Apple Releases iOS Updates For GSM/CDMA iDevices.

iOS users an update is upon you. No, it’s not the latest and greatest iOS 5.0 but it’ll have to do for now. While you wait for new and exciting features take comfort in knowing Apple is covering up nasty security holes that baddies could use to exploit you and/or your data, for the only listed “feature” is:

A security issue has been resolved with certificate verification.

Catch the direct download links after the break…

VZW Lowers Sony Xperia Play To $99.

While we found Sony’s Xperia Play to be overall average after months of hype, there is no doubt a niche market that literally lives for a true gaming phone. And now fulfilling those lifelong dreams can come a bit cheaper thanks to a healthy discount compliments of Verizon Wireless.

Starting today the Sony Xperia Play “PlayStation Phone” can be had for a mere $99 after signing a new 2-year contract. While price cuts aren’t always a determining factor for how well a handset is/isn’t selling, judging by our own thoughts on the matter as well as that of many other tech review sites seems to hint the Xperia Play is in fact a dud by sales numbers standards.

But hey, Sony’s folly is your gain. $99 for a PSP that can make phone calls and browse the web with a competent browser — we’ll take it.

Adobe Closes AIR Marketplace And Adobe InMarket Over “Developer Feedback”.

The four of you out there working hard at making Adobe’s own AIR app stores the best they can be might want to re-think your future goals and ambitions. Adobe has announced today that both the consumer focused Adobe AIR Marketplace and developer focused Adobe InMarket app portals are being closed down — for good. The company cites “developer feedback” as the main reason, and instructs developers of both platforms to instead re-focus their efforts on the “more popular” platforms such as the Android Market, Apple App Store, BlackBerry App World,Intel AppUp center, Samsung Apps, and Toshiba App Place (among others).

Official Adobe statement after the break…

Let The Knee Jerk Reactions Begin: Norwegian Shooter Used Modern Warfare 2 For “Training”.

In the age of violent video games and out of touch politicians/parent advocacy groups, knee jerk reactions and fear mongering are unfortunately the norm. They remove all forms of personal responsibility and instead lay the blame on a 3rd party. So it comes with absolutely no surprise that we hear governments, mainstream news outfits and anti-violent video game groups are jumping on statements made by the Norwegian shooter, Anders Behring Breivik, in his 1500-page “manifesto”, claiming he used popular first person shooter game “Modern Warfare II”.

Let the knee jerk reactions and fear mongering begin…

Browse The World Wide Web…On Your TI-83+ Or TI-84+SE Calculators.

We’ve seen a lot of nerdy stuff here at GS. But nothing is quite as nerdy as the ‘ol school time waster like video games on your graphing calculator. But playing simple Super Mario rip-offs are yesterday’s news. The new hotness involves some fancy programming and determination to get the world wide web up and running on the humble TI-83+ through TI-84+SE calculators by way of various protocols, specifically with the help of CALCnet. Yes — the internet has now come to the graphing calculator thanks to a new calculator app, “Gossamer”, and the talented efforts of Christopher “Kerm Martian” Mitchell.

Of course as you’ll see in the video after the break, “the internet” is loosely used. The ultra-low res display has trouble displaying even basic text in a manner that can be read by human eyes. Nonetheless, pulling up Gadgetsteria on your calculator while the teacher drones on endlessly in the front of the room is indeed cause for nerdy jubilation.

Video after the break…

Samsung Introduces “SamsungDive” Find My iPhone Rival.

If you’ve got one of Samsung’s newer devices (read: Samsung Galaxy S II, Galaxy S, Samsung Wave, Galaxy Tab 10.1 or 8.9 tablets), you no longer have to look over your shoulder at Apple’s “Find My iPhone” lost device tracking/wiping service in envy. Sammy has just released a similar service dubbed “SamsungDive” that will allow users of the previously mentioned devices to track and/or wipe lost/stolen hardware from the comfort of your web browser. Other nifty features include the ability to monitor exact GPS coordinates, lock the device with a passcode, and set up notifications to alert you when the device’s SIM card is replaced. Of course, our favorite feature is the $0.00 price tag.

The only stipulation: You need to register your device with the service before it becomes misplaced. Seeing as how Samsung is offering SamsungDive for free, we’re not about to start complaining about a trivial signup process. You?

AT&T: “Every Post-Paid Android Phone Released This Year To Receive Gingerbread.”

We’d usually say AT&T is one of the worst Android-supporting (or lack there-of) carriers. But as it turns out they may just re-invent their image in 2011.

AT&T has issued a press release in which they state every post-paid Android device released in 2011 will receive an Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) update. AT&T goes on saying the release date and method (OTA vs. wired/desktop) will vary. Atrix 4G users are the first up, with the aforementioned update beginning today and running throughout the rest of this week. Inspire 4G users can schedule early to mid August as their time to shine with AT&T claiming their update is dropping “in the coming weeks”.

So far, the company has officially listed the following handsets supposedly getting the new software before years end:

• HTC Inspire 4G, LG Phoenix™, Motorola ATRIX 4G, Pantech Crossover , Samsung Captivate 4G, Samsung Infuse 4G

As for the “Captivate 4G”, we’re not sure if that’s a new model (unlikely) or AT&T simply re-branding old hardware with misleading marketing buzz words to clear out any remaining stock.

Criticism aside, we’re pleased to see AT&T taking a much more determined stance on providing timely (and relevant) updates to their Android users.