The Flexis FX100 is a new rollable, lightweight, splash resistant keyboard. The user can roll or wrap the keyboard around the PDA for easy transport. It has no moving parts. The FX100 can withstand water and other contaminants. Just wipe the keyboard clean if any liquids are spilled on it. It can be used with the Palm III, V, VII, and Handspring Visor, with more versions to be released soon. It is available now for $70.

DDH Software, Inc. has released a new version of Thesaurus / Spellcheck with a larger word database and integration with the built-in Palm Memo Pad and Email programs. It costs $15. -PR

MythoLogical Software has released Dragon Bane II: Return of Kra'an, a role-playing game. It picks up a generation after the story from the original Dragon Bane game ended and provides a much richer and more interactive world than the original. -Jason Freund

Drivers are now available to allow the HandEra 330 and TRGpro to use 802.11b (Wi-Fi) wireless Compact Flash networking cards. In addition, the company is selling fully refurbished TRGpro's for only $100.

The drivers will work with the new Wireless Networker from Symbol, as well as compatible 802.11b cards from Intel and Socket. The Wireless Networker is currently available through several online retailers with prices ranging between $150 and $180. The drivers are, of course, free.

The price of the Sony PEG-N760C has dropped from $500 to $450. The new price is available now. Sony never announces price cuts or gives reasons for them so it isn't known why. Sony might simply be feeling some price pressure, as the N760C was the most expensive Palm OS model by $100. The slowdown in the world economy has forced other manufacturers to try to increase demand by lowering costs and Sony might be in the same condition.

With the slowing world economy and the recession in the U.S., demand for handhelds has dropped. This has made this holiday season especially critical for the handheld industry. So far, sales are strong. Figures from NPD Intellect on retail sales for the week ending November 23, which contains Thanksgiving and the official beginning of the holiday shopping season, show handheld sales up 103% in revenue and 98% up in unit sales from the previous week.

Palm was the big winner with a 166% increase in sales, going from $6.4 million to $17.1 million. Sales of the Palm Vx increased an astonishing 1178% from the previous week. (No, that's not a typo. 1178%)

As rumored, Palm has introduced several new cases for the m500 series, the most significant of which is the Hard Case that some have been waiting for since last spring. At this point, it appears to have been with the wait. It is an aluminum case with a very stylish look. The front cover, which opens to the side like a book, can swivel all the way around to the back. Inside is padding to protect the handheld and a rail to hold it in. There is also a slot to hold business cards. It even comes with its own matching stylus.It is available now for $40.

Yada Yada, the wireless ISP, is stopping service today at 5 PM EST. All users should have been sent an email yesterday giving details on the shutdown. The company will still allow desktop-based email service until December 13 but that is all. All users have already been refunded for the month of December and everyone who paid for a six month subscription will receive a pro-rated refund.

In what is definitely a major coup, Handango has taken over the Palm Software Connection from PalmGear. This is the section on Palm's own website that lists third-party software. Since March of last year, this has been hosted by PalmGear but earlier today developers with software listed on Handango were informed that Handango would be taking over. The switchover happened at noon today, Pacific Time. An official statement from Palm and Handango is expected tomorrow which might give reasons for the change.

An anonymous source inside Palm has leaked that the company will be dropping the price of the m125 tomorrow by $50 to $200. The m125 debuted in late September so this is a rather quick drop in price. Even at its release, many thought it was a bit over priced compared to models with similar features, like the Sony S320 or Visor Pro. This new price will take effect tomorrow morning.

Update: As predicted, the Palm m125 dropped to $200 today on the Palm Store.

There has long been a habit in the gaming industry of converting board games into computer games and now handheld games. As an example, Big Hairy Palm has a version of Battle Ship it calls Ultimate Battle Fleet. It plays pretty much like the original and has a head-to-head mode via infrared. Pepper brings us this review.

Handspring Visor series GoType! keyboard from Landware is available during the holidays for $50, a $20 savings. -David P

Twilight Edge Software has released Backdrop GC 2.0, its wallpaper application for 160x160 color devices which allows the user to install FireViewer images as screen backgrounds. It features a completely new graphics engine which will let 16-bit devices display the foreground in 256 colors. Improved app settings controls and OS 4.1 support have also been added. -Anon