We've heard some rumors that were pretty far out in left field, but this one is far out. In fact, the only reason we're giving it even an ounce of credence is that it's a perfect market opportunity -- we mean, who isn't dreadfully sick of the plain jane digital photo frames that are impossible to distinguish from one another? At any rate, whispers have it that HP is working up a frame that will double as a slate PC of sorts, giving users a full blown web browser, e-mail client, RSS reader and access to other "widgets and lightweight applications." Predictably, the mythical unit will be marketed as a companion internet device, and we're told that it may even boast an Intel Atom CPU alongside a 10-inch panel and a WiFi radio. We'll find out if you'll really be burning $400 on this so-called conglomerate before the year's end.

Windows Mobile 6.5 was just a whisper on a Motorola phone chief Sanjay Jha's lips two weeks ago, but now that Ballmer himself has confirmed that there's at least one more rev of WinMo 6 en route before Windows Mobile 7 hits it looks like the floodgates have opened -- check out these hot screenshots, one of which seems to have been liberally dipped in Zune sauce. We're hoping that means we'll see some Zune integration with this next generation of handsets, but we're not going to get too worked up yet (cough, Xbox). It does look quite nice, though, and we've got our fingers crossed that this revamp is more than just a pretty new home screen and app launcher -- you're way late to that party, Microsoft. No telling on when 6.5 will actually get here, but Ballms said it'll be sometime next year, so we're guessing we don't have too long to wait.

Update: As several of you have pointed out, some of the icons are a little suspicious -- that "Today" icon is OS X's Home icon, for example. We're hoping this is the real deal and not just a user-made skin, but we wouldn't start making any long term plans here.

[Via WMPowerUser]

We've been hearing rumors of AMD's Atom killer CPUs for over a year now. Unfortunately, vapor doesn't help the bottom line -- it does however explain AMD's conspicuous absence from the deluge of netbooks now trumping laptops for shelf-space. AMD's CEO, Dirk Meyer, has promised on a few occasions (as recently as the Q3 earnings call) to unveil "Bobcat" in November. So seeing the chips on display at tomorrow's analyst conference is pretty much a given. Check back then for all the details.

The oh so humble, Mr. Person Familiar with the Matter is back with knowledge that Dell has postponed its Zing-based MP3 player... indefinitely. This, according to the Wall Street Journal -- the very source of the original DJ Ditty rebirthing rumor. Dell will shelve the MP3 prototypes it was preparing for a possible fall launch and focus instead on building out its Zing software to organize the music and movies downloaded to Dell PCs. So no DJ Ditty 2, imagine our sense of loss. A spokesman did say that Dell plans to launch another "half-dozen laptops and desktops between now and the end of the calendar year." Would that list include the Studio XPS 13 and 16 by any chance Dell?

[Via Electronista]

There's been a flurry of chatter over a rumor that AT&T's Ralph de la Vega, CEO of the company's Mobility and Consumer markets announced that the carrier would be releasing an Android-based phone in the near future. We'd love to be able to confirm that info, but according to an article just published on the San Francisco Chronicle's site, de la Vega has feelings that seem to run quite contrary to the sentiment. According to the paper:

"De la Vega said AT&T continues to look at Google's Android operating system but is not prepared to make any moves to carry any Android phones. He said the platform is still evolving and needs to open up even more to offer a wider array of non-Google applications."

As much as we want to see this thing happen, it looks like the boys at AT&T aren't feeling Google's insistence on intrinsically linking devices to its web apps. Haven't you heard guys? The future is in the cloud. Oh, and open.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

There was a day during an age not far removed from our memory in which Apple would remain dead silent on any murmuring going on regarding its wares -- clearly, that day has passed. In a rather unprecedented move, an actual spokesman named Bill Evans emerged from the Cupertino cocoon in order to put to rest all those wildly speculative rumors going on about new iMacs and / or Mac minis. Quite frankly, he uttered that "[Apple's] holiday line-up is set." Our take? This move is likely being made in order to assure prospective holiday shoppers that buying now is "safe," and that new gear isn't just weeks / days / nanoseconds away. C'mon, you know a well-oiled machine like Apple doesn't want all sorts of about-to-be-outdated Mac inventory clogging its supply chain when Macworld rolls around, don'tcha?

[Via CNET]

Ah here we go, a major acquisition following a quarter of disturbingly bleak financial results from Japan's tech community. First from the chute is Panasonic, which according to Nikkei and other members of the media elite, has reached a preliminary agreement to takeover its troubled domestic rival, Sanyo -- details to be announced on November 7th. The chatter began in ernest over the weekend with plenty of folks blabbing about Panasonic's plan to create a "battery superpower" meant to dominate a future that envisions a taller, more slender mankind tooling about in form-fitting jumpsuits from the safety of silent, electric cars. The deal would also extend Panasonic's range of consumer electronics while giving it access to Sanyo's solar panel production. Yeah, yeah, we get it, now let's just make it official already, k fellas?

[Via Times Online]

OpenMoko, the company most famous for its altogether open Neo FreeRunner, is reportedly quite close to kicking out an Android-based handset. Before you get all shocked and appalled, let's look at this rationally. If you'll recall, we actually got wind of such an occurrence way back in April of this year, and some of those very details are jibing nicely with what we're hearing now. Apparently a company dubbed Koolu will be looking to OpenMoko for the design, and we could see a device emerge as early as next month. Initial specs for the elusive mobile include a 400MHz / 500MHz Samsung 2442B CPU, 128MB of SDRAM, a 2.84-inch 640 x 480 resolution touchscreen, 802.11b/g WiFi, aGPS / GPS, inbuilt accelerometer, a pair of "hard" buttons, Bluetooth support, a 2.5mm headphone jack (boo!) and a microSD card slot. Obviously we'll have to wait and see if any of this pans out, but we'll be the first to cross our fingers and hope for yet another Android phone in the mix.

[Thanks, Charles]

Intel's Montevina mobile processors will get a significant bump in the 2nd quarter of 2009 with the 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo T9900, and the 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo P8800. A completely separate, slightly more suspect Digitimes rumor tells of a possible Core 2 Quad Q9600 CPU of unknown speed and power. Regardless, we won't get to bask in their awesomeness for very long, as the switchover to the Calpella platform (and Clarksfield) will follow quickly in the 3rd quarter of 2009. Will the rumor-mill never cease to torture us?

[Via Electronista]

Read - Intel Clarksfield & Ibex Peak-M Chipsets In Q3 '09
Read - Intel planning Montevina Refresh

We already knew that MSI's Wind U120 was coming this quarter. Now DigiTimes has pegged the launch to November. Available in white or black, DigiTimes' sources claim that the U120 should launch for roughly $552 with a built-in 3.5G data module, Atom N270 proc, 1GB memory, and a 120GB hard disk loaded with Windows XP. For its part, MSI did say that it will not be introducing a netbook with touchscreen due to the high cost (eh hem, hear that ASUS?). MSI does, however, plan to launch its second generation Wind netbook with "new innovations" at the beginning of March at CeBIT 2009. We're hoping for thought-control enabled by a quantum processor but expecting something more akin to a race to the bottom.

Motorola: a name that oozes with apathy amongst gadget aficionados these days. But what if we added the words "Android" and "Social" to the mix, would you once again take notice of the world's most invisible number 1 seller of handsets? According to BusinessWeek, Moto's Google-ified handset will feature an "iphone-like touch-screen, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and a host of social-network-friendly features." BusinessWeek's sources say that the device takes its design cues from the Krave ZN4 while resembling a high-end version of the T-Mobile G1 from HTC (while selling for less). Apparently Moto has been shopping the spec-sheet and images around to carriers over the last few months in preparation for a Q2 2009 US launch (Europe in Q3 2009) for the MySpaceBook crowd. Unfortunately for Moto, we expect the market to be flooded with Android handsets by then.

[Via TechDigest]

So it seems Nikon had a press preview all setup for October 22nd, reportedly to discuss the forthcoming MX format. We're not precisely sure if this ties directly in with that mysterious ad we saw at the front end of this month or not, but either way, it looks like the world will be waiting to find out. Reportedly, the new date for the conference will be on or around November 20th in Denmark, but we'd even take that with a hint of salt for the time being. In all seriousness, it's like Nikon is stuck in a perpetual warp tunnel of rumors, so don't be shocked to hear something else totally juicy between now and then.

[Via Electronista]

Read - Original plans
Read - Delay notice

Boy Genius is fleshing-out those next-gen BlackBerry rumors this morning. According to the very early buzz from his sources, BGR says that we should be looking at a new Storm capable of riding US HSDPA frequencies after its expected unveiling at the WES2009 show which starts May 5th. RIM's also rumored to be working on a Bold-like QWERTY of Javeline / Curve 8900-size with an honest-to-goodness touchscreen baked right in. Mmm, baked BlackBerries.

Remember the scathing DigiTimes rumor that claimed HP was taking advantage of its dominant position in PC sales to strong-arm manufacturers into refusing business from ASUS? Well, HP has categorically denied the claim saying, "HP did not send out any notice, nor did it communicate in any manner to its manufacturing partners that they not accept orders from Asustek." The world's number one PC maker then added, "HP has strong 'standards of business' and policies and competes fairly in the market." Surely this brings an end to the matter (right)... if only HP would quit calling ASUS Shirley.

Maybe you're running a six-year old pirated copy of XP because you still don't trust Vista -- "I'm waiting on one more Service Pack, just to be extra sure," you say. If that's the case, you might have to come up with a new excuse soon: Mary Jo Foley over at ZDNet is reporting that a beta build of Vista Service Pack 2 is already in the hands of some software and hardware partners, and that Microsoft intends to deliver both Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2 before it launches Windows 7 -- err, 6.1, no wait, yeah let's go with 7 -- which it supposedly hopes to release June 3rd of next year. At present we know very little about SP2's features, but we're sure you have a few ideas.