WebTV unveiled two new WebTV boxes last week. News.com reports that although the devices support some multimedia technologies, WebTV said that the new boxes are still not compatible with the latest version of RealAudio and Web applications written in Java.

Microsoft said sales of handheld computers using Windows CE are expected to equal those of 3Com’s Palm organizer next year and top them by 2001.

Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) and Navic Systems announced the availability of the new processor HyperModules, I/O HyperModules, and HyperEdge development stations, all based on Toshiba’s 32-bit TMPR3912 RISC processor. Navic’s HyperModules are available with Microsoft’s Windows CE operating systems.

TealPoint Software announced the release of TealPhone. TealPhone offers an alternative interface to the standard Palm the built-in address book application. The numerous additions include a quick-seek index bar, one-screen integrated display, sorting by first name, last name, or company, separate sorting options for each category, on-the-fly switching of sorting options, and city and country history buffers.

Microsoft said sales of handheld computers using Windows CE are expected to equal those of 3Com’s Palm organizer next year and top them by 2001.

The San Jose Business Journal has this interesting story on corporations that buy the naming rights to sports stadiums. The article talks about how 3Com bought stadium naming rights with a $4 million agreement in 1995 to put its name on the former Candlestick Park through January 2000.

BSQUARE Corporation announced that it is now shipping its CE Xpress86, software which enables developers to load and run the Windows CE operating system on a standard BIOS-based x86 Pentium or 486-compatible computers.

Socket Communications unveiled the Socket CompactFlash Laser Scanner Card, a plug-in card designed for Windows CE based mobile computers that includes a bar code laser scanner engine from Symbol Technologies.

Intelliworxx, a developer for Microsoft Windows CE and a systems integrator for the Auto PC, will demonstrate its Mentorworxx applications from within Microsoft’s booth. These solutions provide a development environment and interactive application built around Microsoft Internet Explorer that allows users to author and implement a voice-driven, browser-based, point-of-use mentoring system to assist professionals of all types.

Sun Microsystems announced the availability of a PersonalJava reference implementation for Windows CE. The reference implementation will enable device manufacturers and service providers to expand their revenue streams by developing Java technology-based content and services.