PDA News - 10 GB Microdrive, No imate upgrades, Palm rumors

Prototype 10 GB microdrive developed

Hot on the heels of Seagate's 8 GB micro hard drive, researchers at Japan's Tohoku University have announced their creation of a 1-inch, 10 GB micro hard drive, using perpendicular recording technology to increase capacity. The drive is still at a prototype stage, and isn't likely to hit the market very soon, but it does showcase the degree to which such large capacities are possible.

http://www.riec.tohoku.ac.jp/HDD/Perpendicular.html

In response to a customer inquiry, PocketPC phone distributor imate has officially stated that they will not be offering upgrades to Windows Mobile 5.0 when the new OS becomes available later in the year. imate's line of PocketPC phones includes the triple-wireless PDA2K (a rebrand of the HTC Blue Angel), and the tiny JAM (a rebrand of the HTC Magician).

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=349447&sid=2b76dfeb44757eba259eba304cf15879

Recently, rumors have been circulating that the PalmOne Zire 72 is scheduled to be discontinued within the next several months. The only response offered as yet by PalmOne is that they are unable to confirm or deny that the 72 will be discontinued in the near future. This would seem to imply that the rumor is correct; otherwise, the company would simply reply that they have no plans to discontinue the 72. It's far from proper confirmation, however.

There are also whispers about timing of the next Treo smartphone. Isolated reports say that the next Treo will be released some time in the first quarter of 2006, rather than in late 2005 as would fit with PalmOne's usual schedule. These claims too are unconfirmed, as is any information about the specifications or general design of PalmOne's next Treo.