If you were wondering why Palm just posted another less-than-stellar quarter of earnings despite the runaway success of its Centro line, we think we have the answer: it's been digging into the piggy bank to ice out its gear. Palm has commissioned Ed Hardy to "specially equip" some Centros as gifts for presenters at the Primetime Emmys (which fall somewhere between Cable Ace and Teen Choice Awards for prestige), and the result is... well, this. The designs won't be available to the general public, but we think we're going to reserve our envy for anything else.

Nothing quite says "these puppies are selling well, and we'd like to ride the wave a bit longer" than reformulating an existing device in new colors -- a strategy Motorola played to the extreme, bitter end with the original RAZR -- and Palm's circling back to Sprint's Centro lineup to add a couple more (it's not getting out of hand with the Centro yet, Palm, but we're onto your game). It seems that the new shades will be "rose" and "lime," both of which sorta speak to the Centro's approach as a personal -- not business -- oriented smartphone. If the rumors hold up, these snazzy new shades should be hitting late next month.

[Via Palm Infocenter]

Well whaddya know? The iTreo 800p is finally selling on eBay! We thought the day would never come that we could actually get our hands on this totally sweet -- and absolutely real -- phone. Man were we wrong. Sure, the listing says you're selling off a Treo 800W, but given the large amount of completely reassuring blue text, scrolling text, and large font text, we'll happily accept that we will, in fact, receive the device pictured above via UPS Next Day Air. So, yes. Yes. We will "buy it now" for $349.99, safe in the knowledge that by this time tomorrow, we'll be the only guy on our block busting out the iTreo 800p at parties, pool halls, and any place else where all the happenin' stuff happens. Thanks "naseemajid" -- you're A+++++ in our book.

Update: It appears the eBay auction has been pulled. We can't imagine why.

[Thanks, Spencer]

Palm's nailed a bona fide runaway success just in the nick of time with its Centro series, hitting its second million in global sales in about half the time it took to reach the first million (thanks in no small part to a new round of carrier launches, we'd imagine). Makes sense: it's small, it's really reasonably priced for a smartphone, and while it's not stylish by any stretch of the imagination, it still manages to beat the pants off the Treo line's tired, buttoned-up look. CEO Ed Colligan's using the opportunity to thumb his nose at the competition a bit, though, and that's where we get a little worried. Instead of hearing things like "whew, thank goodness, the Centro gave us the cash infusion we desperately needed to fuel work on Palm OS 2 and a compelling product line revamp," we're seeing him spout off about how the Centro's easier to use and "less pretentious" than the iPhone, ribbing Apple over the fact that the Centro's been 3G since the beginning, and talking about how easy it is to get the 411 on your peeps with the Centro's supposedly best-in-class Facebook app. It's great to be proud of a successful product, no doubt, Ed -- but let's not forget that your most direct competitor, RIM, isn't exactly standing still. Can we trade this revelry and trash talk for even a super-brief Palm OS 2 demo, pretty please?

Does that tired old Centro feel like it could use a little freshening-up? 'Course it does, and Palm's Johnny-on-the-spot with a hot new firmware build fresh out of the oven -- if you're on Sprint, that is. The new update is ten bullet points strong on Palm's support site, with updates and fixes ranging from better Bluetooth support to support for My Location in Google Maps (that's sure to be a crowd pleaser right there). Head on over to Palm to pick up the goods, but beware, they say you ought to "allow an hour" for the process to complete.

[Via The Official Palm Blog]

Yeah, sure, it's just a dummy, but the live model will look the same -- albeit with a slightly more functional display, hopefully. Our contact tells us AT&T stores will have these bad boys ready to sell on Monday at the freshly-dropped price. Click on for the spellbinding backside!

[Thanks, Kal]

Remember how we told you to expect some totally edge-of-your-seat, riveting price news in regard to Palm's Centro? Yeah, how's about $30 off? Presumably in conjunction with the iPhone 3G launch, AT&T has hacked the Palm Centro down to $70 after rebates (from $100) with a two-year agreement. There's no telling if the new price will sashay on over to those CDMA carriers or not, but we've got our fingers crossed real tight.

[Via Electronista]

Sorry, we'd make a comment on the appearance of AT&T's newest Centro shade, but we're still blinded from that white with green buttons stunt they pulled at launch. Sounds like Palm expects this pleasantly bright blue version to be available starting Friday in AT&T retail locations -- and they're also promising some news on a price cut in time for the school year. Stay tuned.

Palm continued to flaunt its almost inexplicable boost in health in an earnings call yesterday. According to reports, honcho Ed Colligan boasted of a 29 percent gain in smartphone sales year-over-year, largely in part to the stellar performance of the company's budget-priced (with contract) Centro. In light of the recent negative outlook from investors, retail store closings, a constantly delayed OS update, and fierce competition, it's a pretty impressive feat to not only stay afloat, but manage some small victories. Now if they can just deliver on those OS and device promises we keep hearing about, they may stay in this game yet.

[Via Palm Infocenter]

We've seen the Centro in its Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon (to name a few) iterations, but global roamers and free agents of all sorts will be delighted to know that Palm's increasingly popular little smartphone is now available in a delicious unlocked GSM flavor. The device sports all the same specs as AT&T's model, but clocks in with a $299 price tag and plain gray numberpad instead of the telco version's shocking lime green variation. Alongside the carrier-free phone, Centros will also be nabbing a version of Google Maps with its "My Location" feature (long absent from GMaps on Palm phones). Current AT&T and Verizon customers as well as new unlocked owners will be able to download the app tomorrow, with a software update for Sprint later this Summer. Finally, you'll all know where you are.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Not much to see here folks, save for a new paint job and a few minor software changes. Still, for those of you on Verizon, this could be just what the doctor ordered. Unless the doctor has a fake degree from a made-up country -- then his orders might not be so good. Regardless, you should feel free to feast your eyes on this cobalt blue number from the folks at Palm in the gallery below!

Come on, T-Mobile, all we need is you to get on board now and that'll make a perfect Yahtzee! for Palm with its surprise hit, the Centro. Thanks to Verizon's expected announcement today, the top three US carriers now carry the diminutive Garnet device, which Palm actually says is "off to the strongest start of any smartphone in Palm's history" -- quite a statement, considering the Treo line's rich tradition. The Centro is also the first Palm phone to be eligible for the big V's "unlimited" E-mail and Web for Smartphone plan, which runs you a thrifty $29.99. After the full, delicious menu of rebates and discounts have been applied, Verizon's version will run the same $99 on contract that the boys and girls on Sprint and AT&T pay, and we can look for it to be available through all retail channels starting tomorrow.

Update: Palm also has a brand new Facebook app launching with this phone (which will be available for the AT&T and Sprint models as well).

Oh sure, there's a plethora of portable USB chargers out there to keep most every cellphone around juiced up for one last call, but those handling a Palm handset with the polarizing Multi-Connector have long been shut out cold -- until now. Tech Center Labs has just come to the rescue with its Tiny Emergency FuelCell, which holds a single AA and enables power to be passed along to Centros and any other Palm / Treo device with the proprietary connector. Best of all, the pocket-friendly device is just $9.95 (or $10.95 with a bundled battery). Not a bad way to spend a Hamilton if you're a Palm lover.

[Via Palm InfoCenter]

We hope beyond hope that there's a typo here or some sort of magical bonus discount that'll be applied at the cash register, because documents coming out of Verizon at this point seem to indicate that Centro buyers will be paying a whopping $269.99 before $70 mail-in rebate when the device supposedly hits all retail channels next Friday, June 13. Sprint's version was just a single Benjamin many months ago, so we really don't see how Verizon can justify this kind of coin. Unless there's like a $100 bill in the battery compartment of every phone, we guess.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]