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In today’s world, developer’s kits are pretty much integral to our every day lives. Even if you’re not a developer, or ever plan on being a developer, the title has become a household name thanks to the likes of Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Palm. And there’s nothing wrong with that at all. We’re very happy with what the future holds for us and the mobile phone industry, and today marks one more step in the right direction.

Palm, which released the Mojo Software Developer Kit (SDK) about mid-year last year, is now offering up their Plug-in Developer Kit (PDK) for mass consumption. Basically, the PDK works in tandem with the SDK, and allows for developers to write applications in C and C++ programming languages. So, what’s the point of this new developer’s kit? Basically, this means that developers who have developed other applications (especially games) for other platforms, can now easily transfer the title over to the webOS platform. Easy as pie. With Palm’s push for better gaming on their Palm Pre, this will make it easier for major developers and publishers to get titles that may have originally (and solely) been available for devices like the iPhone. Palm’s made the PDK available to the public, and you can find it at Palm’s developer website, if you want to check it out.

[via Palm]

There’s a big, bold question mark at the end of that title for one simple reason: this really is a mystery. The truth of the matter is, that we literally have only scraps to go on here, plus a lot of word of mouth. No, this isn’t the same word of mouth from “people familiar with the matter,” but it’s pretty close. What is the Elan? We don’t know. Is it the bigger-screened, slate-style handset that people want? We just don’t know. But, there are some hints that could give away to a clear image, somewhere within all this mobile madness.

Count this the second handset that strikes more confusion than anything else. The first is, not surprisingly, another one from Palm, actually. Codenamed the C40, it’s been sitting in Sprint inventory screens for quite some time now. And now, we have the Elan. Where’d it come from? Well, over at PreCentral, we have TopTongueBarry who is an AT&T IT person. Apparently, he confirmed previously that the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus had both gone through the testing phases of AT&T, and now a third device, the Elan, was going to start being tested as well.

It doesn’t stop there, however. No, another member, Shadow360, took it upon themselves to start digging around, and they hit the jackpot (more or less). Apparently there were accessory manufacturers creating things for the Elan. Furthermore, the Elan’s accessories are compatible with the iPhone. Also, TopTongueBarry added that testing for the Elan should begin in about two weeks, will rock a “soft keyboard,” and be released in Europe, but could see an unlocked version here in the States. Yes, that last part has us scratching our heads a bit, but if Palm is planning to serve up an unlocked device with AT&T’s 3G network, it makes complete sense. Otherwise, there’s really no reason why AT&T would need to be testing the Elan.

As we mentioned from the start, this isn’t even technically a rumor. We’ve got, as you can see from the screenshot above, that the word ‘Elan’ exists, and that accessories were indeed made for it. But, the entire project could be scrapped, or it may never grace the network of AT&T at all. There’s still too many questions, to be honest. However, there’s no arguing that Palm needs to get a new device out there, and one with a bigger screen (in the more slate-style of handsets) would be a dream come true for quite a few people out there. So let’s hope that Palm is already working on it. Either that, or succumbs to peer pressure.

[via PreCentral]

Verizon Wireless has now put up the Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus on store shelves, the Palm Pre Plus cost $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate, and Palm Pixi Plus cost $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate, each with a new two-year customer agreement. Buy a Palm Pre Plus or a Palm Pixi Plus and get a Palm Pixi Plus free after a mail-in rebate through Feb. 14.

Both Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus come travel-ready with a built-in 3G Mobile Hotspot – a Wi-Fi hotspot that can be shared among five Wi-Fi-capable devices.

Following are key features and specifications available on both Pre Plus and Pixi Plus:

* webOS – Allows customers to run multiple applications simultaneously and provides over-the-air software updates delivered automatically to their devices
* Palm Synergy™ – Brings customers’ information from the many places it resides into a single, more comprehensive view
* Unobtrusive notifications and universal search
* Palm App Catalog – Currently offers more than 1,000 webOS applications for download
* Gesture area – Enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation
* Full QWERTY keyboard
* High-performance, desktop-class Web browser
* Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
* Integrated GPS
* USB mass storage mode
* Proximity sensor – Automatically disables the touch screen and turns off the display when consumers put their phones to their ears
* Light sensor – Reduces power usage by dimming the display if the ambient light is dark
* Accelerometer – Automatically orients Web pages and photos
* Ringer switch – Easily silences the device with one touch
* Removable, rechargeable battery
* Multimedia options, including pictures, video playback and music as well as a camera with LED flash and a standard 3.5 mm headset jack
* Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
* Charger/microUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed

Additional Palm Pre Plus Specs

* 3.0 megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth of field
* Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
* Dimensions: 2.35” x 3.96” x 0.67”
* Weight: 4.89 ounces

Additional Palm Pixi Plus Specs

* 2.0 megapixel camera with LED flash
* Fixed QWERTY keyboard
* Dimensions: 2.17” x 4.37” x 0.43”
* Weight: 3.26 ounces

Palm and Telcel today announced that the Palm Pre phone is scheduled to be available Nov. 27 in Mexico on the Telcel network. Palm Pre, which is currently available in North America (United States and Canada) and Europe (the UK, Ireland, Germany and Spain), features a 3.1-inch touch screen, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, 3.5mm headphone jack and a physical keyboard that slides out only when needed.

Officially announced last month, Sprint today has confirmed that it will start offering Palm Pixi from November 15. The Palm Pixi comes in a candybar design with hardware QWERTY keyboard. It will cost $99.99 with a two-year service agreement, after a $50 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate.

A new Facebook application will be available with Palm Pixi, so users can see and comment on all the latest news from friends and easily update their status. Palm Pixi features an exposed full QWERTY keyboard, multi-touch screen and a durable, removable rubberized back cover. You can now sign up for email notification at www.palm.com/pixi for information related to Palm Pixi

Palm Pixi Features

• High-speed connectivity (EVDO Rev. A)
• 2.63-inch multi-touch screen with a vibrant 18-bit color 320×400 resolution TFT display
• Gesture area
• QWERTY keyboard
• Integrated GPS
• 2-megapixel fixed-focus camera with LED flash
• 3.5mm headset jack
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
• 8GB of internal user storage
• USB mass storage mode
• MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
• Qualcomm MSM7627 chipset
• Proximity sensor, which automatically disables the touch screen and turns off the display whenever you put the phone up to your ear
• Light sensor, which dims the display if the ambient light is dark, such as at night or in a movie theater, to reduce power usage
• Accelerometer, which automatically orients web pages and photos to your perspective
• Ringer switch
• Removable, rechargeable 1150 mAh battery
• Dimensions: 55mm (W) x 111mm (L) x 10.85mm (D) [2.17 in. (W) x 4.37 in. (L) x 0.43 in. (D)]
• Weight: 99.5 grams (3.51 ounces)

[via slashgear]