Those of you who follow our Twitter feed have already heard this, but we just got word that Lenovo will officially announce its new ThinkPad T400s next Tuesday, June 23rd.

The ThinkPad T400s is an updated version of the T400 but with updated specs: new, faster Intel Core 2 Duo processors, DisplayPort, eSATA, and a 5-in-1 media card reader. All this new hotness is wrapped in a 0.83″ thick chassis, quite a bit slimmer than the 1.12″ T400.

Given the T400s’ new svelte case, the case for getting the more expensive X301 becomes much harder to justify. The T400s is not much thicker, but has a full-powered processor and thus has much better performance.

Image courtesy of Engadget.

Once again, the macles* blog has revealed a new Acer Aspire One.  This new netbook will be Acer’s biggest yet.

This new Aspire One has a 11.6″ 16:9 aspect ratio display.  This larger screened Acer also sports a redesigned keyboard with flatter keys.  Internally, Acer has also moved to the Z-series of Atom processors and the new GMA500 graphics and chipset.  This should result in an even more energy efficient netbook.  Expect battery life of 4 hours with a standard battery and 8 hours with an extended battery.  Pricing at the time is unknown.

LINK to original macles* post.

Here are some photos of Acer’s supposed new Aspire One.  This version looks to be slimmer than the current 10″ model, perhaps taking a note from the Asus S101.

No specifics are known yet as to how much this will cost or when it is coming out, but signs point to this being SSD-only, as Acer has brought back the dedicated SD expansion slot from the original Aspire One.

LINK to the original post.

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.

Supposedly found in a survey about smartphones, this new Sidekick would be the first one with 3G and GPS.  In addition, it would feature a wealth of apps to take advantage of that sweet keyboard the Sidekick is known for.  Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube will all be included.  In addition, there is an included blog client and Live Search and Maps.  No doubt that is from Microsoft’s influence.

To top it all off, the LX 2009 is purported to have Outlook/Exchange support, 3.2 megapixel camera and a sweet 3.2″ WVGA (854 x 480) screen.  With these specs, who needs a Zune Phone?  As long as the price is right, I see this slim, new Sidekick being a very popular phone for T-mobile.

LINK to original post on Hiptop3.

According to LG, there will be other swappable modules for the phone, including speakers, a gamepad, and a Wi-Fi module.  This phone is very intriguing, as it seems to replace both the LG Voyager and Dare at the same time.  I hope Versa is not the final name for this phone though.  Sharing a moniker with one of the cheapest cars in America probably won’t help them sell phones.

Not much else is known about the VX9600.  We know it is coming to Verizon Wireless, but not when or for how much.

The detachable modules actually remind me of the stillborn Ogo 2, which was supposed to offer interchangeable modules in its hinge.  There was even a bottle opener module.  Check out a gallery of the never to be Ogo 2 here.

LINK to original HowardForums post.

The Asprire One 103, as it is being called, features leaf-shaped hinges that differentiate it from the first Aspire One that we are familiar with.  Besides that it seems, the 103 is the usual netbook fare: Atom processor, 3 USB ports, SD card slot, and a multitouch trackpad.

Speaking of trackpad, the biggest change in the 103 may be the moved mouse buttons.  Thankfully, Acer decided to return the buttons to where they belong below the trackpad rather than on the sides.

READ the original French blog post.

The new machine appears similar to the XPS M1330, however it has a more spacious, luxurious looking keyboard (similar to some VAIOs), HDMI out, stylized vents (seen before on the Lenovo IdeaPad U110), additional metal accents, and of course that aforementioned swath of leather on its back.

Pricing and availablity are not yet known, so I’ll hold off passing judgement on Dell’s new offering just yet.  But for all this attention Dell is paying to its “high-end” offerings, couldn’t it have just done more for Alienware instead of muddling up its brand hierarchy?

Here is the link to the Engadget post.

Dell has really been trying to put more design into its laptops lately.  Perhaps Adamo will finally be the premium brand that XPS was supposed to be.  If nothing, then at least this will create some buzz around the Dell brand.

You can go here to read the whole write-up from The New York Times.