The kiddy gloves are removed with HTC ready to go up against Apple by coming up with their own tablet, where it will be based on the new Google Chrome operating system. This Android-based device is rumored to be shown privately to core HTC customers at CES which is happening later this week, where it will feature new Qualcomm processors running within, touch-based technology and new Adobe software to get you started. Looks like HTC and Google are really cozying up with each other, and we hope to see a fruitful partnership from these two to be able to give Apple a run for their money - after all, such competition is good for us consumers since it forces them to work out for what's best.

Whispers abound that HTC will be releasing a new touchscreen tablet device this coming CES, where it is tipped to run off a Qualcomm processor with the Android operating system keeping everything else going nice and smooth. Apart from that, there is the possibility of a multi-touch display as well as new software from Adobe to be unveiled simultaneously as well. Do you think HTC will beat Apple to the punch, or will theirs be a gimped attempt from the beginning?

Another rumor concerning Palm, with their Palm Pre 3 is tipped to be unveiled at CES next week. While Palm has already sent out their press invites for a conference on January 7, 2010, there were little or no details concerning what the conference will touch on, but most folks would most probably root for the Palm Pre 3. Just in case you were wondering what the Pre 2 is, it is most probably the Palm Pixi, so it makes sense that the next Pre which rolls out would be categorized as the Pre 3.

Sprint has a third Android smartphone waiting in the wings, where chances are it will be from LG in the form of the LG LS680. After all, the LG LS680 did appear alongside other LG handsets from Sprint according to a leaked image courtesy of Boy Genius Report. While there is virtually nothing that we know of the LG LS680, chances are good that this model will ship with a touchscreen display alongside a QWERTY keyboard, but all of those remain as speculation until the real deal is released, hopefully with CES 2010 being a primer.

Lenovo doesn't want to miss out on the e-reader fun with the company rumored to be working on its own e-reader device. Apparently, said rumor involves Lenovo making their e-reader undergo its internal testing process already, which would mean a launch date can't be very far away. While Lenovo has not denied the existence of the device, it has not confirmed it, either. It would be interesting to see whether there is a good enough software platform to support the e-reader device in the long run in order to make it a success like the Amazon Kindle.

Word on the street has it that Google's Chrome OS netbook's specifications have been leaked out, and most people who have taken a look at it are very, very happy. After all, wouldn't you also be a happy camper with an NVIDIA Tegra chipset running alongside an ARM processor? The rumor also states that this netbook will come with a 10.1" multi-touch HD-capable display, a 64GB SSD, 2GB RAM, and other staples including Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth connectivity alongside a webcam. Not only will it run on Chrome OS, you will also get a suite of pre-installed Google Apps. Best of all is, this netbook is slated for a 2010 holiday season release, retailing for less than three Benjamins at a subsidized price. Neat! This is one rumor we hope to see come true!

Samsung's CL80 digital camera is touted to be introduced at CES 2010 which is happening just a week plus away, and it has already leaked out, being the first camera from Samsung that features Wi-Fi connectivity and the ability to upload to Facebook, Flickr, Photobox and Picasa without the need to synchronize beforehand with a computer. You also get a 3.7" AMOLED touchscreen display with haptic vibration feedback as its primary control scheme. This 14-megapixel shooter can also handle H.264 video at up to 720p resolution and with HDMI output. How much are you willing to part for this puppy?

It seems as though a former Apple employee ratted out to the New York Times that "Steve is extremely happy with the new tablet." With that piece of information in mind, rumors of the 7" tablet from Apple debuting at CES that is happening next month might actually come true, although it would prove to be an unprecedented move on Apple's part to do so, but what better place than a worldwide stage at Las Vegas? It also does tickle the brain as to what about the tablet that makes Steve a happy man - is it the user friendliness or overall interactivity that made the iPhone to be such a hit?

It seems that all the brouhaha concerning the PSP-4000 boils down to a typo error, where the ad which featured Little Big Planet PSP accessories did list down the PSP-4000 as a compatible device, but it is actually non-existent. According to the ad company, it was a mistake on their part and they do not have any knowledge of Sony releasing a new device. Do you think they're pulling a fast one with a conspiracy at hand, or is it a real honest mistake?

The iPhone rumors just don't stop coming, and this time round we have whispers of the iPhone 3GS getting a camera upgrade as OmniVision Technologies, the current manufacturers of the handset's 3.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor also picked up a new contract which will feature a 5-megapixel CMOS sensor, which means next year's iPhone revision will probably rock some boats, although the industry average might have moved on to 8-megapixels by then where cellphones cameras are concerned.

CES has always been a hotbed for new technological announcements and advancements, and next year's event isn't going to be any different. Sprint and Microsoft are rumored to have a WiMax (4G) Windows Mobile smartphone in the works, waiting for CES 2010 to roll around and catch everyone by surprise. The anticipation is further built-up with invitations sent out for a press conference that will take place a day before CES kicks off officially, where both Sprint and Microsoft CEOs will also be in attendance in what is touted to be the “hottest spot at CES”.

Not actual Eee Pad

Here's the latest pre-CES rumor: Asus is coming up with an Eee Pad (see previous Asus Tablet rumor) that uses NVIDIA's Tegra system on a chip (SoC). If that's true, we wonder if it would use Tegra or Tegra 2. According to the rumor, Asus would launch the tablet in March, which suggests that it would use the next-generation Tegra, rather than the current one, which is widely available, but probably not powerful enough. Also, what Operating system will it use? In the past, NVIDIA has shown that it had drivers for Windows CE, Android and some flavor of Linux, so all three are viable options. Stay tuned. [via netbooknews.com]

NVIDIA's Ion 2 platform has been rumored to arrive in the form of a PCI Express card, but that has yet to be confirmed, It does make sense for this move to be taken, however, since slotting in a standalone video card into any netbook would mean having the instant ability of switching between graphical platforms, where you can choose between the Ion 2 for HD video and some gaming, or just a regular Intel graphics chipset for day to day tasks. We're thinking that we can look towards next year for new details to develop, so stay tuned.

CES 2010 will be the platform where analysts are expecting Intel to announce the use of their Arrandale dual-core processors in the next generation MacBook Pro. Should an announcement be made, we wouldn't be too surprised considering the previous line of Intel's Core 2 Duo processors are already seeing action in Apple's new MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac computers. Well, this is again a wait-and-see issue, so it pays to be patient. For those who are always thinking of holding off that upgrade until something new arrives, you might end up spending an eternity waiting instead of enjoying your MacBook Pro right here, right now, never mind what new processors that will be crammed in one year down the road.