Some recent news nuggets in the world of handheld devices:

* Palm powers up its Web browser

Palm and Novarra recently announced that future Palm handhelds will include the next generation of the Palm Web Pro browser, made by Novarra. Current handhelds Tungsten T, T2 and W have the Web Pro 1.0 version of the browser.

The browser includes support for HTML standards, including JavaScript, tables and frames, the company said. In addition to the browser, Novarra offers the Novarra Engines for Wireless Data (EWD) Product Suite, which gives companies client and server offerings that can be placed behind a corporate or carrier firewall to extend applications to mobile devices securely. For more information, go to http://www.novarra.com .

* Palm brushes up Tungsten W software

Speaking of Palm, the company also recently announced a software upgrade for the Tungsten W. The update offers about a dozen new features and improvements, and now runs on Version 4.1.2 of the Palm OS.

New features allow users to lock the device keys with the "Keylock" function and retain a GSM/GPRS connection even after turning off their devices. The upgrade also offers crisper e-mail and Web browser displays with new fonts and colors, and extra access to commands from menus and buttons, Palm said.

The software update (1.0) is a free download from the Palm Support Web site (http://www.palm.com/support/tungstenw). For a CD of the software, go to the Palm Store (http://store.palm.com).

* GPS navigation and mapping software for Palm

MuskokaTech and Touratech of Germany recently announced the extension of a partnership where MuskokaTech bundles PathAway GPS 3 for Palm handhelds with Touratech's digital map CDs and desktop GPS Navigation and Mapping Software. For more information on the software, go to www.ttqv.com and http://PathAway.com.

* Blackberry gets 'writer-to-reader' security

Research In Motion recently announced availability of its S/MIME Support Package version 1.5 for BlackBerry devices. The add-on software provides S/MIME support for Java-based BlackBerry handhelds. The software is now available for RIM's government and corporate customers, the company said.

S/MIME uses public key cryptography to provide "writer-to-reader" security features, including authentication and confidentiality message integrity. RIM says the S/MIME support can be added to the following models - 7230, 7210, 6750, 6720, 6710, 6510, 6220, 6210, 5820 and 5810. Companies must have the BlackBerry Enterprise server version 3.5 or higher for Microsoft Exchange, RIM said.