Kin, short for “kindred”, is a phone by Microsoft that targets a young, messaging audience.  Designed for use on the Verizon network, the Kin is available in two flavors, neither of which supports removable memory cards or Windows7 mobile apps.  The Kin doesn’t even use Microsoft’s own mobile platform but instead a proprietary OS from Sharp.

We don’t think Apple is in the least bit worried.

RipCode, based in texas, has developed a cloud-based, on-the-fly, transcoder to allow Flash support on the Apple iPad.

Adobe and Apple have been butting heads regard Flash support on the iPod devices for quite some time.  Will RipCode’s transcoder work on the 3GS?  Or the upcoming 3GS replacement?  Stay tuned.

RipCode’s website seems to be suffering the slashdot effect at the moment.  We’re not surprised!

Apple ships 0.5 million iPads and, citing a short supply, delays international release.

Toshiba will debut its prototype 50-inch Cell Regza 55X1 FullHD LCD TV in December.  This prototype features a hard disk drive capable of recording up to eight channels of digital terrestrial broadcasts simultaneously. The display features a dynamic contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1 and LED backlighting divided into 512 zones yielding a brightness of 2.5X over typical models.

First announced in January at CES, Audiovox plans to ship its combination Sony PlayStation/Audiovox overhead car monitor in mid- to late October 2009.

Over a year since the Bluray/HD-DVD format war has past with victor Bluray on shelves everywhere.  Toshiba, the largest backer of the now obsolete HD-DVD format has announced that it will have Bluray products for TVs and PCs for this 2009 holiday season.

Do you have a need for long, long life storage of your mst3k videos, 1980’s mp3 collection,  or other BOFH backup need?  Fear not, a new startup company is in final patent and licensing with Philips to release a DVD that can be read for 1000 years, as compared to the 3-12 year span of typical DVD burns.  Dubbed M-ARC, a special burner with an enhanced laser and enhanced media is used but the discs can be read by conventional DVD/ROM drives.

Few details are available, but  Best Buy is test marketing electric bicycles, motorcycles, scooters and Segways at more than 20 of its West Coast stores.   More details here.

In a direct blow to the Pre user community, Apple released iTunes 8.21 which reportedly  provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices.”"

Third party software will still allow the Pre to sync with iTunes, but, Apple just might have another volley.

Read the entire story.

Vizio anounced a September availability of its 55-inch 1080p/240Hz full-area LED backlit TV, model VF551XVT ($2,200 suggested retail).

Unlike competitors’ LED offerings, Vizio said this model uses 960 LEDs arranged in 80 cells to illuminate the full back area of the LCD screen. Vizio claims this technology will to reduce power consumption over traditional CCFL backlighting systems and will allow Vizio to incorporate Smart Dimming technology for better color saturation and improved contrast and black levels.