New PDA Apps Accompany Palm OS 5 Debut

Vendors eager to capture the buzz surrounding Palm's launch of OS 5 this week--and several new handhelds that run it--are quickly rolling out add-on hardware and software utilities for the new operating system.

In conjunction with the OS 5 announcement Monday, a slew of Palm-ready applications have appeared, running the gamut from presentations to networking to data defense. Also available is a sleek new keyboard.

Both Palm and Sony announced new personal digital assistants that support the OS upgrade. Palm's first Tungsten-branded PDA, the Tungsten T, is shipping now. Also, Sony launched two new versions of its Clie PDA.

Apps to Go

Owners of the new Tungsten T will find DataViz's Documents To Go Professional Edition Version 5 on their PDA out of the box. It's the first Palm OS 5 handheld to ship with the capability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint-compatible files, according to DataViz.

"Providing Documents To Go Professional Edition gives Palm's customers the compatibility with MS Office they need to get more done, whether they are in or out of the office," says Rob Hoxie, DataViz director of business development.

DataViz hopes Tungsten users will like what they see and opt to upgrade to the premium version of the software for an extra $30. The top-shelf version of the application also includes the ability to synchronize e-mail with attachments, Adobe PDF files, pictures, and Excel-like charts.

User looking for additional presentation tools might consider Margi Systems' Presenter-to-Go SD Card for the Tungsten T. The $199 Presenter-to-Go SD package lets you move presentations created in PowerPoint directly to the PDA via a secure digital card, where you can display them using a digital projector

The package includes an SD Card/cable for use with the Tungsten, an infrared remote control, A/C adapter, projector cable, software for slide creation from PowerPoint, and the Margi Mirror for displaying local handheld content.

Palm on the Move

The Tungsten T is the first Palm handheld to feature integrated Bluetooth wireless technology, and software from Pico Communications takes advantage of that support. The new PicoBlue Internet Access Point helps you quickly and easily connect to your local area network and the Internet.

Pico extends the Tungsten T handheld's networking capabilities even further, notes Paul Leeper, Palm's chief evangelist. When traveling or out of the office, Tungsten T users can connect to the network through their Bluetooth cell phone, he says. And when they're in the office, they can use the same built-in Bluetooth technology to connect to a corporate Bluetooth wireless network.

The PicoBlue Internet Access Point sells for $495; the necessary software to use the hardware is available free through the company's Web site.

Improved connectivity means you're likely to have even more sensitive information on your PDA, which is why Asynchrony Solutions is releasing a beta version of PDA Defense Professional for the Palm Tungsten T.

PDA Defense is a data security solution that secures information in the event that you lose your PDA or somebody steals it. PDA Defense secures data through password authentication, strong encryption, and fail-safe bit-wiping options, according to the company. It is scheduled for general release in November.

Add-On Keyboard

Finally, for new Palm OS 5 users who prefer to type instead of tap, there's the new Stowaway XT keyboard from Think Outside. The $100 keyboard is half as thick and 30 percent lighter than the original Stowaway keyboard; it's constructed of an advanced aluminum alloy.

Initially designed to work with the new Tungsten handhelds, the keyboard is marketed by Palm as the Ultra-Thin Keyboard, and it's already winning raves from industry observers.

"The Palm Ultra-Thin Keyboard is a real productivity booster," says Tim Bajarin, president of research firm Creative Strategies.

"I plan to use it with my Palm i705 to replace my notebook computer on short trips for mobile use, including taking notes and sending and receiving e-mail," he says. "The appeal of being able to do real work while mobile, without the hassle of a laptop, can't be overstated."