The funkmasters over at Yanko Design have done it again. Yet another rendering of a wacky product has been thrown up and this time, it draws inspiration from everyone’s favorite phone and a Palm Treo. It has the shape and look of a Treo but the touchscreen and gaudiness of an iPhone. A match made in heaven.

Would you buy it? Not everyone is a fan of the iPhone and there are still diehard Palm fanatics. This seems like a decent compromise of design and functionality that will please everyone. I wonder if you’ll be able to keep your club cards on it…

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Sega Toys has launched the most disgustingly adorable toy we have ever seen. The Dream Chick, a fluffy palm-shaped baby chick, that flaps its wings when held. The chick looks very realistic, but luckily, lacks the capacity to peck at you when you pet it or to fly out any open windows.

Not only will Dream Chick comfort you after your long day at work, but will melt your heart with the peeps it lets out as you stroke its fuzzy head. Now, you might look at this and think, “Oh, great. Another stupid toy”. And you’d probably be right. But for someone who needs a barely legal chick to tramp around with, maybe this little guy would do the trick. Available for around $12.90. — Andrew Dobrow

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Nokia and Motorola are only two of the companies which have been rumored to be buying out Palm later this week for up to a cool $2 Billion. The acquisition of Palm would not only put the company purchaser ahead in the game with smartphone production, but would also wipe out a signifigant competitor, while gaining rights in using the well known Palm brand name.

Palm has also been rumored to be forming a private equity deal with either Texas Pacific Group and Silver Lake Partners, which any company would then acquire on purchase. All companies decline to make any statement, but something definitely seems to be brewing. Its worth mentioning that Palm stocks have increased 5% since the rumor mill has been turning on a buy out. The last few months show a 33% increase in Palm’s stocks worth. — Andrew Dobrow

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It is an open secret that Palm is short of capital and resources, but recently there’s been noise coming out that Palm is in fact actively looking to be acquired, and Nokia is in talks with the company. Palm might be able to increase the momentum of product release, which is actually one of the reasons of the disappointing sales last quarter; in return, Nokia might get more access to the American market let alone the business market, which the E series is not as recognized as the Treo, or RIM Blackberry. There’s also news that Motorola might also be in talks. –Sam Chan

Article [Softpedia]

The cell phone design we all know and love might be changing drastically in the near future. 180 degrees difference actually. A patent has been field for this upside down design, which is supposedly more convenient and comfortable for longer sustained periods of use.

The new design would place the keypad above the display screen to ensure that the majority of the phone rests in the palm of the users hand which should improve control and support.

The redesign of the thumb-rest also means no more shifting the phone around in your hand for one handed texting. The ultimate goal? Faster texting with more comfort. — Andrew Dobrow
[via Core77]