The Tim Henman of the tech world...

Is Psion the Tim Henman of the IT arena? The plucky Brit who took on the world, did really quite well for some time but then failed at the crucial moment?

Was it a lack of talent? Was Psion too nice? Was it bad weather (unlikely)?

Either way, the great hope of UK high-tech has stopped doing what made it famous - handheld computers. The Compaqs, Microsofts and Palms of this world are now free to rule the roost.

Instead, Psion is now going to focus on providing businesses with 'digital network solutions' (one of those marketing phrases which don't mean a whole lot).

It's also ditching 250 staff.

This was the company that Bill Gates once described as enemy number one...

Our reaction was a wistful sigh and a shrug of the shoulders as a proud Brit was again beaten into submission by the Americans (which is, at least, an improvement on being beaten by the Australians. And Croatians).

The City's reaction was a bit more hard-headed: 20 per cent was wiped off the value of the company as soon as the news broke.

Time Psion got some new balls, we think. (See http://www.silicon.com/a45671 for more on the state of the handheld market. Incidentally, my version of Word suggested that 'Psion' should be changed to 'Poison'. Is Microsoft trying to tell us something?).

And here's another plucky Brit with a great idea - broadband from a balloon. No, really.

Advanced Technologies Group, the Bedford-based airship builder, is floating (sorry) the concept of StratSat, a combined mobile phone base station and comms platform.

The ship could be used for broadband internet, digital TV and radio, and surveillance equipment. All sorts of things.

ATG believes 19 such blimps (may as well use the US term, because if it is successful you know what'll happen) could provide 99.9 per cent coverage of the UK.

ATG is hoping to raise $200m to fund the production of the first two StratSat ships by 2003.

The big question is: will the idea get off the ground? Or will it go down in flames (dodgy Hindenberg reference there).

We certainly want it to succeed. The pun opportunities are too good to miss.

The dot-com crash has done to Captain Kirk what the Klingons never could: namely, making him beg. Well, sort of.

William Shatner is an investor in priceline.com, a company which isn't quite worth what it was a wee while ago.

Shatner, having had his fingers burnt and bank account raided, has now started charging for his autograph.

According to US celebrity rag Star Magazine, Shatner demanded a fan at LA airport pay $75 for his signature.

'Not on your nelly,' said said fan... 'how about $50?'

Shatner grudgingly accepted.

The report failed to mention whether Shatner managed a smile when he witnessed priceline's business model working in real life.

Computer Associates could end up being run by Mickey Mouse. The company is currently in the grips of a takeover bid, as Texan millionaire Sam 'wily' Wyly tries to wrest control from current chairman, Charles Wang.

But Wang is not one to be brow-beaten into submission. He described Wyly's plans for the business as 'Mickey Mouse'.

Mind you, Mickey Mouse made a lot of money for Disney... (See http://www.silicon.com/a45659 for the latest on these ructions).

Meanwhile, the company entertained a number of UK hacks at CA World this week - a silicon.com reporter among them.

On the eve of the conference, the journalists (plus some PR types) were tucking into the low-fat, nouveau cuisine at Charley's Steakhouse in Orlando, when an armed man burst into the restaurant and demanded cash from the owners. He'd clearly not learned much from American TV, because his bandana rather marked him out as a baddie. Never mind the gun.

But something - presumably not the limey journos - scared the man, and he legged it before doing any damage.

Was this the work of a low-down hoodlum acting alone? Weird PR tactics from CA? Or was 'Wily' Wyly behind it all?

Who knows...

Another silicon.com reporter went to the launch of ITV Digital on Wednesday, ITV Digital being the company formerly known as ONDigital (before it realised it had better rebrand itself in an attempt to get some people to sign up).

He was given a very flashy press pack, emblazoned with ITV Digital's new mascot - a rather odd-looking sock-puppet monkey type thing with wonkey eyes and a cute smile.

The press pack was very impressive. The gatefold cover opened to reveal another glossy A4 panel with a picture of our furry friend wearing an ITV Digital t-shirt and admiring himself in a mirror (we're not making this up).

Our reporter opened up that final bit of the ultra-groovy press pack expecting to find within all the info he could possibly need about digital TV.

Instead, he found it empty. Nothing there at all.

What can this signify, this thing which promised so much, was packaged so well, but turned out to have no content... Oh, the irony.

Want to know how to make your office a nicer place to work? Well, rest easy. Changing Rooms' Linda Barker has the answer. We don't have the space (or patience) to include all her tips here, but our favourite is this:

"Use large plants/trees within the office, not just against the walls. Two or three trees will be more effective than several small planters filled with dusty houseplants. Sparmania Africana is a tropical tree that will be robust enough to survive an office environment yet still offers pretty foliage."

Trees? In the office? I supposed that means you can, in moments of boredom, shake one of 'em and see if an interior designer falls out.

If you should want to see the whole list, click here: http://www.silicon.com/a45697