IBLOG SPACE

One of the bigger features of the upcoming Android release, 2.2 (better known as Froyo), is the fact that there’s integrated Flash Player 10.1 . While many think that Flash isn’t optimized for proper mobile use, Adobe begs to differ, as they point out in the first paragraph of their press release that 10.0 for mobile devices has been redesigned from the ground up, with performance in mind, which also includes mobile-specific features. It’s already available on desktop clients, like Linux, PC, and Mac, but we’re all waiting for the official release on mobile devices. Now that we have the official announcement from Adobe, 35 companies ready to jump on board, we don’t expect it will be much longer to wait. Of course, the argument is this: while Flash lets you display the “full web,” does it do with by sacrificing the speed and performance of your mobile device? While we’ve seen Flash on other devices, like from HTC and Nokia, these have all been variations of Flash Lite. This time around,

Having multiple versions of a console to choose from isn’t new for console manufacturers. As it stands, there’s plenty of options out there for anyone to choose their favorite model, all depending on what it is they’re looking for, or what they need at any given time. No hard drive, bigger hard drive, or a bundle game — it all depends on what you want. And, sure enough, while a $199 New Xbox 360 was rumored after its official announcement, it looks like Microsoft has gone ahead and confirmed its future existence. And, while Microsoft’s confirmed that the lower cost console will get released in the Fall of 2010, there’s no telling what exactly will make it different. A smaller hard drive? How about lacking in integrated wireless Internet access? Maybe it won’t be as shiny? No one knows. We can speculate until the sky falls, and surely one of our guesses would be correct, but we’d much prefer to wait for the final announcement from Microsoft. As for a Kinect bundle, there’s still “talk”

inXtron Orbit USB 3.0 may not be all that mainstream quite yet, but that’s certainly not stopping companies all over the place from creating new hardware to take advantage of the speedier option. This time around, we’ve got a 2.5 hard drive enclosure, designed to hold two 2.5-inch drives. It could look worse in the aesthetics department, too. But, it’s already caught our eye, so we figured we would share it with the world. Working together with Gigabyte, who’ve managed to get their name on several different USB 3.0 products out there, and Silicon Image (who are providing their SteelVine Series 3 Core storage tech), the hard drives inside the Orbit can be configured to run in either RAID 0 or RAID 1, depending on your preference. You can also choose JBOD, as well. If you’re worried about drive failures, then running the Orbit in a RAID 1 set-up may be the best option, as it’s perfectly set up for handling critical data. However, as with many RAID 1 situations, you’ll be gaining securit

It’s the season for price drops, it seems. Right on the heels of Barnes & Noble announcing the 3G-capable nookwould get a price drop (with the addition of a new, WiFi-only model), Amazon has followed suit. That’s right, the prodigal eReader that, for all intents and purposes, started the digital book reading phenomenon, has finally made a price drop happen. What once was $259, is now only $189. Is there a second version out there that is causing the price drop? Negative. Obviously, it’s to better position themselves in the market while B&N launches new hardware and changes pricing. And they even beat the competition. The nook is $199 for the 3G/WiFi model, while the Kindle from Amazon, still featuring 3G and WiFi on their model, is just $189. So, we imagine someone at Amazon just said, “Check and mate.” Though, that’d be pure conjecture. And yes, it’s still free 3G wireless access. So, if you’re a fan of the Kindle, but you’ve been waiting for that price drop you knew was comi

We’re hoping, beyond all our hopes and dreams, that RDoW is the new thing that gets passed around. You know, after RRoD (Red Ring of Death), which was so prevalent for the original Xbox 360 back in the day. (As if it was all that long ago.) What’s the Red Dot of Warning , you ask? Well, if you’ll recall, we told you last week that the new Xbox 360 doesn’t feature the RRod anymore. So, as anyone would be, we were curious as to how we would be warned if our system was breaking down, or overheating, in any way. Looks like Microsoft’s thought of everything. Instead of just flashing the red ring this time around, in which case it’s usually already too late for you to save your beloved 360, this time around, Microsoft’s got an early warning detection system, of sorts. That picture you see does indeed show a red dot, but what’s it mean? In this new, slimmer version of the video game console from Redmond, it’s designed to let you know that you’re system has poor ventilation. That’s right, your

Does the e-reader need saving? If Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the like have sold plenty of units, the category is still facing some tough competition and it lacks a compelling reason to exist. Apple has fired the first shots in the consumer tablet war, but I think e-reader devices can easily survive if they avoid that fight altogether. First, let me define what an E-Reader is, because it’s actually quite simple. An e-reader is – usually – a device that uses E Ink. E Ink is actually a brand name from the E Ink Corporation, the company that invented the technology. E Ink is unlike regular TFT LCD or OLED displays. It uses a film of tiny balls that are white on one site, black on the other. When a proper charge is applied, the balls flip. It sounds simple at first, but the benefits are complex. E Ink screens can display text and black and white images at a remarkably high contrast. When you look at an E Ink screen, it looks more like printed text on a page than a computer screen. Beca

We’re hearing that Apple iOS4 has been released for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and certain iPod touch models. Available as a free download via iTunes – though you’ll need the latest iTunes 9.2 in order to use it –the update brings multitasking support, the ability to organize apps into homescreen folders, a unified email inbox, the iBooks app and Bluetooth wireless keyboard support, among many other things. iOS4 – formerly known as iPhone OS 4 – was officially announced at Apple’s WWDC 2010 keynote earlier this month, and apparently has 1,500 new features. It’s worth remembering that not all of them will be functional on every device in Apple’s back catalog, however; multitasking, a long-awaited feature, will only work on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS, though there is a hack for iPhone 3G users to unofficially enable it. Of course, the iPhone 4 – which is set to arrive with preorder customers and go on sale in retail stores on Thursday this week – will have iOS4 pre-loaded. Meanwhile

Clearwire has announced that it plans to slot WiMAX modems into all the Intel Core based notebooks at Best Buy by the holidays, in an attempt to drum up business for their 4G network. It’s unclear what affect the 4G modems will have on the price – systems tipped to be included in the promotion are the Dell Inspiron 14, Dell Inspiron 15, Dell Mini 10, and Toshiba Satellite M645, among others – but if buyers opt for a two-year CLEAR agreement they’ll get a $100 rebate. Clearwire’s choice of Core-based machines is unsurprising, given that Intel has invested heavily in WiMAX technology. CLEAR plans start at $40 per month and offer uncapped, true-unlimited data though of course only in areas where Clearwire has network coverage. The company recently outed a range of USB modems and MiFi-style wireless 4G hotspots for those not willing to limit their WiMAX to a single machine.

Given most gaming hardware execs tend to be ultra-civilised when it comes to discussing their rivals’ wares, we’re not sure whether Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai’s comments on the Nintendo 3DS in fact count as shockingly barbed. Speaking with Sankei Biz, Hirai dismissed the 3DS’ glasses-free 3D technology as limited and lacking in precision, citing Sony’s own in-house research. “Based off internally conducted research,” the executive said, “naked-eye 3D for portables does not have high precision, and at present there are limitations.” Claiming not to have seen the 3DS in person, he declined to comment on the Nintendo system specifically, though his comments do imply that Sony themselves have considered – and discounted – using glasses-free 3D panels for some future version of the PSP.