Sybase’s iAnywhere announced the addition of Afaria Security Manager for Windows to Afaria, iAnywhere’s management and security solution. iAnywhere has chosen to partner with BeCrypt, the UK’s leading encryption security company, to provide the full-disk solution necessary to protect mobile PCs running Windows operating systems. BeCrypt technology goes beyond file-based encryption that only protects specific data files–full-disk encryption ensures that all data on the computer is secured, and protects the machine from well-known attacks and publicly available tools designed to gain access to the machine in the absence of a user password. BeCrypt technology used in Afaria Security Manager for Windows is based on the Advanced Encryption Systems algorithms with 128-bit keys and uses Secure Hashing Algorithms SHA-256 to protect user passwords.

Sybase’s iAnywhere announced the beta release of new RSS features for its AvantGo mobile Internet service, enabling smartphone and PDA owners to easily synchronize RSS feeds as AvantGo channels for free. the new AvantGo features will provide greater ease-of-use for viewing mobile RSS subscriptions online or offline, and expand the content available through AvantGo to the millions of RSS feeds offered by bloggers and major media. AvantGo users will be able to add any RSS feed to their account and then synchronize using a wireless or desktop Internet connection to receive the feed items in a format optimized for their device.

Hewlett-Packard on Friday recalled 135,000 battery packs sold with its notebook computers shipped globally from March 2004 to May 2005. Some 85,000 of the faulty lithium ion rechargeable packs were sold in the United States, the company said. The product is being recalled following 16 reports of batteries overheating due to an internal short circuit, the company said. In four cases, including one in the U.S., these batteries caused minor property damage because their cases melted or became charred.

PhotoVu announced the compatibility of their PV1945 and PV1750 wireless digital LCD picture frames with the world’s first built-in WiFi-enabled digital cameras, the Nikon COOLPIX P1 and P2. By easily accessing the WiFi features of these new cameras, a person can immediately view the photos they’re taking on their PhotoVu frame.

Consumers are becoming ever more dependent on their energy-hungry gadgets. But smartphones, laptops, digital music players, and portable video game consoles tend to gobble up more power with every additional feature. Battery makers are racing to keep up, finding new ways to pack more power into smaller and smaller spaces. The technical challenges are daunting. Finding ways of squeezing more performance from available power is a huge area of exploration for electronics makers.

Belkin’s existing line of iPod accessories include devices that are compatible with the new 5g iPod and are available in both black and white colors, such as the TuneCast II and Auto Kit for iPod. These products are widely available in North America. Other new and to-be-announced accessories for the 5g iPod will be available starting November 2005. The TuneCast II, an FM transmitter that plays music from your MP3 player through FM radio waves, plugs into the iPod’s headphone jack. The TuneCast II is available in both black and white colors, as is the Auto Kit, which charges the iPod in your car.

Palm and Research In Motion announced they are working together to bring BlackBerry Connect to the Palm Treo 650 smartphone. The companies expect the solution to be available in the United States and internationally starting in early calendar 2006. Through RIM’s BlackBerry Connect licensing program, Palm will enable its Treo 650 and future Palm OS based Treo smartphones with secure, push-based wireless email via BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Sprint and Research In Motion announced the launch of the BlackBerry 7100i from Nextel, which has all the functionality of a traditional BlackBerry handheld in a slimmer, phone-like design. Operating on the Nextel National Network, the Blackberry 7100i is ideal for mobile professionals who desire an integrated device with email, a wireless phone, personal organizer, Bluetooth technology, speakerphone, Web browsing, and support for third-party Java Applications. The BlackBerry 7100i from Nextel also combines the power of BlackBerry with real-time GPS navigation and walkie-talkie services.

Palm and Entel PCS, a leading mobile telephone carrier in Chile, launched the Palm Treo 650 smartphone on Entel’s EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) network. The Treo 650 on the Entel PCS network combines a compact, full-featured mobile phone with email, a Palm OS organizer, messaging, Web access, and digital camera, enabling users to organize and simplify their business and personal lives all in one device.

Palm has launched the Treo 650 smartphone in Ecuador on PORTA’s EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) network. PORTA is the leading cellular telephony company in Ecuador with more than 3.5 million customers and coverage in all the provinces in the country. With the PORTA service, the Treo 650 combines a compact, full-featured mobile phone with email, messaging and Web access capabilities, a Palm OS organizer, and digital camera, enabling users to organize and simplify their business and personal lives all in one device.