RED STATE, BLUE STATE

July 3, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

This has got to hurt. Playstation 3's lastest firmware offering, which improves gaming capabilities, has tripped up at least one user's console so that it refuses to turn on. 
Hours after the firmware's download availability, users began complaining that the firmware was inoperable. Sony promptly pulled the upgrade, according to several reports such as this BetaNews story.
It appears that just a small number of PS3 users reported problems to varying degrees in downloading the firmware. Sony promises the upgrade will be tweaked and soon ready for downloading again.
Although Sony went into quick damage control, this can't be a great advertisement for BD-Live, right? If people become afraid...Read More

July 1, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Circuit City has placed all of its Blu-ray set-tops on sale this week, spanning models from Sony, Philips, Samsung, Sharp and Panasonic. Depending on the player, savings vary between $20 to $50. But in all cases, the models are selling below the $399 mark, which has been the going average for some time.
Set-tops do need some promoting these days, since they are running a distant second to Playstation 3, which offers a gaming system and a Blu-ray player for the same $399 tag.
Most of Circuit City's sale-priced set-tops represent last year's models. Panasonic and Sony will be launching their first B...Read More
Industries: High-Def

June 30, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

It looks like at least one QFC grocery store in Seattle is starting to stock Blu-ray Discs. Tyler Pruitt, editor for the Format War Central blog, made the discovery at his local QFC. Here is a picture of his find. The store seems to be carrying mostly new releases, such as Fool's Gold, over catalog.
At my nearest Los Angeles area groceries, Ralph's and Von's, I haven't seen any Blu-ray titles being sold. Ralph's and QFC are sister grocery brands under parent Kroger. 
Additionally, beyond a few hot releases near the cash register, there is not a whole lot in terms of even standard DVD at these two L.A. stores. But it will really mean something for the Blu-ray format, if groceries can start increasingly including...Read More

June 27, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Here's a screenshot, courtesy of Engadget, of an July 6 ad hyping the normally $349 20 GB Xbox 360 for $299. In recent months of NPD console sales tracking, PS3 and Xbox 360 have been running neck and neck. But I wonder if a larger $100 price difference between the Xbox 360 and $399 PS3 will steer people away from our Blu-ray built-in buddy.
PS3 plays such a key role in expanding the Blu-ray format, because it still represents the best Blu-ray/gaming two punch value going. Standalone Blu-ray manufacturing sources admit that PS3 proved the big winner during Wal-Mart's Father's Day promotion, when you scored a $100 chain gift card with purchase of any Blu-ray player. Technically, the Magnavox was the cheaper pick at $198, when acco...Read More

June 26, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

In embracing consumer attendees for the first time, the Home Media Expo pushed free HD DVD players to Home Theater Forum conference-goers last year. So far, at this 2008 Vegas installment, I was wondering what would be the lure for HTF consumers? Apart from the usual parties, not much. 
This is probably just a function of the fact that there is no format war battling to court consumers to their side. It's just Blu-ray, and backers probably feel that the early adopting HTF members likely have already gone out and bought their players. 
In talking to some of the HTF guys this week, who are likely constantly blogging about their Vegas experiences, I get a sense they are a little underwhelmed, or even somewhat bored, with the presentations. I'll guess that some Home Media Expo electricity...Read More