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LaCie intros Porsche Design drive for Macs with SSD and USB 3.0, helps the speed match the name
Porsche Design may not be directly involved in building German supercars, but there are certain expectations to be met, aren’t there? LaCie is rolling out a new version of its Porsche Design hard drive skewed towards Mac owners that should offer more of the performance you’d associate with the automotive brand. The P’9223 Slim SSD is a third thinner than its ancestor but carries the option of a 120GB SSD that makes the most of the USB 3.0 port. If all runs well, nearly any Mac launched in 2012 can shuttle data along at a brisk 400MB per second. Demanding Mac fans will need to pay $150 for the flash-based edition to have the P’9223 feel truly Porsche-like; others only have to spend $100 if they’re content with the Volkswagen pace of a 500GB spinning drive.
Chrome 20 browser released: exclusive 64-bit Linux Flash, fewer MacBook crashes
If your new MacBook is having kernel panics, or you’re forced to run a 32-bit browser in Linux because you need Flash, Google’s brought relief with version 20 of Chrome. While acting sheepish about “yet another release,” the Chrome Blog said “hundreds of bugs” were fixed, including a MacBook resource leak issue which was temporarily patched by disabling some GPU features. Also, Linux users will finally get full 64-bit support for Flash with Adobe’s PPAPI “Pepper” version, but since it was made exclusively for Chrome, Penguin users will be stuck with that browser if they want the feature. To get it, check the source after the br… oh, right, background update. Nevermind.
Adobe confirms it won’t support Flash on Android 4.1, stops new Flash installs from Google Play on August 15th
Adobe was very public about dropping mobile Flash last fall. In case that wasn’t clear enough, the developer just drew a line in the sand: Android 4.1 doesn’t, and won’t ever, get certification for Flash. The company is stopping short of saying that Flash won’t run, but it’s evident that Adobe won’t help you if the web browser plugin doesn’t install (or breaks in spectacular fashion) on that Nexus 7. Just to underscore the point, the firm is also halting new installations of Flash from Google Play as of August 15th. Security updates and other vital patches will continue on for existing users. Any fresh downloads after that fateful day, however, will have to come from Adobe’s mausoleum for old versions. The company had already said that HTML5 was the way forward on phones and tablets — now we know just how quickly it’s backing up that claim.
Adobe Flash 11.3 checks in with security fixes, OS X silent updater and Firefox sandbox in tow
While feverishly revamping Flash with the all-new Next version — to keep HTML5 from killing it — Adobe is still plugging the current incarnation with smaller updates. To that end, Flash 11.3 just popped out of beta, which sees the company add a few notable goodies for the beleaguered plugin. On top of filling seven critical security holes, Adobe added a background updating feature for Mac OS X and signed the code in preparation for compatibility with Mountain Lion. That way it’ll align it with the upcoming Gatekeeper feature in the next OS X release, though you’ll have to dial its max security down one notch to get it. Lastly, sandboxing — already in Chrome — has been tacked on to Firefox as well, slowing hackers by isolating the plugin from critical system processes. All that fresh duct tape and polyfill should keep Flash rattling along — until Adobe can pull the gleaming Next platform out of the hangar. Meanwhile, click the source for the download links.
Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT
The Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT is a weatherproof TTL flash unit with integrated radio-frequency triggering. Using one master 600EX-RT or the new ST-E3-RT radio-frequency wireless Speedlite transmitter, up to 15 600EX-RT flash units – positioned up to 30m away – can be remotely triggered. Importantly, the Speedlite 600EX-RT also retains support for standard infra-red wireless flash control. The zooming flash head covers a similar angle-of-view range as a 20-200mm lens, and the 600EX-RT boasts a guide number of 60 (in metres at ISO 100/21°) at the 200mm setting. The Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT ships with a bounce card, a diffuser that allows the flash to be used with ultra-wideangle lenses down to 14mm, a new colour filter adapter and two colour gels. Powered by four AA/LR6 batteries, the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT features a bounce-and-swivel head and a range of custom flash coverage options.
Nikon launches $550 Speedlight SB-910 flash: light-up controls and thermal cut-out protection
You know what $549.95 gets you in the camera world? About 90 percent of a T3i. Or, you know, a flash. Nikon has just outed the proper successor to the Speedlight SB-900, and at over half a grand, it best be packin’ more than just bright lights. The Speedlight SB-910 touts an enhanced operating system and graphic user interface, and comes equipped with a wide zoom range as well as FX / DX-format identification that optimizes zoom settings based on the camera body. The company’s also promising better battery life and a bolstered thermal cut-out function — which offers protection against damage to the flash panel and body from overheating during continuous flash use — not to mention an improved LCD and the ability to be used as an on-camera flash, wireless commander or remote. You’ll get a trio of illumination patterns (standard, center-weighted and even), and it’ll be shipping here in the US in just over a fortnight. Here’s hoping it’s not too late to add a last-minute crush to your wish list.
Lapdock 100 brings a Webtop IQ boost to Moto phones on Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T
Looking to harness all the power of your smartphone PC-style? Motorola is looking to help with its Lapdock 100 for a number of devices, including the Atrix 2, Photon 4G and Droid Bionic. The laptop shell sports a 10.1-inch screen (smaller and hopefully cheaper than the Atrix 4G’s axed lapdock), keyboard with dedicated Android keys, touchpad, multi-tasking and tabbed web-browsing via WiFi or your phone’s data plan. You’ll also be able to utilize a full Firefox browser, Adobe Flash, Quick Office, Google Docs and a PC-esque File Manager. Just in case your smartphone’s SD card doesn’t offer enough storage space, the dock packs two USB ports for all those extra documents you might collect. Looking to stay ultra-portable, the peripheral weighs a hair over two pounds (less than 1Kg) and touts five hours of battery life — which can also be used to recharge that tired handset if needed. If you’re looking to snatch up one of these bad boys, you’ll have to wait until October 17… and even then, it’ll only hit shelves at AT&T. Verizon and Sprint customers will get their chance “later this quarter” and there’s no word yet on pricing. Need more info? Hit that coverage link for product page and get yourself better acquainted.
Flash 11 and AIR 3 landing tonight and delivering 7.1 surround sound to connected home theaters (Video)
Later tonight Adobe Flash 11 and AIR 3 will hit the tubes delivering with it a host of new features, including hardware acceleration for 2D and 3D graphics — at least for desktops. Stage 3D support will be added to the mobile variants for Android, iOS and BlackBerry at a later date. AIR 3 will also be sprucing up connected entertainment devices, like Samsung SmartTVs, with the ability to deliver Flash-based games and content to your home theater system. What’s more, Adobe has baked in support for both Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound. That means both 5.1 and 7.1 sound can be built into an AIR app, whether it be a game or streaming video, and pumped out at up to 512Kbps though your Blu-ray player or other connected theater component. For more, including a demo of a Flash app on a phone and a TV communicating, check out the trio of press releases and video after the break.
SanDisk outs Extreme Pro SDXC, Mobile Ultra microSDXC, new Cruzer USB sticks
Adobe unleashes Flash Player 11 beta, now with 7.1 surround sound
Another day, another beta. Adobe’s latest beta release of its desktop Flash Player — that’s version 11 — is now available for your downloading pleasure. This particular build brings with it Stage3D APIs, for “advanced” 2D and 3D rendering, 64-bit support, H.264 encoding, and 7.1 surround sound. We’re just hoping number 11 won’t bring all the flaws and subsequent fixesthat have plagued previous versions. For more details, and to download the the latest beta, click the source link below.
Super Talent USB 3.0 Express RC8 looks like a thumb drive, acts like an SSD
It seems too much to hope for, but Super Talent insists it has the benchmarks to prove it: a USB 3.0 stick that achieves 270MB/s reads and 240MB/s writes under optimal conditions. Unlike your average joe flash drive, the RC8 boasts a fully-fledged (albeit previous-generation) SandForce SSD controller that permits the simultaneous use of eight channels of NAND memory. In other words, this zippy little thing actually is an SSD, enclosed in an aluminum case that measures 1-inch wide, 4-inches long and 0.3-inches thick. No definitive word on pricing yet, but it was reported at Computex that a 50GB variant would go for around $110, while 25GB and 100GB capacities will also be available. Now, could someone please hurry up and build a Thunderbolt version?
Sony NEX-C3 hands-on (video)
Sony announced the successor to its NEX-3 digital camera earlier this week, so we decided to take a post-E3 road trip down to the electronics maker’s US headquarters in San Diego to check out the $599 NEX-C3 for ourselves. We’ll analyze the new sensor’s image quality in a full review before the camera hits stores later this summer, but from our initial impressions, the new cam appears to offer fairly minor tweaks compared to its predecessor. It’s incredibly small for a camera with an APS-C sensor — perhaps even awkwardly so, when paired with the comparatively massive 18-55mm kit lens or Sony’s enormous 18-200mm optic — but not small enough to be any less functional than the previous iteration. Like the NEX-3, the camera was designed to be held by resting the lens on your left palm, rather than by the grip, so size isn’t likely to be an issue. Cosmetic changes include a magnesium alloy top panel, front microphone positioning, and a more efficient display hinge, which helped reduce the camera’s thickness. We’ll be posting a full review in several weeks, but jump past the break for more observations, and a hands-on video from Sony HQ.
Sony announces NEX-C3 and Alpha A35 cameras, new macro lens
We’ve been (impatiently) waiting for Sony to update its NEX line of digital cameras since the NEX-3 was discontinued earlier this year, and it looks like a worthy successor has finally been named. Announced today, the NEX-C3 appears identical to the model leaked in April, and uses the same format APS-C image sensor as its predecessor, bumping resolution to 16.2 megapixels in a camera body smaller than the NEX-5. Sony says the new entry-level cam is designed to fill the gap between point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras, and is the smallest body to pack an APS-C sensor, offering DSLR-level image quality — the same 16.2 MP chip is also included in its new full-size Alpha A35, which replaces the A33. Both cameras can shoot at up to 5.5 fps (the A35 adds a 7 fps mode at 8.4 megapixels), and include 3-inch LCDs, with the NEX keeping its hallmark tilt display, and the A35 adding Sony’s Translucent Mirror live-view mode, and an electronic viewfinder. We have plenty more to share, including a new lens and flash, along with pricing and availability for all, so jump past the break for the juicy details.
In line with Sony’s goal of improving the user experience for beginners, the NEX-C3′s Photo Creativity interface simplifies the process of adjusting advanced settings, to help grow the skills of those new to DSLR shooting. Both models include new Picture Effects (like the retro look you get with those novelty smartphone apps), which will also be available for previous generation cameras via a firmware update on June 20th. The NEX-C3 ships in late July or August, and will be offered with those familiar 18-55mm and 16mm kit lenses for $649 and $599, respectively. Bodies paired with the zoom will be available in black, pink, and silver, while the camera in the fixed-lens kit will only ship in black. The A35 will hit stores in August for $699 with an 18-55mm kit lens, or $599 for the body. There’s also a new 30mm f/3.5 macro lens ($249, October) and a larger external flash ($149, August) for the NEX series. You’ll have to wait a month or two to pick up a C3 of your own, but check back for our hands-on preview later this week.
HTML5 Website Showcase: 48 Potential Flash-Killing Demos
That’s why this post exists, we’re not going to talk about what HTML5 can do, but show live demos of magical things that HTML5 can achieve with other language like JavaScript, so get ready to be inspired.
Note: As HTML5 is not fully supported by certain web browser like Internet Explorer, you’re strongly recommended to use Firefox browser to view all HTML5 demos below.
Animation
The HTML5′s canvas element is the deciding factor for HTML5 to replace certain Flash animation. It allows you to build dynamic, scriptable rendering of 2D shapes and bitmap images with Javascript, which by other mean is, controllable animation.
Audioburst Animation
A comfortable and fantastic animation created with HTML5′s canvas and audio tag.
50+ Beautiful Flash Websites For Your Inspiration
As a non-developer of any kind, I don’t foresee HTML5 making Flash redundant, to me that is like saying the Music System could make the TV set redundant – I think they will sit nicely together, have their own place and function, but possibly also work side by side – but I reiterate: I am not a developer.
In these days of high technology, it is unusual for a new breed to over-ride existing technology altogether. If developers continue to stay ‘on top of the game’, there is no reason why there is not room for more technologies to join forces with existing ones. This collection of Flash websites is designed to illustrate the huge job the developers of HTML5 have if they really think they can outdo Flash completely. These are examples of Flash used as it should be, and showcases the beauty of using Flash and how to effectively have a website that is built totally on Flash.
Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3-iSSD motherboard eyes-on (Video)
We’re not normally all that stoked with motherboards, but Gigabyte’s awkwardly named Z68XP-UD3-iSSD just about got our attention at Computex. The highlight here is the Intel 20GB SLC SSD latched onto the board’s mSATA slot, which is right next to the LGA1155 CPU socket and the four DDR3 RAM slots (together supporting up to 32GB). Alas, Gigabyte says it won’t be offering upgrade options for the SSD, though there are certainly alternatives out there in the wild if you dare to venture. But if none of this interests you, then there’s always our multi-screen Angry Birds hands-on video after the break.
Adobe CEO Buries Hatchet With Apple
The Adobe-Apple feud seemed to be winding down now for a while now and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen was on hand to discuss why at the D9 conference. For those of you hoping for a mature low-key resolution, well, that’s exactly what happened. For those of you hoping for a resolution involving Flash on Apple’s devices, that still isn’t happening and Adobe for its part still maintains the real reason behind Apple’s decision is of course protecting the App Store against Flash interlopers.
During the same interview, the Adobe CEO was also ambushed with a question about Flash performance on Android, or lack thereof. That didn’t go over as well, but he managed to deflect it with some waffling and some nonsense about RIM’s Playbook. Not particularly encouraging, but at least Android has Flash.
Source AllThingsD
Kingston refreshes DataTraveler Ultimate USB 3.0 flash drive, demonstrates the high price of speed
Sick and tired of the Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0′s slow-as-molasses 80MB/sec read speeds? Good news, the flash drive has been souped up for a second generation, offering up 100MB/sec read and 70 MB/sec write speeds when plugged into a USB 3.0 port — plugging into a 2.0 port should give you in the neighborhood of 30MB/s for both read and write. That speed ain’t cheap, however — the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB drives will run you $77, $116, and $213, respectively. The drives are available now and the press release is after the break — if you can catch it.
Flash Player 10.3 hits Android with optimizations, bug fixes aplenty (update: desktops too)
It’s been saying that it was coming “soon” since March, and Adobe has now finally delivered Flash Player 10.3 to compatible Android devices. As expected, it brings mostly bug fixes and optimizations, the biggest of which appears to be NEON optimizations for OMAP4 (or Cortex A-9) processors, which should be good news for BlackBerry PlayBook owners (and those that eventually get their hands on an Optimus 3D). Otherwise, you can expect to find the usual batch of security improvements, and a few fixes for specific problems on Galaxy S phones, the HTC Evo, and various Motorola devices.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Update: Adobe’s also now brought the desktop version of Flash Player 10.3 out of beta for Windows, Mac and Linux, and it’s confirmed that the Android update does indeed include support for Android 3.1. Hit up the links below for the complete details.
Android 3.1 gets namechecked by Adobe Flash Player 10.2, will be required to enjoy accelerated 720p video
Remember how Adobe said Flash 10.2 wasn’t living up to its full hardware-accelerated potential on Honeycomb thus far? Well, it seems the company’s found a solution by the name of Android 3.1. We’ve been inundated with tips (and have confirmed with Adobe) that there’s a sticky-sweet new build of Android on the way for the recent crop of slates that OEMs and carriers are rolling out, and that — just like last time — you’ll need that software to take advantage of all the hardware rendering and compositing that your Tegra 2 silicon can afford. With any luck, 720p playback won’t burn our eyeballs this time around. By the way, the Android Market item above was updated this morning to read “requires an upcoming release of Android 3″ rather than “Android 3.1,” but it’s unclear whether the original number was inaccurate or whether Adobe got in trouble.
