PALM SET TO UNVEIL "NOVA", NEW OS & DEVICE, AT CES IN JANUARY

Most people wrote off Palm as dead ages ago but they're still very much alive, and they're set to release a much anticipated new mobile phone OS and device to go with it at CES in January.

The new OS—dubbed "Nova"—is set to be Linux-based and is shrouded in quite a bit of secrecy. And for Palm, which only has 6 quarters of cash left in the bank, the stakes couldn't be higher. With developers itching to cash in on well established and growing mobile phone platforms like OS X, Windows Mobile, RIM, and now Android, Palm will have to show off something truly extraordinary.

Palm CEO Ed Colligan says they'll be aiming at the "fat middle" of the market with this new platform, hoping to cash in on the gap between the BlackBerry and the iPhone.

It's hard to believe that not too long ago Palm basically invented the modern smartphone with their Treo line and were for the longest time the best solution available. I guess we'll know soon enough if they have a compelling enough future to offer to customers.