Sony Corp. is developing a new type of Memory Stick called "Infostick" with built-in Bluetooth capabilities for its Clié handhelds. They have already finished the hardware and are currently developing the software.

The project has been going on since 1999. According to Yasushi Fujita, part of the Memory Stick Division at Sony, "With this easy-to-carry-around Infostick, any terminal turns into a device for sending/receiving e-mail messages. "

Update: It will be available in Japan in June for about $125 (15,000 yen).

Update 2: Months past this date, the InfoStick still hasn't been released.

The InnoGear MiniJam MP3 Player Springboard is now less expensive and a new version is being introduced with more memory. The 32MB version is $150 (down from $200) and the 64MB one is now $200 (down from $260). They have just added a 96 MB model for $240. All come in Ice or Graphite.

Last month, InnoGear announced the SpeedLoader, a USB device that allows Windows PCs to transfer MP3s directly to a MiniJam formated MMC card. It costs $40. Mac support is coming soon and so is support for cards with other formats.

Microsoft and H-P got off with a slap on the wrist from the Federal Trade Commission for their deceptive "Can Your Palm do that?" advertising campaign. They have agreed to clearly disclose which additional products are needed when advertising the Internet capability of Pocket PC products. No fines or penalties were imposed and the companies admitted no wrongdoing.

Both said they will conduct a consumer-education campaign regarding the purchase of handhelds. Microsoft's contribution includes buying quarter-page ads in major newspapers over the next year.

In a stunning blow to the emerging standard, Microsoft officials have announced that the next version of their operating system, Windows XP, will not support Bluetooth wireless networking. However, it will support IEEE 802.11b, a rival standard that offers much higher bandwidth for a much higher cost.

"I don't think the maturity of Bluetooth technology is good enough to ship the bits when Windows XP is released," said Carl Stork, general manager of Microsoft's Windows division. "We wouldn't want to ship something that doesn't work, and Bluetooth doesn't yet meet a certain quality level."

REALVison will soon release the Carpe Diem V, a dual-band GSM phone with voice and data capabilities. It snaps onto the back and bottom of the Palm V or Vx and can wake the handheld when a call or SMS message is received. It comes with its own rechargeable li-ion battery that offers 220-280 minutes of talk time and 52-80 hours of standby time. It will be commercially available on April 17 in Hong Kong for US$409.

Palm has released Palm Desktop 4.0.1 for Windows, which adds support for synchronization with USB devices, support for devices with expansion slots and synchronization with handhelds running OS 4.0. -Ed

Gethightech.com carries screen repair kits for $45-$55. They also have a special on Pentopia Chameleon Stylus/Pen $10 and new Palm III series cradles for $16. -Gethightech

Recently, Palm posted the handbook for the m500 series on their support Web pages. This has helped clear up some questions about these not yet released handhelds.

Expansion Slot
Without a doubt, applications can be opened directly from an SD/MMC card. When an expansion card is inserted in the slot, the Applications Launcher displays its contents. The pick list in the upper-right corner of the screen displays the name of the card. To open an application on an expansion card just tap the icon of the application that you want to open.

While it has been known for a while that Xircom is developing IEEE 802.11b Springboard modules and Bluetooth ones, too, for the first time they have released details. Pricing for either was not released.

According to Xircom, the Springport Wireless Ethernet Module will allow you to "connect to networks, the Internet, and e-mail".

The NxDrive-CF is the first certified Type I Compact Flash adapter Springboard module. Unlike other currently available CF Springboards, the NxDrive-CF is plug-and-play. It supports encryption/decryption, compression/decompression, all of the FAT attributes and even long filenames. It will cost $49, come in Ice or Graphite, and be available this month.

Palm, Inc. and Sanyo Fashion House have collaborated to create a new handheld-ready line of spring raincoats with a "Designed for Palm Handhelds" pocket. These luxurious raincoats, complete with a Palm logo button securing the pocket, are made for both men and women. Fashion-conscious consumers can now use the specially designed interior pocket of Sanyo's coats to securely store and easily access their Palm handhelds. Prices range from $185 to $695 at fine specialty stores nationwide.

Futureshop, a Canadian webstore, is taking pre-orders for the m500 series. The m500 is $630 and the m505 is $700 and they give an estimated release date of May 1. -Darius

Palm has posted the handbooks for both the m500 and m505 on their support pages. Look in the lower right hand corner of the page. -Ed