Should you be getting ready to shell out some more cash because your Palm operating system (OS) has become defunct? That is the prospect facing users of the one of the most popular platforms for handhelds, as Microsoft wins another one by becoming the platform for Palm?s latest Treo.

The two companies tied the knot this week, with Palm announcing it was essentially about to ditch its namesake operating system by bringing out a Treo running on a modified version of Windows Mobile 5.0.

The Treo, which is in development, will only run on Verizon Wireless? high-speed network, but US tech commentators say it could have a wider launch. Blackberries and other handhelds have been cutting into Palm?s market. Access, based in Japan, now owns the Palm OS, but has not been churning out new versions of the software recently, leaving it to fall behind users needs and today?s high speed technology.

Palm hopes the Windows version of Treo will attract those who regularly send and receive large attachments. The Treo will have all the usual capabilities: a mobile phone, e-mail, messaging, webaccess and business software.

The Windows Mobile 5.0 platform will add OutlookMobile, Office Mobile and Internet Explorer Mobile. It will have direct access to Exchange Server 2003, allowing users to connect into the office.By next year, when the new Windows Treo is released, you may be looking a little dated.

What a beautiful gift the British Library has given us, by releasing the original ?Alice in Wonderland? and other manuscripts online as a three-dimensional online page-turner.

The British Library site uses special software atto allow visitors to virtually turn the pages of Lewis Carroll?s book.The program also allows readers to enlarge text as well as see the original illustrations.

The UK?s national library has put about fourteen rare books and manuscripts into the collection, including sketches by Leonardo DaVinci, Jane Austen?s ?History of England?, the Lindisfarne Gospels and the first Mercator Atlas of Europe (1570s).You also have Baybars? Quran and the Diamond Sutra, printed in China in 868, and billed as the world?s oldest printed book.

For more offerings of a similar type go to http://library.wellcome.ac.uk, where the WellcomeTrust uses the same program for three more books.

It?s scary, but also a sign of the times that the Netherlands? ministry of health says it will create an

electronic database that keeps details on each child from birth until death.

The scheme is due to come into effect next year. It will compile and retain indefinitely details on individuals including their health, school, police and family situation records. Specified government agencies will be able to access the data. Private citizens and companies will not be allowed to see the information.The government says the system will ensure children ?can be offered the right care at the right time?.Another cited benefit includes reducing juvenile delinquencies.

If you are just getting into using RSS readers here is a way of making your life a lot easier.

RSS is a means of automatically receiving news and information feeds from sites like the BBC.

I wrote about the rise of RSS earlier this year, but now the use of the technology has really exploded. It is a much easier way of receiving newsletters and other regularly changing content normally sent via e-mail. The result, no more clogging of your e-mail box. The disadvantage is that once an RSS feed changes you cannot go back and retrieve it, as you can with your e-mail.

The result, no more old news clogging up your e-mail!As a shortcut into the process go to the RSS Compendium at AllRSS.com for a full listing of readers. AllRSS also clues you into the growing number of sites and news providers who are offering the feeds.Many of the readers are free. The latest addition yesterday was the US White House. RSS has gone mainstream!