There may yet be some light shining through the darkness of Palm inc’s inevitable financial fall. According to some analysts the time is ripe for Palm to be bought out by one of the other contenders in the OS war.   In doing so, whatever company bought them, would not only be adding the modest library of Palm Pre apps to the repertoire, but the technological strength of the Palm Pre itself.

The plummet of Palm is certainly unfortunate, but it was inevitable.  The bigger problem is that the same exact pattern of downfall can, and likely has to happen to the more competitors in the cell-phone operating system game.  If you look at why they fell, it becomes obvious that more mobile OS producers could reach the same fate.  Obviously, everybody who wanted to compete in the smartphone OS market wants to think that they are going to be the next big thing in cell phone OSs. People want to get on board with the next big thing in tech, so   obviously all OS makers can’t be right. 

As we all know, every tech company out there has been throwing their contender into the OS war. It seems that they’ve learned from the 90’s that he who makes the premier software, rules any given software revolution.  It seems, though, that one major player has recently been knocked out of the race in a big way.  Today, Palm inc’s stock plummeted. This appears to be because of their lack of ability to actually sell their phone operating system.  It seems that the smartphone OS landscape just got more treacherous.

Mobile apps seem to be among the biggest reveals at this year’s SXSW Conference.   Earlier we told you about MOG releasing the mobile version of their music service for your iPhone and Android and about the mini social network app LoKast.  Rhapsody is following trend by announcing their new iPhone app that, like MOG, allows you to store music directly on your phone.  

NearVerse has revealed a new iPhone app at SXSW that creates a tiny social network for you and anyone in a 300-foot zone around you.  The app is called LoKast and it allows you to chat, share content, and meet anyone using the app that is standing within 300 feet of you.  Once you leave the area, your social network disappears and a new one is created.  NearVerse is calling LoKast “the first disposable social network.”

The ZERO sounds like a cool piece of technology. Not only will it save you a couple bucks each month, but it will also reduce wasted electricity. The real question is how does it work? The ZERO works by automatically sensing when a mobile phone is not plugged in to the charger. Once the charger recognizes that there isn’t a device receiving power, it cuts all power supply from the wall socket. 

Yet more bad news about Windows Phone 7; it seems as though they have made an active decision to not include a copy paste function for the text based aspects of their new interface.  This would be a big mistake on their part.  Copy/paste is just one of those amenities that we have become used to in our daily lives, and making someone type without it is like trying to use a typewriter.  Execs claim that "It's actually an intentional design decision... We try to anticipate what the user wants so copy and paste isn't necessary." 

MOG, the web-based music service that offers unlimited music to users for just $5 a month, has revealed their mobile version for the iPhone and Android at SXSW this week.  The mobile app will offer the same 7 million songs that the web-based version offers, and will also allow the user to save songs, albums, and playlists onto their phones.  

Well the cat is out of the bag, and a great deal of the tension has been released.  One of the big Microsoft Phone 7 issues: multitasking has finally been resolved and revealed.  Unfortunately, consumers will probably not like the resolution. Apparently multitasking is going to be extremely spotty (at best) for MP7 apps.  While it will be possible for SOME apps created by Microsoft to run simultaneous to other programs, all third party developer apps will not have supported multitasking.

Do phone chargers that are left plugged in really waste that much electricity? The answer is yes. Today’s press release that introduces AT&T’s energy efficient ZERO charger sites that the electricity wasted by chargers that aren’t being used could power 24,000 homes for a year or brew three to four million cups of coffee each day. The ZERO will cut the power supply when a phone is not plugged in, which will intern cut a few bucks out of your energy bill and reduce electricity usage. Now it’s no solar powered charger, but it does have the potential to save a lot of energy.

SXSW is almost wrapping up. Despite our hopes, Microsoft has still yet to reveal much more about the platform for Windows Phone 7. They are still tiptoeing around the issue, feeding us hints, teasers, and rumors.  This can only mean one of two things.  It could mean Microsoft is trying to maximize the anticipation factor, as to emulate the marketing success o the iPad. In this case, they may be cutting it to the wire, as over-strung anticipation turns into a consumer base who is “over it.”  It could also mean that Microsoft is grievously behind schedule and trying to keep us interested while they finish Windows Phone 7.

In addition to their prophecies of restricting web access with download caps and such, it seems that Verizon is adding some stranger restrictions on its products. Apparently if you want a Verizon based Nexus One, you'll only be able to get it directly from Google. This isn't particularly surprising, but it is a bit silly. It is their phone (well.. partly theirs anyway); and they can sell it any way they want, but there isn't much that making it a "web exclusive" would do for sales. What's more interesting is that in the same leaked document that revealed this fact, was an implication that the new phone might be running HTC's custom mod "Sense."

IBM not only cares about our environment, but they have a spot in their heart for the elderly as well.  IBM announced with the National Institute of Design of India (NID) and Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo (RCAST) today that collectively they will research an initiative to develop an open, common user interface platform for mobile devices that will allow disadvantaged populations (such as illiterate, blind, deaf, or elderly) to more easily use the devices.  The project is yet another extension of IBM’s Open Collaborative Research program, which the company hopes will lead to great innovations through university-company collaborations.  

We've been discussing today technology blog Gizmodo's leaked information regarding Microsoft's Project Pink, a plan by Microsoft to develop its own line of phones.  It's already been leaked that the phones do exist, there have been initial trials, and that Verizon might be the exclusive carrier.  Now Gizmodo even has leaks of Project Pink's firmware.From the leaked firmware, Gizmodo reports that the carrier is definitely Verizon, but there are also references to AT&T and T-Mobile. The Turtle's screen is 320x240, and the Pure has the same size screen as the exist, there have been initial trials, and that Verizon might be the exclusive carrier.  Now Gizmodo even has leaks of Project Pink's firmware.

As we mentioned earlier, technology blog site Gizmodo received leaked information confirming that Microsoft will, indeed, be releasing their own line of phones, service, and operating systems.  This leaked information and the first looks at the phones came hours after a marketing campaign was leaked to Gizmodo, showing the new Microsoft phone, Turtle, as being a real product which will be offered under Verizon as the carrier.