Gx5 has just released two new applications for Windows Mobile devices. UltimateSearch v1.1 is a search gadget for your Today Screen that gives you instant access to all the key search engines you will need on a daily basis. It has built in options for over seven different search services including google, wikipedia, maps, news and youtube. It is on sale now for $6.50 for a limited beta period special.

wmRingToneMaker is a new Windows desktop application that lets you create your own ringtones from the .MP3 music files in your music library. Just like the iPhone Ringtone maker, It then automatically transfers them to your Windows Mobile powered smartphone. It is available now for $19.95, and is currently discounted to $9.95 for a few days.

Late Friday, Palm very quietly pulled the latest v1.10 rom updates for the Verizon Treo 700p, 700w and 700wx smartphones. This move comes after a similar incident with the Sprint 700p update.

Palm's Verizon Update support page now states:

We have taken down the Verizon Wireless Treo 700p and 700w/wx updaters as a result of increasing customer reports of network connectivity issues following the updates. We are currently investigating the issue and will re-post as soon as they become available.

A new video about the Foleo taken at LinuxWorld has been posted to Vnunet. In the video, Palm’s Ben Combee, a frequent PIC poster, discusses Palm’s new Foleo Mobile Companion and gives an interesting hands-on demonstration. Most of the information given in the video is already known and has made the rounds online but Ben does delve into some tasty details about the bundled applications and app menu, the Foleo's remote desktop capabilities and the Foleo’s Intel/Marvell Xscale CPU choice.

Mr. Combee still refers to the device’s release date as "later this summer". The full-length video can be found here and is 5:16 in length.

The Palm.com online store is running a $50 discount on the Treo 680 smartphone this weekend. The Palm Unlocked Treo 680 GSM smartphone is now on sale for $349 through Sunday, August 12th. The offer also includes free shipping on any order at the Palm Store.

The AT&T Treo 680 is also on a new extended discount. You can now save $300 on the purchase of a new AT&T/Cingular Treo 680. There is a $250 instant rebate from Palm and $50 mail-in rebate from AT&T when you sign up for a new 2 year service plan. This offer only lasts until August 31, 2007.

June Fabrics Technology Group has updated its PdaNet software for the Palm Treo 700p/755p. PDANet allows your computer to go online by connecting to your Treo smartphone through the Hotsync USB cable or Bluetooth. If you own a Treo phone with a Dial Up Networking (DUN) data plan subscription from any carrier, the software will enable your wireless Internet Connection for your laptop/desktop computer instantly with no extra hardware or setup necessary. PdaNet is only compatible with Windows Vista(32bits)/Windows XP/2000/ME and does not support the Mac OS at this time. New features include full Treo 755p support, a new feature to initiate the app from the computer and Windows Vista fixes.

PdaNet for Treo 700p/ 755p v4.10 is available with a free trial and costs $34.00 to register. It is also available for the Treo 650 & 680 and Windows Mobile devices.

ACCESS have launched a new website for the ACCESS Linux Platform (ALP) with new developer documentation and details about the platform. The company has also announced a number of new partners and initiatives around ALP at the LinuxWorld going on now in San Francisco.

MobieLinuxInfo has put together over 10 screenshots of the Linux powered platform in action and goes over some of the ALP news announcements this week.

Palm’s earlier claims of an unspecific late summer retail availability for its new Foleo Mobile Companion now appear to be slightly off course. A recent CNN/Money wire article entitled "Palm Looking for Linux Developers", gives a revised launch date of some unspecified date in September instead of the August availability many have been anticipating.

This news arrives in a timely fashion alongside this week’s announcement of Wind River’s collaborative efforts with Palm and the LogMeIn Remote Desktop release.

The MorningPaper blog is reporting that the new Palm OS-based GSM Treo seen in the recently-leaked cameraphone spy shots is decidedly not the rumored 800p.

What this may indicate is that the new formfactor now seen in a series of leaked blurry spy shots may actually give birth to four different individual devices featuring different operating systems and target markets.

Astraware has just release an update to its popular Sudoku title. The new version contains a large number of new features and overall improvements. The game has been given a new graphical makeover and runs on a new games framework. It also contains new features such as a Hold and highlight help and hint system, a new puzzle manager and more native language support and different display resolutions.

Astraware Sudoku features include 6 levels of difficulty, pencilmarks in a choice of styles, optional completion and tracking of pencilmarks, a unique and innovative notepad which enables players to make handwritten notes and sketches overlaid upon the grid, and an advanced hint system to assist you by highlighting areas where progress can be made without giving away the answer.

Astraware Sudoku v1.4 is available for Palm OS and Windows Mobile. It includes a free trial period and sells for $19.95.

IDC's latest handheld PDA market report shows a continuing steep decline for market segment. According to IDC's Worldwide Handheld QView, vendors shipped a total of 720,000 units during the second quarter of 2007, a 43.5% decrease from the same quarter one year ago and a 21.8% decrease from the previous quarter. This marked the second consecutive quarter in which total worldwide shipments have not crested above the million unit mark.

The PIC Accessories Store has three new Case-Mate Treo cases available today.

The Case-Mate Signature Series for Treo 755p, 750, 680 is a form-fitting Italian Pebblestone leather case, consisting of the world's fine-grade Italian leathers wrapped around an impact resistant molded shell. It comes with screen protection and is available in Phantom Black for $34.95.