be John Figueroa, of the Electronic Fast Integration Group (EFIG), who will be demoing (and raffling off) an EFIG V8 8MB upgrade card for the Palm V. The location of the meeting is at Printer's Inc. Cafe, 310 California Ave, Palo Alto, California.
-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)