Before you get too riled up here, let us point out that this Atom-based OQO is simply a prototype. According to the company's Dennis Moore, the device we're seeing here "is not a product launch or announcement," but simply a demonstration of just how amazing and utterly life-changing the OQO + Atom combo is. Really guys, if there's so much love in the house, why not get this thing on the production line?

[Via jkkmobile]

We've always wondered exactly what people were supposed to use UMPCs for, and now we have at least one answer: as GPS units. Yep, that's right: OQO and Garmin have released an official kit to turn your $2,000 OQO 02 into a $400 Garmin GPS unit. For $237. No, we have no idea who would buy this, but if you're feeling like throwing some bills around, you'll find a Garmin Mobile PC unit, car mount, and power adapter in the box, as well as a small note from us with an address you can send your additional silly money to for proper disposal.

PS. - Yes, we know you can also buy the Garmin adapter for $99 and the mount for $59, but it's the ridiculous bundle pricing that's got us all hot and bothered.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

While greeted with heaps of initial skepticism, forum jockeys over at OQO Talk now seem convinced that a junior member by the name of TRF has successfully hacked the OQO to run OS X Leopard. Adding a video filmed by Mr. Blurry Cam didn't hurt the cause. TRF's OQO is setup in a dual-boot Vista / OS X mode which boots Leopard in about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. WiFi, sound, power management and Bluetooth... it's all there with applications popping with serious snap. The only thing missing at the moment is WWAN access which TRF is now testing. While not yet a "plug and play" hack, it's "definitely doable," he says. Perhaps, but we'll need more details to say the least. Video excerpt posted after the break.

[Thanks Albert L. and lambda jones]

Read -- Forum post
Read -- Full Video

We knew the OQO model 02 was hanging around at CES playing on Sprint's (demo) XOHM network, but we were finally able to hunt the unit down and snag a pic of the interface. Now, if only we could pick one of these up sometime soon...

OQO demonstrated the first UMPC with embedded Sprint XOHM WiMAX here at CES today and while not earth shattering -- as WiMAX isn't a brand spanking new baby -- it's nice to see the tech trickle into more portable devices. Of course, don't expect to be able to pop out and pick up an OQO model 02 with WiMAX in the near as the press fluff only states it may be available in specific markets at some point in the future -- apparently they're big on vague. Well done OQO and Sprint, have at it.

OQO may not be releasing a new portable machine this CES, but the Model 02 is getting a couple of new upgrades. In addition to a new $200 outdoor display option (with 50% of the outdoor reflectivity of the current 02's screen, but no additional brightness), the new high end version will also feature a 64GB SSD (up from 32GB) as well as that new screen for an even $3,000. Oh sure, that's ridiculously expensive -- but maybe you're just that serious about UMPCs.

Man, what a tease. OQO's Anytime / Anywhere event is all wrapped up in London and with it, an updated OQO Model E2 with HSDPA data is born. At the moment, that's all that's been announced, a same spec'd Model E2 with a €250 (about $367) premium inclusion of HSDPA/UMTS 2100MHz; GSM/EDGE/GPRS 900/1800MHz (SIM Free) data. Really now, was a full-blown press conference required to announce a simple (though useful) HSDPA bump to the European version of the Model 02? Full press release coming tomorrow -- maybe we'll see some surprises then.

[Via UMPC Portal]

Read -- OQO Model E2 with HSDPA on Expansys

OQO has been sending out invitations to a London press conference which will include a pre-launch unveiling of an unspecified product. They're also announcing what jkOnTheRun calls an Anytime / Anywhere Computing Environment, which is so vague that it could mean almost anything. The CEO of the company will be at the event too, so we know this probably isn't going anything as insignificant as a point update to existing models.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

OQO has finally brought its wares to the rest of the world with the introduction of the Model e2, the opening of an international office in the UK, and the hiring of a former Palm Europe Executive. In case you were wondering, the Model e2 appears identical to North America's OQO Model 02, albeit with a UK style keyboard. For now, distribution is limited to eXpansys, Portix, and Dynamism, shipping at prices between £846 and £1,359.95. Yeah, the same kind of "price parity" Europeans have long enjoyed applies to the OQO Model 2s, too.

Ugh, not more pictures of Palm's Centro, you gasp. Yes... and much more. This time, it's the Centro nuzzled up for some quickie shots with Sprint's Treo 755p and new Vogue (that's, HTC Touch to the rest of the world) and what must be Sprint's take on the new OQO Model 02. A veritable who's who of soon to be launched Sprint handsets. Better yet, our tipster -- contrary to previous reports -- "noticed little to no difference in typing on the QWERTY with the Centro to the Treo" while noting that the Centro was "much nicer to hold." He also says that the Vogue was running a 400MHz Qualcomm processor (not the standard OMAP 850) with 256MB ROM / 120MB RAM which suffered "no slowdown" even while running 15-20 applications. Check out all the sneaky pictures in the gallery below. Oh, as to the device to the right of the Vogue and below the OQO: that's a mystery, any ideas?

Update: That other handset turns out to be the LG Rumor, which looks to be positioned for the Facebook and MySpace messaging crowd. More on this later.

[Thanks, Catharsis and Stephen]

A bit of news from camp OQO today: the Model 02 is getting some upgrades, including a 32GB SSD or 120GB spinning disk option, new CPUs up to 1.6GHz, and upgraded WWAN with EV-DO Rev. A from Verizon and Sprint, with the base model also dropping to $1,299. In related news, OQO's got a new CEO on the scene, Dennis Moore, formerly of SAP. That's nice, but you know we're all about the gear, and a reduced price OQO with an SSD option and Rev. A is just what the doctor ordered.

We knew adding HSDPA to the OQO Model 02 was roughly equivalent to swapping out a mini-PCI card, but instead of waiting on OQO to take its own sweet time in releasing such a version in the States, tnkgrl took it upon herself to hack one up. After soldering in a correctly sized Sierra Wireless AirCard, everything works dandy, and she took pics aplenty of the process, but you might want to wait on a tutorial or a bit of common sense before you rip into your own EV-DO-equipped model in a warranty-voiding effort to rid yourself of the shackles of EV-DO.

While OQO has certainly had its share of ups and downs over the past few years -- from us calling the Model 01 the "heavyweight champion of vaporware," to literally having a market segment spring up around the devices -- things looked to be headed decidedly up with the release of the 3G-capable Model 02 at the start of the year. But as always with the San Francisco company, the transition between announcing a product and actually shipping it is proving to be a little difficult. With shipping delays stretching to 16 weeks, an OQO rep recently confirmed the problem and pointed the finger of blame: "All orders with Sprint and Verizon customers are on hold while some issues are ironed out with the WWAN product line." Engadget pal Boy Genius says his experience bears that out -- his commercially-purchased Model 02 has no software support for the supposedly-present Sprint modem, and to make it worse, the unit he received is covered in nicks and scratches, more evidence of hiccups along the OQO production line. Although we enjoy talking to the guys over at OQO, it sounds like they really need to get their ducks in a row with the Model 02. Peep the full Boy Genius rant with photos of his nicked-up Model 02 at the read link.

When you're waiting on a signature device like the decked-out OQO Model 02, you're REALLY waiting on it, so the anxious gadgetheads who've been watching this one like a hawk will be delighted to learn that the pocketable powerhouse is finally shipping. After a slight delay -- which must have been torture for pre-order customers, we're sure -- the $1,500+ Model 02 is now available either directly from the company or through "select enterprise and retail channels," and still comes with the option of EV-DO goodness from either Sprint or Verizon. That 3G connectivity is obviously gonna cost ya, though -- that is unless you're the lucky winner of our birthday cake contest (to be announced shortly), in which case your culinary skills have already got you covered.