Firepad Inc. will release an Apple Macintosh version of its FireConverter program in January 2001. FireConverter enables the conversion of graphics in JPEG, GIF, and other common formats into the standard format for viewing on Palm handhelds.

FireConverter, along with FireViewer, FirePublisher, and FireProducer, make up a family of products from Firepad that brings graphics, text and video to Handspring Visor, IBM WorkPad, Palm, Sony Clie, Symbol SPT, and other Palm OS-based devices. FireConverter Mac will run on computers running Mac OS 7.5 and later.

"Firepad is pleased to reach out to Palm users who have Macs," said William E. Mitchell, chief executive officer of Firepad. "With graphic and video viewing becoming an expected feature of handhelds, Firepad is happy to extend its FireConverter desktop application to the Apple Macintosh."

The program is available for download from the Internet at http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid=46939520001116230303&prodID=6739.