According to Digitimes Research senior analyst Mingchi Kuo, Apple is already developing a smaller version of the iPad, reportedly anywhere from 5-to-7 inches, which it will launch in early 2011.

Kuo based his conclusion on talks "with upstream component sources," and he also concludes that the smaller iPad will sell for somewhere between $300 and $400.

The device will be targeted at at the "highly-portable mobile device market and consumers that focus mainly on reading and do not have a high demand for text input," meaning it will basically be an e-reader that additionally has all the other perks of an iPad.

When asked about the HP Slate, Kuo says it will not be any competition to the iPad, mainly due to its low battery life.

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Sales of the Nintendo DS line, including the DS Lite, DSi, and DSi LL have combined to retake the top spot in the Japanese hardware market, closely followed by the PSP.

The DS series sold 41,219 units for the week ended April 4th, with the Sony PS3 close behind at 38,877 units sold.

The PSP-300 handheld, and the DS' biggest rival, sold 37,445 units, but when adding the minuscule sales of the PSPGo (1803 units), it outsold the PS3 and almost rivaled the DS.

The Wii continued to lag in fourth, with 30,938 units sold, and the Xbox 360 held the bottom with a measly 2676 units sold.

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According to an interview with Eurogamer, Ubisoft has said today that their "always on" DRM is here to stay and the developer will continue to "evolve and improve" it as gaming evolves.

"Most forthcoming Ubisoft PC titles will use our online services platform," said a spokesperson speaking about the DRM. "As with any online technology, we are constantly working to evolve and improve it."

The controversial DRM makes it so gamers must stay online at all times or not be able to play their games. If the Internet ever cuts out, or the Ubi servers go down, gamers are returned to the main menu, unable to play.

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Kotaku has posted an accidentally leaked promotional page for the upcoming Gears of War 3 game for the Xbox 360 which shows that the game will hit retail shelves next April.

The ad says: "The epic story concludes April 2011".

The ad was supposed to have been revealed on Monday, when Epic Game's Cliff Bleszinski is expected to have an appearance on Jimmy Fallon's late night show.

There is little other information, but the new game is expected to include new features such as underwater combat.

Gears of War 2 was one of the platform's biggest selling games of all-time.

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Creative has announced the launch of a few new media devices today, the Zen X-Fi Style and the Zen Style series.

"In line with the upcoming Pure Audio Campaign where Creative is set to deliver pure sounding high performance speakers and premium noise isolation earphones, we are pleased to unveil the ZEN X-Fi Style and the ZEN Style series - the embodiment of the purest-sounding music on-the-go experience on the market," says Joseph Liow, Vice President for Personal Digital Entertainment Products at Creative.


ZEN X-Fi Style:


* Bright 2.4-inch TFT display
* X-Fi technology for crystal clear music
* Video Out in X-Fi audio quality for watching movies on the TV
* Lossless audio support (FLAC)
* Up to 25 hours of audio playback, up to 5 hours video
* FM radio, alarm clock, calendar and voice recorder
* 8GB, 16GB & 32GB capacities
* Built-in speaker for music sharing
* Playback for downloaded RSS feeds
* Available in black and white for the 8GB, 16GB and 32GB models. Also available in red for the 8GB and 16GB models exclusively at www.creative.com/shop

Zen Style:


* Bright, full colour 1.8-inch TFT display
* Up to 32 hours of music playback from a single charge (@128kbps MP3)
* 4GB, 8GB & 16GB capacities
* Built-in speaker for music sharing and FM radio (Only with Creative ZEN Style 300)
* Alarm clock, calendar and voice recorder
* Available in black (Creative ZEN Style 300). Available in black for the 4GB model and in black, white and blue for the 8GB and 16GB models (Creative ZEN Style 100)

The models will go on sale later this month, with the X-Fi Style selling for $160 (8GB), $200 (16GB), $250 (32GB). The Zen Style sells for $109 (4GB), $139 (8GB) and $179.00 (16GB).

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Ankeena, the maker of server software that helps improve streaming of "multiple streams of simultaneous video over various network types," has been acquired by tech giant Juniper for just under $100 million.

The acquired company has claimed their streaming and data caching tech is "superior" to other current video delivery methods.

Ankeena makes software that runs on x86-based servers to improve performance of multiple streams of simultaneous video over various network types. The company claims its streaming and data caching technology is "superior" to other methods of video delivery.

"Juniper's acquisition of Ankeena reflects our commitment to transforming the experience and economics of networking — in this case by delivering an enhanced TV-like user experience of both fixed and mobile video traffic, while enabling crucial TCO reductions for operators," adds Manoj Leelanivas, head of the JUNOS (Juniper operating system) product efforts.

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Infinity Ward has said today that it plans to release the Modern Warfare 2 DLC "Stimulus Package" for the PS3 and PC on May 4th, two months after its release on the Xbox 360.

Says IW community manager Robert Bowling via Tweet: "The Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package DLC will hit PS3 in North America on May 4th, everywhere else May 5th. PC gets it worldwide on May 4th."

Coinciding with the release, IW will "host a double XP event," allowing gamers to make double experience points while playing multiplayer.

The pack will cost $15 USD, just like it does for the 360, and will add 5 new maps.

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Popular video rental company Netflix has announced today that they have signed agreements with Twentieth Century Fox and Universal, which means subscribers will have to wait 28 days to get new releases from the studios, similar to the deal signed with Warner a few months ago.

As part of the deal, Fox will give Netflix a streaming license for Fox TV shows, meaning there is a chance popular shows such as Family Guy will soon be available through Netflix's free "Watch Instantly" service.

Universal, for their part, said that as part of the deal Netflix would get "significantly" more units after the release delay, as well as more streaming movies.

Because of the deal, subscribers will have to wait an extra month for Avatar, the $2 billion blockbuster smash hit that has an April 22nd release date.

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