Palm Topaz tablet leaks out through keyboard

HP's and Palm's webOS tablet was given some of its first more tangible details through a leak of an accessory. Internally, the slate is now codenamed the Topaz and will have a companion Bluetooth keyboard. Details unearthed by Engadget suggested it would take cues from Apple's Wireless Keyboard with a numberpad-free, chiclet layout but also with special function keys that work both for a mobile OS and the desktop, in this case webOS and Windows.

The tablet itself, which has at times been referred to in public as the PalmPad, would more closely follow the mold of Motorola's Android tablet with no buttons on the front face and all of the interface through the touchscreen and presumably touch-sensitive bezels. Some of the tablet's design cues can reportedly be seen in the keyboard.

Along with the tablet, one of the phones planned for next year has also emerged. Known as the Castle like the original Pre and Pixi, it would be aimed directly at teens. It would be one of the webOS phones to use the on-screen keyboard and rely solely on the touchscreen. The mystery smartphone is supposedly a multi-carrier launch and would ship through AT&T, Sprint and Verizon.

The final name of the reborn Castle could be Gyst, Myte or Veer based on recent HP trademarks.

By Electronista Staff