Tony Rudenko's PalmPilotUpgrade.com has introduced a 16 MB RAM upgrade for the Sony N610, N710C, and N760C. It costs $140. -Ed

Pencel Corporation has released Kinectivity 2.0, adding an XML server interface and custom controls to the mobile application development environment. It has a drag-and-drop editing system to create the user interface as well as the design of the data schemas, application logic, and data flow through its built-in conduit. A 30-day evaluation version is available. - Kevin

Last month, News Editor Ed Hardy wrote a preliminary review of Sony's new super-slim handheld, the T415, after only having had it for a few days. Now that he's had much more experience with it, the second part of the review is now available. It goes into more depth on the handheld itself and the applications that come bundled with it.

A Staples employee who asked to remain anonymous has found Palm's upcoming wireless model, the i705, already listed in his company's inventory system. It's priced at $450 with SKU# 479208, which is the first indication available of what this model will cost. There is also a keyboard in the system for it, too. The i705 Mini Keyboard (SKU# 479209) is listed for $60.

The release date for the i705 is still not known. Palm originally intended to release the i705 before the end of this year but announced in September that it wouldn't make this deadline. At the time, a source at Palm said the device would only be delayed a few weeks, which seems to place it coming out sometime in January.

Handspring, Inc. has just announced that the first Handspring Treo to be offered for sale is up for bid on eBay. This is part of a larger charity drive by eBay and the Consumer Electronics Association, which will feature donated consumer electronics items, including three more Handspring Treo communicators. Proceeds will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the nation's largest youth mentoring program. The Handspring Treo is currently not sold anywhere else. At last check, the Treo was going for over $900, quite a bit above the $400 it will cost in when available in January.

Palm Inc. has announced the first winners of the new Powered Up Awards, which honor developers of the best Palm OS applications. The Best Enterprise Solution and the Best Overall Solution awards went to ActiveECG from Active Corp., a cost-effective, pocket-sized heart monitor that records and analyzes cardiac rhythms. The Best Productivity/Education Solution award went to CopyWrite from Revelation Computing, which helps educators teach young students how to write.

Two companies have recently announced new versions of their keyboards for the Palm m500 series.

TT Tech Limited will soon release the SnapNType mini-keyboard for the Palm m500 and m505. The keyboard clips onto the bottom of the Palm, covering the hardware buttons, and allowing the user to type with their thumbs. It doesn't require a battery and will be available soon for $40.

Sony Japan has released an update to support Windows XP for the S300, S600C and N700C (OS3.5). Apart from Sony driver updates, it also includes Palm Desktop 4.0.1. For Cliés running OS 3.5, USB Switcher is still required. There is no software update on the Clie itself. The update also allows N600C users to update to Palm Desktop 4.0.1. There is still no word on a U.S. version of this. -Eugene

CompUSA carries the HandEra 330 for $300, along with its Li-Ion battery for $70. -Anon

Some of the biggest news this week was about wireless ISPs. OmniSky has been bought out by EarthLink while Yada Yada has shut down.

There were a slew of price cuts. Palm dropped the price of the m125, Sony cut the N760C by $50, while Handspring lowered the price of the Visor Edge by $30.

The big news from Palm Inc. this week was the announcement that Handango is taking over the Palm Software Connection, someone is loaning them $50 million, and they put out some new cases.

An unknown investor has loaned Palm Inc. $50 million, which it will use "to strengthen its balance sheet and to support wireless and enterprise initiatives." These are two of the company's most important current goals: getting out a new handheld with built-in wireless capabilities and increasing sales to large companies. Clearly the price war with its competitors and slowing economic conditions have cut into Palm's cash reserves, as shown by its recent round of lay-offs, and the company is in need of ready funds to accomplish these critical goals.

EarthLink, the U.S.'s second largest ISP, has agreed to buy just about all of OmniSky’s assets, including its subscriber base. As part of the transaction, OmniSky and EarthLink intend to transition OmniSky’s 32 thousand subscribers to EarthLink with the intention of continuing uninterrupted wireless service. As part of the deal, OmniSky, a wireless ISP, is declaring bankruptcy. This means the sale requires the approval of a bankruptcy court and a bankruptcy court-supervised overbidding process, where bidders with higher and better offers may emerge. Financial details of the deal with EarthLink were not given.

DS International will soon be offering a Pocket Armor hard case for the Sony N series Clié. It features a very unusual design that protects the handheld while still allowing the user to access the Memory Stick slot, the Jog Wheel, stylus, and even the HotSync port without removing the handheld from the case. The cover open to the right, rather than to the left as on most cases. This leaves room on the left for openings in the case for the Jog Wheel and Back button. The company is taking preorders now. It will begin shipping December 15 for $30.