Arizan Corporation announced the availability of the Java version of its successful carrier-grade AirDoc Platform. The AirDoc Platform J, written entirely in Java, is available as a multi-threaded J2SE and J2EE architecture and runs on any OS that supports Java VM 1.2 or later, including Solaris, Linux, and Windows. AirDoc Platform J natively reads and converts corporate document formats on the fly to persistent, XML-structured, wireless content. Features include real-time search and creation of content summaries, resulting in more than a 90% reduction in the amount of data sent over low-bandwidth wireless networks. In addition, AirDoc Readers for device-specific rich content viewing and optimized delivery are available for all major wireless devices including Palm OS handhelds.

Handspring Inc. announced the availability of its Treo 180 and 180g compact communicators in Europe. Treo is available to customers in the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway. Web and channel availability may vary throughout these countries. Treo combines a mobile phone, wireless applications like email, messaging, and Internet browsing, and a Palm OS organizer in one device.

WorldMate 8.1 has been released. WorldMate now offers wireless Atomic Time Synchronization, updated Dialing area codes, and more.

Robert Jen has just released TotTutor, the second in what he hopes to be a long line of baby/infant/child educational applications (BabyMelodyPilot was the first). TotTutor was designed for 1-on-1 interactive learning between a parent and child (or an older child and a younger child). There are 5 different lessons (shapes, sizes, letters, numbers, and directions), plus the ability to teach the basic colors on color devices. In each lesson, various scenarios are presented. For younger babies, the teacher can simply describe what is presented. For older infants, the teacher can ask questions about what is displayed, requiring the child to point or to answer verbally.

STNE Corporation announced it now offers a 16MB memory upgrade for the new Palm m130. This upgrade is an internal memory upgrade and the memory is accessed just like the 8MB of internal memory.

Metrowerks is now offering the use of live testing facilities to wireless application developers, handset manufacturers, and middleware vendors, giving them access to Metrowerks’ mobile network, which provides CDMA, GSM (2G), and GPRS (2.5G) services.

Palm, Inc. issued a press release to announce digital artist James Buckhouse unveiled an interactive art piece using the Palm OS platform as his medium. This original work, called “Tap,” has been selected for the 2002 Whitney Biennial, the Whitney Museum’s signature exhibition that takes a look at the latest in American art. The exhibit opens to the public on March 7 and runs through May 26 at the Whitney in New York.

“Tap” is commissioned by the Dia Center for the Arts and presented in cooperation with Creative Time. Tap also will be exhibited through beaming stations, designed by ORG, at numerous public locations across Manhattan, including Barnes & Noble at Union Square, the Joyce Theater and Jeffrey, New York. The art piece can be beamed onto Palm Powered handhelds and will be on display at these locations through July 27.

Buckhouse has created two animated characters, one male and one female. Once “Tap” has been beamed onto a Palm Powered handheld, the user teaches the character to tap dance through practicing movements and giving recitals. Instructed by the user to “practice,” a “Tap” dancer begins to master a series of 16 basic moves, making mistakes but gradually increasing the number of steps mastered. A dancer may combine the steps it has learned into a dance, either through randomized improvisation or with choreography specified by the user.

Astraware Ltd announced the release of five new game titles for Palm OS handheld computers. The new games are a mix of puzzle, action, and strategy titles, including Nisqually, Astro Defence, Eye of Horus, RoundUp, and Big Money.

ScribblePDA announced that it offers hard cases for Palm m100 series devices–including the m130–that have been aircraft drop tested. It also offers protective cases for the Palm m500 series.

Palm, Inc. announced that it is working with Alaska to infuse handheld technology into the daily lives of Alaska’s school leaders through a project called Leadership for Reinventing Alaska’s Schools.