Introduction
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Welcome to a bumper issue of PalmPilot News. There is plenty of excitement surrounding the PalmPilot, including some outstanding new software and hints of the next model. Also in this issue there are some links to the PalmPC, the WinCE powered PalmPilot clone from Microsoft and other hardware vendors. In the interests of keeping an eye on the competition there are a number of links included to give PalmPilot users the chance to compare.
If there is anything that we can do to improve PalmPilot News, let us know. Similarly, if you have a new product, or spot PalmPilots in the news (or catch a juicy rumour), make sure you drop a note to PalmPilot News at the following address. feedback@bystander.net
Finally, we wish to thank the sponsors who support PalmPilot News, make sure that you support them in turn, and let them know you saw them in PalmPilot News.

News
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- PCWeek article on palmtop paging states "...the PalmPilot Pager Card will go into beta in the next few weeks, Motorola officials said. Slated to ship in April, it will come with a revision of the Palm operating system." http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0112/12mpage.html

- Microsoft's official PalmPC site, with pictures.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/palmpc/

- Palm Computing to take legal action against Microsoft over name infringement with the new MS PalmPc's
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/content/zdnn/0108/269518.html and http://www.wired.com/news/news/business/story/9543.html

- From Edupage: "MICROSOFT PALMISTRY Microsoft has developed specifications for a new product category it is calling the Palm PC, which is designed to use a pared-down version of Windows CE. Handheld computers based on the specifications will be manufactured by Phillips, Casio, LG Electronics, and Uniden. The Palm PC includes a 32-bit microprocessor chip, a connection for communication with a PC, and a tiny modem; in contrast to previous Windows CE devices the new product will use a pen-like stylus rather than a keyboard for information entry. Executives of 3Com Corp.'s Palm Computing , which sells the popular PalmPilot computer, are outraged at Microsoft's choice for a product name, and Palm's president Donna Dubinsky says sarcastically: "It's in the fine Microsoft tradition here to copy everyone else, [but] it's one surprising step beyond that to even copy the name." (Wall Street Journal 7 Jan 98)"
http://www.educom.edu/

- Everex and Philips have the specs and a sales blurb on their Web sites.
http://www.everex.com/
http://nino.philips.com/

- ZDNet reports on the press launch of the WinCE PalmPC.
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/content/pcwo/0108/269334.html

Sponsor's Message----------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, there is an easy way to do e-mail right from your PalmPilot Organizer. With PilotMail Online Service (http://www.pilotmail.net/ or 1-888-44PILOT), and a PalmPilot Modem, you can check and send e-mail from everywhere you are.
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- Ecco Pro a PIM from Netmanage that offered comprehensive PalmPilot support has been discontinued. More information for users at:
http://www.netmanage.com/products/eccopro/

Got some news? Mail us: submissions@bystander.net

Sponsor's Message----------------------------------------------------------------
Rhinoskin, the creators of the Titanium Cockpit, the definitive ruggedized hardcase for the PalmPilot/Workpad, are proud to announce 3 new PalmPilot products, the RhinoPaks. Check out www.rhinoskin.com for more info on the Titanium Cockpit and the new RhinoPak line of cases for the PalmPilot/Workpad.
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Rumours
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- Head to head comparison of WinCE with rumoured version 3 PalmPilots, NB - there are some innaccuracies.
http://www.winceonline.com/jan10-3.html

- On the PalmPilot mailing list, T.Hsu // ting@shore.net // posted some predictions, which follow below:
Late August 1998 New Pilot, in 2MB and 8MB options.
Features it will have. Smaller physical size.
Reason: This has always been a design goal. And, aside from price, this is the single largest factor that will attact new customers.
Better LCD capable of 4 bit grayscale.
Reason: OS can handle grayscale, plus a better LCD has always been a design goal.

- From PCWeek Users should expect a thinner, lighter version of the PalmPilot device and a revision of its operating system by midyear. The device will likely be licensed to several more partners in the new year.
http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/sr/0105/05wg98.html

Spread your rumour anonymously by mailing: submissions@bystander.net

Media Sightings
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- Reports have come in that Home Alone 3 features a PalmPilot (although with full colour screen).

- Report on new encryption ECC offering.
http://www.internetnews.com/prod-news/1998/01/1401-palmpilot.html

- Don Crabb mentions the new ECC encryption, and the importance of protecting the info on a PDA in his new product column for Tipworld. No URL, but you can subscribe to future columns at:
http://www.tipworld.com

- Article talking about PC costs of ownership, but includes a mention of how convenient the PalmPilot is to sync.
http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/opinion/0112/14cuff.html

- Report regarding 3Com's displeasure at the use of PalmPC from MS. Includes quotes from Ed Colligan, 3Com VP of Marketing
http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0112/13epalm.html

- Wired story on ECC crypto, citing 3Com's deal as an endorsement.
http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/9634.html

Send all your media sightings to: submissions@bystander.net

Sponsor's Message----------------------------------------------------------------
If you're planning to deploy a corporate application using the PalmPilot platform, you need some way to connect all the handheld users to your data. See http://www.hotsync.com/ for a solution to multi-user synchronization.
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New Products
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- Tim Warner has launched a polish that is 99% efective at removing scratches from the PalmPilot screen
http://www.timwarner.com/palmpilot/ppp.phtml

- Tiny-XLS 1.0 an extension to the TinySheet spreadsheet provides Excel compatibility.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/5350/

- Kyle's Quest, the first graphical RPG for the PalmPilot - revolutionary.
http://www.golden.net/~nebula/quest

- Spec - A tiny (5k) image viewing programme compatible with Image Viewer files.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/4765/spec.html

- Time Zone, has been released by Cromerica Technologies. It incorporates a graphical interface and over 350 cities.
http://www.cromerica.com/CTTimeZone.html

- Florent Pillet has a new utility called Symbol Hack, which works as a grafitti aid by supplying hard to remember symbols with a tap.
http://www.teaser.fr/~fpillet/pilot/

- Request has a compression utility to give users more space on the PalmPilots precious RAM card.
http://www.xmission.com/~bj/Request/index.html

- Shopping List V1.0 by Marc Schneider allows users to construct simple lists with check boxes next to each item. Also allows the entry and addition of price data.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/M_S_E/pilot.htm

- Teal Software is set to release DirectSync!, a PalmPilot to PalmPilot synchronisation utility.
http://www2.viaweb.com/pilotgear/en.html

- Actualsoft have released the Pro version of Multimail, their POP3, SMTP and IMAP4 complant Email package.
http://www.actualsoft.com

Tell us about your new product by emailing: submissions@bystander.net

Latest on the Web
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- The latest news and applications can be found at PalmPilot Gear:
http://www.pilotgear.com

- A new German Email PalmPilot discussion list has started:
http://www.palmconsult.de/forum/mailing/

- All your questions are answered at Calvin's PalmPilot FAQ:
http://www.pilotfaq.com/

Send your web updates to: submissions@bystander.net

Sponsor's Message----------------------------------------------------------------
PalmPilotGear H.Q. is the one-stop resource for all PalmPilot hardware, software and accessories. We carry a full-line of accessories for the PalmPilot, including custom cases, styluses, screen protectors and enhancements, and many other products that will make your PalmPilot easier to use. We also maintain on-line the most comprehensive database of PalmPilot software applications in the world, including commercial software and shareware. At PalmPilotGear H.Q. you can search for the software you need, download it and register it all in one convenient location. We even provide free email notification of new software available! You can purchase their software from us or contact the authors directly. If we don't have what you need, we will do our best to get it! And visit our web site at http://www.palmpilotgear.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3Com News
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- Details of 3Com's Asian problems.
http://www.techweb.com/investor/story/INV19980113S0008

Stock Price:

Jan 16th
SYMBOL...CLOSE......CHANGE......VOLUME
-------------------------------------------
COMS.....33 7/16.....-1/16......7832000

http://www1.nasdaq.com/scripts/quote.dll?symbol=coms

PDA Wrap Up
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-The Macintosh News Network is reporting a rumor that the reabsorbed Newton group earned a profit of $45 million last year. If true, that means that it is Newton that is responsible for Apple's profitable last quarter (also $45 million).

- Review of new NEC and Ericsson WinCE PDAs.
http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0112/12mhand.html

Postscript
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That's the end for another week, hope you've enjoyed it. Feel free to pass this newsletter along to other users, and help keep the PalmPilot the number one digital assistant available. If you haven't already done so, please visit:
http://www.bystander.net/pilot/subscribe/
To subscribe for free and ensure you get your copy of PalmPilot News. If there is anything we can do to make this newsletter better, please drop us a line at:
feedback@bystander.net
Thanks for reading!

The Bystander Team