Just Plain Tech » Blog Archive » Rumor Mill Round-up

Tech News, Reviews, and More

Rumor Mill Round-up

Luofei 31 January 2009 26 views No Comment

Google. Amazon. Dell. Sidekick. Helio? Let’s recap all the rumors that floated through the tech-o-sphere this week.

We already covered the rumors of the new Sidekick LX 2009, so free to check that out there. In summary, the new Sidekick looks very promising and will appeal to more than just text-obsessed teenage girls and urban hip-hop aficionados.

Throughout the week, little bit of evidence popped up here and there about the GDrive, or Google Web Drive. This is Google’s long fabled online storage solution. Frankly, I am waiting to see how groundbreaking this next Google product will be. Microsoft already offers 25GB of free online storage with Windows Live SkyDrive. I expect to see Google integrate GDrive, or whatever it will be called, into the current G-ecosystem of Gmail, Google Docs, etc., but what I’d really like to see is an automatic sync/backup system, along the lines of JPT-favorite Dropbox.

Amazon will be hosting a press conference in a library in New York City February 9th. All signs point to them announcing the much anticipated Kindle 2. This next ebook reader from Amazon was leaked months ago, and looks to correct many of the original Kindle’s design misgivings. Not much else is known about the device, but hopefully it won’t be perpetually sold out like the original Kindle. LINK to the original Boy Genius Report post and gallery.

In other rumor related news, Dell is said to be working on a smartphone purportedly called the “MePhone”. Wow. Just wow. Apparently, Dell still has not decided between Windows Mobile or Android nor touchscreen-only or Palm Pre-style slider. (Hint to Dell: Android with a portrait slider keyboard, a la Pre.) We could find out what Dell decides as soon as next month at Mobile World Congress.

Finally, the Helio Ocean 2 is finally reaching production. Helio has always offered a great deal for lots of minutes and data, but has never really caught on with the mainstream. Helio uses Sprint’s 3G network, which is actually very good, and the Ocean 2 will be their flagship phone. It is a dual slider with both a QWERTY keyboard and a number pad. Price and detailed specs are not known yet, but we won’t have to wait long because the Ocean 2 will hit stores February 12th. LINK to the original MobileCrunch post and gallery.