Palm has announced two additional third party Foleo applications today. Both companies have previously made their applications available for the Palm OS and Windows Mobile platforms and are now bringing their tools to the Palm Foleo.

Avvenu has created a Access 'n Share service for the Foleo, which enables Foleo users to remotely access digital content and files stores on a work or home PC. luefire will also be bringing its mobile VPN software to the Foleo. Palm and Bluefire are working together on a VPN software client security solution. Read on for the full details.

RingCare is a new ringtone management solution from GoTreo Software, makers of the popular VolumeCare application. RingCare Mobile allows you to use mp3's and midi tones for incoming phone calls, text messages and voicemail. It also enables you to to assign unique tones to each contact, phone number, company name and/or contact category and has partial support for Goodlink users. Also available is its companion desktop application for Windows called RingCare Desktop. It will create custom ringtones on your PC from your own music library and transfer them to your Treo.

RingCare v2.02 is available now for $29.95 and includes a free trial period. RingCare Desktop sells for $19.95. You can purchase both together for $39.95 for a limited time using the coupon code RINGCARES20.

BlueNomad has updated its BackupBuddyVFS products to version 4.2. BackupBuddyVFS is a Palm OS backup application that allows you to backup your organizer's critical files to a memory card. Recent updates include improved Treo 680 compatibility, zip-based compressed backups, automatic updates for Treo users, custom directories per backup set and improved ability to restore large contacts files and files 'in use' by the OS.

BackupBuddyVFS Professional sells for $24.95 and includes a free trial period. There is also a Personal version available, which omits the ability to create multiple backups and sells for $9.95.

Piper Jaffray wireless hardware analyst T. Michael Walkley has released a new research report on Palm and the potential impact of the coming of the iPhone. Walkley says Palm will be the hardest hit by the iPhone and reports on claims that the continued introduction of new Blackberry devices will further hurt sales.

"With the BlackBerry Curve ramping and iPhone launching June 29th at AT&T, we view Treo as the most impacted by these launches and anticipate even further declines in sell through trends." He says clerks at AT&T stores had already reported “frustration” in trying to sell Palm’s "750" series of Treo phones. Moreover, the upcoming introduction of a new model of BlackBerry, the 8830, at Sprint stores, will hurt sales of Palm’s recently introduced Treo 755p model.

Resco Explorer for Palm OS has been updated to version 3.1. This new version adds support for local LAN and remote VPN network drive shares over smb. This allows your device to connect to shared folders and drives on compatible PC, Mac and Linux systems. Explorer treats network shares as if they were on a memory card which allows you to encrypt files, pack them into zip archives, move them around the host system or copy them to your Palm. Other updates from Resco include improved ftp performance and compatibility with Documents to Go v10.

Resco Explorer 2007 v.3.10.4 is available now with a free trial period. It regularly sells for $29.95, but is currently on sale for $24.95 for a limited time.

New Software
Corsairs
Happy Lines for Palm
Real Dice Hearts
LSL Poker
Zlauncher Blue Edge Theme
Holidays & Holidates - German
WintecTool v1.0
Ringtones Business Pack
Updated Software
Skinner for Treo 680
IM+ All-in-One Messenger
Resco Explorer 2007
PowerMan
TreoMemo
KeyguardExt
mOcean
Pocket DVD Wizard
On Sale
Astraware Solitaire
Pennovate Notes
VoicePlayIt
DVD Catalyst GT
Picture Dial
SecureX
CalenNotes
mySchedule NFL 2007

Palm has made the Sprint Treo 700p maintenance release updater available again. According to Palm only the SD card updater version is being made available at this time, as the Windows Installer's issues are still being investigated. Still no word on the timing for a Verizon release.

After numerous delays, the Sprint 700p Update was originally posted in early June, more than a year after the device's debut. It was removed a few days after due to reports of an installation issue that causes the device to continuously reset when applying the software update.

Paragon Software has released a new Palm OS weather application, called Handy Weather. Handy Weather joins an increasingly crowded list of smartphone weather software, but brings some of its own unique features to set it apart. it has the usual weather information with support for up to 30 locations, and has three different 5-day views. It also includes animated icons, a multilingual interface and manual and automatic updating. I also includes an interesting feature that will append the 5-day forecast to your Treo keyguard screen if you wish.

Handy Weather v1.01 is available now for $14.95, is comes with a 14-day free trial period. It is compatible with the Treo 650, 700p, 680, 755p.

iambic today announced the release of Agendus for Palm OS Professional Edition, Version 12, a robust, new version of its award-winning, fully-integrated, personal information manager (PIM) optimized for Treo smartphones. The functionality of Agendus for Palm OS Version 12 has been expanded to include new journaling capabilities and a project manager. Other additions include a Photo Dialer mode that associates a contact’s picture with its address information for speedy one-tap dialing, and Power Search 411, which simplifies reverse phone number lookup.

Qmobilesoft has released CallRec version 5.0. CallRec is a useful utility that can record your phone calls on your Palm OS Treo. It is able to record both sides of the conversation at the touch of a button or all call automatically. Recorded phone calls are saved as wav files on your memory card. The program can also be used to record voice memos.

The latest version features an improved interface, enhanced file compression, Treo 755p support, categories, background playback and auto repeat and a number of other updates. CallRec also comes with a desktop conduit to easily transfer files to a PC.

CallRec 5.0 is compatible with the Treo 755p/700p/680/650 smartphones. It sells for $19.99 USD and comes with a free trial period. This update is free for users of v4. You can find out review of CallRec here.

Corecodec has released version 1.1 of its CorePlayer portable video and media application. This update has been several months in the making and includes over 750 changes/updates/fixes according to the company. The primary new features include a new CoreTheque media library, Bluetooth headphone support, numerous palm os and treo fixes, rss support, skin support and stability improvements.

CorePlayer for Palm OS v1.1.0 is available for $19.95 USD. It is also available for Windows Mobile.

Opera Software today released Opera Mini 4 beta, codenamed Dimension, a sneak preview of the latest version of Opera's Web browser for all mobile phones including the Palm Treo. Opera Mini 4 beta is a complete redesign of its browser with a new overview mode that allows people to browse their favorite Web sites, just like they would on a PC. Opera Mini 4 beta also features a new zoom, based on a feature introduced for Nintendo Wii browser. When zooming, Opera Mini dives into the page and then snaps to the content so scrolling is smooth while accessing the desired section immediately. Opera also claims significant speed improvements.

Palm has posted a podcast audio interview with Jeff Hawkins on the official Palm blog. The interview, concerning all things Foleo and conducted with an unnamed female interviewer, is surprisingly lengthy but does not get into the nitty-gritty technical points many long-term Palm afficionados are longing for. Overall, Hawkins' talk touches on the same issues touched upon at the D: All Things Digital conference on May 30th but is nevertheless worth listening to as he illustrates how this product is decidedly not a laptop or desktop PC replacement.

Hawkins' enthusiasm for the product continues to be on display throughout the interview as he predicts a revolution in peoples' work habits with the combination of a Foleo plus a connected smartphone such as the Treo.

Palm has posted a podcast audio interview with Jeff Hawkins on the official Palm blog. The interview, concerning all things Foleo and conducted with an unnamed female interviewer, is surprisingly lengthy but does not get into the nitty-gritty technical points many long-term Palm afficionados are longing for. Overall, Hawkins' talk touches on the same issues touched upon at the D: All Things Digital conference on May 30th but is nevertheless worth listening to as he illustrates how this product is decidedly not a laptop or desktop PC replacement.

Hawkins' enthusiasm for the product continues to be on display throughout the interview as he predicts a revolution in peoples' work habits with the combination of a Foleo plus a connected smartphone such as the Treo.

Palm today announced three new third party applications for the Palm Foleo when it ships later this summer. MotionApps has announced its mDayscape Personal Information Manager, which will provide a sync-able calendar, tasks and contacts application.

Astraware has also announced the first two games for Palm's new Foleo mobile companion -- Astraware Sudoku and Solitaire and promised that additional titles will follow.

Rumor: The IntoMobile blog, is running an unsubstantiated rumor report on the possible specs of the rumored Palm Treo "Gandolf". In short, the device is expected to be radical departure from current Treos in both formfactor and screen technology.

It is expected to be the first non-touchscreen Treo, and could come in two editions. One for Windows Mobile 6 Standard (smartphone edition) and another with a new version of Palm OS that is designed for use without a touchscreen. No word if this is a Linux-based version of Palm OS or if there will be a Garnet emulation player. Additional details reveal Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support and full EVDo/HSDPA 3g onnectivity. Screen size is reportted to be 2.4" QVGA non-touchscreen with 65k color depth. No word if the Palm version and WM6 version will share screen size and resolution.

Palm’s Paul Loeffler has posted an update to his previous June 5th blog post to the Palm corporate blog. This time around, Mr. Loeffler simply reports that the reasons behind the update installation issues plaguing a number of 700p owners are still unresolved. These problems lead to the abrupt removal of the 700p’s ROM update AKA Maintenance Release from Palm’s support site on June 5th, just three days after its release. With the rumored launch date of the Verizon Treo 755p nearing, the blog update also mentions that there is no release date in sight for the Verizon version of the 700p update.

The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania has posted an interesting marketing analysis about technology product announcement strategy. The article comments on three recent announcements from Apple, Microsoft and Palm. The author covers the merits and marketing factors behind pre-announcing products versus keeping quiet and includes quotes from a number of Wharton professors. Of course it also talks about the iPhone and also includes some opinion on the reasons for the "tepid" reception for the Palm Foleo from industry analysts.

The PalmInfocenter software store is running a 20% off software sale this weekend in honor of Father's Day.

The discount is good on all Palm OS and Windows Mobile software for your entire software order. The sale will run through the end of Monday. To take advantage of this deep discount enter the coupon code: JUNE20 in your shopping cart when checking out.

You can also take advantage of the sale via the PIC Mobile store to shop and download apps directly on your mobile device.

News.com is reporting on new round of job cuts at Palm Inc. today. The article says some workers are still in the process of being notified of the cuts this afternoon. The total number of layoffs is not known at this point. "It's a small percentage of our workforce," Palm spokesman Jim Christensen told News.com, adding that Palm still has openings in some areas. The bulk of the jobs being eliminated are in the U.S. and in Palm's development ranks, though there are some cuts across the company, he said.

Christensen said the move was "not about cost-cutting" but rather about "eliminating some of the hierarchy" at the company.