Remotely Home

Imagine cranking up the air conditioner at home during the taxi ride from the airport. IBM Corp. will join with National Semiconductor Corp. to sell chips and programs so home appliances can be managed from the Web. IBM and National Semiconductor, which makes chips for wireless devices and personal computers, see potential sales as more household appliances, security systems, utility meters, entertainment systems and lights are linked to the Internet.

Beaming Players

The San Francisco Giants and Palm Inc. have installed three beaming stations at Pacific Bell Park so hand-held users can keep score and track the game more closely. Users will receive a score-keeping application and other information such as statistics, rosters, lineups, pitching match-ups and biographies. The beaming stations work with any Palm OS-based device.

Handy Upgrade

Texas Instruments this week launched the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, a hand-held organizer for teenagers. The device has more than nine times the memory and is 2.5 times faster than the TI-83 Plus, the most popular educational hand-held device in schools. With classroom applications from math to language arts, the Silver Edition is also equipped with a powerful organizer so teens can track and store tasks, class schedules, phone numbers and other important information. It sells for $130.

Walk and Talk

Compaq Computer Corp. this week showed off new technology for its hot-selling iPaq Pocket PC that enables both wireless data and voice capabilities. This makes Compaq the first company to show a wireless data and voice-enabled hand-held computer that can be used around the globe. The product is in development and will soon begin carrier trials, with retail sales set for later this year.