The above picture was spotted by a keen InternetTabletTalk.com user in a Best Buy Mobile buyer’s guide in the US. This has a new black finish with an orange backlit keyboard, and is believed, by some, to be a WiMax version(Best Buy have used the same product code, so it’s not 100% clear). Zooming in on the picture seems to show an N830 label, which may well imply some hardware changes, and WiMax is the most likely. More news as and when we have it.

Story and picture courtesy of Tablet Guru.

Although not yet listed in the UK Apple Store, Apple have released a larger capacity iPod Shuffle in the US, with 2Gb of storage, and have reduced the price of the 1Gb model. We expect similar changes in the UK to come at some point in the near future. The new 2Gb model will go on sale later this month in the US.

HandyWi, the S60 WiFi client app we covered here, has been updated to v1.2. This adds supports for more specific WiFi accounts, with coverage of 100 WiFi networks, most notably BT OpenZone and The Cloud Hotspots. It also includes support for JoikuSpot Light, which we covered here.

Best of all, simply using HandyWi to access a WiFi Hotspot should cause the application to spot and download the update automatically, a nice touch.

Although we’ve already seen a UK review of the Packard Bell variant, here’s an unboxing of the Everex Cloudbook, and a review too, including some nice side shots showing the various connectors.

Although technically only available in the US, the Chumby (which we featured before here) has just had a major firmware update, and is now on general sale in the US. We note that the device includes compulsory adverts, a feature which has not featured heavily in their advertising. With these ads being US-centric, we expect this will be one of the reasons limiting the device to US only sales right now (they’ve told us that once sales in the US are established, they will look to broaden into new markets). Chumby have recently updated their website too.

If you are interested in the Chumby, here’s an interesting option - Thoughtfix over at Tabletblog.com has written an article on how to get the Chumby emulator working on an Nokia N810 Internet Tablet.

The Times have covered the Elonex One, which is a £99 laptop due for formal announcement at The Education Show in Birmingham at the end of February. The One will have 1Gb of memory, WiFi, and run Linux (just like the twice as expensive Eee PC and the thrice as expensive Everex Cloudbook), a 7″ screen, although it has no CD drive. It should weigh aound a kilo (2.2 pounds). Pre-installed software will include web browser, email client, mp3 software, and it will feature access to ONEunion, which seems to be some form of content sharing system. Although being targetted at schools (hence the choice of launch venue), it should also be available for general sale.

Alternatively (and unlike the Eee PC), a second version for £120 will feature Bluetooth and 2Gb of memory instead.

Story from Times Online.

It’s amazing what the user community will come up with. Asus Eee PC users have created a version of Fedora that is compatible with the Eee PC. If you are more used to Fedora than Ubuntu and other Debian based systems, then this may well be for you.

More details at Red Hat Magazine [Via EeeUser.com]

Nokia has announced Yamake, a new online gaming community. Yamake for N-Gage allows users to create their own games from a range of mini games by adding content, then playing and sharing them with friends and the wider Yamake community. Players can share their mobile mini games via the N-Gage Arena, the Yamake community and via multimedia message between N-Gage compatible and other S60 devices. The Yamake community connects players with one another, allowing them to download and review the mini games, as well as share ideas for content.

Although designed for BlackBerry devices, there are rumours (although they are just rumours right now) that this device will work with other devices. This will take the Bluetooth signal from the BlackBerry, and then provides a 3.5mm standard audio connector to play the music through a traditional stereo. This will sell in the US for approximately $80 in the US, although whether that will result in a £40, £50 or £80 price in the UK we don’t currently know.

It’s possible, although not confirmed, that the device will also take the stereo music and play it via Bluetooth Headphones.

[Via Engadget]

The VIA ARTiGO Pico-ITX Builder Kit is now available from LinITX.com. This is a DIY PC Kit, but based on the Pico-ITX motherboard form factor. This allows you to build a very small, but powerful PC for your use. LinITX are offering the Kit with a range of memory and Hard Disk options. For those looking for a ultra compact PC for locating in a lounge, bedroom, or even a HiFi cabinet, this may be the PC for you…

Today, from 10am, 3 are running a promotion. Buy a phone on a monthly contract (or a mobile broadband monthly contract) and you will be entered into an hourly draw to win a Nintendo Wii. The promotion runs for 24 hours, so any order must be placed by 10am tomorrow (Friday). With 3’s next day delivery (if ordered before 1pm), you may have missed Valentine’s day, but you can at least give your loved one a new phone tomorrow, and you never know, you might also soon be the owner of a new Wii.

Datawind, in conjunction with STYLZ, have launched a range of accessories for the PocketSurfer 2. First available (all are sold by Widget) is the Leather Case (£14.99). In the near future we should also see a leather case with a strap (£17.99), a USB Car Charger (£14.99), and a travel adaptor pack for £19.99.

[Via Tech Digest]

If you are a little fed up adding, editing and removing items from the Asus Launcher on your Eee PC, then the recently announced AsusLauncher Advanced Editor maybe for you. It gives you a greater level of control over the “Start Menu”.

More information in the EeeUser Forums [Via EeeUser]

Zeemote have produced a little Bluetooth joystick, designed explicitly for gaming on mobile phones. With the current relaunch of N-Gage by Nokia, this device could become popular. Although it seems to need support within the game itself, we would have thought that with a little software it should be able to work with most games. The Zeemote is 95 x 35 x 20mm and weighs 47g (including batteries).

The device is not yet available for sale, but should be soon. No information about UK availability is known.

Story courtesy of IntoMobile [Via SMSTextNews]

As part of Mobile World Congress, Samsung have also announced a high spec Symbian Smartphone. The G810 Slider features a 5 megapixel camera (which also has a 3x optical zoom), it has HSDPA (upto 3.6mbps), WiFi, YouTube support built in, and a GPS built in, including geotagging support. It also has a 3.5mm headphone socket.

This specification rivals that of many other high spec smartphones, and it will be interesting to see how well it sells when it goes on sale around March this year.

Specs courtesy of Symbian [Via Tech Digest]

Here’s a picture of the LG KT610 we mentioned here, courtesy of Symbian Guru. We’re still awaiting full specs of the device.

Nokia has announced a range of new phones, including the N96, whose details were leaked last week. The other phones to be released are the N78, a phone that’s being heralded as the replacement for the N73 with built in GPS and built in geotagging support (which we expect, via the various Nokia Beta Labs samples, to be included in future products and firmware updates for existing products); the 6210 Navigator (an update on last year’s 6110 Navigator); and the 6220 Classic (most of the features of the N82, but not in an N-Series phone). The other main announcements relate to Nokia’s Ovi strategy, and Nokia Maps v2 (now available as a public beta), both items we’ve covered before.

The N78 has some good specs:

• 3.2 megapixel camera (with video recording and a LED flash)
• AGPS support (including traditional GPS)
• No accelerometer
• QVGA 2.4″ screen
• HSDPA and Quad Band EDGE
• No large built in storage, but support for microSD cards
• Nokia Maps v2 with RTTI (Real Time Traffic Information)
• A move to microUSB port (from miniUSB)
• FM Transmitter

Some specs courtesy of Symbian World.

Sony Ericsson has also announced the G-Series of smartphones. These are UIQ touchscreen phones, but unlike previous UIQ phones, Sony Ericsson has said these have been designed as “Touchscreen Organizers for the Masses”.

The G700 comes in Silk Bronze, has a 3.2 megapixel camera (with image stabilisation and red eye reduction), FM Radio, and Bluetooth (including A2DP).

The G900 comes in Dark Red or Dark Brown, and has a 5 megapixel camera (with autofocus, 3x digital zoom, image stabilisation, red eye reduction, and facial recognition), WiFi, Memory Stick Micro, and Bluetooth (including A2DP). It is 106 x 49 x 13 mm and weighs 99 grams.

Both feature a 2.4″ touchscreen, and we hope to bring more information, including availability when we have it.

Specs direct from Sony Ericsson, with some specs and picture courtesy of Symbian Guru.

Sony Ericsson have announced the Xperia X1 phone. As you can see from the pictures above, the phone includes a full QWERTY keyboard, running Windows Mobile with a 3″ VGA screen, 3.2 megapixel camera, microSD support, Bluetooth (including A2DP), FM Radio, AGPS (not a full built in GPS), WiFi, HSDPA and HSUPA. It is 110 x 53 x 16.7 mm and weighs 145 grams. It will be available in Black and Silver in the second half of 2008.

Specs from SonyEricsson, Picture courtesy of Engadget.

We covered the release of the Vodafone USB Modem Stick here, however, Automated Home have got an in depth review of the modem available here.