Vodafone subscribers, Samsung fans and mobile enthusiasts in general — we hope you’re sitting down. Behold: Exclusive live shots of a previously unheard of Samsung handset supposedly due to be announced soon by Vodafone. Details for the time being are a bit limited — we don’t even have a name for you yet (UPDATE: as a commenter points out below, this may be the Samsung Riedel l8305 that recently received Wi-Fi certification) — but our ninja managed to score some extremely solid images and a handful of specs that are definitely noteworthy. First things first: We’re apparently looking at a Samsung-built Vodafone exclusive here that is powered by Voda’s own LIMO-based OS (Linux mobile). Beyond the brushed steel case sits a nice big OLED touchscreen display complete with haptic feedback. We’re also told the handset will sport an 8 megapixel camera and it will launch alongside the upcoming “Vodafone People” service. Details in that department are scarce as well but rumor has it the service involves Voda’s acquisition of Zyb last year; active contacts, location information, status updates, various integration with other social networks like Twitter and Facebook, etc. You can get a pretty good idea of what’s in store from the images below but basically, it’s what Google should have done on Android with Jaiku. Last but not least, we’re not sure exactly when Vodafone plans to make this guy official, though we’re hearing rumors of a special event that may be held in London on September 24th. Hit the jump for more shots and if you live in Vodafone land, get ready for what really could be a game-changing handset/service combo.

Opera tantalized everyone last week with its proclamation that the Norwegian company was about to reinvent the Web. We were skeptical at best. Here we are on launch day and, well, the Web kind of feels the same, but Opera has announced its latest and greatest innovation, dubbed Opera Unite. According to the post at Opera Labs, Opera Unite is an application that will turn any computer running the software into a web server. Users running Opera Unite will be able to share content with multiple computers over the Internet through the web browser, or even web applications called Unite services. Opera is pushing the service as a social media tool that requires no third party service, no complicated setup and no additional fees. Your data shared from your computer, on your terms and under your control. The service will launch with a few demo applications including Opera Unite Jukebox, an in-browser media player, and an instant messaging application. Opera Unite will work on Mac, Windows and Linux PCs with expansion to mobile browsers and other devices expected in the future. An alpha version of the Opera Unite software is now available for download.

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Leave it to our eagle eyed readers to dig through the depths of YouTube and emerge with some sweet eye candy. During a purported presentation last October from Axel Meyer, head of Nseries design at Nokia, the upcoming Nokia N900 Internet Tablet was given a bit of face time in a promo video. Granted, plenty of time has passed since this video was recorded so odds are good that the finished product will end up looking more like it did in the leaked mock up than in this video. For a quick reresher, reported specs at this point include a 59.7mm x 111mm x 18.2mm body, 3.5-inch 800×480 (WVGA) touchscreen, OMAP3430 500/600 Mhz processor, 5.0 MP Carl Zeiss camera with dual-LED flash and auto-focus, 1GB total virtual runtime memory, Wi-Fi, HSPA, GPS and an accelerometer. Hit the jump for the video.

Thanks, CanisMajor!

It was a simpler time. The economy was the last thing on most people’s minds, Dane Cook was just a weird annoying guy from Waiting, Galvatron ruled over our comments section with an iron fist… And Garmin announced that it would enter the wireless arena with the soon-to-be released nuvifone. A lot has changed since then but one thing has remained constant over this historic 18-month period — no nuvifone. Believe it or not however, that might actually change in the near future. Despite having a bit of trouble spelling nuvifone, TWICE reports that Garmin is “getting very close” to a carrier launch here in the US. Why the massive delays? Garmin president and COO Cliff Pemble:

Originally we thought we’d launch the phone into the open market, but because of the strong interest we had from carriers, we chose to focus on a carrier-centric launch and meeting carrier requirements is a lot of work.

Yeah if Garmin thought working with carriers was easy, the company was definitely in for a rude awakening. The June/July time frame does jibe with what Reuters reported back in April so it’s looking like this little guy may actually see the light of day. We shall see.

Thanks, Rich!

[Via GPS Tracklog]

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[Via The Next Web]

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Nokia’s Internet Tablets haven’t exactly been a massive success on the user adoption front but Nokia isn’t one to give up. While the company did recently bail on the latest iteration of its N810 tablet, we know the Finnish giant was just looking to distance itself from WiMAX. Nokia is most definitely still cooking up a new tablet sequel and now developers can get a taste of its beta OS — as of this afternoon, the Beta SDK for Maemo 5 is available to all for downloading. Notable additions beyond the alpha release include:

• HSPA data connectivity support
• A new version of Modest, the open source email app
• High definition camera support (still capture and video capture)
• OMAP3 processor support
• Hardware-based graphics acceleration support
• Widget development support

The bad news? Maemo 5 will reportedly not run on older N800 and N810 model tablets, only future offerings. Anyone excited for a new Nokia IT with a fresh new OS?

Thanks, Luke!

[Via Brighthand]

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On Monday, April 20, Panasonic and NEC are expected to unveil nine devices that run on the Linux-powered LiMo operating system. While not much is known about the soon-to-be-announced devices at this time, proponents of open source operating systems will apparently have plenty of cause for celebration in 2009. Current members of the LiMo Foundation include Motorola, NEC, Panasonic, LG and Samsung, though the latter two have yet to unveil a single LiMo device to date. Still, the foundation does have an all-star line-up of carriers backing it up as NTT DoCoMo, Orange, SK Telecom, Telefonica, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone have all announced they will be carrying LiMo devices at some point this year. While there might not be too much to account for at the moment, the LiMo picture is apparently about to get a whole lot clearer.

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You know when you’re talking about a subject you’re really passionate about and you start to head down a dangerous path? In the back of your mind, you know it’s going to come back and bite you in the ass but you don’t care at that particular moment because you’re so intoxicated with said passion… So you throw caution to the wind and keep going. Ahem. Microsoft COO Kevin Turner had this little gem to say at the MidMarket CIO Summit last week:

Vista today, post-Service Pack 2, which is now in the marketplace, is the safest, most reliable OS we’ve ever built. It’s also the most secure OS on the planet, including Linux and open source and Apple Leopard. It’s the safest and most secure OS on the planet today. Everything that we’ve learned in Vista will be leveraged in Windows 7, but certainly when we broke a lot of the compatibility issues to lock down user account controls, to lock down the ability to manipulate states and all the things, that was a very painful process for us to grow through, but we had to do it. And the reason that Windows 7 will be successful is because of the pain we took on Vista. Because from a compatibility standpoint, if it works on Vista, it will work on Windows 7. If it doesn’t work on Vista, it won’t work on Windows 7.

We’re not even going to touch this one, but please, feel free to discuss it amongst yourselves in the comments section.

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Holy rumor avalanche. Subscribing to the buckshot method as opposed to the bullet method, TheStreet has just tossed out a whole mess of Nokia rumors to ensure that at least a one or two of them hit. Let’s start at the top… Despite a stunning lack of interest throughout the lifespan of Nokia’s internet tablet line, Nokia is apparently working on yet another IT effort. Supposedly due for release before Christmas, reported specs are confined to a 4.2-inch touchscreen display and a slide out keyboard. Well, at least it’s a safe bet. Next up is a device dubbed “project Nautilus”, due out around mid to late 2010, which features a very slim touchscreen and a sensor-driven slide out QWERTY. According to the report, an ultra-thin keypad slides out from within the device when triggered by a sensor and the keys automatically rise for easier typing. Right then, moving on. A trio of new Nokia touchscreen handsets are seemingly slated for Fall 2009 featuring VibeTonz haptic feedback technology courtesy of Immersion. Very plausible — and we reeeeally hope one of them is the Aeon, wink wink. Last but certainly not least, TheStreet reaffirms that Nokia’s netbook market entrance is a done deal and it will partner with Foxconn to make it happen. Fair enough.

Thanks, Marcel!

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OpenMoko, maker of the open source handset everyone loves to praise but no one actually wants to buy, has stated it will cease development of new mobile handsets. Citing current economic conditions and a competitive market, OpenMoko CEO Sean Moss-Pultz reportedly made the announcement yesterday at a conference in Switzerland. We can’t exactly place this decision into the shocker category considering end users — and more importantly, manufacturing partners — have been very slow to embrace the handset. Thus far, OpenMoko has only pushed out about 10,000 handsets and no major news as far as manufacturing partners offering customized builds of the phone has come into play. OpenMoko isn’t throwing in the towel just yet, however. The company intends to continue FreeRunner support and it will also commence development of a new product that isn’t a mobile phone. Interesting. With a new mobile OS going open source each day and very little interest in the physical side of OpenMoko’s FreeRunner project (hardware add-ons, customization, etc), we can’t say this is a bad decision on the company’s part.

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Across the ocean in a land far, far away, the Motorola A1200 “Ming” was a pretty big hit for Moto back in 2006. So what happens when Moto has a hit on its hands? Exactly. iDNES has seemingly managed to get its collective hands on a round of mockups and preliminary specs for the upcoming Ming sequel, the A1210. The design of the handset is unmistakably Ming, as is the Linux OS and the transparent flip. Other reported specs include a slightly beefed up 2.8-inch 240×400 TFT touchscreen, 3.1 megapixel camera, FM radio, Bluetooth, 64MB of internal memory, a microSD slot and a TI OMAP850 processor under the hood. Dimensions are said to be 102 x 53.8 x 20.5 mm, slightly bigger than the A1200 which came in at 95.7 x 51.7 x 21.5 mm. The Ming was imported into the US pretty often but if this report pans out, lack of the 850 MHz GSM band will surely keep it abroad for the most part. Then again, maybe Moto has a US version in mind. Either way, the handset lacks 3G and, well, we like 3G. Hit the jump for a few more shots of the back and sides of the handset.

[Via Unwired View]

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Reduce the amount of RAM Firefox uses for its cache feature

1. Type “about:config” (no quotes) in the adress bar in the browser.
2. Find “browser.sessionhistory.max_total_viewer”
3. Set it’s value to “0“;(Zero)

Increase the Speed at Which Firefox loads pages

1. Type “about:config” into the address bar and hit Enter.
(Normally the browser will make one request to a web page at a time. When you enable pipelining it will make several at once, which really speeds up page loading.)

2. Alter the entries as follows:
Set “network.http.pipelining” to “true”
Set “network.http.proxy.pipelining” to “true”
Set “network.http.pipelining.maxrequests” to some number like 10.

This means it will make 10 requests at once.

3. Lastly, right-click anywhere and select New-> Integer. Name it “nglayout.initialpaint.delay” and set its value to “0“;.(Zero)

This value is the amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it receives. If you’re using a broadband connection you’ll load pages faster now.
Optionally (for even faster web browsing) here are some more options for your about:config (you might have to create some of these entries by Right Click –> New– > Interger or String

network.dns.disableIPv6: set “false”
“content.notify.backoffcount”: set “5“; (Five)
“plugin.expose_full_path”: set “true”.
“ui.submenuDelay”: set “0; (zero)

Reduce RAM usage to 10MB when Firefox is minimized:

This little hack will drop Firefox’s RAM usage down to 10 Mb when minimized:

1. Open Firefox and go to the Address Bar. Type in about:config and then press Enter.
2. Right Click in the page and select New -> Boolean.
3. In the box that pops up enter “config.trim_on_minimize”. Press Enter.
4. Now select True and then press Enter.
5. Restart Firefox.

Thanks, Mel!

[Via Unplggd]

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There it is folks, the first usable prototype of TechCrunch’s internet tablet project. For those who missed it, Michael Arrington decided he wanted a sizable, affordable browser-only device and and couldn’t find one so he decided to build it. Kudos for the follow through, but we have to wonder if there are reasons such a device doesn’t exist. First off, there will definitely be some major drawbacks brought on by the low-end components required to keep the price down – especially with very small production runs. The display likely won’t hold a candle to those found on laptops or UMPCs, the battery life will likely not be desirable as a result of low-quality cells and even at the new target price of $299, we’re not sure how appealing the device actually is. A Nokia N800, for example, is infinitely more functional and can now be had with an 8GB+ memory card for under $200 – Arrignton’s original target price. While the display on the N800 is much smaller than that of the Crunchpad, it is also a much better quality display from the looks of things.

The bottom line is while plenty of readers continue to support the project, when it comes time to fork up the cash we have to wonder if they will maintain the same level of enthusiasm for a device that offers no real benefits beyond the laptops and other devices they all already own. The Crunchpad will likely be a use-at-home toy for those who do end up with a production model as traveling with a sizable device possessing no functionality outside of web browsing doesn’t make much sense. Even when hacks come out to add various features and introduce functionality beyond browsing, working on a touchscreen-only device? No thanks. What do you guys think – hot or hopeless?

Hit the jump for a video of the prototype in action.

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[Via NYTimes]

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In a startlingly abrupt move just one day after the launch of WiMAX service in Portland, OR, Nokia is reportedly discontinuing production of its N810 WiMAX Edition internet tablet and will stop all sales effective immediately. Nokia has yet to announce the move publicly, but a reliable source within Nokia claims the WiMAX-enabled N810 has been pulled from inventory systems and distributor locations with current stock have been instructed to return all units to Nokia. While the source could not attest to Nokia’s motive behind this recall, he speculated that WiMAX switch issues combined with the slow roll out were major factors in the decision. It is currently unclear whether or not Nokia plans to re-release the N810 WiMAX Edition at a later point in time, or if the company has any additional WiMAX-enabled devices in development. Currently, the N810 WiMAX Edition is still available for sale on the Nokia USA site. We have contacted Nokia regarding this matter and will update this post with any official comment from the company.

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In a side interview at the Nokia World Conference, Ukko Lappalainen, vice president of Nokia’s markets unit, told Reuters, “In the longer perspective, Linux will become a serious alternative for our high-end phones.” He further elaborated upon Nokia’s endorsement of Linux by saying “I don’t see anything in Android which would make it better than Linux Maemo”. Interesting comments coming from a high level Nokia executive. If we assume his comments are accurate, then we may be seeing some Maemo powered handsets in the not so distant future. Such a move to Maemo is not completely surprising as Maemo is currently the OS that powers Nokia’s line of Internet Tablets. Nokia has experience with Maemo Linux and had indicated at the recent Open Source in Mobile Conference that it is committed to further developing that platform. With Android in the hands of the masses, Ubuntu teaming up with ARM and now Maemo being proposed for Nokia handsets, it looks like competition in the Mobile Linux platform is finally starting to heat up.

[Via Linux Devices]

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iPhone dev team member Planetbeing has successfully reverse engineered Apple’s hardware drivers and has managed to get the Linux kernel to boot on the 2G and 3G iPhone and the 1st gen iPod Touch. This first attempt is limited in functionality with support only for the Framebuffer driver, Serial driver, Serial over USB driver, and other items like Interrupts, MMU, clock, etc. The dev team is still working on things like enabling write support for the NAND, Wireless networking, Touchscreen support, Sound, Accelerometer and Baseband support. Despite these limitations, it is still exciting to see the iPhone boot an alternative OS and it is means we are one step closer to getting Android ported to the iPhone. Sweet! Hit the jump for the demo video.

[Via iPhone Dev Team blog]

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HP announced a new line of netbooks today that will debut in three different variations: The very much consumer oriented Mini 1000, the Linux-based Mobile Internet Experience (MIE) edition and the very fashionable Vivienne Tam edition. The new models will compliment and not replace their current netbook offering, the Mini Note 2133. All variants of the Mini 1000 will share the following features:

• Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz Processor
• 8.9″ or 10″ Brightview Backlight LED display with 1024×600 resolution. (Vivienne Tam is only available in 10″)
• up to 1GB DDR2 RAM
• black matte casing with a swirled imprint finish (Mini 1000 Standard and MIE version)
• vibrant red casing with a peony-flower inspired design (Vivienne Tam edition only)
• 92% full-size keyboard
• 8GB or 16GB SSD or a 60GB 1.8-inch hard drive
• expansion slot for a proprietary HP Mini Mobile flash drive (max of 8GB)
• 802.11b/g WLAN
• future mobile broadband/3G support
• 3-cell battery (3 hours run time)
• 10.3 in (L) x 6.56 in (W) x 0.99 in (H)
• 2.23 Lbs

The new Mini 1000 line will have a starting price of $379 for the Linux version and $399 for XP. The Windows XP versions of the Mini 1000 will be available from HP starting Wednesday, while those hoping to snag a new Linux machine will have to wait until next year. Hit the jump for a quick roundup of the features of the the fashionable Vivienne Tam edition and Linux-based MIE edition.

[Via Press Release]

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The Vivienne Tam edition is meant for the ladies, with its bold red keyboard and vivid floral design. If you open this netbook at your local Starbucks you’ll certainly turn some heads. It has the same specs as the plain Jane Mini 1000 but will come only in a Windows XP version with a 10″ display. Sorry ladies, no linux or 8.9″ display for you. The Vivienne Tam edition is expected to start around $699, though final pricing has not been released.

Last but not least is the Mini 1000 Mobile Internet Edition (MIE). Linux lovers can say bye, bye to the SUSE Linux of the Mini Note 2133 and say hello to the new Mobile Internet Experience (MIE), a proprietary OS built on top of Ubuntu Linux. The MIE version features an Instant-On Dashboard Interface and comes with pre-installed applications for web browsing, instant messaging and email as well as Skype for online video chat.

If netbooks weren’t getting small enough for you, or you were disappointed you couldn’t put a computer into your pocket, IMOVIO has the solution for your woes. Judging by those photos, it looks more like a novelty item that will hold your bubble gum, but the IMOVIO actually has some pretty decent features. First, you can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or tether your phone as a modem via Bluetooth. It has a built-in webcam and it does all your typical browsing, email, and IM with the convenience of a QWERTY keyboard. Why someone would pick this up instead of a netbook or Internet tablet, we have no clue… oh yeah, it only costs $175 and is based off Linux. Even then, is it really worth it?

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When you think of Asus and Eee PC, you think “cheap Linux netbook”. With their latest offering, the S101, Asus tries to shatter this stereotype by designing an elegant netbook. The folks over at UMPC Fever got their hands on an S101 and have put together the most extensive collection of photos of this slim and sexy notebook to date. We already have covered the specs of the S101 and they fall right in line with all the other netbooks out there. So what does the Asus S101 have that sets it apart from its competitors and permits it to command its higher price tag? First, it is super thin and tapers to only 18 mm which is a slightly more than the height of a Hong Kong dollar. It is also ships with a few extras like a suede leather pouch with straps instead of the cheap cloth pouch found on the standard Eee PC models. It even includes a pouch for its very compact 12V power adapter. The Asus S101 has upgraded the the design of the casing with a brushed aluminum arm rest, a trackpad with a single button and faux diamonds embedded in the hinges (kind of gaudy?). It features a keyboard that is 92% the size of a standard keyboard (nice!) and the internal look is uncluttered and sleek. Only two buttons and three LED indicators are present near the inside hinge and there is a 0.3MP camera at the top. Most of the peripherals (SD slot, RJ45 port, VGA out, power, Kensington Lock) connect in the back, giving the sides and front of the netbook a smoother look and feel. The bottom of the netbook houses the battery, a door to access the RAM and the stereo speakers. So what do you think? Will the new S101 set the new standard for elegance in netbooks or is it a MacBook Air wannabe with unimpressive specs and a tawdry exterior? Hit the jump for more pictures than you can stand.

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S101 in packaging

S101 in suede leather pouch

S101 closed

S101 open with brushed aluminum arm rest

S101 left side

S101right side

S101 back

S101 bottom

S101 closeup of trackpad with single button

S101 diamond-embedded hinge

S101 is slightly thicker than a Hong Kong 50 cents and one dollar coin

If you own a Dell Inspiron Mini with Ubuntu and paid extra to upgrade your hard drive from the stock 4 GB to an 8 GB or 16 GB SSD drive, you better get sudo fdisk-ing and check your partition sizes. A savvy Inspiron Mini owner noticed his 16 GB SSD was only showing up as a 4 GB inside Ubuntu. A quick check of the bios revealed that the physical drive was indeed 16 GB leaving him to wonder what happened to that extra 12 GB. He was not the only one to notice this discrepancy and bring it to the attention of Dell. It did not take Dell very long to admit there was an error in their manufacturing process. Turns out their technicians were using a disk image for a 4 GB install on each and every one of their Ubuntu machines. In other words, all 8 GB and 16 GB machines were partitioned as 4 GB machines. Oops! As of Friday, Dell announced that each and every new Ubuntu system will be installed with the correct partition size. Yay! Dell has kindly offered a solution to the problem if you are one of the unlucky early adopters: use your system restore disk to repartition your disk and re-install Ubuntu. If you are a Linux junkie, then you can attempt to resize your partition with gParted and skip the whole re-installation hassle process. Whichever method you choose be sure to backup your data first, ok? Wouldn’t want anyone to lose the one and only picture of dear Aunt Ethel at her 100th birthday celebration in the backyard of her beautiful Victorian house on the day before it was unexpectedly destroyed by a hurricane. Priceless.

[via Liliputing]

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Well lookie what we have here. It looks like Mozilla stepped it up and decided to release a shiny new tablet version of the Fennec (Firefox Mobile) browser. N810 and N800 owners running Chinook or Diablo can now enjoy the fresh new 1.0 alpha 1 version of Fennec, complete with a laundry list of changes:

Easy navigation to Web content:

• Bookmarks, including tags
• Smart URL bar ("awesome bar")
• Tabbed browsing with thumbnail images
• Integrated Web search – built into the URL bar
• Easy access to multiple search engines

Web content:

• Maximize content by auto-hiding controls and URL bar
• Zoom in and out

Security:

• Instant Web site ID ("Larry")
• Password manager
• Popup blocker
• Clear private data

Devices services integration:

• Click on a phone number to initiate a call
• JavaScript API to get device location
• Popup blocker
• Clear private data

Also:

• Searchable download manager
• Preferences pane

We’ve played with it for a while and while the look and functionality are fantastic, it’s still slow. When we say slow, we mean sloooooow. The tabbed browsing (pictured above on the left) implementation and navigation controls are awesome – swipe right with your finger or stylus right to open the tabs bar or left to open the navigation menu. Tablet owners can hit the read link to install Fennec or if you’re reading this on your N800 / N810 just click here for the .install file.

[Via nokiAAddict ]

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After months of waiting, the Nokia N810 WiMAX edition went live on Nokia’s online storefront this week. No longer “Available Soon” the WiMAX version of the popular Internet Tablet is now “In Stock” and ready for shipping. A member over at Internet Tablet Talk reported that he has already received his and, to everyone’s surprise, is able to connect to Chicago’s not-yet-launched Xohm WiMAX network. He had to work a little tomfoolery and enter in a Baltimore zip code during the activation process but now he is enjoying the WiMAX wireless experience in Chicago. Awesome! The N810 WiMAX edition is currently being offered with a $50 instant rebate, bringing the price down to $433 plus shipping. Just a heads up, Nokia still has the N810 classified as a “phone”. With this being the fourth version of the Internet Tablet, you would think they would have created a new category for this niche device. Alas, that is not the case so you will have to click, not run, to the online Nokia USA store, phone category please, and order yourself a heap of WiMAX Internet Tablet goodness.

Thanks, Mister Ecua.

[Via Internet Tablet Talk ]

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With every computer manufacturer and their chip supplier’s barber now jumping on the netbook train, it’s clearly about time for Asus to step it up a bit. Many would credit the Eee line of ultra-portable laptops with popularizing the new breed but now that Asus is competing the likes of top manufacturers, the Eee is in danger of becoming like a Hollywood actress over 26 – still pretty good at what it does but no one in tinseltown wants to look at it anymore. Fear not Asus lovers, the S101 might be just the botox injection the Eee line needed. Don’t let the relatively hideous shade of brown pictured above fool you; the S101 means business. A variety of SSD drives to choose from, an ultra-slim body (tapers to 18 mm, just thicker than the MacBook Air) and pretty solid specs make the S101 very buzz worthy. Check it:

• 264 mm (w) x 180.5 mm (d) x 18 ~ 25 mm (h, tapered)
• 1 kg (2.2 lbs)
• Windows XP Home (base model) or GNU Linux OS
• 10.2-inch wide LED-backlit TFT display, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution. 252K colors
• Intel Atom processor
• 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0
• 1 GB DDR2 RAM
• 3 USB 2.0 ports and a VGA port for an external monitor
• Integrated 4-in-1 multimedia card reader
• Multi-touch touchpad
• 2450 mAh battery, not removable
• Available in brown, champagne and graphite

But what about storage – you said it had SSD drives? Calm down, we’re getting there. The S101 will be available in three different trims and here’s what they look like:

• Windows XP, 16 GB SSD or 20GB SD – $699
• Linux, 32 GB SSD – $699
• Linux, 64 GB SSD – $799

So what do you think? Is the S101 the face lift Asus needs or is it just another Joan Rivers?

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Anyone keeping up on technology would notice a recent explosion in the netbook market. More or less started by the surprisingly successful Asus EEE Pc in 2007, the market for these low-cost, lightweight notebooks is on the rise with no less than 14 netbooks being announced or launched this past week. They come in all flavors (Windows or Linux), sizes (8.9 inch or 10 inch), and from almost every manufacturer imaginable. We even heard of a netbook from Packard Bell, a name which conjures up bad memories for US computer owners from the the late 80’s to the early 90’s. The only company apparently not jumping in feet first is Sony who, according to Mike Abary, Sony’s Senior VP of Information Technology Products, is “letting the pioneers in the market make the mistakes.” It’s your choice to wait Sony but when you decide to finally enter the market, you will face lots and we mean lots of competition. Hit the jump for a quick rundown of the 14 or so netbooks launched or announced this week.

• Avertec Buddy
• Samsung NC10
• Gateway branded netbook from Acer
• Packard Bell branded netbook from Acer
• Acer Aspire One with 3G
• Acer Aspire One with Wimax
• Toshiba NB100
• Lenovo S9 (lauched in Taiwan)
• Lenovo S10 (lauched in Taiwan)
• MSI U91
• MSI U120
• Sotec DC101
• Eltrinex MobilePC
• BenQ Joybook Lite

We almost forgot what it was like outside the mobile phone game. You know: Leak -> Wait -> Official announcement -> Wait -> Launch! Sure plenty has been leaked as far as Dell’s latest lappy is concerned, but kudos are still in order. Just yesterday we learned that the Inspiron Mini 9 was set to be announced this week and bam; today they’re ready to order. Let’s take a look at how each of the three variants of this sweet new ultra-portable shape up specs-wise:

$349

• Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache)
• Ubuntu 8.04 OS
• Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)
• RAM: 512MB DDR2 at 533MHz
• Hard drive: 4GB Solid State Drive + 2 GB of online Box.net storage

$399

• Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache)
• Windows XP Home Edition OS
• Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)
• RAM: 512MB DDR2 at 533MHz
• Hard drive: 8GB Solid State Drive

$449

• Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache)
• Windows XP Home Edition OS
• Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)
• RAM: 1GB DDR2 at 533MHz
• Hard drive: 16GB Solid State Drive

There is a downside of course, but isn’t there always? The size is great, the gear is great but the battery is… Not so great. Basically you’re looking at about three hours of juice before the Mini 9 starts coughing and needs another fix. Yikes. The good news is that this little sucker is so small that you should have absolutely no problem fitting a heafty external battery pack in your back with it. Does that defeat the purpose? Hmm, your call.

UPDATE: If you purchase a Studio 15, XPS M1530 or XPS M1330 laptop between 6 am (Central) tomorrow and 6 am (Central) Tuesday September 9th, you can snag a Mini 9 along with it for only $99. Woo!

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The Dell mini notebook that we first laid eyes on back in May looks to be all set to become official this week. Geared towards web surfing and light usage, Dell’s Inspiron 910 could be quite an entry into the mini notebook space. While specs have yet to become official, there is a good deal being reported at this point and everything is looking pretty on point. Apparently the sub-10 inch notebook will weigh in around 2.2 pounds and will sport an 8.9 inch screen and three USB 2.0 ports. The guts will include a 1.6 GHz Atom processor, up to 1 GB of RAM, integrated WiFi and a built-in camera. It also looks like the Inspiron 910 will sport SSD for storage and will vary in size up to 16 GB. Of course 16 GB isn’t going to get you very far these days even in a netbook, so rumor has it that Dell has worked out a deal with online storage leader Box.net to include a cloud storage solution out of the box. Stuff all that into a portable that is said to start under $400 and you may very well have a winner on your hands – even in candy apple red (don’t worry, it’ll be available in black as well).

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OpenMoko, current king of “open” in the mobile world, has just announced that the schematics for its 1973 and shiny new Neo FreeRunner handsets will soon be published and available for the world to customize. That’s right, OpenMoko takes the concept of open source mobiles to an entirely new level by allowing customization beyond third-party software development. The very architecture of the company’s handsets is fair game as developers are invited to engineer integrated instruments or sensors. It will be interesting to see how the global community embraces the concept of open source mobile hardware and even more interesting to see what they come up with. We already told you about Koolu’s plans to integrate features such as a laser-projected virtual keyboard and an LED projector into the Neo FreeRunner and we can’t wait to see this vision realized. Just remember fellas, you have to keep the handset affordable. In terms of framework, the Neo FreeRunner is quite a launching point for development. The Linux-based handset features a 2.8-inch touchscreen, 128MB of RAM, 256MB of internal memory along with a microSDHC slot, integrated GPS, 802.11g WiFi, bluetooth 2.0 and two motion sensors. Developers, the gauntlet has been thrown.

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It’s safe to say that up until now, Openmoko handsets have hardly received the global welcome that the company envisioned when it first began its quest to open the world of mobile phones. The odds are pretty good that you’ve read plenty about Openmoko’s Linux-based handsets; you probably even tipped your hat at the concept of a truly open handset (we know Google liked the idea). The odds are even better however, that you didn’t buy one. In fact outside of an expo you’ve probably never even seen one in person. All that might just change soon, or so Openmoko hopes, as it has just signed a deal with Canada-based Koolu which will take on the task of worldwide Neo FreeRunner distribution.

Koolu, known for its innovations in easy-to-use services such as Google Apps and Skype, will distribute the Openmoko Neo FreeRunner phone first to developers, and later to consumers as Google Apps go mobile. Koolu has created a program unique in the industry by offering free Neo FreeRunner phones in a referral program for Google Apps world-wide.

Kuloo’s long terms plans for Openmoko handsets are pretty intense in fact. As part of an ecofriendly push, Kuloo plans to integrate a laser-projected virtual keyboard and an LED projector into future handsets in order to create a portable computer that drastically reduces E waste and carbon footpront. Check out a mockup of its vision after the jump.

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