A newly released patent reveals a new handheld device from Nokia which comes with a removable QWERTY keypad. The patent describes a UMPC device with dual touchscreens and a keyboard that sits on top of one of the screens until it is needed.

They keyboard will slide out when needed for texting or web surfing. When the keyboard is removed, the second display adds on to the first display as one large interface. This patent reveals what might possibly be one cool smart phone. — Andrew Dobrow

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Remember when the UMPCs were first coming out and they were just a whole bunch of disappintments? Well, we have come quite a ways since then, and were are coming up to the next generation of these devices. Today, Sony has announced the VAIO VGN-UX1XN. It’s intention is to let users have a fully loaded mini-pc in their hands to watch videos, listent to music, edit documents, and just do everything your home computer does. This UMPC has 1GB of memory and makes use of the newest Intel Ultra-Low Voltage processory coupled with Windows Vista Business edition. This nice combination makes for a very nice high tech portable computing solution, touch screen and all. — Nik Gomez

New Sony Ultraportable PC - The VAIO VGN-UX1XN [The Gadget Blog]

‘Smart fabric’ company Eleksen has created a prototype fabric keyboard that doubles as a carrying case for a UMPC. It’s nice to see alternative keyboards like this, because while computer technology has advanced in many other areas, keyboards have remained mostly static. The device consists of a network of sensors and wires sewn into a neoprene wallet-case. Steve at The Carrypad UMPC journal has been testing the prototype and claims it has excellent key feel, allowing him to type at over half his normal typing speed. Not bad for a keyboard with no key travel. Another pic after the jump.

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