(Business 2.0) – ELECTRONICS Palm OS Handhelds With ARM Chips

Palm and Sony debut the first PDAs built around the 200-megahertz ARM processor and the new Palm 5 operating system. Palm's betting the farm on ARM, which will save battery power, handle wireless networking, and push true multimedia. Oct. 28

BOOKS Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution

The man who discovered virtual communities turns his attention to "thumb tribes." Tech trendspotter Howard Rheingold's Big Idea: The killer app of mobile computing is the collective power of networked social groups. Nov. 1

ECONOMIC STATISTICS Institute for Supply Management Survey

In this poll of purchasing and supply-chain execs, pay attention to the figures on order delays. Slow autumn deliveries normally signal high demand, and thus optimistic sales forecasts for Christmas. But October's West Coast dockworkers' strike may artificially inflate this year's numbers. Nov. 1

POLITICS Election Day

The big fight: Will Senate Democrats cling to their tenuous majority? Lost in the shuffle: the reelection campaign of Connie Morella, a Maryland Republican who chaired the House technology subcommittee. If she loses, medical research funding could take a hit. Nov. 5

EARNINGS Wal-Mart

The retail giant stunned analysts in September when it announced weak back-to-school sales. If third-quarter earnings are down, it may signal the end of the long consumer-spending boom. Nov. 13

VIDEOGAMES Xbox Live

Marking the one-year anniversary of the release of the sales-challenged Xbox game console, Microsoft will unveil Xbox Live, a broadband-only online gaming service. Will network gaming give the platform a much-needed boost? Nov. 15

TRAVEL Airport Security Screening

Just in time for the Thanksgiving rush, federal agents will replace private contractors to oversee passenger-and baggage-screening facilities at U.S. airports. Nov. 19

ENTERTAINMENT Die Another Day

Secret agent James Bond returns to the screen for the 20th installment of the 007 series. Unlike star Pierce Brosnan (a.k.a. Bond 5.0), the franchise isn't aging gracefully. But MGM, Hollywood's worst-performing major studio, is counting on this holiday release to save the day. Nov. 22