Palm, Inc.has announced that the public beta version of a new Internet portal for Palm users will be available for free December 25. It has been "optimized for the Palm VIIx handheld" but it will work with any Palm capable of making an Internet connection and OS 3.5. Important features of MyPalm in the beta or future versions include wireless synchronization with a calendar at home or work; web searching through Google; a link to personal e-mail accounts; access to more than 450 web clipping applications; modifying datebook, phone lists, and to-do lists on the web; automatic incorporation of events to the web-based datebook, such as movie listings and sporting events; scheduling group meetings with work and personal groups; and receiving personal reminders.

The much discussed 3.5 OS Upgrade is finally available on Palm's Web site. It's a free download for Palm Vx's but all others will have to buy it. An electronic download costs $15 while a CD copy costs $20 plus shipping and handling.

This is the first time Palm has charged for an upgrade. "Typically what you have seen in a Palm upgrade has been very incremental," said John Cook, senior director for consumer product marketing. "We think we have added a lot more value."

Why Palm took so long to make this upgrade available is still a mystery. It has been shipping on new Palms since February and the much talked about memory leak was cleared up in August.

Palm, Inc. has started shipping its Mobile Internet Kit. This software application allows almost all Palm handheld computer users to connect to the Internet using a data-enabled mobile phone and use Palm's web clipping apps.

The kit is available immediately in the United States, with scheduled availability in the rest of the world by the end of the month. Selling for about $40, it can be ordered off Palm's Web site in the U.S. and Europe, and also is available in the retail channel throughout Europe and Asia Pacific.

Handspring today announced that, starting later this month, Wal-Mart Stores will begin selling Visors, accessories, and select Springboards in 500 stores nationwide. Handspring's products will also be available on the Wal-Mart Web site. This announcement is part of Handspring's drive to increase its U.S. retail presence. Last month, the company announced that Visors would soon be available at Target stores.

Market research firm NPD Intelect has released figures ranking the PDA market by dollars sold in September, the most recent month that numbers are available for. Palm was first, of course, with 68.8% of the market and Handspring was second with 11.2%. In August Handspring had 15.5% of the PDA market so it experienced a significant drop. Back in July, Handspring enjoyed 26.1% of the market. These rankings do not take into account the release of the Visor Platinum and Prism, which happened in October, so it is possible Handspring will see a big rebound.

Cutting Edge Software has launched Quickoffice, the first software suite for the Palm to give consumers the ability to create, view, and edit Microsoft Excel and Word files on their Palm. Quickoffice includes Quicksheet and Quickword, with bi-directional connectivity to their desktop counterparts, MS Excel and MS Word. Quicksheet is a Palm Platinum certified spreadsheet application, while Quickword is the next evolution of the Cutting Edge Software’s SmartDoc text editor. The suite also includes the Quickchart graphing module for visualizing spreadsheet data on the Palm device, and the Quickoffice Desktop application for the PC that provides easy access to file and synchronization management between the user’s Palm handheld computer and desktop PC.

PalmCritic.com is giving away two Palm VIIx and three Stowaway Keyboards to subscribers of the PalmCritic Newsletter. -Richard Kettner

PDAsia Limited has launched its Web site offering the Chinese Palm community unique, comprehensive, and quality information and products. -Moody Cheung

Issue 6 of the PalmUser Journal will feature a competition to win a Visor Prism. -Steve Litchfield

Comdex, the 500 pound gorilla of IT trade shows, kicks off in Las Vegas on Monday and Palm and its licensees will be very much in evidence. Look for wireless products to be at the center of everything, including wireless Web access and networking.

The big news is likely to be a debate on Monday between executives from Palm and Microsoft over who makes the better handheld. In addition, Palm will be showing off its new portal based on technology it got by buying Anyday.com and the Mobile Internet kit. Handspring will be spotlighting the Xircom SpringPort modem and a GPS receiver from Magellan. Sony will be showing off the multimedia abilities of the Clié, including the winners of the first Palm movie festival.

TCPUG, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul, next meeting will feature special guest speaker Mike Walter from TRG. Mike will speaking about TRG, their history, giving an overview of their TRGPro, and some of the software solutions offered by TRG. The meeting will be Wednesday, November 15th at 6:30 p.m. -Mark Kuhn & Jon Geier

Vous ne savez peut être pas mais chaque dernier dimanche du mois le club palm du nord (de LILLE) se réunit (la prochaine estle 26). Allez: www.palm-gaulois.org, et rejoignez notre club (dans le menu clickez en fin de la liste sur "club LILLE") bien amicalement pour toutes questions: clementmed@wanadoo.fr. -Gilles Clément 

A British company named ElectroTextiles had demonstrated the world’s first fabric keyboard at IT Expo in Cannes, France. It can be folded, scrunched, and washed, without losing functionality. It also wraps around a palmtop to form a protective case, and includes an integral stand for easier screen viewing. It should be available early next year at between $50 and $70.

The WebStandard has an interview (in German) with Markus Bregler, Chief of Palm Central Europe. Bregler confirmed that there will be a "Palm Vc" (however the name was not confirmed) presented at the Cebit (March 22-28, 2001). The device will also be available at this time. It will have color, SD-Card slot, and the new OS. Again it has not been confirmed that it will be called "Palm OS 4" but it will be a "major update" and include multimedia features.