Long-time reviewer Robert Zach brings us an in-depth look at the new MatchBook Drive CF Springboard. This module allows Visors to use widely available and inexpensive Compact Flash memory cards for storage.

Cutting Edge Software and Equinox Solutions are introducing a service that allows Microsoft Office documents to be converted to Quickoffice format and vice versa by e-mail. It is free for Quickoffice owners. The two companies are also rolling out services and software to allow companies to perform this service for themselves and even access files directly on the corporate network.

An anonymous source has just sent us an advertising brochure for the Visor Edge that will be released on Monday. It has complete details on the device as well as lots of pictures, which have been included in a gallery at the end of this article.

The most interesting part of it is what isn't included: any mention at all of a new smaller Springboard replacement. Consultation with other sources also doesn't turn up any other evidence that Handspring is planning to release a new expansion standard. So far, the only mention of this is in the Cnet article, so it seems likely that it was in error.

Expansion capabilities in Palm OS 4.0

• Most expansion devices are secondary storage, and provide a traditional filesystem storage
• Secondary storage: not like built in databases
• Different physical characteristics, so different API
• Pretty similar user experience
• Palm OS apps are copied into main RAM when running (just like on a desktop), and are automatically removed when they quit

On March 14, PalmGear will become the exclusive host of the Software Connection on the Palm website. This means anyone on the the Palm site who clicks on the Software Connection link will be taken to a site hosted by PalmGear. The site will be served by a high-capacity Tier 1 provider to ensure that it is capable to handling the demand put on it.

Unless requested not to, all software on PalmGear will be available on the new site. However, Palm is cracking down on companies and individuals that it believes are violating their trademark. Therefore, all software and companies that use the word "Palm" in their names will not be displayed on the new Software Connection site.

Both the m500 and color m505 will be released Monday, March 19, according to a Cnet article. They also confirm that the devices will have lithium-polymer batteries and 8 MB of memory. They list the prices as $400 for the m500 and $450 for the m505.

There is also a less reliable rumor circulating about the m500 series, that the serial port will be replaced by a USB port as part of the uniform base connector.

Update: Based on new evidence, this rumor appears to be false. Read more.

According to a Cnet article, the Visor Edge "has a new, smaller expansion slot but can also use modules designed for older Visors via an add-on backpack". This seems to be saying that Handspring is going to announce a new Springboard-like standard with a smaller size.

If true, this is good news for those who have complained about having to carry the Springboard sleeve around in order to use any expansion modules. On the other hand, there are questions about when modules will be available for this new standard, and what they will cost.

An anonymous source has come through with full details on the Visor Edge, including pictures of the front and back, including the Springboard sleeve. These are not the same photos that were posted on PDABuzz.

It has the fastest Palm OS processor currently available, the 33Mhz Motorola VZ and 8MB of memory. The screen is a monochrome LCD with 4-bit grayscale (16 shades of gray). The Edge has a rechargeable lithium ion battery.

As had been previously reported, it has three color options: Metallic Silver, Red and Blue and will be announced at a press event next Monday, March 12. It will be available on the Handspring website on the same day.

The same source who leaked the m105 details last week has revealed that the Visor Edge will be released next Monday, March 12. It will come in three colors: silver, blue, and red. In addition, PDABuzz has finally posted the photo of the Edge that someone leaked to them. They admit this photo has been retouched to protect the person who sent it to them.

Another source has confirmed that the m500 does have Palm's uniform base connector, meaning that peripherals designed to clip to its serial port will work with future Palm models. Unfortunately, according to this source, Palm V series peripherals will not work with the m500 series.

Multiple Palm users can now work on the same HanDBase database, such as one user in the field and another at the office, without risk of losing data when the database is HotSynced. DDH Software has announced a new two-way synchronization conduit to safeguard data that might otherwise be lost when changes are made to a database on the Palm and the same database on the desktop. The two-way conduit is available as an add-on feature for $10, although registered users can purchase it for $7. HanDBase retails for $25. -Paul Hoffman

Don't waste time with Palm's replacement covers, Brando is selling a line of clear replacement cases in various colors for the m100 series for the same $20. Each comes with a flip cover and replacement buttons, too. -Ed

Palm, Inc. has agreed to buy Extended Systems Inc., a company that produces software and systems tp hook mobile workers into corporate networks, allowing them access company databases and files, use network resources such as printers, and synchronise their contact and agenda data. They also develop Bluetooth- and Infrared-enabling software to let mobile devices communicate with corporate systems.

This deal will make Palm a company that can sell both handhelds and Enterprise-level infrastructure software. Their comprehensive, behind-the-firewall solution supports groupware and business applications -- improving overall organizational productivity and controlling costs.