The FrogPad is a 19-key device that allows each key to handle multiple letters and symbols, so it's small but still has full-sized keys. Its creator is developing a version for the Palm V series and Sony Clié that combines a keyboard with a case. These are scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of this year. The case without the keyboard will be $100 and together they will cost $170.

Handspring has agreed to license its Blazer Web browser to Sprint PCS. This means that Sprint customers with Palm OS devices can use Blazer for free. It will be bundled with the Kyocera QCP-6035 and Samsung I300 smartphones when purchased from Sprint and Sprint's own Digital Link Springboard. Blazer will be available on the wireless carrier's site at no additional cost for all existing Sprint PCS customers using Palm OS-based wireless devices starting the end of September.

Last week, Handspring released a new mid-range model, the Visor Pro. This is the first Palm OS device ever to ship with 16 MB of internal memory. It has a monochrome screen and is the successor to the Visor Platinum, which will eventually be phased out.

News Editor Ed Hardy has had a Pro since before its official announcement and brings us this review.

Palm, Inc. has just announced the creation of the Powered Up Awards, which honor developers of the best Palm OS applications. Each quarter, a panel of judges selected from leaders in the Palm OS community will choose one overall "best in show'' winner and four category winners, one in each of the following categories: enterprise, productivity, leisure and entertainment, and student developers.

InnoPocket has released the Metal Deluxe Case for Palm m500 series, which is made of aircraft aluminum with a thin Neoprene lining. It is intended to protect the Palm against scratches, collisions, and shocks. It offers a cut out on the top to make it easier to access the SD slot. It is available now for $30.

The Sony N760C is now available in stores. Many people have already bought them at Best Buys and Fry's Electronics. -nXt

Despite PalmSource being cancelled, SyncFest San Jose is still on for October 27. It is intended to bring developers of software and hardware face-to-face with consumers. -Craig Simpson

One of the technologies to to keep an eye on for the future of handhelds is electronic ink. This is the general term for ultra thin, flexible displays made of thin-film transistors as well as a variety of printed conductor and semiconductor materials, including organic, plastic transistors. This is a hot area of research now and E Ink Corporation has just opened a facility in Massachusets to house its Microelectronics Technology Group. Their plan is to make electronic ink not just possible, but practical and cost effective.

This week saw the official announcements of four long awaited handhelds: the Sony PEG-N760C, the Handspring Pro and Neo, and the Palm m125. Unfortunately, it also was week Palm delayed the release of the i705 until next year.

Rhinoskin released a molded hardcase for the m500 series and Sony announced its new audio player. In software, TinySheet 4 debuted and so did Launcher III and ThinkOffice.

According to PalmStation, Palm Inc. has decided to not pursue websites that have "Palm" in their domain name or URL. There has not yet been an official statement from Palm on this change.

Recently, Palm had been requiring enthusiast sites to either sign a licencing agreement and change "Palm" to "PalmOS", or remove the word entirely. This policy has generated a great deal of bad press for the company.

During a conference call earlier today, Palm's CEO Carl Yankowski said that his company's new wireless handheld would not be announced this year after all. For months, Palm has been promising that a successor to the aging VIIx would be on the market before the end of 2001 and it even briefly received permission from the FCC to sell one, the Palm i705. That permission was later withdrawn at Palm's request.

But those plans have now changed. "We will not release this product during this holiday season," Mr. Yankowski said, noting that that the company believes that economic conditions aren't right for it to be a success.

While Palm's most recent quarter was far from the best in the company's history, neither was it the worst and it did better than the pessimistic predictions of market analysts. The company reported a net loss of $32.4 million, or 6 cents per share, for the first quarter of its fiscal 2002. After excluding special items, it had a loss of $38.7 million, or 7 cents a share, which is better than the 9-cent loss that had been predicted by analysts. In a related announcement, the PalmSource conference which had been scheduled for next month, has been postponed.