Samsung’s latest Blu-Ray HTIB, the HT-BD3252

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Home Entertainment, Music

Clearly, I must be into reporting Samsung products this morning, as they have not only released that S9110 watch phone, but a new Blu-ray Home Theater In a Box. 

The HT-BD3252 not only features a bundle of speakers, but it has an integrated Blu-ray 2.0 profile player that supports BD-Live.  It supports audio codecs like Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-MA, and includes streaming Internet services such as Pandora, Netflix, and Blockbuster with the included Wi-Fi dongle.  All this plus an iPod dock for just $799.

Full press release after the jump.

Click to continue reading Samsung’s latest Blu-Ray HTIB, the HT-BD3252

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Blockbuster Summer Escape Pass

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Hot Deals, Movies, Video Games

Another deal from the ailing company Blockbuster comes in the form of a Summer Escape Pass. Available for a limited time in participating stores, $10.00 plus tax gets you unlimited movies and games. A new one can be purchased the following week and can be acquired at either the retail level or online. This sounds like a great idea for couch potatoes who have a week’s vacation and want to make it a staycation, especially for those who happen to live close to one.

Read More | Blockbuster via PR Newswire

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Blockbuster Offers Games By Mail

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360

Blockbuster continues to try to save its assets. This time it is offering video to its mail rental service to Wii, PS2, PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers. One subscription allows unlimited games, one at a time, for those with online-only service, while those with Total Access receive the same in-store exchange deal as they do with movies. Beginning with a pilot program in Cleveland in June, expect the service for all by the end of the year.

Read More | Blockbuster

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Blockbuster Access on TiVo

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Movies

If you own a TiVo, then you will soon be able to access Blockbuster’s OnDemand service. Compatible with broadband connected TiVo Series2, Series3, TiVo HD and TiVo HD XL DVRs, users will be allowed to rent and buy movies. Both companies will utilize cross-marketing and, as part of the deal, Blockbuster will sell TiVos on their site as well as in their stores. Plans to feature Netflix and Amazon will still continue, so it looks as though this is a win-win-win for TiVo. Expect the new service to begin in the second half of this year. Sign up with TiVo to be notified of the changeover.

Read More | Real Tech News

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Blockbuster Tests Game Rentals

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Downloadable Content

Blockbuster is testing video game rentals as part of their Total Access subscription and should be available to all their customers by the second half of 2009. Although games cost more than DVDs and have a shorter shelf life, the company may get into some revenue sharing deals with game studios. If you want to subscribe to the service, it will cost you a $5.00 surcharge. In the true spirit of competition, we hope this will help the Blockbuster stay in the game, literally.

Read More | Hacking Netflix

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More Companies Predicted to Go Under This Year

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Misc. Tech, Transportation

Moody’s Investors Service says that there may be 25 large company bankruptcies this year. Ratings from them and other sources came up with a list of those that are feeling the pinch. Sirius, Chrysler, Six Flags, Blockbuster, Rite Aid, and our beloved Krispy Kreme are all at risk of going under. Most of the companies have limited cash, large debts with huge interest payments and little chance of refinancing. While some of this may be inevitable, we suggest you go out and buy American. Treat your family or office to a dozen donuts or a trip to the amusement park.

Read More | Microblog Buzz

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Netflix streaming hits VIZIO Connected HDTV [UPDATED]

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, CES, CES 2009, Corporate News, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies

VIZIO is launching a new platform that they’re calling “Conneced HDTV,” and with it comes confirmation of the second Netflix direct-to-TV partnership. VIZIO’s Connected HDTV platform is designed to compliment traditional television viewing. You just connect the television to your home network, and if there’s nothing good on, you can go into Netflix, and I am sure there will be other services (YouTube? Hulu?) that you’ll be able to pull up as well. This is a trend we are definitely liking, let’s eliminate set-top boxes while providing more viewing options for the consumer.

EDIT: Okay, we just got more details on this. Aside from Netflix, the VIZIO Connected HDTV platform also brings Amazon Video on Demand, Pandora, Flickr, Blockbuster OnDemand, Rhapsody, Adobe Flash content, games from Accedo Broadband, and the Yahoo! widget engine. Very, very interesting!

Read More | MarketWatch

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Samsung BD-P2500 and P-2550 Feature Netflix in HD

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, Videos

And the Netflix/Blockbuster beat goes on. Samsung has announced that its BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 Blu-ray Players, as of the first week in December, will have access to movies and TV shows via Netflix in HD via a firmware update. While both models can already access over 12,000 videos, so far they have been in standard definition. At this point, there are 300 titles available in HD, with many more expected in the months to come.

Read More | DVD Town

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Blockbuster Debuts MediaPoint Player

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies

Still trying to compete with their nemesis, Blockbuster has announced their own set-top box. The MediaPoint Player was made by 2Wire and will set you back $99.00 with an initial 25 films. After that, customers can download HD movies via broadband for $1.99 and keep them up to 30 days. However, once play is pushed, it must be watched within 24 hours. Blockbuster OnDemand is available now and will be to future customers who do not subscribe to Blockbuster Online.

Read More | Reuters

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Apple lists different prices for same Dashbuster iPhone app!

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Movies, Software

Okay, Apple, we know that you’ve had some trouble getting your act together since the iPhone 3G launch, but when you list two different prices in different areas of iTunes for the same app, that is when it is just getting ridiculous. Case in point, Dashbuster. I downloaded the free version from the App Store about a week ago, as it sounded fantastic to be able to manage my Netflix queue from the iPhone. The app, however, was missing a couple of features that I wanted - namely, the ability to add movies to the queue, select the format of the disc, etc. That was to come in the pad version.

Well, due to the fact that Apple has been unable to push updates out in a timely fashion, the paid version was finished, but I had to wait about a week for it to hit the App Store. I searched for the app, saw it was available for $5, and proceeded to download it. I then saw that there was a bug in the app, where it wouldn’t show my queue at all. I emailed the developer, and he responded (almost immediately) offering help. He also mentioned that the app should have been $3.99, not $4.99 like I paid.

Click to continue reading Apple lists different prices for same Dashbuster iPhone app!

Read More | Gallery: Dashbuster pricing screwed up

Gallery: Apple lists different prices for same Dashbuster iPhone app!

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