Don't look now, but mid-2008 is almost here, and for those waiting intently for the release of a LiMo SDK, you're one step closer to having your dreams realized. Announced today, the LiMo Foundation has made available what it calls the "first globally competitive, Linux-based software platform for mobile devices." According to Morgan Gillis, executive director of LiMo Foundation, the consortium is hoping that R1 will "spur rapid innovation and contributions from all LiMo members," and it's restated that software development kits for Native, WebKit and Java operating environments are set to launch during the second half of this year. Not one to sit idly, the entity has also announced that Release 2 is currently "being specified and developed," and should escape testing and greet the real world in late 2008.

[Via PhoneScoop]

A table of release dates dug up on Sony Ericsson's own site suggests something powerfully depressing, which is that the XPERIA X1 has been pushed all the way out to February 10, 2009 (notice that the date is in European format -- we'd just give up now if it were actually October 2, 2009). While the presence of the page on the company's very own domain is pretty damning evidence, we're still holding out hope that it's a typo or an oversight; late Q2 of '08 was mentioned at MWC, and we really don't see how it's possible to push out a phone nearly three-quarters of a year just weeks after its initial announcement. Please tell us we're right on this one, Sony Ericsson. Please.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Looks like the iPhone is launching in Ireland with O2 on March 14th, according to Pocket-lint. It's supposed to go for the low, low price of €399 (including VAT) on the 8GB and €499 for the 16GB; we haven't heard anything solid either way, but we'll let you know if we do (and you do the same, would ya?).

[Thanks, John and Ronan]

AT&T Palm users: the Centro is definitely on starting next week. We've gotten solid confirmation that next Tuesday (that'd be the 19th, as we heard) will, in fact, be the day Palm's budget handset launches on AT&T. We expect the price should be set at $99, no final word on colors (expect white); we'll check back in next week at launch time.

In case you're not clued into the developer's loop when it comes to all things Android, you might not be aware that there's a brand-spanking-new version of the SDK out right now, replete with new apps, a new skin, and tightened-up functionality. In fact, it's almost like a whole new OS. Keep your eyes on us, as we're whipping up an in-depth gallery so you can get a taste of what's to come from the Google camp.

Take a look at our extensive gallery of pics right here.

[Via Hello Android]

What's that we see? The Nokia N95 8GB listed on the Nokia US retail site? Okay, calm down, it's not the US-specific version (read: it uses 2100MHz WCDMA, i.e. European 3G), but you'll still have a 2.8-inch mammoth screen, A-GPS, a five megapixel camera, and the rest of the goodies that maybe, just maybe, you'll be willing to fork out $780 for, even knowing that a US version HAS to be right around the corner.

[Thanks, Preston]

Naw, it's not really the truly open and hackable software-defined radio based cellphones we've long lusted after, but the OpenMoko Linux / GNU based GSM platform (and hardware) is finally up for sale. $300 brings home an OpenMoko Neo 1973 (aka Neo Base kit), perfect for getting your OpenMoko app dev project started. $450 brings home the Neo Advanced kit, "everything the mobile device hacker wants to get down and dirty with the first freed phone". Happy hacking.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Yeah, that's apparently what's going down -- the iPhone will be over the Atlantic "in time for Christmas," according to The Times. That is, assuming they can quickly localise its dialogue for easy manoeuvring in the UK market, aye guv'na? Oh, and Apple still has to sign the paperwork, too, so it isn't necessarily over.

P.S. -Naw, doesn't necessarily mean Vodafone is out -- remember, they're so freaking all over the place Apple might just get Vodafone distro somewhere else in the world.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: The piece also notes that Orange is the front-runner in France. As a reminder, German paper Rheinische Post reported that T-Mobile's locked down the iPhone for Deutsche release. Apparently it'll land for €450 (about $612) on November 1st. More as it develops. Congratulations, Europe, now you too can experience absolutely insane consumer hysteria that is an iPhone launch! Thanks, Chinman.

That iPhone firmware leaked this week? Well, as found on the iPhone Dev Wiki it's been cracked open, its files laid bare, and deep within the system one can find four very special, very telling files:

Default_CARRIER_ATT.png
Default_CARRIER_CINGULAR.png
Default_CARRIER_TMOBILE.png
Default_CARRIER_VODAFONE.png

We know AT&T / Cingular have a 5-year exclusivity agreement on the iPhone in the US, but if this doesn't make clear Apple's plans to launch on Vodafone (presumably for UK and much of Europe) and T-Mobile (presumably for Germany) we don't know what does.

P.S. -Sorry, those iPhone images are encoded all funny (something about flipped R and B pixels?), we couldn't get 'em working. Anyone with some hacking skills want to make 'em readable for us?

P.P.S. -Apple can stop calling the iPhone's browser "Safari" now, we know they differentiated by calling it MobileSafari.app in the iPhone (and it's only 640KB, oddly).

[Via Hackintosh]

Thankfully for us all, the iPhone launch is but hours away, and what better way to make those last second decisions on braving the crowds (or not) than to read over what's likely to be the last pre-iPhone-launch interview with both Apple and AT&T's head honchos? Sitting down with USAToday, Steve Jobs and Randall Stephenson faced a number of dutiful questions, and a few of the answers were intriguing to say the least. Besides bragging about revolutionizing the mobile phone industry and finally producing "a phone people like," the duo noted that the 6:00PM launch time was chosen to give "everyone the same shot" at nabbing one, and they both made it seem like shortages wouldn't be too much of an issue. Most noticeable was the dodging of the inevitable EDGE inquiries, as both execs spent more time boasting of the iPhone's ability to "fluidly switch from EDGE to WiFi" than actually responding to the "sluggish" criticism received thus far. Furthermore, Jobs noted that Apple was already working with a number of companies in regard to corporate email, and while he wouldn't budge when questioned about an overseas release, he did state that "selling 10 million" during its first year was a "realistic goal."

Finally, the fricking Mogul is announced. We're pretty tired of talking about this phone -- now it's time for the device to stand on its own two feet -- er, soft keys. Specs away:

• EV-DO Rev. 0 (Rev. A comes later with a software update. Tres lame.)
• 400MHz Qualcomm CPU
• 64MB RAM, 256MB ROM
• 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0
• 2 megapixel camera, microSD, 1500mAh battery
• 4.3 x 2.3 x 0.73-inches
• $399 + two year contract, available in July... or right now

Well lookee what we have here: a Sprint PPC-6800, better known as the Mogul, sitting in the palm of what is no doubt one very pleased Howard Forums user. Now we're no analysts or nothin', but we'd suggest that the availability of this Apache-successor through Brightpoint bodes well for the June 18th launch date that Engadget Mobile caught wind of last week. Wait, isn't that tomorrow? Click through to catch the retail packaging...

[Thanks, ckeegan]

Ready to pony the cash? Looks like our source was right: the iPhone is yours come June 29th. The commercial just aired on 60 Minutes, and now you can finally mark your calendar and get on with your life -- for the next 25 days or so, until you get in line for your spankin' new $600 iPhone (provided you're still willing to undergo that ugly but required two year service agreement).

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: The ads are up on Apple's site! Check 'em out.

Hard to believe the day's finally come, but that thing you're looking at is actually Nokia's long, long, freaking long-delayed N75 3G Symbian smartphone. Here. As in, here in America, on AT&T. You don't really need us to tell you what it is (ok, well, if you do: it's got a 2 megapixel camera, PlaysForSure support, Bluetooth, and plenty of media and messaging apps), but you'll be stoked to learn the media-centric flip will run you just $200 (with rebate and 2-year). Grats, AT&T, we were starting to think you didn't have it in you to launch a friggin 3G Symbian phone.

[Thanks, croquembouche11, via Boy Genius Report]

Update: After a few all-too-brief hours of possible availability, AT&T has yanked the N75 from many zip codes -- though it seems some lucky folks are still able to order. Your mileage, of course, may vary.