LEAKED: PALM PAD DEBUTING AT CES

It has been known for quite some time that Palm will be introducing its first iPad competitors in 2011, but FoxNews.com claims to have some new details about the tablet line dubbed PalmPad. Accompanying what appear to be drawings of the device, a purported spec sheet details several features of the upcoming webOS tablets. Highlights of at least one model include WiMAX compatibility for use with Sprint’s 4G network, an HDMI-out port, a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera (oddly, also with an LED flash according to the report) and a USB 3.0 port. The report suggests there will be three versions of the PalmPad initially, though it doesn’t provide a firm explanation of the differences between models. It does state that at least one PalmPad will likely have a screen “nearly identical” to the iPad’s 9.7-inch display, and there will be a fourth “university version” of the PalmPad with an 8.9-inch screen that will not be on display at CES. FoxNews.com claims that the PalmPad line will launch with version 2.5.1 of Palm’s mobile operating system, webOS. While the source of these rumors doesn’t exactly have a solid track record — or any track record with Palm leaks, for that matter — we’re rapidly approaching CES and Palm isn’t exactly known for its ability to keep things under wraps. [BGR]