BluRay scores a decisive victory against rival HD DVD, digital converter box coupons head to consumers, and digital book download proves successful... on Tech Check for Monday February 18, 2008.
Hallelujiah! These words being chanted in the hallways of Sony Corp. offices today. After nearly two years of competing and incompatible standards, Toshiba appears ready to give up on the fledgling HD DVD format. BluRay, backed by Sony and available in the company's Playstation 3 console, has won the support of most major studios and retail giants WalMart, Best Buy as well as rental partners Blockbuster and NetFlix. An announcement is expected from Toshiba tomorrow.
For those with outdated analog televisions, help is on the way. Coupons are in the mail for those who can't receive digital broadcasts, the only way to receive over-the-air television after a 17 Feb 2009 conversion date. We talked about the transition on Portland's Morning News on the 15 Feb show (listen: mp3). If you need more information, or to request your coupons valued at $40 toward the purchase of a converter box, visit DTV2009.org.
Finally today, Oprah's golden touch transcends print books. After being made available on The Oprah Winfrey Show website, over 1 Million copies of Suze Orman's "Women & Money" have been downloaded. Does this prove digital downloads can be profitable? Will this affect future releases of books, movies, and music on the Internet?
Check back for another week of the latest tech news and information here on Tech Check!
Showing posts with label blu-ray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blu-ray. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2008
R.I.P. HD DVD Mar. 2006-Feb. 2008
Legal guardians of the struggling DVD movie disc format have decided they will be removing their beloved format from life support. The decision follows announcements from nearly every major studio to cease creation of discs, favoring instead the Sony-backed BluRay standard.
The first player was released in March 2006 at a price just under $1000. Despite efforts to significantly reduce the price of players, Toshiba was just not able to gain traction and market share. BluRay, backed by Sony, has prevailed as the dominant standard.
At the request of family and friends, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please buy BluRay discs.
Listen to this report, originally broadcast on KXL-AM Monday February 18: kxl_bluraywins-wrap1_20080218.mp3 (MP3)
The first player was released in March 2006 at a price just under $1000. Despite efforts to significantly reduce the price of players, Toshiba was just not able to gain traction and market share. BluRay, backed by Sony, has prevailed as the dominant standard.
At the request of family and friends, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please buy BluRay discs.
Listen to this report, originally broadcast on KXL-AM Monday February 18: kxl_bluraywins-wrap1_20080218.mp3 (MP3)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Tech Check for 12 Feb: Zuneless V-Days, Best Buy & Netflix Pick Blu-Ray
Microsoft apologies for spoiling some Valentine's Day gifts while both Netflix and Best Buy jump on the Blu-Ray bandwagon... on today's Tech Check for Tuesday February 12, 2008.
Microsoft's Zune Originals team has preemptively apologized for leaving some planning to give the company's tune player... well, Zuneless. According to the statement due to a fulfillment center hiccup, some deliveries due before the February 14th holiday will arrive a few days late. Those affected will receive a complete refund of the purchase price and shipping. The credit will buy quite a bundle of roses.
Remember that high-definition debate? You know the one between Blu-Ray and HD DVD formats? In the latest blow to Toshiba-backed HD DVD, both Netflix (Monday) and Best Buy (today) endorsed the competitor format, backed by Sony and others -- Blu-Ray. Netflix has said they will only ship Blu-Ray discs to rent-by-mail customers. Best Buy is commiting to "recommend" Blu-Ray movies and related hardware. You might recall in the days leading up to CES I reported that Warner Bros. became the fourth of a mounting number of studios to solely support Blu Ray. HD DVD seems to be on a lifeline as Blu Ray sets to dominate the latest format debate.
That's today's Tech Check... I'll be back tomorrow with more of the news and noteworthy from the world of technology.
Microsoft's Zune Originals team has preemptively apologized for leaving some planning to give the company's tune player... well, Zuneless. According to the statement due to a fulfillment center hiccup, some deliveries due before the February 14th holiday will arrive a few days late. Those affected will receive a complete refund of the purchase price and shipping. The credit will buy quite a bundle of roses.
Remember that high-definition debate? You know the one between Blu-Ray and HD DVD formats? In the latest blow to Toshiba-backed HD DVD, both Netflix (Monday) and Best Buy (today) endorsed the competitor format, backed by Sony and others -- Blu-Ray. Netflix has said they will only ship Blu-Ray discs to rent-by-mail customers. Best Buy is commiting to "recommend" Blu-Ray movies and related hardware. You might recall in the days leading up to CES I reported that Warner Bros. became the fourth of a mounting number of studios to solely support Blu Ray. HD DVD seems to be on a lifeline as Blu Ray sets to dominate the latest format debate.
That's today's Tech Check... I'll be back tomorrow with more of the news and noteworthy from the world of technology.
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