HP has made the webOS 2.1 SDK available this weekend to all, removing the NDA.

Developers can know get a look into "Synergy," "Exhibition Mode" and other new features.

Furthermore, the company says the HP Veer smartphone is "just around the corner."

The webOS 3.0 SDK, which is optimized for tablets, is still under NDA but "is coming soon."

Says HP:

The webOS 2.1 SDK has officially exited the Early Access program and is now available for download from the HP webOS Developer Center. Using the 2.1 SDK, you can now:

Take advantage of unique webOS features like Just Type, Exhibition and Synergy.
Build and distribute hybrid apps, combining HTML, JavaScript and CSS with C/C++.
Develop webOS services in JavaScript with node.js.
Got apps for Pixi? They'll work on the all-new HP Veer.

More good news! If you've created apps for the Palm Pixi, they'll just work on the HP Veer, the next all-new webOS smartphone that's coming just around the corner. We're going to do a big push around this tiny marvel of a phone, so if your app isn't already optimized for Pixi's 320×400 display, it's definitely worth considering. Get on the Veer wave!

The transition to webOS 3.0: Things to keep in mind

As we all make this transition to 3.0, one of the biggest questions from developers is, what should I do now?

If you're a developer with existing webOS apps…
You can extend your reach by optimizing your app for the HP Veer and Pre3, using new and updated features in webOS 2.0 like Just Type, Exhibition and Synergy.

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Sony Insider is reporting today that Sony is creating a Chrome OS notebook, as well as a "VAIO Hybrid PC."

The Chrome OS notebook will look similar to Google's own Cr-48, but smaller with an 11.6-inch screen. The Cr-48 has a 12.1-inch screen.

Promising different specs than the Cr-48, the upcoming Sony laptop will have a Tegra 2, 1GB RAM and a 16GB SSD. The device will weigh 2.2 pounds and provide 8 hours of battery life, around an hour less than the Cr-48.

The Hybrid PC will feature a Core i7 processor, offer outstanding 15 hour battery life, include Intel Thunderbolt, and a large internal SSD.

Additionally, the hybrid will "plug into a dock of some sort that adds a Blu-ray burner and external graphics (by AMD) for gaming and multimedia," says the site.

There are no pictures or word on pricing, but both devices sound interesting.

(pic via engadget)

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CrunchGear has reported this weekend that the Kinect motion control system has been hacked to run on the PlayStation 3.

In the video, the hacker connects the Kinect to his laptop, running the PrimeSense drivers.

The drivers are "then converted into raw tracking data and reconverted into PS3-compliant data via DIYPS3Controller, used (naturally) to control your PS3 via your PC. This is sent to the PS3 in the form of normal controller movements (analog stick pressure, buttons and all," says the source.

it is unclear if any games will actually be workably playable via the hack.

More info is available here: Shantanu's Technophilic Musings

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During the weekend it was confirmed that Digg founder Kevin Rose was leaving the company he created although he will stick around in some positions.

Says Rose, via Mash:

I'll continue advising Digg [and serve] on the board of directors and taping Diggnation (as I have been since [Matt Williams] joined).

Rose started the site in 2004, and within 18 months it had become the largest social news site in the U.S.

Over time, the site has lost its share to competitors like StumbleUpon and Reddit, which recently announced a 1 billion view month, massive by any means.

Rose has almost completed a $1 million funding round for a new startup.

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Snaptu has confirmed they have been acquired by Facebook, although the financial details have not been released.

Israeli business papers have estimated the purchase will cost the social networking giant $70 million at highest or $40 million on the low end.

Says Snaptu:

Earlier this year, we announced the launch of a new Facebook mobile application to give people a great mobile experience on a broad range of feature phones. The Facebook for Feature Phones app currently works on more than 2,500 devices.

We soon decided that working as part of the Facebook team offered the best opportunity to keep accelerating the pace of our product development. And joining Facebook means we can make an even bigger impact on the world.

Facebook's response:

As part of our goal to offer people around the world the opportunity to connect and share on mobile devices, we're excited to confirm that we recently signed an agreement to acquire Snaptu. We expect the acquisition to close in a few weeks, subject to customary closing conditions.

Snaptu is a startup run by a highly innovative collection of engineers and entrepreneurs, who we already work closely with to offer a Facebook mobile application for feature phones.

As part of Facebook, Snaptu's team and technology will enable us to deliver an even better mobile experience on feature phones more quickly.

Snaptu and Facebook had already teamed up to launch an application for feature phones and the social site will use the company to develop, deploy and maintain online services.

(Pic via TC)

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AT&T has announced today that it will purchase T-Mobile USA from parent Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion, in a cash and stock transaction.

With the major acquisition, AT&T will add a significant amount of market share and better compete against Verizon, the market leader in the U.S. for mobile phone users.

AT&T says it will expand its 4G LTE to 95 percent of the American population, an additional 46.5 million people.

Says AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson:

This transaction represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand critical infrastructure for our nation's future. It will improve network quality, and it will bring advanced LTE capabilities to more than 294 million people. Mobile broadband networks drive economic opportunity everywhere, and they enable the expanding high-tech ecosystem that includes device makers, cloud and content providers, app developers, customers, and more. During the past few years, America's high-tech industry has delivered innovation at unprecedented speed, and this combination will accelerate its continued growth.

This transaction delivers significant customer, shareowner and public benefits that are available at this level only from the combination of these two companies with complementary network technologies, spectrum positions and operations. We are confident in our ability to execute a seamless integration, and with additional spectrum and network capabilities, we can better meet our customers' current demands, build for the future and help achieve the President's goals for a high-speed, wirelessly connected America.

The carrier promises that both companies will see improved voice quality "as a result of additional spectrum, increased cell tower density and broader network infrastructure."

AT&T is now the sole GSM carrier in the U.S. (if it passes regulatory anti-monopoly hurdles), controlling all the bands. AT&T has 95.5 million wireless subscribers and T-Mobile has 33.7 million subscribers, so the new entity will have at least 129.2 million subscribers. Verizon Wireless has 94.1 million wireless customers.

Updated: It seems that if the deal does not get FCC approval, then AT&T will pay T-Mobile a $3 billion "breakup fee," give them some AWS spectrum it does not need, and give T-Mob a roaming agreement "at an agreeable price."

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