Word is that the upcoming release of Apple’s iPhone 4G might cause a shortage of flash memory in the market. Apple is expected to ship about 40 million iPhones this year alone, which is just a bit more than 25 million from a year back. Does that mean there could be a shortage?

But that isn’t all to consider. Apple is expected to ship about 7-8 million iPads this year as well. See how it is starting to look likely? Apple is already said to be the largest consumer of flash memory in the world, since it uses built-in memory in the iPhone, iPad and iPods.

Peter Misek from Canaccord Adams says that the iPad could have some components supply issues that would limit the number of units available worldwide at launch to 300,000 units for the month of March. Apparently, there’s an unspecified production problem at the contracting company that manufactures the iPad.

They had hoped to have 1M units ready by launch. Apple had said during the iPad’s unveiling that the iPad would be available “worldwide” in “60 days” for the WiFi version and in 90 day for the 3G enabled version, so maybe this will only affect the WiFi version?

The PS3 could face shortages during this holiday season if the current sales rate continues, according to SCEA chief Jack Tretton. He brags that PS3 sales have tripled since the price drop to $300 and the new slim redesign and says that it’s “conceivable” that these sustained sales could lead to some stores running out as demand outpaces supply.

The price drop alone has led to the PS3 outselling the Xbox 360 and the Wii. We’ll see what happens. Microsoft’s matching price drop for the Xbox 360 Elite might offset the discount, as well as the impending Wii price cut.

There’s been some talk of a Pre shortage. Apparently they ain’t kidding. 4 Palm Pres will be available per Best Buy store on launch day. That’s a total of 4250 Pre phones for the entire franchise. BGR is also reporting that RadioShack stores will get only two Pres.

Many of you are in for a rough June 6th. These numbers put your chances of getting a Palm Pre on launch day somewhere around slim and none.

We’re used to shortages during the holiday season. The Wii comes to mind. And you are probably aware of Amazon’s kindle situation. The iPod may be next. Word is that Apple is having trouble keeping up with the demand for the iPod as more and more customers place purchases during this holiday season, they may run out. The information comes from a research note from Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu. The Amazon.com stock levels seem to confirm the notion as well, since it currently takes up to 5 weeks to get your 8GB second-gen iPod touch. It’ll take 3-5 weeks for the 16GB version.

It looks like the shortages may be model specific and color specific, as some are more popular. Wu concluded that Apple may very well sell 21 million iPods in the holiday quarter.

In Australia at least, nobody seems to want the white iPhone? It looks like all of the late arrivals in Sydney were being told earlier that they might have to take a white 16GB version because they were running out of the black model.

Now, if the same thing happens here I imagine some of you are going to be not too happy about it and you’d rather have no iPhone at all. I wouldn’t want white. White is for Wiis. I’m not sure what the ratio of white to black iPhones being shipped to stores is, but judging by this video we showed you here, it looks to be about 50/50. If that’s the case, we have a problem.

Those of us in the U.S. know damn well that we are never going to have a DVD playing Wii, while those who live in Japan have reason to hope. The company has made promises stating that a DVD system was on the way in some form, at some point.

Now the poor Wii playing Japanese are thinking they may never get one as well since Nintendo has just announced yet another delay to the system while still giving no date. IGN says that Nintendo President Satoru Iwata would only say that due to the continuing worldwide Wii shortages, “the priority is on the current model.”

If you’re anxious to get rid of some of that excess flab, you may be in for a disappointment. First Nintendo had a launch date of today, but it turns out that this was only applicable to the Nintendo World Store launch in New York. The rest of the out-of-shape in the country still have to wait until May 21 to get their hands on the Wii Fit.

Thing is, if you didn’t preorder a unit, you might not be getting on May 21st. Gamestop’s online store has them temporarily-out-of-stock, and Amazon stopped online preorders awhile ago, with 2.5 units being sold every minute. Your best bet is to get to your local video game retailer bright and early on Wednesday, since things are not looking good.