Qualcomm just yesterday introduced a whole new brand of Lenovo gadget that’ll blow your mind open.  Check this out.

It’s called the smartbook, and it combines all the best features of a smart phone and a netbook.  Slimmer than most smart phones and able to fit in the palm of a hand, it offers not only a QWERTY keyboard but also a “full-size screen”.  It’s powered by a Qualcomm chipset platform that has, for some reason, been dubbed Snapdragon and will run a series of different applications including Flash, Adobe and AT&T’s mobile broadband.

It’s interesting to note, however, that this may not be the end of the smartbook line but only the beginning.  Word is that everybody from Asus to Toshiba is planning to launch their own smartbook.  But do people, especially in a bad economy like this, really want or even need another portable computer when they already have laptops, netbooks and smartphones to choose from?  Is there anyone who’s saying “I love my netbook but I wish it were smaller!” or “I love my smartphone but I wish it had more features!” who isn’t just buying the next step in either direction?

Name and price are still being kept quiet on this new model as the product will officially launch this January at the Consumer Electronics Show.

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Might this be the HTC Firestone? If so, sources behind the leak say it includes GSM connectivity, a 3.6-inch WVGA touchscreen display, 600mhz Qualcomm processor, 256MB of RAM, microSD card slot, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Like many of today’s smartphones HTC has also tossed in an accelerometer for auto screen rotation and a yet to be confirmed…

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According to Broadpoint AmTech, Microsoft is planning a Microsoft-branded smartphone, to be released in the second half of 2009. If true, Microsoft seems to be aiming for a device that closely integrates hardware and software, much like the iPhone and Blackberry devices.

Microsoft keeps on denying their plans for a phone but if you look at their track record, they have a tendency to retract from such statements (the Zune portable media player is a good example). Perhaps the new phone will feature will feature a Zune-like interface with Windows 7? Who knows.

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According to Shaw Wu at Kaufman Bros., the Dell smartphone could be on its way. Factor in Dell’s hiring of a former Motorola executive and signs point to a Axim-like smartphone based on Windows Mobile (or maybe, hopefully, Android?). If this is true, Dell needs to create something innovative, you know, something that’ll actually not cause one to doze off while staring at the screen.

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Gaming on any cell phone is a challenge to say the least; the tiny buttons are far from applicable.  The BGP100, which appears to be yet another after market game pad for cell phones is actually an innovative piece of kit.  The device can expand to accommodate handsets up to 55mm wide and works with a variety of smartphone platforms including Windows Mobile, PocketPC and Symbian UIQ.  Looks a little closer and you’ll notice that the two halves can be formed together to form a full blown game pad in the event that your phone is of an obscure shape or too big for fit.  The BGP100 connects to the handset via Bluetooth and takes one AAA battery, which should allow for 3.5 hours of play.

It’s available here for $88 US ($129 AUS)

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The SIM PIG is an innovative little chip like no other because unlike traditional methods of unlocking mobile phones, the SIM PIG can unlock the vast majority of headsets. The SIM PIG bypasses any network locks, which translates into complete access from any network in virtually any mobile phone. THE SIM PIG offers a ten-second solution that does not invalidate any pre-existing warranties.

The very latest 3G Phones and devices can be very difficult and expensive to unlock, but they are no match for the SIM PIG. This product can unlock the latest smart-phones such as iPhone, Windows Mobile devices, HTC, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry and many more. This is particularly helpful and cheaper when travelling in order to avoid roaming charges when making or receiving calls from overseas.

The card costs about $35 dollars and is available online at globalsimcard.co.uk Fitting the SIM PIG involves pressing out a very small hole in your SIM card with the free cutting tool included with every purchase. Once done, simply Piggyback SIM PIG to your SIM card and insert into your locked mobile phone and start talking.

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