Engadget recently speculated that WSJ tech emeritus Walt Mossberg was actually playing around with the long-rumored new iPhone, giving out subtle hints while honoring a supposed press embargo.

Walt Mossberg (Courtesy All Things Digital)

Unfortunately for Palm, Apple has both a new iPhone operating system and new iPhone hardware coming, likely available within a month, that could obviate many of these advantages.

Apple already has announced it’s adding MMS, universal search, and copy and paste. And, although Apple hasn’t announced any new hardware features, I expect to see an iPhone with up to 32 gigabytes of memory, video recording, a higher-resolution camera, a compass, and greater operating speed. Plus, there are persistent rumors that Apple will announce at least one iPhone at a drastically lower price than $199. [emphasis mine]

Weren’t MMS and copy & paste functionality available on even basic GSM phones way before the “Apple will release a phone!” grapevine existed? And guess what had universal search as early as the mid-90s? Why, Palm PDAs of course!

To be clear, Walt was just reporting on Apple’s publicized future plans. I’m more amused by the realization that it took for Apple this long to integrate what’s been around for years into its phone.

Has hell froze over? Mr. Walt Mossberg, who we can count as a pro Apple fanboy along with Applemodo, is actually criticizing an Apple product!

iPhone 24 x 7 has the scoop:

Walt Mossberg, technology expert for the Wall Street Journal, recently delivered a negative review for Apple’s new push service, MobileMe, due to its several failures…

I know Apple’s doing its best to fix it, but it really is significant when your most popular fan gives you a bad review.

Well said JT. Next up: Walt Mossberg revisits two-year lock-ins, and finally squarely blames Apple for depriving lots of its customers of the iPhone experience.