Google has confirmed today that the query prediction technology Google Instant is now available on smartphones, as promised in September by the search giant.

'Instant' anticipates users' searches while they type it, a feature which is invaluable on smartphones as loading times can be slower than on desktops. Typing is often more of a hassle, as well.

"Like the desktop version of Google Instant, when you type on your mobile device you'll see predictions of what you might be searching for," said Google engineer Steve Kanefsky.

Google predicts the searches by using analysis of billions of queries. By doing so, the company can guess the letters and word combos a user was likely to type.

IW explains that "AJAX and HTML implementation updates search results pages dynamically so as to eliminate the need to load a new page with every new query."

Android 2.2 and iPhone users can enable Instant from the Google homepage via their phones.

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Skyfire, the browser application which promises Flash playback on iOS devices, is back in the App Store now, "in batches," after being pulled from the iOS App Store yesterday thanks to extreme demand.

Five hours after going up to sale, the app was showing as "sold out" as the company looked to increase its server capacity.

Skyfire is popular because it takes Flash video, renders and translates it to HTML5 and then redisplays it, showing users a thumbnail they can click to play the video. The browser also works for some Silverlight videos.

The company said at the time: "The user experience was performing well for the first few hours, but as the surge continued, the peak load on our servers and bandwidth caused the video experience to degrade."

CEO Jeff Glueck says today that the browser will be available "in batches" for first time downloaders over the coming week.

"We are taking this approach because Skyfire believes a good user experience should come first, and we would rather have fewer, happier customers, and add new users as we can support them," Glueck added. "We will open the first batches to US users only, with additional country support to follow shortly."

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Dell says it will replace its employees' RIM BlackBerry smartphones with Dell phones using Windows Phone 7, starting the transition "soon."

The company says the move will save them 25 percent on their smartphone expenses.

Dell will move all 25,000 employees to the Venue Pro, the recently launched WP7 device.

If you are a current Dell employee and use a BlackBerry, you will be given a Venue Pro along with a voice and data plan. If you do not have a BlackBerry, you will also get the Venue Pro, but with no data plan. Users can hop onto company Wi-Fi when at work or use Wi-Fi at home or around town.

Because they are eliminating BlackBerrys and the need for BlackBerry servers, Dell expects to shave 25 percent off their mobile communications costs.

Dell is also in talks with T-Mobile and Microsoft, looking for other discounts and better plans.

With a parting shot, Dell CFO Brian Gladden added (via EW): "Clearly in this decision we are competing with RIM, because we're kicking them out."

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Following Microsoft's launch of the Kinect motion control system yesterday, a couple of reviews from notable sites came in claiming that the "facial recognition" feature of the device was having trouble detecting people of darker skin.

One review, from GameSpot, had this to say: "Testing suggests facial recognition features of Microsoft's motion-sensing camera system might not work properly for some gamers... In testing the Kinect, two dark-skinned GameSpot employees had problems getting the system's facial recognition features to work."

Consumer Reports immediately took to the case, and has reported that Kinect is not "racist" in any way.

The site says that the facial recognition problems stems from lighting in the room and not from a player's skin tone. White or black, if you are in a room with low-level lighting, the system will have problems recognizing your face.

As for actually following the movements of players, CR says even in a pitch black room they had no issues with the Kinect seeing them.

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A New York appeals court has reinstated Amazon and Overstock's lawsuit over sales taxes today, a decision that could shape Internet taxation for the future.

Both e-tailers have claimed that New York's state law forcing them to collect sales tax on online purchases is unconstitutional.

The original complaint had been dismissed.

Amazon and Overstock filed their cases in early 2008 and have been collecting taxes on purchases from NY buyers ever since while they await the case.

Cnet got a quote from Brad Maione of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance: "We're pleased with the decision in light of the fact that the court found that the statute is indeed constitutional. We are confident that we will prevail in the end."

The case should have its merits as a 1992 Supreme Court ruling found that retailers cannot be forced to collect sales tax from customers in other states if they don't have an office in that state. Neither e-tailer has an office in New York state.

New York, when it enacted the law, said online retailers that do not collect taxes have an unfair advantage over brick-and-mortar companies that have to, by law, collect taxes.

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IntoMobile has reported today that Android 2.3 Gingerbread may almost be done baking, with an SDK launch expected on November 11th.

Google put up the statue for Gingerbread on their campus two weeks ago, making the firmware update "official" for the first time.

With the statue in place, most expected the upgrade to hit within a month, and November 11th fits that time frame.

The site calls its tipster a "trusted source" for Android news but for now the date must be seen as rumor.

Samsung also has a big smartphone event prepared for next week, where it is expected to launch the Continuum. Rumor has had it that Samsung will also announce the Nexus Two, the first phone to have 2.3.

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