Press Release: Mobility Electronics Introduces Quickoffice Premier for Palm Powered Handhelds
Palm OS Devices Now Open, View and Edit Native Word, Excel and PowerPoint Files
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., February 27, 2003 — Mobility Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS:MOBE), a leading provider of innovative portable computing solutions for the mobile computer user, announced the public beta release of its Cutting Edge Software subsidiary’s Quickoffice Premier Version 7.0. The new release is the first and only available Palm OS Office suite to include support for native PC-created Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats. Support for native file formats is provided for files saved on expansion storage cards, or those received via infrared beaming, through Bluetooth file transfers, or as e-mail attachments.
“Quickoffice Premier represents a major improvement in devices,” said Michael Mace, chief competitive officer for PalmSource, Inc. “By enabling users to open Microsoft Office files without converting them first on a PC, Quickoffice Premier extends the Palm OS advantage in working with Microsoft Office files.”
Quickoffice Premier supports any device using Palm OS 3.5 and above including Palm OS 5 handhelds from Palm and Sony. In addition, its total memory requirements are less than the leading competitor’s applications that lack native support. Quickoffice Premier achieves outstanding performance; quickly opening native Office 97 and later format files with high fidelity — even on smartphones or handhelds using older 33MHz Motorola Dragonball processors. Furthermore, the Premier edition of Quickword enables users to view, edit, save, and create files fully compatible with Word 97, 2000, or XP on the device itself.
The benefits of native file support include the ability to:
*Seamlessly exchange files between Palm OS and Pocket PC handhelds and Macintosh or Windows PCs, whether wirelessly or transferred via removable expansion storage media;
*Open Word, Excel and PowerPoint attachments received via e-mail on a Palm Powered handheld;
*Create or edit e-mail attachments in Quickword so any recipient can open them regardless of the computing platform they are using.
Quickoffice Premier supports opening native Word, Excel and PowerPoint files from all removable media types including Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick and MultiMediaCard and Secure Digital formats used in Palm, Kyocera, AlphaSmart and other devices. High-capacity removable media allows users to keep all of their important files with them, and removable media card readers enable users to quickly back up hundreds of files for handheld access. The native file access provided by Quickoffice Premier antiquates past methods requiring handheld device users to rely upon translation of each individual file on the PC before installing to a handheld device.
The capability to open and use native format Word, Excel and PowerPoint attachments gives immediate benefit to users of all currently available Palm OS smartphones. Quickoffice Premier is compatible with the Handspring Treo 270 and 300, Kyocera 6035 and 7135, Samsung SPH-I300, SPH-I330 and soon-to-be-released SPH-I500, as well as the recently announced Palm Tungsten W. In combination with leading e-mail solutions like Snapperfish Ltd’s SnapperMail, office file attachments can be opened and
forwarded to anyone.
“By combining Quickoffice Premier with high speed wireless e-mail access of the soon-to-be-released Samsung SPH-I500 smartphone, our customers will enjoy unparalleled capabilities for working with their Office files while on-the-go,” said Todd Person, business development manager at Samsung Telecommunications America. “Quickoffice Premier enables our customers to have full access to Office e-mail attachments without waiting for a laptop to boot up.”
Quickoffice Premier is available for purchase at Quickoffice.com and PalmGear.com. The title retails for US$49.95.
Off Topics: Executives, Show Some Appreciation For Your Employees
Today I had the disgusting task of having to attend an “all-hands” meeting held by my company’s client and some of the executives from my company. During the course of that meeting, the executives spent over half the time patting each other on the back publicly for what a great job they’re doing, then spent the other half of the meeting thanking people for projects that are behind schedule and over budget. Several projects that are being run by the department I run for have come in under budget, on-time, and resulted in significant cost savings for our client…and not a word was said about these highly successful projects.
I know that many of the readers of PDAntic.com are managers, business owners, and executives. I’d like to make a suggestion to those people; please take every opportunity to publicly thank and appreciate your deserving employees for a job well done. There is nothing more devastating to your employees than for them to devote a good amount of their lives working long hours doing an excellent job, then have that work go totally ignored. I am saying this from experience; two highly successful projects I managed over the last several years (an 8000-seat Windows 2000 deployment that has resulted in a 35% decrease in PC support calls and a server elimination project that will save our client over $1.4 million per year), both of which came in on schedule and below budget, were given short shrift during today’s display of corporate ego.
The result? A group of highly skilled and successful employees, all of whom were walking around today like their favorite dog had died. If you’re a manager or executive, please think about the effect that a lack of appreciation can have on your personnel. Those people are the lifeblood of your organization and do the work that makes you successful - don’t take them for granted.
Press Release: MARGI Extends Presentation Delivery Solution to Palm’s First Smartphone Offering
Presenter-to-Go Extends Capabilities of Palm’s New Tungsten W
WHO:
MARGI Systems, the leading provider of mobile presentation solutions, and Palm team up once again to deliver the most complete handheld offering
WHAT:
As Palm continues to target the corporate market with the Tungsten line of handhelds, the Tungsten W brings a new element of communication to business professionals. A smartphone with wireless e-mail capabilities and organizer all-in-one, this device is a natural fit with MARGI’s presentation solution. Presenter-to-Go turns handhelds into professional quality presentation devices, offering Tungsten W users an even more complete solution for their business needs. This easy to use, fast and flexible tool effectively allows Palm users to leave their laptops behind.
With Presenter-to-Go, Palm owners have a new, lightweight way to present ideas. Presenter-to-Go provides users with a simple, worry-free presentation solution ? one without the hassles sometimes associated with using a laptop. Presentations can be created in PowerPoint or any printable PC application, easily transferred to a Tungsten W and displayed via a digital projector in high-quality, full-color resolution. MARGI’s Presenter-to-Go application allows users to selectively hide/show slides, drag/drop slides, view slide text and presentation notes, make on-screen annotations and continuously loop slide shows.
Presenter-to-Go is compatible with the broadest range of handheld devices, including Palm’s m125, m130, m500, m505, m515, i705, Tungsten T and W handhelds, Sony CLI? and Pocket PC handhelds, as well as the Kyocera 7135 smartphone. A complete list of Presenter-to-Go compatibility can be found at http://www.margi.com/support/sup_ptg_comp.htm.
WHEN:
Available Today
WHERE:
Most versions of Presenter-to-Go sell for $199 and are available on the MARGI Systems Web site: www.margi.com, and from resellers across the country including CDW, PC Mall and MobilePlanet.
WHY:
With the increasing demand put on corporate executives, sales professionals, educators and government officials to deliver a greater number of presentations with less time and budget, these busy professionals are increasingly in search of the perfect delivery tool. The addition of Presenter-to-Go SD to the Tungsten W provides mobile professionals with a lightweight laptop alternative, allowing users to deliver professional-quality presentations from their Palm handheld, reducing carry-on weight and stress when traveling cross-country, across town, or even to a conference room down the hall.
New Review - Mapping and Direction Tools for PDAs
What happens when you start writing a review of a Windows software tool that has just a tiny bit of relevance to PDAs? In this case, I quickly found out that the tool in question (Microsoft Streets & Trips 2003) is a nice desktop package but really doesn’t fit the bill for creating small, usable maps or directions for PDAs.
This review not only talks about Streets & Trips 2003 and how you can use it to generate files for Pocket Streets, but also describes MSN Maps & Directions, MapQuest, MapBlast, and Vindigo. It’s not the most detailed review I’ve ever written, but it should give you a bit of insight into what I currently use on my Pocket PC Phone.
You can read the new review here!
New Review - Astraware “Bookworm” for Pocket PC and PalmOS
Word game addicts, rejoice! Astraware’s “Bookworm” is a fun and highly addictive word game that is now available for both Pocket PC and PalmOS devices. This $14.95 game is the first game that I’ve actually had difficulty writing a review for simply because I’ve been spending way too much time playing it!
You can read our new review of Astraware’s Bookworm word game for Pocket PC or PalmOS by clicking here, or by going to the “Reviews” link at the top of the PDAntic.com home page. A limited-life evaluation copy of Bookworm is also available directly from Astraware; you can give the game a try and then purchase a registration code for only $14.95 after you’ve become addicted to this game.
Bookworm may not appeal to people who are into “First Person Shooters”, arcade games, or other action entertainment, but if you’re heavily into word games, anagrams, or other word puzzles chances are very good that you’ll love this colorful and challenging game.
RU “red e” For A SmartPhone?
Over the last 6 months or so, we’ve heard a lot about Microsoft’s SmartPhone 2002 devices but haven’t seen much happening. Orange came out with the SPV in the UK, but that’s about the only carrier that has really done anything with the SmartPhone 2002.
During the last week, we’ve heard a lot of news about upcoming SmartPhones, so it looks like things are finally going to take off for this class of device. Compal had come out with a reference design for Microsoft SmartPhone 2002 devices, and now a US wireless carrier (Everlink Wireless) has said that they will begin selling a Compal SmartPhone under the “red e” name brand. Developers will be able to get their hands on the unit next week (and I’m hoping that I get one for review!), and the product will ship to American consumers by June.
The phone is nice and small - about 4.88″ long, .78″ thick, 2.07″ wide and weighs 4.34 ounces. There’s a full-sized dialing pad located below the 220 x 176 pixel (65,536 color) screen. The device has a 132 MHz MIPS processor, an SD/MMC slot, a mini-USB port, an IR port, vibrating alert, a 2.5 mm headset jack, and a 900 mAh battery that provides 3.6 hours of talk-time and up to 70 hours of standby time. And it’s a full tri-band (900, 1800, 1900) GSM phone with GPRS capabilities, so it can be used literally anywhere in the world. Although they don’t list a digital camera as an accessory, the site notes that the device “supports” digital camera accessories.
How does this compare with the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone / Siemens SX-56? It’s about a half-inch less wide and slightly less tall, but about the same thickness. As a SmartPhone, it doesn’t have Pocket Word and Pocket Excel, but does support the standard SmartPhone apps - Pocket Outlook, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Pocket Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, and Windows Media Player. One cool feature it shows is “Phone Book with Picture Link”, which I’m assuming means that incoming calls can show a picture of the person calling you provided you’ve put one in the “phone book”.
Everlink Wireless also shows an upcoming Pocket PC Phone called the PE600 that should be released to developers very soon.
Press Release: Fonix(R) VoiceDial(TM) for Microsoft Smartphone Devices
Fonix Delivers Solution for English, German, French, and Spanish; One-Button Dial by Voice - No Voice Training Required
CANNES, France and SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — 3GSM WORLD CONGRESS — Fonix Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: FONX), a leading provider of speech interface solutions, announced today the release of Fonix VoiceDial(TM) 1.2 for Microsoft Smartphone(R) Devices, formally referred to as Stinger. Fonix VoiceDial is a totally interactive, hands-free speech software application that enables users to place calls simply by speaking the phone number or the contact name as stored on their Smartphone. Fonix has leveraged the development done for the Microsoft PocketPC Phone Edition devices to now deliver this ‘killer app’ speech solution for English, German, French, and Spanish speakers.
“The market for the next generation of mobile phone technology is expanding,” said Rolf-Juergen Bruess, President Fonix International. “The Microsoft Smartphone brings advanced phone technology at affordable costs, effectively bridging the gap between standard cellular phones and the Microsoft Pocket PC(R) Phone Edition devices. Fonix VoiceDial, with its ease of use and accuracy, is a perfect fit with the Microsoft Smartphone and the next generation of mobile phones.”
“Users want greater convenience,” said Tim K. Hong, Director Mobile Wireless at Fonix. “The Smartphone is designed for the easiest use with minimal effort. With VoiceDial, just press one button, speak the contact name or the number to be dialed, and your call is placed. There are no navigating menus and pressing multiple buttons on your phone pad. “With VoiceDial there is no voice training; users can place calls without speaking each contact name several times to train the system. VoiceDial is a perfect fit for the Smartphone.”
True Mobility Now Possible
VoiceDial puts the power of speech into phone dialing with minimal user demands. This breakthrough application offers the following convenient features:
* Small Memory Footprint — Optimized to meet the specific requirements of the Microsoft Smartphone platform.
* Natural Voice — With the natural voice prompts, your interaction with the device is clear and easily understood.
* Your Voice Confirmation — When dialing a contact, VoiceDial 1.2 uses your own voice to confirm that you are dialing the correct contact.
* Continuous Dialing Response — When speaking a phone number to dial the user may speak at his or her usual speed and cadence. VoiceDial responds continuously — no pausing or waiting is necessary for each digit to be dialed separately.
* Highly Accurate — VoiceDial is highly accurate even in the noisiest of environments like cars and sporting events.
* Customized Pronunciation — This enables users to improve accuracy where needed, or to add a nickname for a particular contact.
* Speaker Independent Phonetic Recognition — No voice training required.
Pricing and Availability
Fonix VoiceDial 1.2 for Microsoft Smartphone devices is priced at just $19.95, and will be available for download from the Fonix website, http://www.fonix.com in March 2003. For more information about Fonix VoiceDial or any of the Fonix Speech Solutions, visit the Fonix corporate website or call 801-553-6600.
Press Release: PalmGear Debuts StreamLync(TM) AutoInstall Utility, Simplifying Download/Install Process For Palm OS Software
Breakthrough FREE Application Available Exclusively on PalmGear.com
ARLINGTON, Texas, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ — PalmGear ( http://www.palmgear.com ), the world’s largest and oldest Palm OS-based consumer marketspace, today announced the release of StreamLync, a breakthrough auto-install utility that will significantly facilitate the software download and install process for users of handhelds and smart phones running on the Palm OS(R) platform. Offered as a public beta program beginning February 18, 2003, StreamLync is a FREE application available only from the PalmGear.com website.
StreamLync, a patent-pending application, eliminates a number of steps typically involved with Palm OS application download and installation, especially the use of common unzip and installation tools. The software is expected to quickly achieve a sizeable user base given its free availability on PalmGear.com, a site that experiences more than three million unique visits each month by Palm Powered(TM) users.
“The Palm OS platform has proven itself to be the easiest and most functional platform for handheld users. The new release of PalmGear’s StreamLync auto install technology will extend our lead in providing the best solutions for the handheld and smartphone market,” said Larry Berkin, director of developer marketing, PalmSource, Inc. “We are delighted to have PalmGear as a committed partner.”
“PalmGear’s StreamLync technology will heighten the user’s experience with Palm Powered handheld devices,” said Ryan Wuerch, President and CEO, PalmGear.com. “StreamLync is one of many industry-first technologies that PalmGear will be announcing to strengthen its lead and further PalmGear’s position as the worldwide leader for Palm Powered handheld solutions.”
One-Touch Installation
StreamLync, currently available only for Windows, resides on the Palm user’s desktop or laptop PC. Once installed in the PC, the utility is automatically invoked whenever a user downloads an application from PalmGear.com. From that point until the user transfers the new application to his or her PDA via HotSync(R), the download and installation process is automatic. StreamLync works seamlessly with the Palm Install tool to download, unpack, and install the application to Palm Desktop; all ancillary files (e.g., readme files or other documentation) not acceptable to Palm devices are retained in a folder on the PC.
Developers Will Benefit
Jason Cain, Chief Technology Officer for PalmGear, noted StreamLync’s advantages to developers. “From the developer perspective, streamlining the installation procedure significantly eases support operations,” Cain said. Greater overall customer satisfaction, quicker user installations, and fewer installation-related technical support requests are just a few of the benefits to be gained from offering StreamLync as an installation option for Palm Powered applications.
Individual or Enterprise Use
StreamLync offers setup options that make it practical and convenient in both individual and group user situations. For a full explanation of StreamLync, as well as to download the StreamLync utility, visit the StreamLync link on http://www.palmgear.com .
Press Release: sVPN To Allow Secure Wireless ActiveSync
New Solutions from Spontaneous Technology Give Microsoft(R) Pocket PC And Smartphone Users Wireless Access to a Full Desktop Experience
CANNES, France, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ — Spontaneous Technology (Spontec) announced today at the 2003 3GSM Conference their support of Microsoft’s ActiveSync protocol via a mobile connection. Spontec’s sVPN software enables ActiveSync to wirelessly and securely synchronize a Windows(R) Powered pocket PC or Smartphone with a personal computer. Wireless ActiveSync is another example of how Spontaneous Technology provides mobile carriers the ability to securely extend any corporate application to a mobile device for their enterprise clients.
Spontec’s sVPN delivers the entire Microsoft desktop experience to users’ Windows Powered devices. By spontaneously enabling the full, rich experience of ActiveSync to the Pocket PC, enterprise users realize the same experience they enjoy with Pocket PC powered devices today — only without the cradle and wires. All synchronized information is available through sVPN, allowing Pocket PC users complete wireless syncing to their Outlook e-mail, calendar, invitations, and shared files. Additionally, sVPN’s compatibility fully supports existing third-party ActiveSync applications, as well as future software development, via the application’s native protocol.
“Spontaneous Technology’s sVPN offers a simple, fast way for Pocket PC and Smartphone users to access their desktop e-mail and other key information while away from the office,” said Robbie Wright, Director, Mobile Devices Marketing Group, Microsoft EMEA. “This wireless enablement of ActiveSync is a powerful example of the innovation happening on the Pocket PC and Smartphone platforms and takes full advantage of their power and flexibility.”
The sVPN application adheres to the most-rigorous enterprise security policies and extends them to the wireless device, providing users with a completely secure and robust answer to the need for mobile access to corporate data without requiring any modification to the corporation’s existing security structure. The sVPN application is simple enough to be installed by individual users in just a few easy steps. Users can access information in Outlook real time or offline, as well as resynchronize at timed intervals or on demand. Any changes users make on the mobile device will be kept in sync with their Outlook or Exchange server via the sVPN ActiveSync connection. Furthermore, users are not required to learn different browser-based applications or interfaces. Instead, sVPN simply enables the native Pocket PC Outlook applications for email, calendar and notes — an approach that makes sVPN already “familiar” to the user.
“We are excited to extend the ActiveSync experience to the ‘uncradled’ Pocket PC,” said Jeff Lindauer, CEO of Spontaneous Technology. “Delivering enterprise data spontaneously to the remote user is critical. Providing enterprise applications doesn’t have to be complex. With sVPN, it can be simple and spontaneous.”
Press Release: Astraware and Pazzazz Games Team to Deliver GTS Racing Action to Palm OS Handhelds
Pazzazz Games selects Astraware as publisher of its first Palm OS title, a 3D racing game that delivers console-quality visuals and game-play
The Midland, England and Loire-Atlantique, France (February 17, 2003) - - Astraware Ltd has become the exclusive publisher of Pazzazz Games’ exciting new GTS Racing Challenge game for Palm OS handhelds. GTS Racing Challenge is a 3D racing game that delivers console-quality visuals and game-play to Palm OS handhelds. Astraware has long been recognized as one of the top producers of PDA games while Pazzazz Games enjoys a solid reputation for developing 3D console games. This announcement marks the second deal in as many weeks in which another game developer has turned to Astraware to take its products to market.
The game-play of GTS Racing Challenge is similar to SNES / Game Boy Advance titles like F-Zero or Mario Kart, but with large, realistic car sprites rendered in full color from 3D models. Both the players’ view and cars are free to rotate in 3D, and the raceway is fully texture-mapped. The cars race along roadways with photo-realistic skylines. The game offers a wide variety of racing options, including 32 separate racetracks and three different super-charged models of GTS race cars. Players will enjoy sliding around corners, skidding into a U-turn for a sudden change of direction, or even cranking the wheel and “doing doughnuts” on the spot. Taken together, these features put GTS Racing Challenge at the cutting edge of Palm OS games.
“When it came time to choose a distribution partner, Astraware was the obvious choice,” said Andy Wilton, co-founder and lead programmer of Pazzazz Games. “Not only do they dominate the online market for Palm OS games, but their market knowledge and testing resources have been crucial in helping us hone GTS Racing Challenge, keeping us firmly focused on the points that matter to Palm OS gamers.”
“GTS Racing Challenge is an amazingly high-caliber game that tackles the challenges of putting smooth, fast-paced action on the screen of a Palm OS handheld,” said Howard Tomlinson, Astraware’s CEO. “We’re proud that Pazzazz Games selected Astraware as its publisher and invite all other developers of PDA games to call us to discuss how we can help them make their own games a big success.”
GTS Racing Challenge is available now in versions for both 16-shade greyscale and 256-color models of Palm Powered PDAs, and is priced at US$17.95 at Astraware’s Web site, www.astraware.com. A high-resolution and audio enhanced version for the latest Palm OS 5 handhelds is in testing and scheduled to be released in the near future.
Sorry About The Outage
We were down for about three hours today due to an unknown failure at our web hosting provider’s location. Sorry about that!
Press Release: Pocket MSN Delivers Always-On Services to Pocket PCs and Smartphones
New Service Offers Mobile Operators Means to Attract New Subscribers and Increase Network Use With Always-On Mobile Access to MSN Messenger, MSN Hotmail and Other Offerings
CANNES, France, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Today at the 3GSM World Congress 2003, the MSN(R) network of online services announced that mobile operators can look forward to the release of Microsoft’s first feature-rich mobile data service optimized for Windows(R) Powered Pocket PCs and Smartphones before the end of the year.
Pocket MSN will for the first time deliver to subscribers an always-on experience that enables them to remain available to other online users and always up to date with e-mail, instant messaging (IM) and other online services without maintaining a continuous network connection to their mobile device. Subscribers also will have one-click access to MSN Hotmail(R) and MSN Messenger — one of the most used e-mail and IM services in the world, with 110 million and 75 million active users, respectively. In addition, Pocket MSN will allow subscribers to wirelessly browse online and receive other MSN services, including MSN Alerts, which include news, sports and weather
updates.
MSN plans to release Pocket MSN through mobile operators, with T-Mobile planning to offer the service in Europe before the end of the year. In addition to always-on services, the following Pocket MSN features and attractions will allow mobile operators to lure subscribers:
— Integrated applications. A single click on an icon on the device’s Today screen provides access to all Pocket MSN services, including Hotmail and MSN Alerts, which are integrated into the Pocket PC and Smartphone Inbox. Also, messages can be sent via Hotmail when MSN Messenger contacts aren’t available to receive instant messages.
— Offline services. Subscribers can access, compose and answer Hotmail messages offline, maximizing their time when mobile connections aren’t available.
— Personalized options. Subscribers can filter incoming Hotmail messages based on the sender, subject and size of the message. They can select which MSN Messenger contacts they want to be notified of their online availability.
“Familiar, easy-to-use mobile services are important to subscribers, as is the ability to remain available to online contacts via the same services at home, at work or on the go,” said Russ Arun, general manager of MSN Mobile product development at Microsoft. “Mobile operators that offer these services will reap the rewards of increased subscriptions and more frequent, extended use of their offerings.”
Pocket MSN: Designed for Mobile Networks
Pocket MSN will include a technology backbone designed for mobile networks. The service, which will be run from Microsoft’s datacenter, will serve a variety of mobile networks, from short message service (SMS) to packet networks, such as 1xRTT, GPRS and 3G. Pocket MSN will minimize network traffic for mobile operators and reduce the subscriber costs associated with always-on services by eliminating the need to maintain a constant network connection. The connection will be restored when a new message arrives or when the subscriber needs the service. In addition, subscribers will receive only updates or changes to their contacts and Inbox — rather than receiving entire lists — when they connect to the service.
MSN brings to Pocket MSN Microsoft’s experience in developing software for businesses, knowledge workers and consumers, and the growing presence of MSN in the mobile market. Currently, MSN Mobile offers subscription services to consumers in 21 countries across 36 carriers.
T-Mobile — First Pocket MSN Operator
T-Mobile, one of the world’s leading mobile communications companies, plans to be the first carrier to bring to market MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger mobile services through Pocket MSN in Europe. The company plans to deliver the service later this year and to debut a Windows Powered Smartphone in summer 2003 across its major markets.
T-Mobile plans to offer the messaging services within Pocket MSN as part of its best-of-breed data strategy, optimizing a wide range of compelling services to consumers across its market. “This cooperation with Microsoft shows our continuous commitment to making and shaping the mobile data market,” said Nikesh Arora, chief marketing officer of T-Mobile.
About MSN
MSN has 9 million subscriptions and attracts more than 300 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 34 markets and 18 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and digital marketing solutions to businesses worldwide. MSN 8 is the first Internet software product to have earned the trusted Good Housekeeping Seal. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ . MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx .
Press Release: Handmark(R) Upgrades MobileDB(TM) for Palm OS(R)
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ — Handmark(R), the number one retail publisher of PDA software, has upgraded MobileDB(TM), the most used data listing tool on Palm Powered(TM) handhelds. The new version, MobileDB4, adds significant new features while preserving both ease of use and an open file and programming interface.
The new version adds the ability to selectively move data to the Palm handheld’s built-in applications. For example, an event calendar, employee roster, PTA or other membership list that changes periodically can be created on a PC and converted to a MobileDB file. The entire list, or individual records, can then be easily added to the built-in Address Book or Date Book application on the Palm handheld.
Other new features include:
— Enhanced support for new 5-way buttons on Palm Tungsten and other devices
— Support for the Jog-Dial on Sony brand Palm OS devices
— Color headers and alternating rows, plus hi-resolution icons and controls
— Enhanced in-line checkboxes can be modified directly in the record list
— Enhanced security with locks for the entire database or “read-only” set
— Unique icons identify the location of files stored on MMC or Memory Stick
— Retains location information of files even if expansion card is removed
Upgrades are available for only $9.99 from http://www.Handmark.com and in specially priced combinations that include optional plug-ins for Microsoft(R) Access, FileMaker(R), and Excel. The plug-ins automate the creation of MobileDB lists from other application data.
According to Handmark marketing vice president, Douglas Edwards, “When you combine these significant enhancements, the low price of MobileDB, and the many MobileDB files created by the user community, you have a solution that is essential on every Palm Powered handheld.” There are more than 1,300 free MobileDB files relating to sports, business and other categories available from either http://www.MobileDB.com or http://www.MemoWare.com online public repository.
This Is Good News, Right?
I just heard that Google, the search engine of choice for about 99% of the world, has just purchased Blogger! As you may or may not know, we use Blogger Pro to generate the content for PDAntic.com and two personal blogs. I see this as pretty phenomenal news, as it means that blogs that have not been “Googled” (i.e., included in the Google catalog of billions and billions of web pages) will now be included. That may increase the hit rate to PDAntic.com, which has been growing by leaps and bounds lately anyway!
Microsoft Windows Journal Viewer 1.5 Available For Download
If you use a Tablet PC and love Microsoft Windows Journal, but you’re concerned that none of your Tablet-less friends are going to be able to view your Journal documents, there’s now a free “Journal Viewer” available for download. This viewer only works on PCs running either Windows XP or Windows 2000 SP2 or later, and is not meant to be run on a Tablet PC. Click here to download.
Personally, I think this will be fun for some of my baseball-loving friends when I e-mail them the baseball scorecards I’m doing in Journal!
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Joy of Tech!
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MacLevelTen
