Posts tagged Dvd at Switched

Posts with tag dvd

Wal-Mart Cutting CD Shelf Space to Make Room for Blu-ray

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 4th 2008 at 10:31AM

Remember the days of watching big box retailers like a hawk to see if more shelf space was being given to Blu-ray or HD DVD? Yeah, epic times. Now, however, a new report is suggesting that Wal-Mart may be giving more of its packaged media space to Blu-ray Discs rather than music CDs. The reason? A 23-percent decline in CD sales during the first four weeks of Q4. Richard Greenfield, analyst with Pali Capital, believes that Wally World is "increasing its exposure to consumer electronics, video games and Blu-ray, and reducing floor space devoted to CDs and standard DVDs."

Furthermore, it's reported that John Fleming, chief marketing officer with Wal-Mart, insinuated that "electronics would be getting space expansion in stores due to the decline in physical packaged media." We'll be keeping an eye out to see if we spot any shifts in our local Wal-Mart stores -- won't you do the same?

[Image courtesy of TeamSugar]

RealDVD Lets You Legally Copy DVDs

by Thomas Ricker, posted Sep 8th 2008 at 1:16PM

RealNetworks, the company you love to hate, is back with a new product sure to capture the attention of Hollywood and its MPAA thugs. For $30, RealDVD plans to do what DVD Jon enabled years ago -- namely, making digital copies of your DVDs. Unlike Jon's illegal DRM stripping software, RealNetworks' approach lays on additional DRM allowing you to make a single copy, only, playable on the machine doing the rip -- up to five additional Windows PCs can be authorized at a cost of $20 per.

Real thinks that the use of the additional DRM coupled with Kaleidescape's legal victory -- a ruling that seemingly authorizes users to copy DVDs for their own personal use -- will help it escape the wrath of the MPAA. Not that RealNetworks has ever been afraid of a fight as demonstrated by its 2004 scuffle with Apple when it began offering software that allowed iPods to play Real's DRM'd content. Good thing too because we're pretty sure that shutting down the planned start of RealDVD's sales at the end of this month is the number one topic around the bunny-juice dispensers at the MPAA offices this morning.

[From: NYTimes via cnet]

Netflix Outage Leads to DVD Shipment Delays

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 15th 2008 at 10:38AM

We fully understand that we're a few days late in posting this up, but seriously, we figured Netflix would have fixed whatever's been ailing its shipping system well before now. Days after we heard the first reports of users getting an atypical warning when viewing their queue alerting them of possible shipment delays, tips are still flowing in from frustrated users.

The message asserts that the company is "still experiencing issues with its shipping systems," though it gives no estimated time for a fix to be implemented. Have you been bitten by the Netflix delay bug? Have your titles continued without so much as a hiccup? Let us know in comments below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Study Finds That One-Third of Consumers Copy DVDs

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 10th 2008 at 9:01AM

'Round these parts, we prefer to read the fine print first, so it should be noted that none other than Macrovision -- you know, the firm that purchased the now-cracked BD+ DRM scheme for $45 million last year -- financed this here study.

According to poll results from US and UK consumers, around 1 in 3 individuals admitted to "making copies of pre-recorded DVDs in the past 6 months, up over a quarter from the previous year's study." Predictably, males aged 18 to 24 were most likely to wear an eye patch and own a DVD burner (if you catch our drift), and while revenue loss due to illegal copying is certainly a valid concern, researchers did find that 62% of American respondents (and 49% in the UK) were duping flicks they already owned. Arrr! [Image courtesy of George Dillon]

Staples to Stock Flexplay Self-Destructing DVDs

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 2nd 2008 at 10:03AM

We'd love to tell you all of this is simply a bad dream, but unfortunately for us, it's not. For whatever reason, Staples has agreed to start stocking 24 to 26 different newer DVD releases at a time "in standalone displays at the front of its stores." We're not talking about your standard discs, however -- we're talking about those Flexplay units that vanished completely years ago (or so we thought).

For those who need a refresher (that's just about everyone, right?), these time-limited discs only function for 48 hours after they've been removed from their sealed packages, creating coasters after two days. This go 'round, Flexplay is pushing the recycling aspect while Staples is hoping that business owners pick up a title or two next time they come in looking for pens and paper shredders. Even more absurd? The $4 to $6 price tag on each. [Source: VideoBusiness via PCWorld]

DVDPlay to Add Blu-ray Discs in Movie Rental Kiosks

by Darren Murph, posted May 30th 2008 at 8:17AM

When Blu-ray hits the food mart, you know it has gone big time. DVDPlay just coined itself the "first rental kiosk operator to offer Blu-ray Discs," as it laid out a plan to shove BD flicks into its machines as early as June 10th. Vanilla DVDs will, of course, continue to be offered alongside the newcomers, and best of all, the rental fee for Blu-ray Discs won't be a penny more than what is already charged for DVDs ($1.49). Those with DVDPlay kiosks around can inspect their local machines for 'Untraceable' and 'Men in Black' in under a fortnight, as those two are specifically noted as titles that will likely be offered up early on. [Source: AOL Money via TheManRoom]

Cuba Lifts Restrictions On Mobile Phones

by Dan Reilly, posted Mar 28th 2008 at 1:32PM

In a sign that Cuban residents will be getting more freedom, president Raul Castro announced that he would allow mobile phone use for the country's citizens. Previously, access was limited only to employees of foreign firms and government officials.

The announcement, made in Communist newspaper Granma, said that Cuban telecommunications monopoly ETECSA "is able to offer mobile phone service to the public." As a way around the ban, many Cubans would have foreigners sign contracts for them, but now they'll be able to purchase prepaid plans through the company. This comes as part of Castro's pledge to make "structural changes" and "big decisions," which, according to a leaked internal memo, may also allow Cubans to own appliances DVD players and computers.

Although the news is promising for Cuba, which currently has the lowest rate of cellular use in Latin America, it likely won't be priced for the average citizen. The plans can only be bought in Cuban Convertible Pesos, worth 24 times the regular Cuban peso used in normal paychecks. ETECSA says this will allow them to improve telecommunications throughout the country, with regular peso plans being available in the future.

So, great news for Cuba, but still, no cigars for us.

From Reuters/AOL News (via Engadget)

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Is VMD the Next Blu-ray?

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 10th 2008 at 5:49PM

VMDs Want to Challenge Blu-Ray's Dominance

Just when you thought the format wars were over, along comes an upstart called New Medium Enterprises (NME) with its Versatile Multilayer Disc, or VMD. VMDs were originally set to debut in 2006, but for currently unknown reasons are only now making their debut.

The discs and players are much cheaper to produce than either Blu-ray or HD-DVD because it uses the same red lasers that standard DVD players use. Red lasers are cheaper and easier to produce than the blue lasers used in the other high-def disc formats.

According to an article in today's New York Times, VMD players are sold directly through the NME Web site and will be available on Amazon in about five weeks for about $200, though Michael Jay Solomon, the chairman of New Medium, seems to think prices could quickly drop to $90 a player.

Low prices, however, didn't save HD-DVD, and with the lackluster selection of VMD movies (only 17 titles available stateside), the upstart disc format is going to have a tough time even carving out a small niche for itself.

Whatever. All these next-gen disc formats are doomed, since HD-downloading on devices such as Apple TV and Vudu are only going to grow.

From the New York Times

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Graffiti-Splotched Gadgets All the Rage In 2008

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jan 8th 2008 at 11:01AM

Sure, iPods are cool, but they're just not the status symbol they once were, and there's nothing cool about having sleekest slimmest laptop on the market if everyone else has one, too.

Companies are realizing this and know that people, especially fiercely independent Americans, have a need to be different. So, as a way to make their products stand out (and their customers feel a little more unique), consumer electronics producers have taken to decorating many of their goods with graffiti and modern-art inspired graphics, intricate etchings, vaguely Japanese designs, and yes, even leather.

We wandered around CES and snapped pictures of some of the coolest examples of decorative electronics and customization options available to try and make you the consumer feel a little less like just part of the herd.

Gallery: Custom Design Gadgets

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DVDs Now Come With Computer Video Files for PC's and Video Players

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Oct 17th 2007 at 1:54PM

DVD's Start Shipping with Video Files for PC's and PMP's

Looks like the movie studios are finally joining the 21st century while looking to preempt illegal ripping and sharing of movies via peer to peer networks. The proliferation of video-capable personal media players has made carrying your movie collection with you not only reasonable but popular.

Until now the only way to bring your movies with you legally was to rip your movies yourself, which can be a difficult and convoluted process. Or, as many have chosen, you could let someone else do the work and download movies via BitTorrent or some other file-sharing network.

With the release 'Live Free or Die Hard,' studios have begun including Windows media-encoded versions of movies that can be copied from the DVD to your computer or media player. Reportedly, the files have no DRM copy protection. However, a 16-digit code will be needed to download and unlock the file.

This feature doesn't end with 'Die Hard' thankfully. The 'Digital Copy' will be extended to future Fox releases, and Warner Home Video plans to introduce a similar program beginning with 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' in December.

From BetaNews

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Gallery: Custom Design Gadgets

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