New Palm smartphone and possibly new OS for CES 2009

Elevation Partners invested $325 million on Palm back in June 2007, when it was dire need for capital just to even maintain operation. The Centro ($100 at launch) has brought them some success in the budget smartphone market, but their Treo Pro has not cracked the upper market, dominated by Apple, Nokia and Research In Motion. Recently, Roger McNamee, co-founder and chief financier of Elevation Partners, publicly said the mystery phone is unlike “anything on the market”. Now they’re claiming they’ve got the “Palm new-ness we’ve been waiting for” [for years, Ed Colligan!] at CES 2009. We know Palm is bringing a new smartphone for CES, but could they have more tucked under their sleeves? New OS (Linux Nova, anyone?) possibly, away from Microsoft Windows Mobile? Or will Palm disappoint once again? One thing for sure – Palm stole Jon Rubinstein, former head of iPhone engineering from Apple and we will see whether his leadership will save Palm. Considering Palm’s books are running low again, they need a shot in the arm fast. Real fast.

Touchscreen Walkman @ CES 2009

Sony is bringing out an iPod Touch competitor, with its own touchscreen device and will showcase it at the CES. Here’s the “rumored” specification:

• 16 GB and 32 GB models
• 3″ touchscreen OLED display with WQVGA resolution
• Wi-Fi, FM Radio
• HTML Web browser
• YouTube application
• Amazon music store application
• “S-Master digital amplifier and digital noise canceling solution”

Not much other details, but let’s just hope Sony will bring an appetising user interface along.

[From SonyInsider.com]

Peek hosts its own giveaway = mega warmth for all gadget lovers

Thanks to a reader’s tip, we just spotted Peek’s own [ahem!] crazy large scale Christmas giveaway. Called “12 Days of Peekmas“. Basically, the folks at Peek are handing out free gadgets for the next 12 days. The first day will have 1 winner, second day – 2 winners, third day – 3 winners… etc.. That’s a lot of gadgets going out of Peek’s doors. They’re giving out an Amazon Kindle right now. Pretty sweet thing they’re doing for all gadget lovers.

Check it out!

[Thanks Anonymous! You know who you are.]

3G equipped Acer Aspire One available from RadioShack

For $100, with 2 year AT&T agreement of monthly data plans above $60. The rest of the netbook remains the same. 8.9 inches display at 1024*600 resolution, 1.6Ghz Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, 802.11G, Windows XP Home edition.

Not quite a deal, is it? Here’s the press release on PR Newswire.

Will Steve Jobs release push notifications service in Macworld 2009?

It was supposed to come out “sometime in September“. But we haven’t hear a word since then from Apple. In fact, Apple pulled the push notification API out of 2.1 developer beta “for further development” and didn’t even put it back in for 2.2. . So will Apple fulfill their promise? 3 months late is still better than never for the 13 million iPhones out there. What is holding Apple back?

Let’s hear your thoughts!

The Simpsons: Mapple Store arrives in Springfield

Here’s a clip from the Simpsons episode last night (Seasons 20, episode 7). Lisa and her family make a trek to the new “Mapple” store in Springfield Mall to sought her own “MyPod”. There’s even a tribute to of the the classic Apple TV ads. Definitely a must-see for all Apple and non-Apple fans.

More clips after the jump.