Florent Pillet has released an update to Sync Buddy, his popular active connection software between Mac OS X computers and Palm OS handhelds. Sync Buddy 2.1 provides a direct connection to Palm handhelds through USB, bluetooth or WiFi. The new version, a Universal Binary, brings transfer speed improvements as well as compatibility enhancements for both new and old handhelds, new features and bug fixes. Version 2.1 is a free update for users of Sync Buddy 2.x.

Microsoft has won its biggest contract to date for the use of its Windows Mobile operating system, in a deal with the U.S. Census Bureau. The agency has signed up for 500,000 smart phones made by handset manufacturer HTC. They will run Windows Mobile 5.0 and be used to take the 2010 census. It is a high-tech move for the agency. The bureau had previously used paper and pen to take U.S. citizens’ details, which were then digitized by data entry staff. The Microsoft contract forms part of a wider $600 million, five-year deal with Harris, a Florida company running the data collection project, that involves the automation of field data collection. The move is aimed at cutting the time, labor costs and errors involved in manual data collection and input.

MSNBC.com will test an ad-subsidized news service for cell phones in a bid to gain a wider audience. U.S. wireless service providers now put everything from Web surfing to video and music on cellular phones. Media firms have been eyeing this trend as a potential opening for using the mobile phone to expand ad revenue and viewership. MSNBC.com, a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal News, is one of the first U.S. media companies to test the theory with a three-month experiment that it hopes to expand into a full-on service by the end of summer.

Oxygen Software announced the release of Oxygen Phone Manager II 2.9, the newest version of the popular communication software tool for Nokia mobile phones, offering support for more than 20 new mobile phone models. With Oxygen Phone Manager II you can manage the content and settings of your mobile phone from a personal computer. You can organize your phonebook, events, tasks and notes, gallery, profiles, FM radio, GPRS and WAP options, call lists and voice records.

The WiSPA Community Forum has been launched to provide a forum for WISPA users and those interested in those WiSPA solutions being developed for consumers, community and small businesses–taking Skype’s free telephony and services to the mobile phone. Use the forum to post your views, ask your questions or just keep track on what is happening in the world of WiSPA.

A security flaw in software that ships with two of Hewlett-Packard Color LaserJet printers could open a door for cybersnoops, HP has warned. The vulnerability lies in the Toolbox software that comes with HP’s Color LaserJet 2500 and 4600 printers, the company said. The flaw could allow a remote, unauthorized malicious user to retrieve arbitrary files from a Windows computer when the software is running in the default configuration. The Toolbox is software that installs on a PC along with the drivers.

Jataayu Software, provider of handset solutions and Carrier VAS solutions, announced the latest addition to its Handset Application Suite–the jSync DS client. The jSync DS client offers fully featured SyncML Data Synchronization v1.2 functionality. The jSync DS Client offers a standards compliant data synchronization solution for PIM and email. The jSync DSclient is designed for portability and is built on the proven JCF foundation–Jataayu’s Client Framework–ported on over 12 different platforms.

Palm announced a software update for the Treo 700w smartphone from Verizon Wireless that will enable the Windows Mobile Messaging and Security Feature Pack, which includes Direct Push Technology. The free update, which is expected to be available later this month, gives Treo 700w smartphone users fast, automatic wireless updates of their email, calendar items, contacts and tasks, allowing IT managers to deliver this information directly from Exchange Server 2003 SP2 without incurring additional third-party infrastructure costs.

Boxwave announced the Desktop Cradle for HP iPAQ rx1950. Desktop Cradle is a USB cradle that is specifically designed for your HP iPAQ rx1950. It’s everything you need to synchronize and charge your HP iPAQ rx1950 to your computer and supports Hi-Speed USB 2.0 data transfers. Desktop Cradle also includes an A/C adapter cable for faster charging time.

Network Magic announced a package of security enhancements for consumers with wireless and wired home networks, and introduced a free version, Network Magic Basic, which includes wireless intruder protection. As more homes get connected to the Internet via broadband connections, consumer interest in secure home networks to share photos, files, printers and manage the growing number of consumer devices is growing rapidly. But as home networks go wireless most are open and unsecured due to the complexities associated with setting up, maintaining, and monitoring wireless security. As a result, many home networks will be plagued by slower Internet speeds and potential exposure of files, photos, and personal information to intruders and piggybackers.