devSoft released the first public beta of its IP*Works! Version 4.0. The current beta release includes a total of 22 ActiveX Controls for Internet Programming in Win32 platforms. This release will be followed by other editions of IP*Works! Version 4.0 containing native components or classes for Delphi, C++ Builder, and Visual C++, as well as versions for other platforms, including versions for Windows CE and Win16 platforms.

Interactive Objects announced Microsoft’s purchase of the company’s digital audio player technology and the signing of a contract with Microsoft to develop additional streaming technology for the Windows CE operating system. Interactive Objects’ player provides stereo playback software for the palm-sized PC market, supporting Microsoft’s new Windows Media Technologies 4.0 platform.

News.com reports Microsoft announced plans to acquire Jump Networks, maker of a technology that lets users access their email, address books, and calendars from any Internet-connected computer. Jump also offers synchronization with several desktop personal information managers, including the Microsoft Outlook messaging and collaboration client and handheld personal digital assistants.

Information Week has this item about Spyglass’ first profitable quarter. The profit was largely due to a deal with Microsoft to develop software for the Windows CE platform.

PDViewerPro is a Palm Database Management application. PDViewerPro lets you upload, download, delete, and browse through any database on your Palm device. You can browse through any database and see information such as AppInfo, record headers, and dB categories.

TealPoint Software announced the release of four Macintosh compatibility kits for the Palm Computing platform. These packages contain both 680×0 and Power PC versions of conversion and creation utilities meant to function with the company’s line of software for Palm connected organizers. The new releases include TealDoc Mac Pack, TealMeal Mac Pack, TealPaint Mac Pack, and TealInfo Mac Developer’s Kit.

Thanks to reader Gary Yee for sending in this item about the rumors of a 3Com takeover. According to TechWeb, potential suitors mentioned in reports around Wall Street include European cellular-phone companies Nokia and Ericsson, Lucent Technologies, Apple Computer, and Siemens.

w-Trade announced that online brokerages Mydiscountbroker.com, InvestIN.com Securities and U.S. Discount Brokerage will immediately begin offering wireless trading to their customers with the w-Trade Wireless Trading System.

Here’s a tip from the Arizona Republic on what to do when the screen on your Palm organizer breaks.

Thanks to the folks at PDA Dash for posting this item about Utopiasoft/Xaudio Hum v1.0, an MP3 Player for Windows CE PPC/HPC devices.