Samsung introduced its new SW-252FRNS CD-R/RW optical disc drive. The drive sports 52X CD Recording, 32X CD Rewriting and 52X CD-ROM Reading. The SW-252FRNS is currently shipping to Samsung’s OEM customers and will be available under the Samsung branded name in retail and distribution channels across the nation in October 2003. The suggest retail price of the drive is $79.

Palm has released not one, not two, but three new devices today. Forbes takes a long hard look at the Tungsten T3. The T3 has more significant changes, starting with 64 megabytes of onboard memory versus 32 MB in the T2 and 16 MB in the original T. Inside the case, the T3 is powered by a 400-MHz Intel XScale processor. The article also mentions Palm introduces the Tungsten E, a $199 handheld that Palm is positioning as a direct successor to its classic Palm V handheld. And the Zire 21 rounds out the low end of Palm’s lineup at $99. It has a greyscale screen, but runs Palm OS 5.2.1 and has four times the memory of the original Zire.

PalickSoft Ltd. announced the new release of Hard Drive Temperature (HDD Temperature) v. 1.2, a disk utility which allows computer users check the temperature of their hard drives and prevent data loss caused by overheating. This utility comes in two versions – regular and pro. The regular version is intended for home users who have only single hard-drive and is totally free.

Palm announced that its annual meeting of stockholders will be held on Oct. 28, 2003. Key business of the meeting will be to vote to approve and adopt an agreement and plan of reorganization related to the distribution of Palm’s shares of PalmSource common stock to Palm’s stockholders as well as the acquisition of Handspring, Inc., and the issuance of shares of Palm common stock to Handspring stockholders. Palm stockholders at the close of business on Sept. 23, 2003, will be entitled to vote on the proposal.

InternetNews.com looks at Palm’s latest devices, the Tungsten T3 (USD$399), Tungsten E (USD$199), and Zire 21 (USD$99) to suit the needs of its business and casual users. Analysts are seeing Palm’s shift in strategy as it has signed a comprehensive multi-year, multi-release agreement with IBM to distribute the Websphere Micro Environment (IBM’s Java Mobile Information Device Profile runtime) with its future Tungsten handhelds. PalmOne has also stepped-up support for Palm synching to Microsoft Outlook as it says upwards of 50 percent of its user-base synchs to the email application.

Chapura announced that every Palm Zire 21 handheld will ship with PocketMirror Standard software for synchronization with Microsoft Outlook. PocketMirror software connects your desktop with your handheld. Chapura also released PocketMirror 3.1.5 software. Both PocketMirror Standard and PocketMirror Professional are now compatible with Microsoft Outlook 2003 and include an updated progress monitor.

Palm introduced the Palm Zire 21 handheld, with an estimated U.S. street price of $99. The Palm Zire 21 comes with four times the storage capacity of the original Zire handheld with 8MB of memory; faster access to information with new 126MHz Texas Instruments OMAP processor; the newest versions of Date Book, Address Book, Note Pad and To Do List with the latest Palm OS software, Version 5.2.1; and new Software Essentials now included on the installation CD.

Good Technology announced the availability of GoodLink 2.1 on the Handspring Treo 600. GoodLink 2.1 delivers cradle-free, real-time synchronization for wirelessly connecting users with Microsoft Exchange and other vital enterprise information.

AmbiCom released a new wireless product, which allows users to send printer data across a wireless communications link. The virtual cable is based on a Bluetooth system-on-chip technology developed by Microtune. The AmbiCom Wireless Printer Kit has a suggested retail price of $69.99.

Buffalo Technology announced that it is shipping its AirStation 54Mbps Wireless USB Adapter-g (WLI-USB-G54). The WLI-USB-G54 is a device that provides high-speed network connectivity with a range of up to 410 feet.