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iOS games are about to get bigger and (hopefully) better
Not many apps hit iTunes' 2GB file limit, but those that do tend to fall into a certain category (cough games). As a result, developers often must sacrifice graphics quality and effects for iOS titles, the exact problem we pointed out with the recent BioShock iOS release. But Apple has finally lifted that limit, and the max file size on iTunes titles is now 4GB, according to its developer site. That should result in better games, with a caveat. If you decided that $949 was a tad too much to pay on the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus and went for much cheaper 16GB iPhone 6 instead, you may not have enough space for the latest, largest titles.
ZTE's incoming Grand S II could be first smartphone with 4GB RAM
ZTE's Grand S II already looks like a pretty fine handset with its brushed metal back and Snapdragon 800/801 CPU, as we saw at its launch earlier this year. But judging by a leak at Chinese regulator Tenaa, it could take it up another notch with 4GB of RAM -- a first for any smartphone and double the original spec. That's the maximum possible RAM on a 32-bit ARM chip, and 4GB modules were only recently teased by Samsung and SK Hynix. We wouldn't be surprised if it ends up as a high-end option for the Grand S II, in the same way that ZTE's Nubia X6 is available in a 3GB RAM variant. Take all this with a grain of salt for now, but remember that until we see a 64-bit CPU and Android OS, 4GB will be as good as it gets. [Image credit: Tenaa]
Samsung's cranking out DDR4 memory for faster, more efficient servers (updated)
DDR4 memory is finally in mass production, as Samsung Semiconductor announced it's churning out 4GB 4Gb (512MB) modules, based on "20nm-class" process technology. 32GB sticks like the ones shown above are headed for the premium server market, where Samsung claims their higher speeds (up to 2,667 Mb/s) make for higher performance and 30 percent less power consumption than DDR3. The company claims this is the world's smallest and highest performing 4Gb RAM chip, and we expect it won't stop there -- when Samsung showcased the technology in 2011 it claimed speeds could eventually reach as high as 4Gbps. Update: It's four gigabits, not gigabytes -- thanks for the corrections, everyone.
Nintendo's stork to deliver 3DS models in blue and pink to Japan
If you're a gamer and love you some bright colors, Nintendo's got just the bundle of joy with a couple of new 3DS models. "Pink Gloss" and "Light Blue" colors will arrive to the handheld console on March 20th along with a boost in memory from the usual 2GB to 4GB for 15,000 yen (about $160). The rug might be pulled from under your brightly-hued dreams if you're not in Japan, though -- only players in that country will be able to nab it.
Xbox 360 holiday bundles get $50 price cut
Microsoft cut the price of its 250GB and 4GB Kinect Xbox 360 bundles by $50. All holiday bundles included in the deal can be picked up at GameStop, Best Buy, Kmart, Target and Amazon.Each bundle is priced at $250 except for the standard and holiday 250GB Kinect bundles, which are $350. Most of the bundles have games and DLC codes packed in, including Forza 4, Kinect Adventures, Kinect: Disneyland Adventures, Fable 3, Halo: Reach and a digital copy of Skyrim.We've called GameStop and still have yet to find an end date for this offer, but we'll update as soon as we find out.
Xbox 360 bundle has 4GB console, 3 months Gold, more for $229
Amazon's Xbox 360 Entertainment Bundle includes an Xbox 360 4GB console, three months of Gold, a $10 Amazon credit, three Xbox Live Arcade games and an Xbox 360 media remote, all for the price of just the console, $229. That's a savings of $56 off list price.The Arcade games shown in the promo image are Lode Runner, Snoopy Flying Ace and R-Type Dimensions. If these are all things you wanted, or even if you just wanted a 4GB Xbox 360 but happen to like free stuff, maybe give this bundle a chance.
More PlayStation Vita bundles coming to Europe, planning a visit to the Eiffel Tower
Sony's delivering a pair of PlayStation Vita bundles to European customers to tempt cost-conscious consumers to splash out on the new handheld. You'll be able to snag a WiFi only console with a 4GB memory stick and Uncharted: Golden Abyss for €249 ($320) or a 3G-enabled unit with the 4GB storage and a download code for Motorstorm: RC for €299 ($380). There's no word on when the pair will arrive, but it's hoped that in the not-too-distant future, they'll climb on a long-haul and arrive Stateside, too.
Trip the light fantastic with Acer's 11.6-inch Aspire One 725 Netbook
Ivy Bridge might be the belle of the ball in laptop-land, but small and nimble will always be on the dance card, too. Despite its petite 11.6-inch 1366x768 screen and 2.6-pound frame, Acer's newly announced Aspire One 725 can still pirouette with a dual-core C-60 AMD processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Radeon HD 6290 graphics, and choice of two colors. Along with the 320 or 500GB hard drives and HD output, those specs should allow you to edit the odd video while still doing the emailing and surfing it was made for. Acer's confirmed the unit will land in Europe in July for 359 euros, but stateside dates and price are still unknown. It's not as flashy as those ingénues, but it should be a cheap, light date.
New Xbox bundle packs white Kinect, white controller
Did you somehow end up with a white HDTV? If so, you can finally get a Kinect unit to match, as part of Microsoft's new "Xbox 360 Special Edition 4GB Kinect Family Bundle" (whew.) The bundle includes a 4GB 360, the white Kinect from the long-delayed Star Wars bundle, a white controller, copies of Kinect Sports and Kinect Adventures, and three months of Live for $300.A "special edition" white Xbox 360 controller will also be available separately for $49.99. It appears to be glossy white. Note that this "special edition" controller has the normal d-pad, and not the improved version.The bundle (and the controller) are shipping today worldwide -- except for Europe and Brazil, where Microsoft says they will be released "in the next few months."
LG LU6200 spotted in the wild, with 720p HD display taking center stage
If LG's tease routine didn't whet your appetite for the LU6200, these freshly leaked pics might do the trick. Obtained by Korean site Money Today, these in-the-wild images appear to corroborate many of the specs we've already heard about, including that 4.5-inch AH-IPS display at 720p resolution, eight megapixel camera and 1.3 megapixel front-facing shooter. This device is also rumored to feature a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage and will reportedly ship with Android 2.3.5, though it'll be ready to update to the forthcoming Ice Cream Sandwich, as well. The LU6200 is expected to hit the Korean market sometime next month, where it'll run on LG Telecom's U+ LTE network, but you can check out an extra image of its commodious display after the break.
Amazon lightning deal: 4GB Xbox Kinect bundle with $100 credit
Look, Amazon really wants you to buy a 4GB Xbox Kinect bundle. For the second time in a week, the site is offering the $299 console bundle with a $100 credit. The deal kicks off at 11:00am PT (2:00pm ET) and is sure to go fast, so start lining up.
Archos unveils bare-bones Arnova 7 Android tablet, priced at $99
We caught a brief glimpse of Archos' new Arnova 7 tablet when it hit the FCC last week and now, we have a few more details on the company's affordable Android-based slate. Though there's no information on its RAM or processing capacity, the latest addition to the Arnova clan boasts a seven-inch, resistive touchscreen LCD with 800x480 resolution, supports 720p HD playback, and offers 4GB of flash memory. Running on Froyo, this WiFi-enabled slab will give you access to the AppsLib store, rather than the Android Market, and won't come with any of the front- or rear-facing cameras you'd expect from higher-end products. But, then again, it's pretty hard to argue with any tablet priced at just $99. No word yet on when the Arnova 7 will start shipping, but we'll let you know as soon as we find out.
Amazon Gold Box kicks off with $100 credit on Xbox 360/Kinect bundle
Once again, Amazon is offering an all-video game Gold Box, which is a kind of treasure chest that makes you progressively poorer as you rifle through it. The Deal of the Day starts the offers off on a good note: a $100 credit with purchase of the 4GB Xbox 360 Kinect bundle. The first timed deal is the Wii's Exerbeat. You can find hints for the rest of the offers, including Harry Potter games, Hasbro Family Game Night, and more, after the break. [Thanks, Cameron.]
Deal: Buy a 4GB Xbox from Newegg, get $50 gift card
Hey, see your little nephew over there? He wants an Xbox 360 for his birthday and you, wonderful person that you are, want to buy one for him. But what's in it for you? As it turns out, there's $50 gift card, that's what! At least, there will be if you buy a 4GB Xbox from Newegg before May 30.
Get a $50 credit from Amazon with purchase of a 4GB Xbox 360
Folks in the market for a 4GB Xbox 360 should point their browser to Amazon. The online retailer is offering a $50 credit with the purchase of the $199 console. Surprisingly, the credit isn't restricted to games, and applies to most merchandise sold by Amazon. That's a lot of Blueberry Muffin Tops.
Samsung starts baking 30nm 4Gb LPDDR2 chips, packaging 2GB mobile RAM in April
When it comes to mobile RAM, capacity is often what pops to mind first while we overlook speed and power consumption, but Samsung's latest delivery is worth the extra attention. Earlier this month, said Korean giant started producing 30nm 4Gb 1066Mbps LPDDR2 (or simply Mobile DDR2) chips, in order to phase out its 40nm ones that topped 2Gb at a 800Mbps transmission rate. To put it in perspective, a 40nm 1GB package consists of four 2Gb chips, whereas the new 30nm one will only need two 4Gb chips, thus reducing the package thickness by 20 percent (down to 0.8mm) and power consumption by 25 percent. It's hard to tell when we'll start seeing these bits of silicon entering the consumer market, but Samsung's already stamping out 1GB modules this month, with a 2GB version to follow next month. Oh yes, we're definitely liking the sound of 2GB RAM for mobile phones.
Kingston's Class 10 microSD family gets bigger, stays tiny
Kingston is putting an extra boost the smallest of its tiny memory cards. The popular provider of flash storage is upping its 4GB and 8GB microSDHC cards from Class 4 specifications (up to a 4 MB/s transfer rate) to a whopping Class 10 spec and all of its 10 MB/s goodness. The newly announced models join a 16GB version that has been available for several months. By completing the family tree of Class 10 cards, Kingston is offering faster all-round performance for file transfers on smartphones, quicker write times for microSD-wielding cameras and basically a few seconds of your life back -- at lower prices than before, though you'll still be paying a premium compared to slower cards. Our microSDHC-accepting devices are itching to hop aboard this speedier train of data storage, and luckily we won't have to wait long. The two memory cards start shipping at the end of March and are being offered with an available Mobility Kit, which includes an SD adapter and a USB card reader. But, if you want a full-fat 32GB model, you'll have to wait for Q2 of 2011 like the rest of us. Pricing starts at $22 for a 4GB model up to $138 for the 16GB model -- check after the break for full breakdown of prices and more in the PR.
AT&T offering a free month of Zune to folks who buy a Windows Phone 7 handset this year (update: 3-month Zune Pass from MS, and free Xbox 360s in Austria!)
We already knew AT&T was giving away ilomilo and a free month of U-verse Mobile to folks who buy one of its glorious Windows Phone 7 phones. What else? Well, AT&T is tossing in a free month of Zune Pass for good measure. Now, Microsoft already offers 14 day free trials to the Zune-curious, and there's nothing stopping other carriers or Microsoft itself extending this deal to the rest of the world -- we think the "first one's free" method of addiction generation is particularly great for subscription music. Still, it's nice to know AT&T has such an offer sewn up. Now that the Xbox is getting a native Zune UI at long last, how about a free month of Zune for Xbox Live subscribers as well? Microsoft can afford it. [Thanks, Morgan G.] Update: We just heard that Austrian carrier A1's offering a free Xbox 360 4GB to everyone signing up for or extending a contract for a HTC Trophy on October 21st only, and there'll also be a Xbox 360 raffle for 360 lucky pre-orderers. If you so desire, A1 will also let you sign up for two contracts and take two Xboxes home as well. Our tipster added that the company isn't known for doing giveaways, so it's very likely that it's getting a little help from Microsoft. [Thanks, Ben M.] And speaking of which, another eagle-eyed reader spotted that Microsoft is giving away three-month Zune Passes to those signing up for the WP7 pre-order notification and actually buying a phone. Go get it while it's hot! [Thanks, Bryan]
Xbox 360 4GB bundle deal featured on Microsoft Store
The Microsoft Store has launched a decent deal on an Xbox 360 S 4GB bundle. For $250, the bundle includes the 4GB system, two wireless controllers, a year of Xbox Live Gold and 4000 Microsoft Points (a.k.a. $50 worth of Xbox bucks). All of these items purchased separately would normally cost $350, so you're technically saving $100. However, we'd be remiss not to point out that if you ever want a hard drive, it'll run you another $130. Of course, you could stave off the inevitable with a liberal dose of flash drives, or, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, you could always mod that old Xbox hard drive.
New Xbox 360 4GB's packaging shows off 250GB HDD upgrade option
It seems like a no-brainer, but at this point Microsoft has yet to confirm a separate 250GB HDD for its new Xbox 360 consoles -- and really, if you're picking up the 4GB model next month, that might come in handy. Newer press shots show a different side of the packaging, however, and if you get a high-res snapshot, you can see that it's touting the various accessories you can buy to enhance your new Xbox 360 4GB experience: wireless controllers, Kinect, and... a 250GB HDD. Now, it could very well be misleading advertising -- such a disc drive already exists, but you have to buy the current slimmed-down model or Halo Reach special edition bundle to get it. Somehow, though, we get the feeling this HDD is destined to be wrapped in separate packaging all by its lonesome -- Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg even insinuated as much not two weeks ago. Only question is, when and for how much?
