This news isn't official yet (and we all know what to make of rumours), but we've received word (in the form of a leaked memo to Telstra dealers) that Telstra will be phasing out the HipTop Slide around the end of November in anticipation for a late 2008/January 2009 launch of the Hiptop LX.

The new Hiptop model will be available in two colours: Blue and Brown, plus a limited edition Tony Hawk design.

The target is to have the LX in time for Christmas to maximise sales, which they'll be doing by offering a selection of revamped plans tailored for the LX (although exactly what they will be is a mystery).

It makes sense for Telstra to launch the new HipTop just before Christmas, and also that it's an exclusive Telstra arrangement. Even though technically this is still a rumour, if you are thinking of picking up a new Hiptop in the next month or so, we'd suggest you hold off just a little bit longer for the chance to get the most recent model...

Soulja Boy claims that he has the only Xbox 360 Sidekick LX in the world, something that we believe him on, seeing as Danger is a huge fan of doing limited runs of designer Sidekicks for special people. Does it mean that Soulja Boy will have the only Xbox 360 Sidekick LX forever? Tough to say, but we're hoping there's some kind of tie-in seeing as Microsoft and Danger are more than just BFF. In the meantime, head over to Gamertagradio to see him fiddle around with it on video while mumbling incoherently. [Gamertagradio via Engadgetmobile]

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The Gadget: The Sidekick 2008, which follows up the Sidekick LX and Sidekick Slide as a "main" unit (read: not low-end like the iD) in the Sidekick series. It's got improved features like a 2.0-megapixel camera, 2.6-inch display (400x240), video recording/playback, stereo Bluetooth, custom "shells" and most importantly, a smaller body.

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In a giant memo to Microsoft employees laying out strategy and changes for the next fiscal year, Steve Ballmer spends a paragraph comparing their way of doing things (choice) versus Apple (end-to-end). Unexceptional, except he says that

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It won't make its official debut until July 30th, but if you just can't wait another 12 days to get your hands on one, it can be had right now on Craigslist. Why anyone would spend a premium amount of cash on a used test unit with the release less than two weeks away is beyond me, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone took the bait. [Craigslist via HipTop3 via BGR]

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Boy Genius has word that T-Mobile's Sidekick 2008 is coming out on July 30th. The phone has Sidekick like features, and a 2.6-inch WQVGA screen, A2DP stereo bluetooth streaming and those interchangeable faceplates we've been hearing about. The phone's OS should feel appropriately aged but at the right price, the Sidekick's always been a crowd pleaser. I'm just not sure if that crowd is this crowd. [Boy Genius]

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Some more images have popped up at Hiptop3 of the forthcoming Sidekick Gekko aka 2008 from T-Mobile, and they're the best we've seen to date. This is a slender looking hiptop which will launch with a multitude of skins, making it the most customisable Sidekick to date. And really, with a feature like that, you'd think the code name would be "chameleon", but what do we know? [Hiptop3]

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The Sidekick that had been known as Gekko shall henceforth be called Sidekick 2008. Yes, it may be the first time since the year 2000 that we're sticking the date in a product name, but it's a trend we've so missed. Other than that, we just have a few more blurry-and-therefore-trustworthy leaked shots of the device for your perusal. The front's not bad, but the back is mighty colourful:

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The promised update for Sidekick LX is going to start rolling out over the air come June 25, adding video capture, video sharing, IM enhancements and various other upgrades. You might not get updated until a few days after June 25, however. Hit the jump for the full listing courtesy of Boy Genius. [Boy Genius Report via HipTop 3]

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The T-Mobile Sidekick LX Tony Hawk Edition gets official, with Tony's name emblazoned across the Sharp-ade Sidekick device. It's pretty much the same as the standard Sidekick LX, except this one has video recording and "play and share," among other small upgrades.

[T-Mobile]

[Gadgetell]