Tuxtops

Linux and Microsoft's Pocket PC platform have different document formats. Since there is no automatic file synchronization program for Linux comparable to Windows' ActiveSync, Pocket PC users have problems not only with disparate file formats, but even file transfer between the two platforms. But there are ways to get them to talk to each other.

A company called StyleTap Inc. has opened up a public beta test of a program that lets Palm OS applications run on a standard PocketPC. Unlike some previous compatibility attempts using emulators, StyleTap allows you to run programs designed for Palm OS 5, as well as programs designed for previous versions of Palm OS.

According to market research firm Canalys, the Symbian OS continues to lead the world market for what it calls smart mobile devices, which includes both handhelds and smartphones. However, Gartner says that Microsoft will kill Symbian at the end.

MontaVista Software unleashed a new embedded operating system designed to make smartphone players like Microsoft and Symbian sit up and take note. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Linux vendor, known for its embedded Linux offerings, announced its Mobilinux 4.0 product designed for the $300 and $600 mobile and wireless device market.

Here is a review of the Lismore Software Systems Ltd. Guest PC for Macintosh emulator.

Skype CEO Niklas Zennstrom announced plans for Skype to move into the mobile handsets space. Zennstrom was very vague, saying that the new mobile version may appear on embedded Linux, Windows Smartphone, or Symbian.

With the addition of cameras, music players and more, mobile phones are becoming increasingly more integrated with consumer electronics and a staple of everyday life. BetaNews spoke with Nokia's top user interface guru, Christian Lindholm -- once dubbed the "godfather of mobile phone users" -- to discuss the design challenges prevented by such convergence, and his new project called Lifeblog.

OpenZaurus 3.5.3 is now available with the latest versions of GPE and Opie.

Adobe Systems Incorporated has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Macromedia in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately US$3.4 billion. The companies plan to meet a wider set of customer needs and have a significantly greater opportunity to grow into new markets, particularly in the mobile and enterprise segments.

Rumors have been circulating for close to a month now about palmOne's next high-end handheld. Until now, this has always been called the LifeDrive. Now, however, there are some signs that this might not actually be the correct name.