Synergy Solutions announced SlideShow Commander, which allows a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to be managed from a handheld computer. The software application enables you to navigate to any slide, see your notes and slides on the handheld computer, write on the slide by writing on the handheld screen, and use a built in timer to track and record the length of the presentation. The application runs on the Palm OS and Windows CE palmtop computers, combined with a personal computer running Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Windows.

AtomFilms is launching a mobile initiative that will deliver film and animation to existing Windows CE and new Pocket PC devices. Through the ActiveSky Media Player, you will be able to download popular Atom animations and films for the on virtually any large-screen mobile device.

Heather here. Now it’s my turn for a few short impressions. Yesterday, we attended the Pocket PC launch, which took place in New York’s famous Grand Central Station, a beautiful building, and big. When you walk in you see the entrance to Michael Jordan’s restaurant, The Steak House, which is where Steve Ballmer gave his keynote address. What he had to say about the Pocket PC was entertaining enough to keep me awake at such an early hour. The multimedia capabilities of the brand new palm-sized Pocket PC were projected on huge screens. They started the presentation off with with a short animation, produced by AtomFilms, which featured a businessperson talking to a cartoon Steve Ballmer.

After that, we were jostled by hurried commuters as we made our way up to to the area where the vendors were waiting for us. This makeshift tradeshow floor was packed with people, cheerful enough with eachother, although annoyed with the crowding. I had the opportunity to play PacMan on an HP Jornada. I also go to see for myself what the Pocket PC can do. Unfortunately, because of the lack of time and space to move, I wasn’t able to see all the stuff I heard the buzz about later. Read the other post on today’s Windows CE Power News Page and find out more about the Pocket PC. Of course, in future issues, we’ll have all the Pocket PC news that’s fit to print, er, serve.

Steve Niles here. We just got back from the Pocket PC launch. Microsoft officially launched the latest version of their Windows CE operating system, dubbed Pocket PC, yesterday at Grand Central Station in New York City. Microsoft President and CEO Steve Ballmer explained the choice of the unusual venue by saying the building was “emblematic for mobile professionals.” They felt it an appropriate surrounding in which to unveil Microsoft’s latest attempt to make strides in the growing mobile computer market.

Ballmer conceded that in the past, Microsoft has had less than stellar success in the realm of Personal Digital Assistants. He described the previous Palm-size PCs as having been designed as expandable devices that unfortunately fell short in many basic areas. With the new Pocket PC, Ballmer claims the shortcomings of previous versions have been addressed and feels confident in the future of the Pocket PC, calling it “an incredible quantum leap forward.”

This sentiment was echoed by Microsoft Vice President of Mobile Services Devices Ben Waldman who quipped, “Many people joke it takes Microsoft until version 3 to get it right.” Waldman, along with marketing manager Brian Shafer, demonstrated many of the new features on the Pocket PC. These included the ability to view email attachments in either Pocket Word or Pocket Excel; the transcriber feature, which translates normal handwriting into printed text; an MP3 player and Windows Media player; and the Pocket PC’s wireless connectivity to any Web site.

During the Web connection demonstration, Waldman introduced Bluetooth technology. Though it is still several months from release, Waldman made use of a prototype. The Bluetooth technology allowed a Pocket PC device to use a nearby cell phone as a modem with no physical wire attachment between the two.

Steve Ballmer spoke of the future and the incredible changes that are in store for computers and the Internet. With the Pocket PC’s real-time, full-access Web connection, Ballmer and Microsoft hope the new operating system to fit into the public’s concept of “the next generation Internet experience.”

ZDNet’s Jesse Berst thinks that Microsoft got it right this time with the Pocket PC. He also says that although Microsoft has a good device, Palm shouldn’t be counted out.

The Earth Day 2000 edition of the Palm OS Gardener’s Pocket Primer is now available. It puts dozens of Earth Day goals/facts/historical tidbits, ideas on how you can make a difference, and a fun guide to annuals, perennials, essential oils and herbs on your device.

EFax.com launched a software application to give Palm VII handheld computers access to its Internet based fax services. The Palm Query Application is designed to give Palm owners wireless access to faxes while on the road or away from their PC. EFax.com also said Palm V users can access the same services using an Omnisky wireless modem.

Synergy Solutions announced SlideShow Commander, which allows a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to be managed from a handheld computer. The software application enables you to navigate to any slide, see your notes and slides on the handheld computer, write on the slide by writing on the handheld screen, and use a built in timer to track and record the length of the presentation. The application runs on the Palm OS and Windows CE palmtop computers, combined with a personal computer running Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Windows.

Juno Online Services announced the launch of a new version of the Juno software designed for handheld use on the Palm VII series product. This initial wireless version of Juno lets Palm VII handheld users to send and receive email from anywhere within the extensive Palm.Net service coverage area using their Juno accounts.

Once again, we’re experiencing weather here in Central NJ. Early this morning, there was a 5.25 hour power failure on Telco equipment, that caused an outage. The BA Telco MUX suffered a power failure causing an outage for a number of customers, including us, directly connected to the Princeton Backbone, as well as some traffic and routing through Princeton, NJ. Bell Atlantic was able to restore power to their equipment and service was restored. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.