BackupBuddy Software, LLC made several announcements. First, BackupBuddy Software has changed its company name to Blue Nomad and launched a new Web site. Second, it has released a public beta of WordSmith, its new word processing, enhanced memo pad, and document reader/viewer for Palm organizers.

Qvadis Corporation announced that it has a definitive agreement to acquire Editio Online Publishing, a digital publishing house of fiction and nonfiction.

CNET News.com has an article on Samsung’s licensing of the Palm OS to create the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cell phone that contains a Palm organizer. An early sample was unveiled at PalmSource.

ZDNet reports on Palm’s big announcements and demonstrations made Tuesday at PalmSource.

Samsung Electronics, and Palm, Inc. announced that Samsung has licensed the Palm OS platform for use in wireless intelligent terminals. This agreement will allow Samsung to develop a family of handheld smartphones that are compatible with all Palm OS based applications. The first product, a CDMA handset, is expected to be available in North America in the second quarter of 2001.

PalmPower Contributing Editor Michael Compeau reported in from PalmSource yesterday with news that Palm has announced version 4.0 of its operating system. The new version supports 16-bit color, USB connections, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. The fun didn’t stop there, however. Palm CEO Carl Yankowski also hinted at Palm OS version 5.0, which will allow for a higher resolution screen. Finally, Mike reported that Claudia Schiffer was in attendance to promote her Palm Vx Claudia Schiffer Edition, and he says she actually appears to be taller in person.

New York-based MobileLogic announced that it has changed its name to Vaultus, Inc.

JAWZ Inc. launched their DataGator product, designed to automatically encrypt all data on Palm OS handheld devices.

Bluelark Systems announced the availability of Blazer Personal Edition 1.0, a wireless Web browser for the Palm OS platform. Blazer is designed to provide users with access to the full range of Internet content, including HTML, WAP, and i-Mode.

HealtheTech, Inc. and Palm, Inc. announced an OEM agreement for Palm OS handheld computers that will be offered by HealtheTech as personal-health-monitoring tools. Under the terms of the agreement, HealtheTech will market and sell HealtheTech-branded versions of the Palm m100 handheld packaged with its DietLog software bundle. The package, includes DietLog, ExerLog, and WeightLog.