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PalmOne introduced its latest device, the mid-range Tungsten E2, earlier this week. Many pundits think its time the company released a new high-end handheld with integrated Wi-Fi as well.

The newest palmOne PDA to incorporate W-Fi, the Tungsten C, is over two years old. That’s a long time without a follow-up.

Recent rumors describe a new mystery device, LifeDrive, from the handheld pioneer that fits the bill nicely for this long-awaited sequel.

Most recently, mobile-review asserted it acquired preliminary documents that indicate LifeDrive is the name of the device's much ballyhooed 4-gigabyte hard drive, however, and not the handheld itself. And today, Brighthand reports new leaked images of the PDA do, in fact, show the Tungsten brand.

So instead of LifeDrive, the mysterious PDA will instead receive the more appropriate and consistent Tungsten X moniker.


Tungsten X

Rumored features of the Tungsten X include:

416MHz Intel Bulverde processor

64 MB of RAM (57 MB user accessible

802.11b Wi-Fi

USB 2.0

Bluetooth 1.1

480x320 TFT display at 18-bit color

Palm OS Garnet

Secure Digital Slot for memory and peripheral expansion

Virtual Graffiti 2 character-entry area

Five-way navigation control

Rectangular group of software activation buttons

Rumors say the Tungsten X will sell for $500 by the middle of May


Another Leaked Tungsten X Picture

According to News.com scribe Richard Shim, the Tungsten X is the first palmOne handheld in years to not integrate Real Networks' RealPlayer. Rather, palmOne will bundle an application called Pocket Tunes from NormSoft.

The software supports Real Networks' Rhapsody music service, nonetheless, with its tens of thousands of songs and three scores worth of radio channels in addition to, of course, several popular mobile music formats like MP3 and OGG Vorbis.