The iPhone in Libraries - Metro PDA SIG, Nov. 29th

The next METRO PDA Special Interest Group meeting will take place on Thursday, November 29, 2007, from 3:00-4:30pm at METRO headquarters, 57 East 11th Street, 4th floor.

The topic will be: The iPhone in Libraries - Apple's iPhone has been named "the invention of the year" by InformationWeek magazine. Is it really the handheld panacea it seems to be? Join the PDA SIG as we discuss the pros, the cons, and potential library applications for the iPhone and related devices. Linda Braun will on hand to demo her iPhone and share her experiences. If you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, or some other new & nifty handheld device, please feel free to bring it and share your experience as well.

To learn more about the PDA & Handheld Computing SIG, visit our brand new wiki.

Amazon introduces the Kindle ebook

Amazon has introduced the Kindle ebook, a wireless portable reading device:

• Amazon product page
• Introducing Amazon Kindle (press release)
• Amazon's Kindle : first impressions
• Amazon Kindle Roundup (Gawker)
• 15 Things I Just Learned About the Amazon Kindle (BoingBoing)
• Amazon Kindle might be the worst thing that could happen to e-books? (MobileRead)

Palm: No Plans to Join Google's Open Handset Alliance (Palm InfoCenter)

Palm Inc. has no plans to join Google's newly announced Open Handset Alliance at this time according to statements from Palm representatives when reached for comment today.

Google's new Linux based mobile operating system announced earlier today is backed by a new consortium of companies called the Open Handset Alliance and notably includes many of Palm's current partners and competitors. Google's efforts with Android will directly compete with Palm's own mobile linux project as well as its Windows Mobile business.

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RIM releases BlackBerry software for small business (CBC News)

Research In Motion Ltd. is looking to expand its reach with smaller businesses by introducing software that allows firms to link their BlackBerry devices and e-mail systems.

The BlackBerry Professional software, which allows a business's e-mail server to transmit to the devices, is aimed at companies with 30 or fewer people. Smaller companies previously had to shell out for separate server computers to perform the same function. The software, with a five-user licence, sells for $499 U.S., or $849 U.S. for 10 users. (more . . .)