Basically Apple are charging a £100 mark-up for the extra 16GB of memory in the higher priced model, a large price to pay considering the price of a similar sized USB drive. It looks as though the only half-reasonable way to get an iPhone 4 is through a contract option, although you’ll be tied to a 18 or 24 month deal. However, all is not lost as Tesco Mobile are doing a 12 month contract but with a £360 upfront handset cost. The monthly cost is a reasonable £20 though.

The white iPhone 4 isn’t currently available yet, but is listed on Apple’s website as coming soon. Hopefully it won’t cost anymore than the black version.

Considering that Apple already consumes almost one-third of total global NAND flash memory in its products, the increase in demand resulting from high iPad sales could potentially push flash memory prices even higher than they already are.

This comes at a time when the industry expects the SSD or Solid State Drive to be the next big seller. With its much improved performance, small footprint, quiet, cool operating characteristics and reliable operation it is understandably in high demand. An imminent rise in price could easily delay the SSD’s move from expensive upgrade to an essential part of any PC.

All eyes will be on Apple this April when the first versions of the iPad go on sale. If it proves to be a big success then the traditional hard disk drive may just have to soldier on for a little while longer yet.

The Apple iPad is released in major markets during April. Get your free iPad after launch just by following an easy three-stage process. Don’t pay Apple prices, get it for free!

For more iPad information please visit the official Apple website.

You will also be able to add ringtones from major record labels. These will be selecable right from the iTunes app on your iPhone.

The iPhone 3.1 software is available today and is free to download from iTunes for 3.0 users.

The Sony controller would use light-emitting diodes and a Webcam to track the gadget’s movements, according to Variety. The technology would be able to track the direction of movements better than the Wii-mote, and also track velocity.
A Sony spokesman said Friday the company wouldn’t comment on “rumours or speculation.”

The controller is the second new product Sony is expected to unveil at E3. The game fan site 1UP.com reported this week that Sony would introduce the next iteration of the PlayStation Portable handheld game console.

Variety isn’t the first to report a new Sony controller is in the works. The site Kombo.com reported last month that Sony was reaching out to game developers, asking them to add support for the device in future games.

What impact the controller has on PS3 sales remains to be seen. Sony has been hit hard by sliding consumer demand during the economic downturn, which has impacted PS3 sales. Not helping demand is the higher price of the PS3 compared with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii. Sony has cut prices before on the PS3, which starts at $400. Analysts have said they expect the company to cut prices this year by about $100.

Source: Information Week