Over the next week or so, G-1 owners will see the same message advising them that version 1.5 of the Android OS is available for “push” downloading. They’re staggering the release so that the upgrade process goes smoothly for eveyone.

It took less than 7 minutes from the time I pressed the “Upgrade” button to my G-1 being back up to speed. Speed is the keyword here. The overriding new feature you notice immediately is that your G-1 is faster. It opens programs a little faster – draws screens a faster – loads Web pages faster. Overall, everything is a little faster. That means they optimized the software to improve speed. I’m hoping they also improved battery life.

There’s also the new on-screen, software keyboard. It pops-up automatically when you open a program that uses a keyboard (like Gmail). It’s similar to the iPhone’s keyboard which, once you get used to it and it gets used to you typing is very usable. I’m at the beginning of the “getting-to-know-you” phase so the new on-screen keyboard software needs to get used to my big fingers.

The hardware keyboard works, as it always did, when you slide open the keyboard cover.

Other new features include video recording, stereo Bluetooth and an improved Web browser. (It’s faster. See above).

I’ll tell you more after “consuming” my Cupcake for a few days.

Any little tidbit – and even some large bits (like one blog’s publishing of secret Sprint marketing documents) makes for big headlines on the Web.

Oddly, while “upset” about clandestine releases of internal paperwork, Sprint seems to be happy about breaches. If you look at their Pre homepage you’ll see they welcome the PR from bloggers and their inside scoops.

I think I understand why Sprint tolerates that. Of the four major cellular providers in the U.S., Sprint is on the shakiest ground. They need a big hit phone now.

That goes 1,000,000-fold for Palm. The Pre is probably a made-oir-break product for the company. It’s the foundation for the company’s financial comeback.

I hope it’s a big success. Palm reportedly has a number of other new designs in the works (including EOS a replacement for the Centro) based on their new webOS software. With the next iPhone and Android phones coming soon – this competition from Palm is a good thing.

We hope to get our hands on a Pre soon. Release day is set for Saturday, June 6th.

One oddity, BestBuy is listing an “unlocked” Pre on their Website for $849.99 ($199.99 with Sprint contract). Why would you want to spend that much on an unlocked CDMA phone? You still have to visit Sprint to make it work.

That could mean a potentially huge, new audience for both Android phones and applications as well as Linux.

Ubuntu is a form of the Linux operating system made to run on many different hardware platforms. Linux is open software. That means you can use it, change it and improve it – as long as you share with everyone else.

In the past, the best part of Linux was that it’s free. But, the people at Canonical who oversee Ubuntu have created a wonderful operating system. I have been running Ubuntu on a number of different hardware platforms (old and new) for more than a year and remain amazed at just how well everything works.

The latest Ubuntu release is version 9.04 (codenamed Jaunty Jackalope). It’s for desktops, laptops, servers and even netbooks. All come with what you need to work and play – including an office suite, games, photo and music programs and even an app for Palm devices.

Ubuntu is a free download or you can have them send you a live CD (run it off the CD and if you like it press a button and it installs automatically).

Try it on an older, slower laptop or PC. Who knows? You might love it too.

These large software packages are called Service Packs (this one is SP2) by Microsoft and include hardware enhancements OS updates, enterprise, set-up and deployment improvements — most notably Windows Search 4.0, improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and Blue-ray disc support.

In the past, installing Service Packs has been time consuming. Plus, they’re huge source hogs. Usually after about an hour of waiting your computer would (might?) be usable again. The Vista SP2 upgrade is a completely different story.

Installation was 100% painless. On a nearly new Asus laptop (running Windows Vista Business edition) SP2 took a total of 23 minutes to download, install and restart the computer for use.

The best part of all is that the upgraded computer is running perfectly. So far, everything seems to be performing just fine, thank you. Actually the Asus might be working a drop faster than before.

We’ll let you know when or if that change.

Greg told me that while Sony has previewed a prototype device during the 2008 CEDIA show and at CES back in January, they have not announced timing, specifications, or price.

He says that in the recent past, Sony did have a product that was a hybrid home server and Blue-ray disc (BD) changer, but that product is no longer on the market.

Instead, Greg wants everyone to know:

“Sony has announced plans to introduce a Blu-ray Disc Mega Changer in 2009, but we have not disclosed specifications, timing, or price at this time.

The BD Mega changer, along with Sony stand-alone Blu-ray Disc players and BRAVIA Internet Video Link, offer consumers a number of solutions to bring content to their HDTVs.”

Greg promises specs/details at the time of the official product announcement.

According to mypre.com, Best Buy and RadioShack may be getting very few handsets per store in time for the official release. It could be as few as 2-to-4 phones per store.

Best Buy and Radio Shack have already announced they will sell the Pre for $199 with a two-year service agreement – unlike Sprint who is asking for $299 with a $100 mail-in rebate. Where you you try first?

If you gotta have one – you should determine whether there’s a waiting list at your neighborhood store. One blogger say that Best Buy began taking names today.

If you want one – get your name on a list now! You have been warned.

Or, are Dunkin Donuts’ and McDonalds’ upscale coffee offerings making larger and larger dents in your wallet?

It’s time to fight back against the “establishment” and take matters into your own hands.

You can produce terrific lattes and cappucinos in the comfort of your own home and save each time you do.

There are new, reasonably priced “capsule” espresso machines systems from coffee makers Nespresso or Illy – or you can try one of the many stove-top “Moka” pots from Bialetti – and its many (cheaper) imitators. All will provide you with a great cup of espresso.

Watch my latest video to see how to savor and save at the same time.

Hostess Cupcakes on Amazon.com

Still nothing from T-Mobile on when version 1.5 of the Android operating system will be released to G-1 phone owners in the United States – except for “soon”. Some users in the U.K. reportedly have begun downloading their Cupcake upgrades.

I’m guessing that we might begin hearing about the U.S. release sometime over our long holiday weekend.

Cupcake is said to add a number of improvements to the handset including stereo Bluetooth and an on-screen keyboard eliminating the need to use the slide-out QWERTY keyboard in the G-1(essential for new thinner phone designs already announced by manufacturers HTC, Samsung and others.)

For the record, Android is not just for smartphones. There are a number of companies working on Android OS-based netbook computers and even a super-low-cost gaming device.

According to SonyInsider.com, the company is about to release a $2,300 Blu-Ray mega changer — capable of holding and playing 400 discs. This will be in addition to the current model which holds up to 200 Blu-ray discs.

Pretty impressive except for the fact that there are dirt cheap devices like the Roku box (which you can buy for $99) to download HD movies directly from Netflix and Amazon to watch them immediately. You don’t have to buy/own/store any discs.

And Roku isn’t your only option. There’s Apple TV (terrific device) and others rushing to market. Why would you spend all that money for discs and playback devices when new technology will let you watch what you want – when you want – at a fraction of the cost?

No wonder Sony is in trouble.

But, there may also be people eagerly waiting for the alleged “iPhone-killer” at Best Buy stores. That’s because BB has announced that they’re selling the phone for $199 – with no silly rebate.

Sprint, Radio Shack and select Wal-Mart stores will be selling the Pre for $199 after a $100 mail-in rebate. That means you really pay $300 out-of-pocket — copy your sales slip, send it in with a form and wait for someone to send you a hundred dollar check. Not only is that rebate process a pain, but you actually pay slightly more sales tax that way. (Hey, $7-9 is still real money these days!)

I wouldn’t be surprised if Radio Shack and Wal-Mart follow Best Buy’s lead and drop the rebate.

Either way, we’re closing in on Palm Pre day and it’s sure to be a major news event whatever the price.

Palm’s new iPhone killer – the Pre – will be available from Sprint beginning June 6th.

According to their press release, the Pre will sell for $199 with a 2-year service contract AFTER a $100 mail-in rebate. That means when you go to buy one you’ll have to pay $299 (plus any applicable sales tax) and wait to get your hundred bucks back.

The phone will actually be available at Sprint stores, Best Buy, Radio Shack, select Wal-Mart stores and also online at Sprint.com.

It will be interesting to see if there are Apple iPhone-like lines outside Sprint stores on Saturday the 6th.

The timing is interesting. It’s just two days before the start of Apple’s 2009 WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) in San Francisco where Pre could interfere with partisan discussions of the upcoming, third-generation iPhone.

Cupcake is the codename for the first major software update to T-Mobile’s G-1 smartphone based on Google’s Android operating system.

The rumors had it that we’d start seeing little “time to download” messages on our handsets late last week – but nothing came.

Smart money is on the downloads beginnig to reach G-1 owners sometime soon – probably just before Labor Day. It will take more than a week (maybe even into June) before every G-1 owner gets their chance to download the upgrade — which includes niceties such as stereo Bluetooth and an on-screen, software keyboard.

We’ll let you know what we think as soon as we’re allowed to see what goodies Cupcake will deliver.

Crackberry.com seems to be the first to have a bunch of pictures of the redesigned touch-screen handset.  I know that because they put their logo on the photos.

From these pix it looks a lot like the current BlackBerry Storm except that the buttons right below the screen might now embedded in a touch-screen panel. 

You can also make out that it really is a brand new device – the protective plastic wrapper is still on the screen and it hadn’t been activated when the pictures were snapped.

We’ll have to wait for confirmation, though. Research in Motion, as always, never discusses new designs before they’re ready for release.

Model 1008HA is a classy, slick little machine with very refined styling. It comes with the latest in wireless technology (802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1).

It’s also the first Eee to come with a non-removable, rechargeable battery – like Apple’s MacBook Air. (Wonder what happenes when you need a new battery, though?)

Nicknamed “Seashell” the 1008HA is no laughing matter. Reportedly priced just north of $400, this new thin, lightweight Eee looks and feels like a winner.

We hope to get our hands on a U.S. production model and put it through its paces (as we’ve done with every Eee so far) ASAP.

According to the EU, Intel’s strategy of excluding AMD by paying computer manufacturers and retailers to avoid using AMD products — denying consumers a proper choice.

Intel says they will appeal the record-breaking ruiling. They better. The U.S. Government may also be on their case. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission opened a formal investigation of Intel.

And, this week, the head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division said U.S. regulators would begin an aggressive enforcement policy against companies that abused their marketplace dominance.

For the record, the EU is still busy dealing with their 2004 decision against Microsoft — as well as investigating Cisco (for network maintenance services), IBM (target of the EU in the 80′s) and Google (for dominating Web advertising).

The company has reportedly been selling bonds (for the first time) to raise cash. Some analysts say Microsoft is gathering between $3.5 and $4 billion to possibly restructure their own debt.

Then again, others think Microsoft is planning to purchase something else while stock prices are low. Maybe it’s a small down payment for a big company. Yahoo, perhaps?

And who is to say that they’re not planning to manufacture their own smartphone? According to some bloggers, Microsoft might be busy working on a Zune smartphone – combining their music player with their Windows Mobile software.

That’s a very crowded field – getting more crowded with each passing day. But, Microsoft has always had an amazing knack of getting into hardware markets way after everyone else has done so.

Combining Zune and Windows Mobile could be a good thing for Microsoft. They could merge two of their divisions into one and, who knows, they might come up with one heckuva device.

One request, let Zune owners use full-sized, uncompressed WAV music files. Currently that’s not permitted. Apple does allow uncompressed AIFF files for iPods and iPhones.

We got a first glimpse of a nuvifone “under glass” (they wouldn’t let anyone touch the prototype) back at CES in January, 2008 and the 3GSM show in Barcelona a month later.

Nearly a year later, at CES in January of 2009, we got to see a Linux-OS-based nuvi model in action. Those handsets worked well and looked very cool.

Hopefully, this new delay, from first to second-half of the year, will take weeks– not months. A Summer, 2009 nuvifone would be a lot better than Winter, 2009.

With GPS features now coming as standard equipment on other smartphones, Garmin needs to get their designs to market ASAP. The company has a lot riding on them. Everything, actually.

Elgato’s Video Capture is simple and elegant. On one end there’s composite and S-video in (plus L & R channel audio) and the other end plugs into a Macintosh computer. It lets you hook up your DVD player, video camcorder or – dare I say: video cassette recorder or any analog video device and easily digitize the video.

It lets you transfer and transform your old analog stuff into iTunes-ready H.264 or MPEG-4 files. A great way to watch and archive your legacy videos.

Best part is – the kit sells for $99.95. It’s worth checking out.

T-Mobile gave us the G-1 phone months ago but is mum on when we’ll see what I call the G-2 – a handset without the slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

Great Britain will see the new design first (via Vodafone) soon followed by Canada. Rogers Wireless has announced the launch of the HTC Dream (our G-1) and HTC Magic (the future G-2?) smartphones, the first cellphones in Canada powered by Android.

Rogers says the phones will be available beginning June 2nd. They aren’t saying much else promising details of the launch soon. Customers can sign up for more information on their Website.

T-Mobile’s 3G network works on different frequencies than 3G networks in other countries but HTC already makes the G-1 which runs on that network. We shouldn’t have to wait that much longer for some Magic.

In the meantime, current T-Mobile G-1 owners will soon be able to upgrade the Android OS with new features. Version 1.5, nicknamed Cupcake, should start automatically rolling out to customers by the end of the month. Unlike Apple’s iPhone (another Rogers Wireless Canadian product) the G-1 doesn’t need a computer to perform OS upgrades.

It just doesn’t make any sense to me.

Actually, Amazon marketing their $500 Kindle to anyone doesn’t add up at all.

Want to to see more? Check out the discussion on TechVi.com and my rant on TheStreet.com.