MAGIX, maker of the professional audio and broadcasting solutions Samplitude and Sequoia, announced MAGIX Music Maker 2005 Deluxe, the newest version of MAGIX’s music creation software. MAGIX Music Maker 2005 Deluxe delivers professional results with 96 stereo music tracks, video clips, MIDI file support, text and images, effect templates, and thousands of new loops and samples.

Sony has unveiled a new digital music player, but analysts say it has a long way to go before it challenges the industry dominance of Apple Computer’s popular iPod. The “VAIO pocket” will be the first portable music player with an embedded hard disk drive to be sold under the Sony brand name when it hits stores in Japan next month.

The 1394 Trade Association has approved a specification for the development of wireless FireWire applications, which will let 1394-enabled devices, both wired and unwired, to connect with each other.

Sony and Philips plan to release minidrive-based music players toward the middle of the year in the United States to capitalize on the growing interest in small electronics devices. Other manufacturers are expected to come out with video cameras containing minidrives, while at least one manufacturer is planning to release a device that can function as a portable personal video recorder (PVR) and a handheld.

Difusi Corporation, known for its development of Apple accessories, is introducing the latest Bluetooth/USB adapter for mixed computing environments.

Electric Pocket has released an update, v5.1, to its BugMe! Notepad for Palm OS 5.x. The update includes: landscape mode support, configurable alarm repeat/nag timings, Zire 72 camera support, fixed the crash with PocketTunes in background on T/T2, plus many more features.

JAVOedge has announced the JAVOScreen screen protector and JAVOSync retractable sync/charge USB data cable for the Palm Zire 72. Designed for the new Palm Zire 72, the JAVOScreen protects the value of the exposed screen while the JAVOSync gives portability and convenience.

Delkin Devices announced a new device that connects two USB devices together without a computer. The USB Bridge fits easily in the palm of one’s hand, and enables users to copy files by attaching a digital camera directly to a variety of peripherals such as an iPod, USB Flash Drives, external hard drives, CD-R burners and memory card readers.

The Vaio VGN-U70 will be just 6.6 inches wide, 4.25 inches high, and 1.0 inch thick and will weigh 19.4 ounces. Sony is calling it the world’s smallest full-function Windows PC.

Zupera Technology has designed the Smartpad, a wireless mini computer running on Windows CE .NET with an Intel PXA255 400MHz processor. The Smartpad has 64MB and 128MB SDRam with additional SD/MMC expansion capabilities, 7-inch TFT LCD that can display 16 bits at 800×600 resolution, integrated 10/100 ethernet and GPRS/CDMA 1X modules with support for 802.11b wireless.