Handspring has announced two new Springboard modules that were shown off at the technology conference called "DEMO 2000": the "IDEO eyemodule" (US$149; digital camera; shipping Spring 2000) and "CUE's FM radio module" (US$100; which can also get traffic alerts in over 50 markets via subscription; shipping Spring 2000). For more info, see our Palm Section.
Palm Computing has announced plans to join forces with Adobe to bring Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) technologies to the Palm OS. Both companies will focus their integration efforts to insure viable solutions for deploying PDF content on Palm OS devices for ebook and business applications.
Semtech Company's USAR Systems has announced a new family of input device and power management companion integrated circuits (ICs) called "USAR Juno" for RISC-based portable devices like those currently available running Windows CE.
Kodak showed off their new "PalmPix Camera" (US$179) for select Palm OS devices at the Demo 2000 conference. Images downloaded to a Palm OS device (Palm III or VII form factor) can then be uploaded to desktop computers via HotSync. For more info and a photo, see Palm Section.
"PowerLink" is the latest data-collection technology from Wireless Mountain Laboratories, and InData Systems that combines a wireless radio transceiver to "standard handheld device serial ports" including to devices like mobile barcode readers. The transceiver pulls power from the serial port (TTL RS-232 or true RS-232), and can currently support data transportation speeds between 300-bps to 19.2-Kbps.
NEC is reportedly showing off a new prototype microprocessor called the "MP98" that is actually four integrated microprocessors on one chip that can be "used independently or in conjunction" depending on the system and application tasks at hand. The other key feature is that this chip family includes the latest low-power consumption technology from NEC's labs. Unfortunately, products with this processor in them are not expected until sometime in 2003. [SOURCE: Martyn Williams, IDG News Service via PC World]
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