A virus that infects Windows CE has been developed, the first such bug discovered for the handheld operating system, according to one firm. BitDefender, based in Romania, stated that it has discovered a “proof of concept” virus for Microsoft’s operating system for smart phones and other handhelds.

Microsoft and Fiat announced a new initiative to jointly develop ways to integrate devices such as cell phones, handheld computers and digital music players into cars. The companies said they will design telematics systems that let drivers access Web services and use a Bluetooth connection to tap into personal address books and contacts from a handset.

Unknown online vandals with an apparent connection to spam email have created a new version of the Bagle computer worm that has spread somewhat successfully. The mass-mailing computer virus, dubbed Bagle.AF or Beagle.AB by different security firms, opens a path for intruders to relay bulk e-mail messages through the infected computer and attempts to contact one of almost 150 compromised German Web sites to let the attackers know of their latest conquest.

It’s a very rainy, gray Sunday here in Central New Jersey, just the sort of day you want when upgrading a server. We’re upgrading our ZENPRESS server today, so there’ll be intermittent upsies/downsies as we move files, install, reboot, and whatnot. We’ll be running ZENPRESS off a temporary staging server while we do the big hardware changes, but there will be the normal assortment of delays while stuff gets shuttled around. ZENPRESS feeds ads, manages our publishing process, and also feeds the media kit, AuthorPower, and parts of the ZATZ.com Web site, so if you can’t get to those areas, ya’all will know why.

Microsoft Reader the e-book reader for Pocket PCs has been updated. This version includes updates for known performance issues, and adds pan and zoom, and screen rotation.

Masafumi Matsumoto, President of Sharp Communication Systems, has revealed that his company plans to release its first smart phones running the Symbian operating system.

Backdoor-CGT has been labeled a low risk by most antivirus firms. Natasha Staley, an information security analyst for New York-based email security firm MessageLabs Inc., said the Trojan is worrisome because it uses spam to spread quickly across the Internet.

President Bush has signed into law a bill that boosts criminal penalties against phishing and many other forms of identity fraud, also called identity theft. Known as the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act, or ITPEA, the measure sets up punishment guidelines for anyone who possesses someone else’s identification-related information with intent to commit a crime.

Combining Hollywood glitz and glamour with the latest Silicon Valley must-have handheld technology, palmOne introduced a Little Black Book movie sweepstakes, available online at www.palmOne.com/littleblackbook. The “Little Black Book” sweepstakes runs through Aug. 31 with the grand prize winner receiving an all-expense-paid trip for two to a future Revolution Studios movie premiere in the United States and two Zire 72 handhelds from palmOne with “Little Black Book” custom black leather cases.

Dell has posted a ROM update for all the versions of the Axim X30.