Desktop Briefs

Kodak is recalling its Kodak Professional DCS 420 and 460 and AP NC 2000 digital cameras before they explode. The company says the battery packs in these cameras may overheat during recharging, and in extreme cases could rupture. The recall does not affect Kodak's range of Digital Science consumer cameras, or Kodak-branded alkaline batteries. Call Kodak on (01284) 725999 or visit: http://www.kodak.com.

The V.Dot GSM is a GSM telephone in a PC card. The card has no keypad, and is operated via the host PC or notebook. Manufacturer PC Card Distribution claims the device is the first of its kind, and expects the card to be used in industrial applications such as remote sensing and alarm systems. Call 0046 (8) 514 90900 or visit: www.pccard.se.

Cabletron has launched a four-port Token Ring switch module which it claims costs 20% less per port than its previous offering. The board supports dedicated Token Ring with direct attached switch port capabilities, and is designed to operate in the company's ATX switch, used for high-capacity backbone or departmental networks. The ATX switch will also support Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, FDDI and ATM. The four-port module costs #5,294.

Swedish manufacturer System Innovation is shipping a portable printer which will print emails and faxes received via a mobile phone. The Possio Messenger connects to GSM, DCS and PCS phones via a PC card, and has a stand-by battery life of several weeks. The device will also connect to a phone via an infrared link and features a Web browser. Call System Innovation at 0046 (8) 630 0630 or visit: www.possio.com.

IBM has developed hard disk drive technology that trebles current maximum capacity. The new drive, which stores 5Gb per square inch of disk space, is unlikely to ship for several years. IBM's Travelstar VP drives, which have a density of 1.5Gb per square inch, shipped early last year - seven years after the technology was first devised.

Asymetrix, the software house built by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has launched a Java and C++ development tool, Supercede Java Edition. Supercede was originally developed as a C++ development tool, but now enables programmers to develop Java applets using C++ syntax and vice versa, and modify code on the fly. The product is also available as an element of Netscape's Internet foundation classes.

IBM and Panasonic will ship the world's first cordless modem in the second half of next year. The device, developed by IBM Research and Kyushu Matsushita Electric, which uses the Panasonic brand name, delivers data at 28.8Kbps. It uses radio technology similar to that in 900MHz cordless telephones.