Palm launched their new MyPalm Portal on December 25, which was previously announced at Comdex. It is not a full launch, but a beta launch that combines the power of the AnyDay.com web portal they purchased this year with their Palm VII Web Clipping engine, allowing users to access and update things like their datebook and address book wirelessly. Those interested should go to their wireless site, www.palm.net. The new service should also work for users of the "MIK" or Mobile Internet Kit, which allows most Palm users to access web clipping with an IrDA-enabled digital cell phone.

Handspring yesterday announced their intention to acquire Bluelark Systems, which will bring them access to the company's Blazer and BlueSky browser and proxy server products. Handspring President and CEO Donna Dubinsky said, "With the Internet such an important part of people's everyday lives, it's important to make it easier for people to access information from wherever they are. With Bluelark's software and infrastructure, Web browsing will become a key application for Handspring products, in the easy and elegant style that our customers are accustomed to."

Firepad has announced that it will release a Macintosh-compatible version of its popular FireConverter program in January 2001. FireConverter enables the conversion of graphics in JPEG, GIF, and other formats, for viewing on the Palm platform.

-Shawn Barnett