Sony is packing its new Walkman digital music players with noise canceling and other audio-enhancing technology in its latest attempt to challenge the dominance of Apple’s iPod. The system is tuned to cancel out background noise in the 100Hz to 1kHz range like that often present on trains, aircraft or cars.

Lava Software is now shipping Kenbushi v6.2, a fast and efficient file sharing, data backup and remote media player product. This new version allows users to remotely control media playback using any PDA with Wi-Fi and offers wireless PDA slideshows, a simple integrated Web server, media bookmarks, a Skipmark system (sections of movies can be automatically skipped, such as credits, scenes unsuitable for children, etc.), and new mute, playlist shuffle and loop controls. Users can now remotely control movie and music playback on the free Kenbushi media server anywhere within wireless range using any PDA with Wi-Fi capabilities, such as Pocket PC, Nintendo DS, PSP, PalmPilot, mobile phone, etc. In addition to media playback control buttons, the currently playing playlist, media name, play position, length and other information is displayed on PDAs with Javascript-enabled web browsers.

With the recent release of the Treo 750v, Proporta announced the Alu-Leather Case (Treo 700/750 Series), incorporating aircraft grade aluminum within a traditional leather casing–creating the unique “Screen Saver System.” The soft leather and elegant contrast over stitching makes the appearance of the case pleasing to the eye, while the rigid aluminium protects the screen from crushing and impact shocks.

SanDisk announced that it will begin selling 2GB microSD cards in Japan starting October 25. This will coincide with the introduction of new microSD-compatible handsets from NTT DoCoMo and other mobile phone carriers between now and the end of the year.

Sony Ericsson announced special silver versions of the K800 and K790 Cyber-shot camera phones as used by James Bond in the eagerly awaited new Bond movie, Casino Royale. These exclusive new camera phones which will be available for a limited period of three months.

A new study found that worldwide shipments of smartphones and PDAs were up 57 percent in the first six months of 2006 compared to the same time period last year. The Gartner study found that global shipments of smartphones grew by more than 75 percent in the first six months of 2006 compared to the same time period in 2005.

Toshiba announced that it is introducing several updates to its mid-range Satellite notebook line, and the company said it plans to market the new computers to both enterprises and the consumer. The computer section of Toshiba American Information Systems, which is based in Irvine, Calif., announced that the Satellite P105, M115 and the U205 series of notebooks will feature Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors.

WorldMate will be pre-installed in personal navigation devices from Mio. The Mio DigiWalker H610 will include a customized version of WorldMate, designed especially for this device’s unique form factor and the needs of its users. The H610 is the first personal navigation device to feature WorldMate and will enable its users to enjoy the many benefits of the service; including world clocks, weather forecasts and access many other travel utilities.

Sprint Nextel said that its chairman, Tim Donahue, will retire at the end of the year. Donahue, 57, is the second high-level official to leave the company in the past few months. Len Lauer, Sprint Nextel’s chief operating officer, resigned in August. A replacement for Donahue has not yet been named.

Palm announced the Treo 700wx smartphone on the Iusacell Network in Mexico, marking the first availability of a Windows Mobile 5.0-based Treo smartphone in the Latin American market. The Treo 700wx combines a great mobile phone, comprising the functionality and ease of use for which Treo smartphones are known, with the power and security of Windows Mobile favored by many businesses.