Notion Ink Adam still alive, working on Flash compatibility

It was three months ago, in the midst of the most tablet-centric CES in recent memory, that we first laid our hands on Notion Ink's impressive Adam prototype. Since then, we've been on the lookout for signs that the small Indian startup will actually deliver on the tablet's lofty promises, and while that still seems to be on track, the latest update from the company's founder is casting doubt on the originally planned June release date. Stressing the need to agree subsidization deals with telecoms for the 3G-equipped device, Rohan Shravan explains that "some want to give you Adam for Thanksgiving, some for summer holidays." Add in his resolute commitment to only going ahead with the tablet when it's fully capable of running Flash (seriously Adobe, the thing can do 1080p video, but Flash makes it wince?), and you have a significantly more elastic release window than we were originally led to believe. All the same, Rohan couldn't leave us without some titillation, and he also promises "amazing freedom" on the email front and a number of content collaborations that he's not yet allowed to announce. If you ask us, we just want something -- anything -- with a Pixel Qi display; we'll make up our own content, just give us the hardware already.

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ICD's Tegra 2-powered Gemini is the most feature-complete tablet we've seen yet

Built around the 1GHz Tegra 2 SOC, the 11.2-inch ICD Gemini should provide comparable endurance to Apple's A4-sporting iPad, while besting it in the grunt stakes with its glorious ability to chew through 1080p video when required. If that wasn't enough, the rest of this thing's spec sheet reads like a wishlist. Headlined by a 3G connection that allows cellular voice calls (crazy, we know!), it also includes a user-replaceable 40Wh battery, an SD card reader, FM radio, GPS, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, MicroUSB connectivity to PCs and USB peripherals, stereo speakers, and dual webcams -- a 2 megapixel front-facing unit and a 5 megapixel autofocusing snapper on the back. Multitouch displays will be available in both resistive and capacitive flavors, with the 1,366 x 768 resolution being filled by Google's snappy Android OS. Oh, and did we mention it will run Flash? Because it will. Full specs and a comparison to its direct competitors await after the break, though we've yet to find out when this JooJoo killer will be making its arrival or at what price.

Update: We've come across a couple of real (i.e. not rendered) pictures of an earlier prototype for the Gemini, which looks generic as hell but should give you a good idea of the dimensions and scale of the device in question.

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Haleron's 7-inch iLet Mini HAL costs $199, ships March 1

Want a tablet computer sans all the brand loyalty drama and eye-opening prices? Haleron's got just the thing for you with its iLet Mini HAL. Its humble spec brings only a 600MHz VIA CPU and 128MB of DDR2 RAM to the table, but it runs Android 1.6 and if all you want is a tablet to access the web with, do you really need more? Additionally, the onboard 2GB of flash storage is augmented with 10GB of cloud storage and the cheap expandability that's on offer via flash memory cards or USB drives. The iLet Mini HAL costs $199 with shipping starting next week, and we've been reliably informed that there'll be no additional charges no matter how many poor Space Odyssey jokes you decide to make.

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ICD's Tegra 2-toting Gemini tested, briefly enjoyed

It's only been a single day since the Tegra 2-powered ICD Gemini promised us a world in which tablet PCs could magically make calls, sport webcams and play Flash content (yes, we're still a bit sore about that), but somehow one man has already managed to get his hands on a prototype of the wannabe iPad killer. The verdict? "Blisteringly fast," according to Stuff.tv, albeit buggy and thoroughly unready for market. The website liberally praised the large, 11.2-inch screen for superb color and detail even as it found the resistive touch controls sluggish, and was blown away by how quickly the 1GHz Tegra 2 dealt with web browsing on Android OS. Sadly, it seems there wasn't time to get Hulu running on the device, and important features (including those webcams) weren't working on this early prototype. But don't worry, the publication says the feature-packed slate won't even hit the company's native UK until August, when ICD expects carrier deals to be signed. Now, Stuff, assuming you haven't returned that shiny tablet -- how about you shoot us some video?

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Eclair shocker! Android 2.1 leaked for Samsung Moment

Feeling impatient? Can't wait until Moment gets its Android 2.1 upgrade? The kids at SDX-Developers feel you, with one forum member providing a simple, straightforward download link to a 7z archive containing not one but two leaked builds: ECLAIR.DC23 and ECLAIR.DD03. According to the hub-bub, the latter seems to be giving people the most luck, although some are reporting a "faulty" Marketplace. That said, both builds do seem to work with voice and data. And yes, it will wipe your phone completely -- but if you're looking to get into this sort of action you're probably a risk-taker and a heart-breaker anyways. Good luck, and if you brick your phone don't blame us.

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BlackBerry 9650 spotted in the wild again, 'Bold' branding confirmed

The Tour branding never made a lot of sense -- RIM's most recently-released high-end portrait QWERTY device for CDMA networks occupies the same market position as the Bold over on GSM networks, so the name difference is kind of arbitrary and more than just a little bit confusing. It's all good, though, because CrackBerry has confirmation here that the Tour's replacement -- the 9650 -- is going to be wearing a Bold badge loud and proud around back by the 3.2 megapixel camera. It's not clear exactly when Sprint and Verizon are going to launch this sucker, but it's patently obvious that they both will -- it's just a matter of time -- so you may as well start prepping your eulogy for that infernal trackball now.

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iPhone OS 4 hands-on (updated with video!)

Okay, so we're currently holding our breath while the developer preview of iPhone OS 4 installs on our 3GS -- a process that seems to be, uh, not going so well, but we wanted to share these quick shots we took from the simulator in the meantime. The dock is now 3D, like the one in Snow Leopard and on the iPad, multitasking works just like you'd expect -- you can swipe left and right to see more open apps -- and the Game Center app is present, although not functional. There's also Events and Faces in the Photos app, which you'd expect after the iPad version got them. We've got our fingers crossed that our latest restore attempt is going to work, so check back in a few for a video walkthrough, but hit the gallery below in the meantime!

Update: Wonder of wonders, we actually got the bugger working! We're doing video right now, let us know what you want to see -- and check out some on-device shots below.



Okay, so we've been playing with iPhone OS 4 for a while now and here's what we've learned:

* It's pretty stable, especially compared to other developer editions of the iPhone OS we've messed around with. We haven't had any crashes so far, and things seem mostly to be working. Find My iPhone doesn't work, and iTunes 9.1 doesn't know about folders and will delete any you've set up, but nothing major is broken, at least as far as we can tell.
* The multitasking system works as described, but without any apps that support it it's hard to test -- we'll see if we can cajole a copy of Pandora or TomTom to play with. Steve might say task managers are a sign of failure, but you can certainly delete icons from the switcher -- just long press on them and a minus arrow pops up.
* Bluetooth keyboards are going to be the next great iPhone accessory gold rush. Been jonesing for a million-dollar idea? Here you go: slider keyboard case with built-in extended battery. We prefer our royalties in cash, please.
* We couldn't get threaded messages to work in Mail, but we're sure we're doing something wrong -- we've never really gotten along with iPhone Mail.
* The zoom control on the camera is pretty slick, and there's okayish macro. Tap-to-focus in the video mode is also a nice addition.
* Spell check works just like the iPad, as do cut/copy/paste hardware keyboard shortcuts. Still no way to bring up the soft keyboard from the device when it's paired, though, which is annoying if you walk away -- you have to remember to turn off Bluetooth, which will undoubtedly confuse someone.
* Faces and Events in Photos are just like the iPad -- they're just fancy folders. The actual face-detection happens on your machine, and things are just sorted on the phone.
* Setting up a Gmail account also prompts you to sync calendars and notes -- hallelujah!
* Game Center is a barren wasteland right now, since no apps support it -- we managed to log in and discover that we have no friends and no one has requested to be our friend. Suitably humbled, we logged out.
* We didn't have any major problems running our OS 3.0 apps, and we didn't see any new ads or anything.
* And that it, really -- without third party app support a lot of these features won't come into play just yet. Without them, it's just a nice iteration of the iPhone OS -- what else do you want to know?

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iPhone OS 4 unveiled, adds multitasking, shipping this summer

Just a bit more than a year after we first laid eyes on iPhone OS 3.0, Apple is back with the latest big revision of the OS that powers the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. iPhone OS 4 is shipping this summer (iPad in the fall), and the developer preview will be out today. iPhone 3GS and new-gen iPod touch will get all the features, but some features won't make it to the iPhone 3G, original iPhone, and older iPod touches. The biggest new feature is multitasking, which Apple says is going to be the "best" implementation in the smartphone space, though it's obviously not the first. App switching is activated by double tapping the home button, which pulls up a "dock" of currently running apps, and Apple claims it can do this without hurting battery life or performance for the front app. Unfortunately, this multitasking won't be available for devices older than the 3GS and new iPod touch. Multitasking is just one of seven different new "tentpole" features, including Game Center, enhanced Mail, and more...

Notable new features for users ("tentpoles" are in bold):

* Multitasking.
* Spell check (like on the iPad).
* Bluetooth keyboard support (again, on the iPad).
* User-defined wallpaper (a jailbreak favorite).
* Tap to focus when recording video, just like with photos, and a 5x digital zoom for the camera.
* Playlist creation and nested playlists.
* App folders for sorting apps! You can even put an app folder in the dock.
* Enhanced Mail! You can have a merged inbox view, switch between inboxes quickly, and sync to more than one Exchange account. There's also threaded messaging (at last!) and in-app attachment viewing.
* iBooks, just like on iPad, only smaller. You can wirelessly sync books between platforms, a la Kindle.
* Enterprise features, including remote device management and wireless app distribution.
* Game Center. It's like Xbox Live, but for iPhone games. Includes achievements, leaderboards, and match making. It will be available as a "developer preview," and out for consumers later this year.

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Developers are getting plenty of new tricks too:

* New SDK, available today.
* 1,500 new APIs.
* Background audio (think Pandora).
* Background VoIP (think Skype).
* Background location data, both with live GPS for backgrounded turn-by-turn, and cell tower-based for lower power draw.
* Local notifications. Like push notifications, but sends a notification straight from the app without needing a push notification server, perfect for an alarm, for instance.
* Fast app switching. Saves the state of an app and resumes it from where you left off, without dwelling in memory.
* iAd. Apple says it's for keeping "free apps free." The ads keep you in the app, while also taking over the screen and adding interactivity -- using HTML 5 for video -- up to simple gaming in-ad. Apple will offer a 60 / 40 split on revenue, and users can even buy apps straight from an ad.
* In-app SMS.
* Map overlays.
* Quick look for previewing documents.
* Photo Library access.
* Calendar access.
* Full access to the camera.
* Video playback and capture.
* Date and address "data detectors."
* Automated testing and performance / power analysis (the same tools Apple uses).

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Multitasking comes to iPhone OS 4.0 -- but not to the iPhone 3G

You heard that right, people -- iPhone OS 4 just brought multitasking to the platform! Apple says they've figured out how to implement third party multitasking without hurting performance or battery life, and they're demoing it now -- you just double click the home button and see a list of your apps, and you can just tap to switch between apps. The system actually runs the services apps need in the background -- the apps don't need to do them individually, so it's not a "true" multitasking system, but it seems plenty effective. There are seven services: background audio, which allows you to use the standard pop-over iPod controls, Voice over IP, which can receive calls in the background, location services for GPS and social networking (there's an indicator if any service is tracking you), updated push notifications with local notifications, task completion so you can finish things like uploads in the background, and fast app switching, which lets apps sleep and resume instantly. Notably missing? Anything for managing a conversation, like IM or Twitter, which is a big omission. Win some, lose some, we suppose.

Update: Here's a big "lose some" -- only the iPhone 3GS and 3rd generation (late 2009) iPod touch will support multitasking. The iPhone 3G and below won't -- Steve says the hardware doesn't support it. Sad face.

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iPhone OS 4 keynote video now online

Sure, you devoured every word of the liveblog (or perhaps just casually refreshed throughout the day, who are we to judge), but if you want to see the Steve Jobs-delivered iPhone OS 4 keynote with your own two eyes, the streaming video is now online. Multitask your way on over!

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iPhone OS 4.0 spotlight lets you directly search web, Wikipedia

Apple did quite a bit today bringing its iPhone OS up to feature parity (and sometimes beyond) when compared with other modern smartphone platforms, and here's one piece not discussed today that we've been long wanting: web and Wikipedia search directly from Spotlight. WebOS and Windows Phone 7 have had it since inception, and Android's had it since Donut, and we're pretty happy to say that our OS 4.0-equipped iPhone is now also among the ranks, just 13 months after it first got a search bar. There you have it, folks, iPhone Spotlight is now useful.

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Twitter for BlackBerry goes to public beta

After a couple months of testing, RIM's official Twitter client for BlackBerry has just moved from a private, invite-only affair to a free public beta, adding a whole bunch of features in the process. The app's now got some comprehensive notification support for DMs, replies, and mentions, the ability to create and manage lists, on-device profile editing, magnified avatar viewing, and improved performance -- features that might stand a shot at catapulting the app toward the upper end of the Twitter echelon on the platform. RIM's being clear about the fact that this is still a beta we're dealing with here, but with public availability, we're at least a baby step closer to a final product.

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Will it blend? iPad edition (update: he cheated!)

Getting sick of the iPad? Then let our old friend Tom Dickinson do what he does best. If you've somehow missed all of his Blendtec videos in the past, be warned that they aren't for the faint-hearted gadget fanatics -- especially this latest edition where Tom forcefully folds the pad to fit it into his gadget muncher. When you're ready, march on for some "pad smoke" after the break.

Update: Commenter ernie pointed out that the aluminum back was missing when Tom folded the iPad. Come on, Blendtec, just blend the metal already!


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iPad 'Spirit' jailbreak demonstrated by MuscleNerd, now it really is magical (video)

You better believe it when notorious iPhone jailbreaker MuscleNerd -- a well-respected member of the iPhone Dev-Team -- declares root access on an iPad. According to this fella's tweets, this new hack is a port of Comex's "Spirit" jailbreak that exploits a bug found on both iPhone OS 3.1.3 and the iPad's 3.2. No downloads are offered right at this moment, but it shouldn't be long before we can throw in all sorts of wild apps and widgets as we wish. Video after the break.


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Dead iPad battery? Never mind replacing it, Apple just sends another iPad for $99

Whoa, Nelly! Isn't this something? Apple has just posted details on its iPad battery replacement service, which is really not a battery replacement service at all. Check out the company's opening line:

"If your iPad requires service due to the battery's diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee."

Now, let's compare that to the verbiage found in the iPhone's battery replacement program details:

"If your iPhone requires service only because the battery's ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will service your iPhone for a service fee."

We can see the puzzled look on your face from here, and we're sharing in the same disbelief. Apple is actually saying that it won't bother cracking open your withered iPad, replacing the battery and sending it back your way; instead, you'll pay $105.95 (including shipping) for a completely different iPad, which certainly has its pros and cons. On one hand, you're getting a new (or potentially refurbished, actually) iPad in around "one week," but on the other, you'll be waving goodbye to every morsel of personal data on the device that you send in -- unless you backup beforehand, of course. Here's Apple's take on answering "will the data on my iPad be preserved?"

"No. You will receive a replacement iPad that will not contain any of your personal data. Before you submit your iPad for service, it is important to sync your iPad with iTunes to back up your contacts, calendars, email account settings, bookmarks, apps, etc. Apple is not responsible for the loss of information when servicing your iPad."

Lovely, don'tcha think? Head on past the break for the full text.

[Thanks, David]

Battery Replacement Service - iPad: Frequently Asked Questions

What is iPad Battery Replacement Service?
If your iPad requires service due to the battery's diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee.

Note: Your iPad is not eligible for Battery Replacement Service if the product has been damaged, for example, as result of an accident, liquid contact, disassembly, unauthorized service or unauthorized modifications, or if the product is not operating correctly as a result of a component failure. Please review Apple's Repair Terms and Conditions for further details.

How much does it cost?
The service costs $99, plus $6.95 shipping. The total cost is $105.95 per unit.
All fees are in U.S. dollars and are subject to local tax.

How do I arrange iPad Battery Replacement Service?
Battery replacement service may be arranged via your local Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, or you can contact Apple Technical Support. Please do not send any accessories with your iPad.

Will the data on my iPad be preserved?
No. You will receive a replacement iPad that will not contain any of your personal data. Before you submit your iPad for service, it is important to sync your iPad with iTunes to back up your contacts, calendars, email account settings, bookmarks, apps, etc. Apple is not responsible for the loss of information when servicing your iPad.

How long will it take to receive my replacement iPad?
If you arrange service by calling Apple Technical Support, you can expect service to be completed within approximately one week from the time you send your iPad to Apple.

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iPad gets ColorWare'd, your retinas and savings may never recover (video)

You thought $500 to start for a silly tablet was bad? How about another $410 to get the thing in some other color than raw aluminum? Yes indeed, ColorWare is at it again, this time dunking the back of iPads into giant vats of Technicolor dreams -- or nightmares, depending on what combination of hues you choose. You can make your own design, with separate colors for the back, logo, and home button, but there's no escaping that $410 service charge -- or you can pay $910 for a new, painted 16GB model. The 64GB model is a whopping $1110, but the inspirational promo video after the break is entirely free.


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Enso's zenPad is vaporware, get refunds while they last

Did you order a Enso zenPad? If so, you'll be happy to hear that the company has decided on a concrete release date; its website is now ticking down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until May 8th, when Enso claims they'll finally ship the rebranded Smit MID. Problem is, if you ordered your zenPad on March 22nd -- the day we wrote about it -- you will have waited 47 days by the time the device ships, exactly two days too many to get a PayPal refund. But more importantly, manufacturer Smit has now disavowed any knowledge of a deal, and Enso itself has admitted that the zenPad as such does not currently exist. We've done quite a bit of digging and even spoke with an Enso founder to get the whole story. Enough promises have now been broken and lies told that if we were you, we'd request refunds ASAP, but if you still want to hang on for a chance at a $155 Android tablet, you can hear the whole tale right after the break.

The facts:

* In June 2008, Alberto Armandi, Maurizio Colarossi and Olivier Lalonde formed an internet advertising startup named Wozad.com, and attempted to raise $250,000 through micro funding, claiming the company would generate $5 billion in revenue by 2010 and run neck and neck with Google AdWords in 2012. Yeah, we know.

* On or about February 2, 2010, an Alberto Armandi found videos of the Smit MID-560 tablet around the internet, and wrote comments like the below on each:

Hey, i am doing trading business in china and just ordered a lot of 500 pieces of the Smit 560. The thing is real and i can show off real pictures. I will get a sample in about 15 days. Is anybody interested in a reseller opportunity?

Accompanying each comment, he provided a link to a series of eBay auctions, each for a lot of 50 tablets. These eBay auctions have since been deleted.

* On February 4th, Alberto Armandi purchased the enso-now.com domain name, supplying an address in Shenzhen, China.

* On March 8th, Alberto (under the handle enso-now) attempted to get feedback on the website at Y Combinator. He told commentors that he did not yet have a device, but was instead "waiting to meet with the factory to buy the prototype." Two comments later, he wrote: "i am not pre-selling anything, the device is currently produced and i can ship you 500 hundreds of pieces to you in a week."

* On March 8th, Maurizio's twitter account pointed to the website. (On March 4th, it pointed to another of Alberto's get-rich-quick ideas, watch-replicas.net.)

* On March 10th, Alberto defended Enso's reputation amidst scam allegations, again at Y Combinator.

* On March 12th, eBay seller "enso-now*com" got neutral feedback on an auction for an individual tablet, under the name "GOOGLE ANDROID TABLET IPAD IPHONE STYLE WIFI GPS 3G." On March 22nd, it got negative feedback for the same item, with the buyer claiming that he hadn't received it after a 45 day wait, and had to get his refund through PayPal. These auctions and the eBay seller account have since been deleted.

* In between our March 22nd posting and now, customers on the official Enso Facebook page and various websites complained that they weren't receiving so much as a payment confirmation after purchase.

* Until around March 30th, customers ordering the zenPad through the Enso website had to send money directly to a co-founder's PayPal account, "OLALONDE."

* Originally, Enso's about page promised devices would be processed and shipped within 7 working days. Then, customers on the official Facebook page wrote that Enso had replied to their worried emails saying that the company was overwhelmed by orders and the device would start shipping April 10. As of this week, the company's website was updated to read:

Due to our huge and sudden success, our facilities have a hard time to keep up with demand and shipping delays are longer than usual. Be advised that the current average wait time for shipping is 15-23 days.

As mentioned earlier, Enso now says it cannot ship the device until May 8th.

* As of April 5th, customers claimed they were unable to log into their accounts at Enso's website, and noticed that Enso's logo was similar to that of other companies called Enso. (Since "enso" is Japanese for a circle in calligraphy, anger at the latter is probably misinformed.) Customer Jerry O'Hara got in touch with Enso, who told him that sales records were being "saved in a database" and that customers would be informed when the devices started to ship.

* We emailed Enso on April 6th. We received no reply.

* On or around April 7th, Multimediawereld.be got in touch with manufacturer Shenzhen State Micro Technology (SMIT), who confirmed that Enso had purchased a single sample tablet, but had not placed an order:

This is Forrest from SMIT, how are you? I'm in charge of the overseas sales for the MIS products. Regarding your question below, for Enso They did purchase a MID-560 sample from us two weeks ago. They Have not Placed mass production order to us.

Forrest also told Multimediawereld that the current MID-560 does not support several features, including 3G connectivity, that Enso claims their zenPad does, and questioned if the zenPad was in fact the same device.

* On April 8th, Enso posted their first two official blog entries, backdating one to appear as if it was posted March 31st. They claim that the startup is a "victim of its own sudden success" and has already sold thousands of zenPads, but that the sudden influx of money caused eBay and PayPal to freeze its accounts, preventing them from manufacturing and shipping the tablets. Enso also claims that they are currently unable to refund customers who purchased before March 30th because the company had a limited PayPal account at that time.

We just spoke with Olivier Lalonde, who confirmed that the company does not and never did have more than 25 units, the majority of which he says have already been shipped out to customers. He wouldn't disclose how many units have been sold or how much money the company has accumulated, but told us that less than 15% of their customers have opted for a refund, and that Enso has already begun paying them back. "Most of them are okay with the shipping delay, they just wanted to know that they would receive the device," he told us. When asked about the company's practice of selling merchandise they did not have, Olivier said, "Honestly, we didn't expect so many orders in such a short span of time," and recommended that any worried customers apply for a refund, and re-purchase later on when the company had proven itself.

Even with the deck stacked against them, it's still quite possible Enso is wholly legit, and plans to issue both tablets and refunds in short order. They're certainly polite, when they get around to answering our calls. But honestly, with a company as shady (or unprepared) as this, it's just not worth the risk. PayPal director of communications Anuj Nayar told us that if you want a refund, the online payment processor gives you no more than 45 days from the order date to file a dispute, and you might as well do so: "If a buyer is worried, they can open a claim, and and then just close it if things work out."

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Apple's iPhone lockdown: apps must be written in one of three languages, Adobe in the hurt locker

Apple's already got a veritable novella describing things you can't do with the iPhone as a developer -- create apps that execute their own code is the biggie, obviously, blocking technologies Flash and Java in the absence of a loophole -- but it seems they've locked down the ecosystem just a little further today with the release of the iPhone OS 4 beta SDK. Check out this snippet from the developer's agreement:

Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).

What does that mean, exactly? Well, it means that technologies like Adobe's iPhone compiler in Flash CS5 won't be allowed, simply because the source code of the app that you're writing isn't in a language Apple's comfortable with. The compiler had been seen as a potential boon for Flash devs that had already been blocked out of the iPhone ecosystem for lack of a true Flash player, but Apple's found a way to block even this workaround -- technically you don't need to be using Apple's own tools, but you've got be using one of three variants of a single programming language. It's hard to say why Apple cares, exactly, but we suspect that the company would have to analyze your app pretty closely to detect variances in how the compiler produced your machine code in order to determine that you'd violated the rule.

This could be a blow to publishers -- Condé Nast included -- who'd been banking on Adobe Air to lead the digital push, since those guys presumably won't be able to bring their issues to the iPhone (and, more importantly, the iPad) without violating the terms of Apple's agreement. Protectionism is a core element of the iPhone's success, in Apple's view -- but ultimately, this might come out as a decision that's difficult to defend, unnecessarily sours publishers to the platform, and turns Flash devs' heads just a little grayer than they already were.

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Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus could be coming to Europe by the end of this month

Time to get those speculative juices flowing again. Pre Central have unearthed the above O2 Germany promotional poster displaying a Palm Pixi stood in front of such smartphone luminaries as Sony Ericsson's X10 and Motorola's Milestone. Given that the Pixi has yet to make the hop over the Atlantic, their supposition is that we're looking at its Plus variant and that this early flier is indicative of a soon-ish release for the Euro-bound Plus devices from Palm. Can we be any more specific than that? Why yes we can, thanks to Laurent Guyot, a French PR chap, who indicates an April 27th launch date for the Pre and Pixi Plus on the SFR network. Put as much trust into this info as you feel appropriate, though it does look like a resoundingly logical time to get these handsets out into eager European hands.

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iChat video with front facing camera evidence mounts in iPhone OS 4

Of the 1,500 or so new developer APIs and over 100 new user features mentioned by Steve and Co. yesterday, only a handful were covered in any detail. As usual, Apple was careful not to reveal anything about the next generation iPhone hardware expected to launch this summer. Fortunately we can spelunk the iPhone OS 4 SDK developer preview for hints of what's to come. TUAW found a new "iChatAgent" process running on OS 4 devices -- purpose, unknown -- but surely an indicator that Apple's finally set to launch a mobile iChat app. The fact that Apple hasn't already is one of those great iPhone / iPad / iPod touch mysteries. We've also peeled back the SDK to find evidence supporting those rumors of a front-facing camera (AVCaptureDevicePositionFront), flash (AVCaptureFlashModeOn/Off/auto), and torch/flashlight (AVCaptureTorchModeOn/Off/Auto) all declared in the AVCaptureDevice.h. Who cares, right? Front-facing video cameras have been implemented on a variety of mobile devices for years. Trouble is, how many people actually use them to video conference? And if Apple's late contribution to copy and paste can be used as a guide for setting expectations (and it can), then we expect Apple's iChat implementation to be done with the same grace and ease of use -- something that should have its carrier partners a bit worried if it's allowed to function over 3G data.

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