flashes

Subscribe to Pogoplug Family for $19.95, get a free Pogoplug

For the past year or so, Pogoplug has been steadily reinventing itself. After earning raves for its eponymous network-storage adapters, the company moved into consumer cloud storage, then introduced team-storage solution aimed at small and medium businesses.

Along the way, Pogoplug devices have been introduced and discontinued, and the aforementioned consumer storage service, Pogoplug Cloud, seems to have disappeared. As someone who's been following the company closely, I'll admit to being occasionally confused by Pogoplug's strategy and lineup.

But there's no confusion here: through Sunday, and while supplies last, you can get a free Pogoplug Classic device when you sign up for the new Pogoplug Family backup service.… Read more

Unity 4 gives game coders animation, Flash, Linux support

Unity Technologies, maker of a widely used video-game engine, today announced that its fourth-generation product will introduce new animation technology and extend its support for Adobe Systems' Flash Player, Linux, and Microsoft's DirectX 11.

The game engine brings physics simulations and other tools to programmers -- especially those who want to reach multiple computing systems. Such "cross-platform" developer tools are a good fit for today's world: Unity games can be adapted for Windows, OS X, iOS, Android, Xbox, PS3, Wii, and the Web, though adjustments are necessary for performance and interface differences.

Unity 4 will be … Read more

Flash update for Mac adds silent background updating

Adobe has released version 11.3 of its Flash plug-in, which in addition to addressing a few security holes and offering improved input management and sound performance, includes a background-updating feature. This feature debuted for Windows systems in Flash 11.2, but this latest update has implemented it on the Mac.

Adobe Flash Player's popularity makes it a target for malware developers, who not only attempt to exploit its code, but also mask their distributions as fake Flash Player installations. As a result, many people have come to distrust update announcements and recommendations for Flash, even when they have … Read more

Microsoft gives Flash a reprieve in IE10

It appears that ditching Adobe System' Flash Player wasn't as easy as Microsoft thought earlier this year.

Because screenshots from WinUnleaked show the browser plug-in working even in the Metro version of IE10 where Microsoft had earlier said plug-ins would be barred.

Microsoft and Adobe declined to comment for this story. But a source familiar with the plans said IE10 will build in a version of Flash Player optimized for Windows 8 matters such as touch-screen interfaces, power consumption, and security.

The reason, the source said: browsers just aren't ready yet to ditch Flash, so Microsoft will give … Read more

Three amazing flash-drive deals

Asking me not to post a killer deal is like asking me not to draw breath -- even when it's a product I know most of you already have.

Yep, I'm talking flash drives. They've dipped to amazingly low prices of late, which is why I just can't pass them up. Therefore, without further ado:

1. Staples has the Kingston DataTraveler 101 G2 8GB flash drive for $4.99. Shipping adds a hilariously ridiculous $9.95, but you can avoid that charge by opting for in-store pickup. (You'll still have to pay sales tax, natch.)… Read more

New app plans to one-up Facebook on iPad using Flash

Facebook only recently updated its app to work on Apple's iPad, but it's still missing many of the features of its desktop counterpart. An upcoming app aims to change that.

iSwifter, the startup that currently offers a standalone browser app for the iPad that can stream Adobe Flash content, plans to launch a new app next month tailored specifically for Facebook users.

The app, called theWorx, gives users a way to view Facebook's news feed, photos, events, and notifications just like they would on the social networking giant's own app. However the real draw is that … Read more

Adobe will issue free security fixes for CS5 apps after all

Adobe has apparently changed its mind about requiring customers to pay to get recent security patches for its Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash Professional products.

The patches cover vulnerabilities that could let a remote user execute malicious code and take control of computers that are running the products.

A post to Adobe's security blog dated yesterday says the following:

We are in the process of resolving the vulnerabilities...in Adobe Illustrator CS5.x, Adobe Photoshop CS5.x (12.x) and Adobe Flash Professional CS5.x, and will update the respective Security Bulletins once the patches are available.

Users may monitor … Read more

How to re-enable older Flash in Safari 5.1.7

In the latest version of Safari, Apple enhanced the browser with a security measure that ensures users make use of the latest version of Flash player. The browser will check for the latest version of Flash, and if your installed version is out of date, then it will disable the plug-in and prompt you to download the latest version, but this might not always be desired.

This security feature has been applauded by Adobe's Brad Arkin, who in a blog posting stated:

"We welcome today's initiative by Apple to encourage Mac users to stay up-to-date: With the … Read more

Multi-deal Monday: A 10-inch tablet for $239 and more

Not sure what prompted this, but over the weekend I received a handful of really nice e-mails from readers. It's deeply gratifying to know that you like what I'm doing here, and I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who's written me to say so. You people are the best.

Now that the touchy-feely stuff's out of the way, on to today's deals! Yes, that's "deals" plural. Sometimes I can't pick just one!

1. While supplies last, Secondipity has the used Acer Iconia A500-10S08u 10.1-inch Android tablet for $239.99 shipped. (… Read more

System-seizing Flash attacks prompt security fix from Adobe

A Flash vulnerability that's being exploited by hackers to gain control of victims' machines is the target of a security update released yesterday by Adobe.

"There are reports that the vulnerability is being exploited in the wild in active targeted attacks designed to trick the user into clicking on a malicious file delivered in an e-mail message," Adobe said in a security bulletin.

"The exploit targets Flash Player on Internet Explorer for Windows only," Adobe said, but the company urged Mac, Linux, and Android users to update their versions of Flash as well. The company … Read more