PC Week and the latest print version of Computer Retail Week (CRN) have positive articles that examine the new 3Com Palm IIIx and Palm V handhelds. CRN is also reporting that "retailers" are extremely interested in the new color Windows CE Palm-size PCs from Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Compaq.

IBC USA Conferences and Nokia have announced that the "Mobile Internet and Information Services" conference will be held 24-27May99 at Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, California. This conference will include two special focus seminars: "Devices for Mobile Internet Access" (26May99) and "Mobile Commerce" (27May99). You can learn more via www.ibcusa.com/2353.

AvantGo (a mobile information company) and Puma Technology (a "Universal Synchronization Solutions" company) have announced that their "Mobile Application Link" open source code with support for Microsoft and Sybase database systems has been posted to the AvantGo Website.

The Government Computer News published for 22Feb99 has three articles of potential interest:

• "United States Postal Service (USPS) hands mail supervisors Window CE on handheld PCs: Apps help supervisors make real-time productivity checks, store vehicle data, and time carrier's breaks"
• "IBM's Microdrive, world's smallest drive, stores up to 340MB of data"
• "Some Feds can't live without handhelds--3Com's Palm III gets good marks."

The next generation of 3Com Palm OS devices will reportedly be using TDK's GlobalPulse GSM data software. TDK is reportedly working closely with 3Com's Smartcode Software division to work out the details.

Don Crabb from ZDNet News--a dyed-in-the-wool Newton fan--has a commentary up bemoaning Apple's apparent lack of a PDA plan beyond espousing the use of 3Com's Palm handheld.

Michael Pohl reports that Newtopia has announced "March MPadness 1999 v1.2"--"a Newtonized bracket resource for the 1999 NCAA men's basketball tournament."

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)