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.