Libraries Doing Cool Things with iPods:

I saw Engadget's writeup of South Huntington Public Library, New York which is loaning out iPod shuffles to patrons, loaded with ebooks. But Michael Stephens in Tame the Web: Libraries and Technology has a longer article about which discusses SHPL and the Crouch Fine Arts Library iPod programs; Michael also includes an interview with SHPL Asst. Dir. Joe Latini.

Public library lends out book-filled iPod Shuffles [via Engadget]
Libraries Doing Cool Things with iPods [via Tame the Web]
Library Shuffles Its Collection [via Wired News] added 03/04/05
iPod Shuffle at a Public Library [National Public Radio) added 3/4/05

Technorati: iPod, library, librarian

Palm Cobalt Device coming

Here's a collection of stories - it was announced at a Palm User group meeting in Paris that a device using the Cobalt OS would outby the end of the year. Having run a PUG in NYC since 2000, I'm glad that the news broke at a user group meeting.

Brighthand
"GSPDA to Make the First Palm OS Cobalt Smartphone- Palm OS Cobalt is the latest version of PalmSource's operating system for handhelds and smartphones. PalmSource gave the first version of Cobalt to its licensees at the beginning of last year, and released an upgraded version last fall."

Engadget
"Group Sense PDA (aka GSPDA) has confirmed that they’ll be the first manufacturer to introduce a handheld running on Cobalt, the latest version of the Palm operating system. This is encouraging news mainly because it doesn’t look like palmOne is going get off their increasingly sorry asses and do this themselves anytime soon—they’ve already more or less made it exceedingly clear that they have no plans to introduce a Cobalt-powered Treo or Tungsten this year."

Google News Feed

MYPalm Life
"In what would be two years after PalmSource released their super-duper new Operating System to license holders, users would finally be able to see Cobalt on an actual device. Group Sense PDA (GSPDA) Tim Wong, General Manager of Business Development, told a Paris PUG reported that they would be the first on the market with a Cobalt device while showing off their latest smartphone, the Xplore M68. While he would not give a specific date, he did confirm it would be out before the end of the year."

Palminfocenter
"GSPDA To Deliver First Palm OS Cobalt Smartphone? During a weekend Palm Users group meeting in Paris a representative from GSPDA announced in response to a user question that Group Sense PDA will be the first licensee to release a smartphone using Palm OS Cobalt."

Technorati: Palm

PalmOne Tungsten T5 Reviews

Jeff Kirvin of the excellent Writing on Your Palm switched from a Tungsten E to a T5 and posted a lengthy review on his blog:

"The T5 isn't perfect, but it's damn close. I can hear the howls of derision already, but hear me out. I've said before the T5 isn't the perfect übergeek device, but for a writer on the go, it's great. It may not have WiFi, it may not have a vibrating alarm, but it's got what counts."

Also here's a link to Julie's of The Gadgeteer review mentioned in his writeup which has a detailed review of the specifications and measurements.

I also found BargainPDA's review.

Technorati: Palm

David Nagel: Linux is the Future

"IDG News Service conducted a highly interesting and revealing interview with PalmSource CEO David Nagel while at the 3GSM conference in Cannes, France. Nagel speaks on the new PalmSource offerings that target feature phones and smartphones, the benefits of the CMS acquisition and makes a bold statement about the future of the Palm OS moving to Linux.

Nagel also reveals that there are a number of products in development based on Palm OS Cobalt. He even goes as far to reveal that in the long term the Cobalt APIs and and all user interface programs will move to Linux, rather that the Cobalt micro-kernel."

Technorati: Palm

Fighting Cancer using the Treo

The American Cancer Society now offers C-Tools 2.0, a timesaving tool that provides instant access to cancer information to anyone in the healthcare field. C-Tools 2.0, an innovative Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) software package, was developed to help doctors and their staff prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, and is available free of charge. [via MyTreo.net]

Technorati: Palm, Treo

SplashBlog: Photo-blogging from smartphones

Two of the hottest tech trends today are camera phones and blogging. SplashData has combined them both with its new SplashBlog. Now, you can publish photos instantly to an online "photo-blog" from a camera-equipped smartphone. The initial version is for Palm OS devices only, such as the Treo 650, but versions for other platforms (Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Windows Mobile Smartphone, Symbian Series 60 and Symbian UIQ) will be released in upcoming months.

• mytreo.net - the ultimate Treo resource
• Palminfocenter

Technorati: Palm, Treo

Blackberry Connect for Treo 650

Gizmodo is reporting that PalmOne is showing off the 'final beta' of BlackBerry Connect on the Treo 650. [via Gizmodo]

Blackberry Connect Now in Final Beta! (with screen shots) [via Treonauts]

Technorati: Treo

Inventor Plans New Computing Platform for Students

By Jack M. Germain
TechNewsWorld
02/12/05 1:30 AM PT The new PDA will be more of a wireless communicating device than a computer. It will have a built-in peer-to-peer network that will not require the Internet for users to stay connected. However, it will also have full Internet browsing capabilities. Mark Menarik, CEO of Chicago-based TanCher, said the device will focus on maximizing the wireless capabilities for the educational market.

Treo 650 - Time Magazine

The Treo 650 was Time Magazine's Gadget of the Week.

Technorati: Treo

Major bug discovered in palmOne Treo 650 OS

Star Developer Jeff Gibson may have uncovered a bug in the operating system of the Treo 650. Although serious, the bug appears easy to solve. [via MyTreo.net]

Technorati: Treo

Top Selling eBooks of 2004 Announced by The Open eBook Forum

NEW YORK, NY -- The Open eBook Forum (www.openebook.org) has released its annual list of Top Selling eBooks. Dan Brown dominated the 2004 list with The Da Vinci Code topping the list and Brown's Angels & Demons and Deception Point rounding out the top three.

from Publishers Newswire
Tecnorati: ebook

Cory Doctorow Interview

EFF Outreach Co-ordinator. Published Author. eBook Pioneer. Cory Doctorow is all of those things and more. Ewan cathces up with him and in the first part of his interview, he talks about eBooks, publishing online, and how this new market for authors is developing.
URL: http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/viewarticle.php?id=110

Technorati: toread

Parlin-Ingersoll Library introduces eBook source

from the Daily Ledger (http://www.cantondailyledger.com/articles/2005/01/15/news/news1.txt

Eligible patrons can now check out eBooks free of charge from the Parlin-Ingersoll Library's new eBranch, conveniently located just a click away on the library's home page.

eBooks in Education Conference

On Thursday, April 14th, 2005 at the McGraw-Hill Auditorium in New York City, the Open eBook Forum will hold a one-day conference on one of the most promising segments of opportunity for electronic publishing. Entitled the "eBooks in Education Conference", we have already secured leading publishers, educators and technologists to present and explore the rapidly expanding markets for digital educational materials. Early-bird registration is now open for the conference at only $79. This special offer expires on February 21st. Excellent opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors are also available. Information can be found on the conference website.

www.openebook.org/education