iambic software has released version 2.2 of its Propel launcher application for Palm OS. Propel is a multifunctional launcher replacement that supports launching apps, finding contacts, appoitments, memos, web bookmarks, digital audio and even files stored on a memory card. Version 2.2 includes new features such as support for contact pictures, option to assign custom icons to applications, support for category icons and related integration with Icon Manager. Various improvements are included as well, most notably an overall rework of memory management aimed to enhance performance and stability.

Propel Professional edition retails for $24.95 and comes with a free trial version. A standard edition, without voice-dialing and mp3 features, is available for $14.95.

FontSmoother for Palm OS has just been updated. FontSmoother enables you to display smooth (antialiased) custom fonts on your Treo, Centro or PDA. It works across nearly all applications on Palm OS 5 devices with 320x320 or larger screens. FontSmoother includes a number of free smooth fonts and comes with a utility that enables you to convert Windows TrueType fonts. This version includes a few minor updates and fixes including Euro character support, a few display fixes and a new font download button.

FontSmoother v2.3 sells for $12.95 USD. There is a free, fully functional 8 day trial, after which all smooth fonts default to their non-smooth versions until registration is completed (except in a few select bible applications). The program was recently featured in our Five Tips to improve the Blazer Web Browser article.

TreoCentral has uncovered a set of Palm internal training slides that detail a number of upcoming rom updates. The most surprising detail is plans for a soon to be released Windows Mobile 6 Professional OS update for the Verizon Treo 700wx. Incidentally, minor dot updates will also be coming to the Verizon Treo 755p and the Sprint Centro, though no details on these were included in the slides.

The Verizon Treo 700wx Update v1.24 is listed as coming this "Spring and Summer." It will be a free update and only be compatible with the 700wx. It is unclear from the limited details if it will be WM 6.1 or the older WM 6.

Palm and Rogers Wireless today announced the Canadian launch of the popular Palm Centro smartphone. The Canadian Centro is available in Cobalt Blue and sells for as low as $199 CAD. The Centro is Palm's smallest and lightest smartphone to date and has sold more than one million units worldwide.

The Palm Centro is a quad-band GSM/EDGE smartphone running Palm OS Garnet v5.4.9. It has a 320x320 pixel touchscreen display, Bluetooth v1.2, a 1.3 megapixel digital camera with video capture and 64MB of memory. For memory expansion it has a microSD slot. You can find our original Centro review here.

TouchLauncher is a new Palm OS Launcher that aims to emulate the feel of the iPhone home screen. It supports the usual grid of apps that you can launch with your finger and adds sliding panels of additional icon screens, support for iconsets and wallpapers, web and contact shortcuts and the ability to drag and drop icons so you can arrange them how you see fit. The app will even display the number of unread messages in the messaging app. You can checkout a video clip of TouchLauncher in action after the break.

TouchLauncher v.1.1.1 is available now for devices running Palm OS 5 and higher. This latest version even adds support for 320x480 screens on Palm handhelds. The app comes with a free trial period and costs $6.99 to purchase. Smartphone users can download the app from your device here.

Businessweek has posted an interesting new article about Palm that, while retreading some old ground, manages to offer a few interesting new tidbits regarding the company's battles to maintain and gain market share. Palm has struggled somewhat against a slew of competitors, Apple and RIM chiefly, but the popular new entry-level Centro smartphone continues its momentum after nearly nine months on the market. The Centro's arrival Verizon Wireless now offers Palm another strong outlet for the CDMA version of their market's most affordable touchscreen smartphone.

The most interesting new factoid to be gleaned from the Businessweek piece is a quote from Lehman Brothers analyst Jeffrey Kvaal. Kvaal states that Sprint, long Palm's primary carrier of choice for new smartphone introductions, has Centro demand that "remains healthy". However, sales of the slower GSM/EDGE version of the Centro on AT&T Wireless' network are only "mediocre". This can likely be attributed to the inherent data speed shortcomings of the Garnet OS on GSM networks, as well as the presence of several strong competing devices on the AT&T network. While the new entry-level Centro smartphone is not marketed as an iPhone killer for Palm, the presence of competing devices such as Apple's iPhone and several RIM BlackBerry models on the AT&T network does make the Centro pale somewhat in comparison.

Coinciding with the Centro's launch on Verizon Wireless, Palm has quietly introduced a new cut-down version of their VersaMail e-mail client. This new release of VersaMail is designed specifically for the new Verizon Wireless version of the Centro and the device's corresponding $29.99 unlimited smartphone data plan. The new release, entitled VersaMail Personal Edition, is an optional download alongside the existing standard edition of VersaMail for new Verizon Centro owners. VM PE lacks Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) support but is otherwise identical to its full-featured sibling.

Palm differentiates the two versions of VM by Build 104 (Personal Edition) and Build 103 (VersaMail). Palm's support page detailing both the differences between the two versions of VM can be found here. The page also offers step-by-step instructions for downloading the VM installer from the MyCentro portal app.

Palm has released a new Palm OS native facebook client. The free application provides access to the Facebook social networking service on your Palm smartphone. The program allows you to respond to messages, upload photos and video from your device, and receive status updates. You can also update your status on the go, browse your friends' profiles and send out new friend requests.

Facebook for Palm is compatible with the Palm Centro, Treo 680 and 755p devices. If your device is not compatible you can always visit the Facebook mobile site at (m.facebook.com). Users can download the app on their device by visiting mobile.palm.com/facebook in your mobile browser.

Palm and Verizon today announced the official availability of the Palm Centro smartphone on Verizon Wireless. The Verizon Centro debuts in "Cobalt Blue" for $99 with a two year service agreement and $70 mail-in rebate. Data plans begin at $29.99.

The Palm Centro runs Palm OS Garnet v5.4.9. It has a 320x320 pixel touchscreen display, Bluetooth v1.2, a 1.3 megapixel digital camera with video capture and 64MB of memory. Verizon's Centro appears identical to the earlier leaked images, clad in a dark metallic "Cobalt" blue with the same metallic sparkles seen in the Sprint versions. For memory expansion it has a microSD slot. You can find our original Centro review here.

Rumor: After last week's flurry of leaked Verizon Treo 800w images and further Sprint release date + pricing info, some concrete specs of Palm's next Treo have finally come forward, courtesy of this TreoCentral forum post.

The Treo 800w's feature set does look to be almost completely mimicked by its trendier, smaller, and later-arriving GSM sister device, the Treo 850. The earlier pre-production leaked photos and specs of the 800w are a close match to the device's production appearance.

Continue reading for the full list of specs.

Astraware has just released Bubble Babble, a new aquatically themed word game for Palm OS and Windows Mobile devices. Astraware bills the game as a undersea bubble-bursting brain teaser. Players must link together letter bubbles to form words and impress Wordsworth Smartygills - your friendly fishy host. You score points for each word you make and are rewarded for more complex and unusual words. The game has four different play modes and increasing levels of difficulty. There is also a multiplayer option and a word of the day feature.

Bubble Babble is available for smartphones and PDAs running Palm OS 5 and above, and Windows Mobile Professional, Classic and Standard devices running Windows Mobile 2003 and later. The game is priced at $19.95, but is currently available for $9.95 with a limited time new release discount. A free demo is included.