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The newest palmOne PDA to incorporate W-Fi, the Tungsten C, is over two years old. Astonishing for an industry where 802.11b wireless networking comes standard with most other new mid to high-end handhelds.

Leaks and rumors over the last couple of months have painted a picture of a new device that, if true, will be the company's most revolutionary handheld in years, however. And yes, it should include Wi-Fi.

Initially, the device—with an eye opening 4 gigabyte hard drive—was reported to be called LifeDrive. Next, leaked images of the PDA seemed to indicate the handheld would be named the Tungsten X.

Today, Brighthand reports a reliable source asserts it saw a palmOne PowerPoint presentation that said the device will be named LiefeDrive after all. If true, the PDA won't be a member of any of palmOne's current product lines: Zire, Tungsten, or Treo.

As a matter of fact, the presentation indicates the company won't even call LifeDrive a handheld, preferring Mobile Manager instead. The difference between the two is lost to us.

For isn’t a handheld computer really a mobile manager when it’s all said and done? Perhaps Mobile Manager will be the name of a new line of mobile devices from the company.

Features of LifeDrive 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 LifeDrive will sell for $500 by the middle of May

LifeDrive is also reported to be palmOne's first mobile device in years to not integrate Real Networks' RealPlayer. Rather, the company will bundle an application called Pocket Tunes from NormSoft. In addition to supporting several popular mobile music formats, including MP3 and OGG Vorbis, Pocket Tunes supports Real Networks' Rhapsody music service—with its tens of thousands of songs and three scores worth of radio channels.

palmOne is expected to officially announce LifeDrive this month.