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Amazon today sparked a mystery by running out of stock of the six-inch Kindle. In the first shortage since 2009, the reader is not only listed as unavailable but doesn’t have an estimated in-stock date. Shoppers are told only that they will be e-mailed when Amazon learns more.

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1 hour ago | Posted in: software

Mozilla on Tuesday posted its second beta of Firefox 4. The update brings in a new App Tabs feature that turns tabs into permanent features. Much like Chrome, it collapses the tab to an icon but makes it always available on the left to jump to a favorite page, such as a blogging tool or Internet radio. Mac users now see tabs on top by default where they were strictly optional in the first beta.

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The online edition of a Kmart flyer has revealed plans for what could be an unusual entry into competition against Apple in the still young tablet market. The Augen Gentouch78 should run Android 2.1 on a seven-inch screen and will keep simple with just 2GB of internal storage and Wi-Fi alone for Internet access. At $150, though, it would cost less than a third the price of an iPad while offering many more features than a similarly priced Nook Wi-Fi.

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Nikon’s entry-level D3100 DSLR should arrive by August 19, leaked info suggested today. Following a previous leak, it’s now believed the camera will be unveiled at or near midnight Eastern time on August 19. Four lenses would accompany it if Nikon Rumors is true.

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RIM this afternoon sent an invite to Electronista and others to attend a special “BlackBerry event” in New York City. The company provided few details but said it would involve both itself and AT&T. Most expect the gathering to focus on the BlackBerry 9800 touchscreen slider and its use of BlackBerry OS 6, though the Curve 9300 may also show.

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Apple has released several drivers that bring support for the company’s new Magic Trackpad. Mac and Windows users will be able to take advantage of the standalone trackpad, which supports the entire range of MacBook gestures such as two-finger scrolling and three-finger swiping.

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Accessory maker Kensington has released the Laptop Locking Station, a new anti-theft product. To secure a notebook, users must simply put an open computer in place and squeeze the lock’s arm shut. To release, a key is turned in a side slot. The station uses a steel backbone and deflector plates to fight cutting or prying.

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Virtual Programming has debuted Mac ports of two recent games. Gamers can fight in World War II in the Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi expansion pack, or control the Roman Empire in Europa Universalis Rome: Gold Edition. Europa Universalis Rome focuses on the period between 280 and 27 BCE, from the First Punic War to founding of the true Roman Empire. Players can actually side with one of 10 different cultures, including the Celtic, Greek and Egyptian civilizations, and from one of over 53 playable factions. The bundled Vae Victus expansion grants new multiplayer functions, more options for historical personas, a new military AI and an improved interface.

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Dell today finally detailed its American launch plan for its Streak tablet. The device will be available for sale tomorrow but will be less expensive than the 3G-capable iPad when it goes on sale. An unlocked version that can be freely used with any GSM carrier will cost $549; a version locked to AT&T with a two-year contract will sell for $299.

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Mapdiva has released an upgrade of its map design software, Ortelius 1.1. The vector-based app serves a variety of uses, such as creating map graphics and designing land maps, floor plans, landscape plans and scaled drawings. It incorporates royalty-free maps of the world, and has a collection of drawing tools. Other features include WYSIWYG map labeling, calibrated color support and layer management. Amongst compatible file formats are JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, PDF and ERSI.

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Intel provided a peek at the future of processors today by revealing the first instance of a chip using complete photonics to send data. Four lasers in the prototype convert light into data at about 50Gbps, or “many” times faster than wired connections. The rate, about 6.25GB per second, would be enough to send an entire 720p movie in one second.

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A public beta of Franklin 3D 1.1, a professional 3D game and simulation engine, has been released with support for REAL Studio. The software features more than 400 methods, including support for display control, model loading, and callbacks. The engine can utilize either OpenGL or DirectX for rendering, allowing developers to tune projects for both Mac OS X and Windows. Other features include character animation, 2D and 3D hardware acceleration and a full particle effects system. During the beta period people can buy a license for $149, a 50 percent discount.

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Apple in remarks today said it didn’t see the Magic Trackpad replacing mice in the near future. A spokesperson asserted that Apple wanted to provide a “choice” and that the new peripheral was a supplement, not necessarily a replacement. Some features are better for a traditional mouse where others can use a trackpad, the company said.

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With the introduction of the new 27-inch Cinema Display, Apple is phasing out older 24- and 30-inch screens. The recent 24-inch model, notably, has been reduced in price to $799. The monitor was previously priced at $899, just $100 less than the 27-inch option, which ships in September.

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Monsoon has followed up its HAVA series of placeshifting media streaming devices with the Vulkano. The two new products, the Vulkano and Vulkano Pro, have an integrated video processor and built-in storage. They both have analog inputs to record images and can perform live streaming to PCs, Macs, iPhones and iPads, as well as BlackBerry and Android smartphones. Symbian-based phones will soon be added to this list as well.

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7 hours ago | Posted in: Apple, iPad

A new lawsuit is accusing Apple of producing defective iPads, Bloomberg reports. Filed through US District Court for the Northern District of California in Oakland, the suit alleges that the iPad “does not live up to the reasonable consumer’s expectations created by Apple,” because it “overheats so quickly under common weather conditions.” Under direct sunlight, the suit suggests, an iPad may shut off in as little as a few minutes.

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