In the question.
FYI, the RasPi official website has announced First Model A samples off the line!
Definitely 256MB rather than 512MB, and "significantly" lower power consumption. Nice picture of LAN9512's ground pad connection and you can finally see the label for Ethernet connector P4.
Update: This comment by liz is interesting:
Actually, what’s happening (at least for the first while) is that the Foundation will be manufacturing them, and we’ll then be supplying RS and Farnell. They may take over the manufacture later on, but there were some chip-supply issues and a batch of memory that we ended up owning that meant this was the most sensible way to do it.
Sounds like the Foundation got stuck with a bunch of 256MB chips during the 512MB switch-over, and perhaps other issues. I recommend rampant speculation and conspiracy theorizing followed by fervent fanboism and name-calling 
Even more interesting is this bit:
Liz wrote:
Farnell told us yesterday that they’ve shipped 429,000 so far, and I don’t have current figures for RS, but they’ll be only a little lower)
So, this means that both Farnell and RS have been manufacturing boards in roughly the same quantities, which necessarily means that RS's preorder queue was significantly larger than Farnell's to start with otherwise it would have dropped to roughly the same level as Farnell's.
This is very strong evidence that my guess about RS receiving many more expressions of interest during the week of launch chaos or soon after was basically correct. Either more people had heard of RS and so clicked their link in preference, or RS's website survived the crisis period a bit more effectively, we can't tell which. The period of queue inflation could also have happened later at "Place your order" time, perhaps they did better there. But the reward for doing better is now to be dragged through the mud for still having long wait times when their competitor doesn't.
It's also worthy of note that since RS's figures are only a little lower than Farnell's, then the often-quoted "fact" that they ordered far smaller volumes than Farnell seems to be incorrect. Give or take the amount Liz refers to as "a little lower", their average order size has to be roughly in step with Farnell's or their totals wouldn't be similar now.
I recommend rampant speculation and conspiracy theorizing
Some people's theories about RS are going to have to be revised, that's for sure. Mine are still consistent with the known facts, and increase in likelihood given this new information. That doesn't mean they're true of course, but only that they haven't been invalidated yet by evidence.
That's the scientific method for you. 
Morgaine.
