| Blackberry Storm 9530 Arrives in Verizon Stores |
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 The new 3G Blackberry Storm released November 22nd is the first touch screen Blackberry and many people are lining up to get one. It has a sharp and clear 3.25” screen with a 480 x360 display. The touch screen is unique in that if you touch the screen it is not so sensitive to lead you somewhere immediately, a slight pressure applied and you will hear a low-key click confirming that you have touched an icon on the screen.
There are three keyboards available on the Storm. The RIM SureType keyboard appears in the vertical or portrait view and has two letters per key or a “multi-tap” keyboard similar to a dial pad. The QWERTY keyboard appears in the horizontal or landscape view with one letter on each key.
The built-in voice-activated dialing works extremely well. Texters and email users will be happy to know that the Storm was designed for the use of both thumbs. The 3.2 megapixel camera has flash and variable zoom and even allows for sending photos with text messages, surpassing the capability of an iPhone. In March RIM plans to open its own “application storefront.”
The Storm is only being sold by Verizon and cost $249 with a $50 rebate and a two-year commitment.
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| Microsoft Warns of New Windows Attacks |
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 Last month Microsoft did an emergency fix patch for a bug and is now warning of the possibility of more exploits. They are urging users to apply the MS08-067 patch if not already done. The worm named “Conflicker.a” by Microsoft and “Downadup” by Symantec has affected “several hundred” home users and corporations, mostly in the U.S.
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| Nokia to Leave Japan Market and Announce New Venture |
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 Nokia, the world’s largest cell phone maker, will no longer make phones for the Japanese market, where 85% of the population have cell phones that support advanced features like electronic payment functions and TV broadcasting. Nokia is set to create a platform enabling mobile phones to allow people to control their home electronics, security and energy management systems. It will enable consumers to reduce their carbon footprint by remotely managing their home’s energy consumption. On December 2-3 at the Nokia World event in Barcelona they are expected to demonstrate the Nokia Home Control Center.
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| Microsoft Retires Windows 3.11 OS |
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 For anyone who missed it, last month Microsoft retired their operating system, Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Released in 1993, Windows 3.11 outlived its successor, Windows 95, which has not been available for retail or OEM sales for awhile. MS stopped supporting Windows 3.11 in 1995, but some, such as Virgin and Qantas, have still found it to be useful for in-flight entertainment systems. It required at least 640KB of RAM, seven megabytes of hard drive space and support for a CGA, EGA and VGA graphics card. Also needed an 8086/8088 processor or higher, with a clock speed of up to 10MHz.
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