As you know, PalmPower doesn't sell any products. It's the best way we know to be objective in our reviews and our overall editorial content. But we do make our living though the advertising we sell to people who do sell products.

The fact is, we have two constituencies: you, the reader, and our sponsors. One day last month, in an editorial meeting, we decided we'd try to do something cool for both groups. We decided to find a way to get readers really special deals and at the same time, help our sponsors get a boost in sales. August is usually a pretty quiet month, and we learned, from our time in the software business that a boost in August sales is always appreciated.

How do you boost sales in August? You do special deals. Most of our advertisers have really great products at really great prices. Even so, we know that if you're able to get something you've always wanted, and you can get it at half price, it'll be even more compelling. And that's what we're doing.

On August 6, we're sending out a special mailing consisting of, at last count, nine special offers from our advertisers. Each offer will give you the opportunity to buy a product at 50% off. In fact, when we contacted our sponsors, we made it a requirement of the mailing. They could only be included if they gave you the opportunity to get their goods at half price.

It's really a great opportunity, but it will be short-lived. The deals are only good from the date of the mailing through the end of August. When September rolls around, the offers will have gone into the great bit-bucket in the sky.

There's one other condition: you have to be subscribed to our tip mailing list to get the deals. So go to our home page at http://www.palmpower.com, scroll about halfway down, and sign up for the tip mailing. If you're not already signed up, make sure you do it now so you're in our database and are able to receive the mailing.

While there may be some last minute additions, here are some of the sponsors who are participating in the mailing:

• TapPad at http://www.tappad.com;
• Hands High Software at http://www.handshigh.com;
• Handmark at http://www.handmark.com;
• MobiMate at http://www.mobimate.com;
• Blue Nomad at http://www.bluenomad.com;
• SplashData at http://www.splashdata.com;
• Fictionwise at http://www.fictionwise.com;
• Stylus Plus at http://www.stylusplus.com;
• Neohand at http://www.neohand.com.