Insiders have released information on Dell’s newest enterprise—a handheld device with Internet access. Unlike the recent spate of smartphones hitting the market, Dell’s new device will not be a cell phone. Rather, it will be modeled after Apple’s iPod Touch—a mobile device like the iPhone, minus the phone. The platform for the handheld device will likely be the Android software, an open source operating system developed by Google.

Rumors about the gadget surfaced soon after Wall Street Journal’s Justin Scheck published information gained from a “person who was briefed on the company’s plans.” However, plans are apparently still in the mix, as the insider reported that Dell may or may not decide to go through with the plans, which are understandably still in the early planning stages. Although conversation about such a device was in nascent form last year, key decision-makers tabled the plans, possibly due to economic uncertainty. Those plans are now being revised, and speculators forecast that Dell may have the new device ready this year.

MID—acronym for Mobile Internet Device—is technology’s opening frontier, a frontier forged by netbooks and smartphones. The Dell device would fit that category, and like Apple’s iPod Touch, be loaded with plenty of features, just not the cell phone. Unlike the iPod Touch, the Dell device will be more Internet-capable. While the Touch is confined to Internet access in WiFi hotspots, this device may have mobile freedom, through 3G connectivity. The constant Internet access will be a key difference from other mobile devices if Dell’s device comes to fruition.

In addition to online connectivity, the device will revive what had failed in the media-focused products attempted by Dell in the past. As an MP3 player, video player, and a sure variety of applications, the Dell device bears a glimmer of hope on the rough path that has been Dell’s effort to keep up with other companies which are always dishing out devices with great consumer appeal.

But better success against the giant, Apple, is notoriously difficult, especially for Dell. Portable music players didn’t work, and cell phones have had some trouble getting off the ground. However, with an MID and possible subsidy from not-yet-selected wireless carriers, Dell forges into this new venture with high hopes.

The MID is not Dell’s only experimental venture. In addition to shifting a market focus from the flagging laptop/desktop market, Dell has produced a smartphone, expected to be released in China sometime this year.

Boxee, the cross-platform media center, is now available to Windows users. Just this week, the Internet-media software platform announced the long-awaited rollout of the program for PCs, which was before restricted to Mac, Linux, and Ubuntu. Before Tuesday’s change, Windows devotees had to jump through some serious programming hoops, or just hope that some lesser media player could keep them entertained. Now the worry is over, and Boxee is available to nearly every user, regardless of which platform they are running.

The Windows alpha version of Boxee is compatible with most newer versions of Windows, including XP, Vista, and 7. Windows Media Center will also jibe with Boxee, good news for those who prefer their viewing on HDTV.

Windows compatibility isn’t the only update Boxee revealed. MLB lovers, rejoice. Now, in live on-demand color, Boxee supports the popular Major League Baseball site, which will undoubtedly boost Boxee’s popularity during this year’s baseball season, even though MLB is a paid subscription service.

As if CBS, ABC, CNet, CNN, CBS, Hulu, MTV, MySpaceTV, Netflix, Revision 3, and Comedy Central weren’t enough (to name a few), Boxee has added a new cadre of media options to its roster. New to the Boxee scene is Digg, a popular content-sharing site, where users “digg” up information, articles, songs, or videos, and share them with their network. With the Digg addition comes the ability to view popular Digg videos, and short clips. Full Digg access is still pending.

Tumblr is also available through Boxee, the ability to stream music and slideshows, at least. More Tumblr features may be available in the near future.

In order to improve its look, and feel, Boxee changed a few features on their navigation interface. “Applications” features a menu with the ever-growing list of content that Boxee can display. If it’s on-board media users want to play, they can access that by using the “Local Media” menu. The general look remains the same, but the updates should help new users navigate the overwhelming amount of available options.

Boxee is the clear leader in social networking media, and their popularity is sure to rise as they aggregate nearly every social network on the Web. Since platforms are irrelevant and Boxee users can access nearly everything their Hulu-loving friends can (plus dozens more) Boxee may soon crowd to the top of the pile.

While Amazon’s front page currently lures readers to take a look at their Kindle, it appears that the new Kindle DX is now out of stock, just 2 days after it was released. Eager readers won’t even have to wait a week, though; Amazon claims it will be back in stock on June 17, allowing time for a possible expedited Father’s Day shipment.

What does the Kindle DX offer that the Kindle doesn’t? For starters, the display is a massive 9.7 inches, compared to the original Kindle’s 6 inches. This is enough real estate to give users the feeling that they really are holding a book, while at the same time displaying more at-a-glance information. With a bigger screen, though, comes a bigger everything, stretching the DX’s measurements to 10.4″ x 7.2″ x 0.38,” in contrast to it’s forerunner’s slim size of 8″ x 5.3″ x 0.36.” In addition, the DX comes preloaded with a native PDF reader, and can store up to 2,000 books more than the original Kindle.

The rapid Kindle DX sellout is a positive sign of its growing popularity. While most young techies aren’t trading in their iPhones for a Kindle, Kindle definitely has a market. Out of the 48 so-far reviewers on Amazon.com, the Kindle DX has a 4 out of 5 star rating. Several users have commented that the PDF viewing is not as they had imagined, but most of the displeased are an audience that hasn’t even tested the Kindle or Kindle DX. The Kindle’s popularity may be in for some tough competition. As the smartphone market gets smarter, many developers are launching onboard e-readers to compete with a growing market that the Kindle has illuminated.

Perhaps the smaller audience is because many of the younger tech-loving generation would rather bang out something on Guitar Hero than read The Hemingses of Monticello. And while hardbacks may eventually become a bit dated, reading won’t. So for now, there’s Kindle DX-a library that doesn’t require a bookshelf.

Sony Ericsson has finally decided to release the name of their newest Idou, due to ship in October. This device features built-in GPS, a 640 x 350 widescreen touchscreen, video recording, a 12.1 megapixel camera with a xenon flash and up to 12x digital zoom, dual band HSPA and a microSD expansion. And more. But instead of keeping the Idou name the same, Sony has renamed the line of devices to “Satio.” Sony’s new Satio is essentially a portable entertainment system that allows users to watch movies, TV shows, or just listen to music.

In addition to the Satio, Sony Ericcson put the word out that they will also be introducing the “Yari,” a gaming “gesture phone,” the first of its kind. It would respond to user movements much like the Nintendo Wii remote in order to control the game. Other attractive elements of the Yari include built-in GPS, support for Sony’s PlayNow, and a 2.4-inch screen.

The third and final model Sony Ericcson plans to release is the “Aino.” Perhaps a cross between the Satio and Yari, the Aino will feature the capability to connect to the PS3 or PC. The Aino will also have a 3-inch touchscreen, support for Sony Remote Play, built-in GPS and an 8.1 megapixel camera.

With all the stunning features, you might forget that these are also phones. Forget the era of smartphones; we’ve now entered the age of the superphone!

The title isn’t so much a thought-provoking conundrum as it is the query of a confused mind. Where is mobile going? Laptops are now thinner than my wallet (which is pretty thin), netbooks are cheaper than ever, and smartphones can do everything short of fly me to the moon. But do I need all three? What’s the future of mobile?

As I sit here, typing on my now-oversized laptop, I realize that notebook computers are a lot more mobile than they were just a few years ago. As yesterday’s laptops became more and more powerful, they were advertised as “desktop replacements” because they could do everything that your desktop computer could do. Now, desktops are found less and less frequently on the tops of desks. The notebook is the machine of choice. There is something comforting about having your entire office in your hands as you exit the office for the weekend, but it is still not as mobile as the up-and-comers in the tech world.

The most up-and-comer of them all is the netbook. It’s a notebook for the ‘Net. In other words, you don’t buy it to watch DVDs or do high-power video editing. The only video editing you’ll do is to turn up the volume on a YouTube clip. That’s because the netbook’s primary purpose is to surf the Internet—affordably and portably. Recession means less spending, and with the netbook average price dropping to a projected $399 this year, less spending is easy to do on a netbook. Admittedly, you compromise some of a traditional laptop’s power, but you gain more mobility, flexibility, and even connectivity. Beta versions of netbooks are now rolling out, where users can get online via the 3G network, for example, rather than the local WiFi signal.

Most mobile of all are smartphones. These powerful little devices are highly concentrated packets of power. For a device that plays videos, maintains our audio library, finds the closest Chinese restaurant, manages our finances, regulates our schedules, keeps us in touch with friends, and everything in between, it comes in a very convenient size. When was the last time you tried to stuff your laptop into your pocket?

But how many devices do we really need? Is a day coming when all three devices can be replaced by a single piece of technology? What is the future of mobile?

Three weeks ago, we did something new. Something daring. We called our land-line phone company and told them, “Thanks, but no thanks. We’re done.” And that was it. Now, if you happen to dial our old home phone number, you will get nothing but that familiar tri-tone error message along with a recorded message telling you “This number is no longer in service.”

We’re exclusively a cell-phone household now.

But apparently, our move wasn’t exactly so new or so daring. In fact, as AP reports today, “In a high-tech shift accelerated by the recession, the number of U.S. households opting for only cell phones has for the first time surpassed those that just have traditional landlines.” Many households, 60%, still use both landlines and cell phones. But even that number is changing.

Although the article cites the ‘recession’ as a motivating factor for the wireless-only switch, many are doing so for other reasons. I saw a few dollar decrease in my monthly bill (we weren’t about to cut our high-speed Internet access), but I have not noticed any set-back from not having a land line. In fact, it is more of a convenience issue for me. It’s one less voicemail that I have to check. Besides, if I ever called from my land line, I ended up having to pull the number from my cell phone address book anyway.

If someone has a cell phone, why increase the work, the hassle, and the costs by throwing a land line in the mix? Many land line owners claim that their land phones serve as a call-collection center for telemarketers, little more. Another strike against land lines has to do with housing situations. If one is in a mobile situation—renting or living in temporary housing—it makes little sense to set up a permanent land line.

Obviously, there are compelling reasons for hanging on to the land line. However, as the numbers suggest, our society is going more and more wireless—exclusively.