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Some experts are skeptical about whether consumers will buy Blu-ray DVD players this Christmas - I am not one of them. Many are saying it’s going to be a “blue” Blu-ray Christmas. I disagree. I went shopping for a cheap Blu-ray DVD player on Black Friday, with one bargain special at Wal-Mart offering a $128 Blu-ray player. This was one of the biggest deals offered by Wal-Mart on Black Friday, and one was to wonder if this deal was part of the draw for the raucous crowd that stampeded and killed a Wal-Mart employee.

When I went to one Wal-Mart, then told me they sold out in 2 hours. I tried another one and they told me I just missed the last unit by less than an hour.

Wal-Mart was offering the Magnavox NB500Mˏ Blu-ray Disc Player, a mid-range Blu-ray player. Today (Cyber Monday), that same Blu Ray player is going for $199 online.

Features of the Magnavox N𐏄MG9 Blu-ray player include Full-HD 1080 output (24 or 60p), 1080p DVD upconversion, Composite video output Component video output, Progressive scan video output for HDTVs, HDMI with audio output for Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound, Digital audio output (coaxial), Analog audio output (left and right), CD support, Jpeg photo viewer, screen saver and surround sound effects. However, the Magnavox N𐏄MG9 Blu-ray player only supports Blu-ray profile 1.1 and not the current Blu-ray 2.0 version. Thus, no BD-Live support for access to more special content via the Internet. Still, this was a bargain Blu-ray player coming closest to breaking the $100 barrier. I planned on giving it to my brother-in-law for Christmas since he was looking at upgrading to a 42″ HDTV flat screen.

If the two Wal-Marts I visited are any indication that this will be a “Blu-ray Christmas″, then retailers that sell Blu-ray players and Blu-ray discs should be very happy. In fact, I’m surprised with retailers haven’t offered a $99 Blu-ray player for sale. Yes, they′d be taking a loss, but perhaps they could offer it as part of a bundle, such as buy 5 Blu-ray movies at $24.99 and get a $99 Blu-ray DVD player plus a coupon for 50% off your next Blu-ray purchase. They′ll entice them to come back and purchase more Blu-ray titles, which should more than offset any profits lost on the low-priced Blu-ray player. Once they get consumers hooked on Blu-ray, they′ll be paying nearly double what regular DVDs cost.

Retailers need a shot in the arm and one way of doing that is by getting a Blu-ray player in as many homes as possible and as quickly as possible - before HD-on-demand starts to take off. Personally, I prefer to own my movies rather than rent/PPV/video-on-demand. I like to build my movie library so I can watch any of my 500+ movies anytime I want without paying another dime. I think consumers are looking to escape today’s harsh economic climate. Watching movies is a heck of a lot cheaper than going to the movies. People are going out a lot less, eating out less, but they still want some form of escapism and quality entertainment. For that reason, I think it’s going to be a very “black″ Blu-ray Christmas. I have a Blu-ray player on my Christmas wish-list. Crossing fingers Santa Claus thinks I’ve been good this year.

Also, since today is Cyber Monday, I’m keeping my eye on Amazon for any Blu-ray specials (see: Amazon Blu-ray player special prices). You should as well.

Tags: Amazon, Black Friday, Blu-ray, Blu-ray Christmas, Christmas, Cyber Monday, DVD, player, Wal-Mart

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Original post by nafiz

Over drinks yesterday, my friend shared an insight. Thanks to my hangover, I’ll have to paraphrase everything:

Him: “Would you know how well retailers did during Black Friday?”

Me: “Not yet, I think it’s too early to tell. I’m sure a report will come out soon.”

Him: “Well, all I’m saying is that if people don’t buy this year, even with the low prices, things must be really bad.”

Me: “From what I’ve seen, things look good. Did you read about that Wal-Mart temp employee killed in a buyer stampede?”

Him: “Oh yeah… so there were lots of buyers right?”

Me: “Well if that case is any indicator, yes. You need lots of people to trample someone to death.”

Tags: Black Friday, Black Friday Carnage, Black Friday deaths, Black Friday promos, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart

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Original post by Rico

Great job America! Retailers become generous (or “generous”) for Black Friday and this is what happens? You’ve just played out Lord of the Flies for the whole world to see. And for what? Cheaper TVs to see grown men bang each other at even better detail? Computers to download porn?

First off, over at a Toys R Us in Palm Desert, bad blood between two groups of shoppers led to a gunfight that left 2 dead. Now it isn’t clear if these events are tied to Black Friday (in fact Toys R Us came out with a statement implying such to cover their ass), but the timing of the shooting isn’t just a mere coincidence, no? (source and image: latimes.com)

Next, an employee of the Wal-Mart Valley Stream outlet died during the 5am Black Friday store-opening stampede. The ugly mob smashed through windows, injuring four other people (including a woman 8 months pregnant) and “sending others scurrying atop vending machines to avoid the horde.” The poor fellow’s fellow employees had to fight their way through to rescue their doomed colleague from the crush. Worse, the crowd even stepped over some cops arriving on the scene trying to give the temp worker some CPR. Oh well, at least you can expect the Damours—family of said victim—to win a healthy settlement from Wal-Mart, especially after the grief caused by people screaming “I’ve been on line since Friday Morning” while the area was being cleared. (source and image: nydailynews.com)

Based on these new accounts, maybe stores should start providing personnel with guns. After all, guns are intimidating enough to keep the discount-starved wolves in line. It really was a Black Friday, folks.

Tags: Black Friday, Black Friday Carnage, Black Friday deaths, Black Friday promos, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart

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Original post by Rico

Crazy Eddie take note!
 
The Friday immediately following Thanksgiving has long been known as “Black Friday” because it represents the unofficial beginning of the holiday shopping season, or the day when retailers hold massive sales in hopes of steering their (red) losses into (black) profits.

And from what I’ve been reading about holiday shopping this year, gadgets may be one of the few bright spots … 

Among the most heavily discounted electronics items poised to dominate this year’s sales are low cost notebooks, according to sources, who note that Dell plans to offer $299 linux model via its website, while Wal-Mart markets a $299 Compaq and Best Buy a $299 eMachines portable.

And do yo think Apple will be sitting quietly …

… Didn’t think so; so check out AppleInsider.

And thanks to blogs.phillynews.com for the image.

Hopefully, these prices are insane!!!!!

Tags: apple, best buy, black friday, compaq, crazy eddie, dell, emachines, notebooks, wal-mart

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Original post by nafiz

An upcoming Wal-Mart sale will offer Black Friday-like deals, including a notebook for $298 and 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV for $798.

Just as it did last year with a sale that lured shoppers into its maze of fluorescent lighting for $350 laptops, Wal-Mart will once again begin its holiday sales early with a one-day shopping event to precede Black Friday.

The company’s sale will include several high-profile deals, including a laptop for $298, a 46-inch Sanyo LCD HDTV for $798, and a PS3 that comes with a $100 gift card.

Specifications on the $298 laptop, a Compaq CQ50-139WM, have moved up significantly from the models offered as last year’s doorbusters. Though it will still get a single-core Intel Celeron M processor clocked at 2GHz, the CQ50 also gets 2GB of DDR2 RAM a 160GB hard drive, and Intel’s 4500MHD media accelerator. 

More at DigitalTrends.

Tags: black friday, compaq, intel celeron m, sanyo, wal-mart

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Original post by nafiz

Remember when Apple slashed the price of the first-gen iPhone by $200? That led to a lot of whining by early adopters, who for some reason felt suddenly stupid spending a premium to be the first owners of the “exclusive” phone. And Apple caved in, giving the early adopters $100 credit for the Apple store.

Looks like the same thing happened with the T-Mobile ˇ, at least for one writer online. Originally offered for $180, Wal-Mart came along and spoiled the fun by offering it for $30 less. That prompted “Andrew R Hickey” to blast Wal-Mart for offering something cheaper, trying to disguise his disgust by raising—quite honestly—stupid arguments over Wal-Mart being Wal-Mart and the price drop coming a week after the ˇ’s initial release.

As commentor bug661 so aptly wrote: “‘It’s Wal-Mart’? How is that a reasoned line of argument? A store can sell whatever they want. Don’t whine.” Check out the whole brouhaha here.

(image from wired blog)

Tags: Google Phone, Price Drops, T-Mobile G1, Wal-Mart

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Original post by Rico

Circuit City will close 155 stores and lay off 7,200 employees, or 17% of its workforce, as it continues to restructure its business. These closings represent more than 20% of U.S. stores and includes the exiting of 12 markets.

The store closings will shrink the number of locations the chain operates in the U.S. to 566. 

The chain also faces credit issues with its vendors. Circuit City said certain vendors have changed payment terms, including demanding cash for inventory before shipping merchandise, as the all-important holiday shopping season approaches. Vendors also have limited the credit available to the company for purchases, including in some cases not providing customary increases in credit lines for holiday purchases.

We just hope that Best Buy and other more general retailers (Target, Wal-Mart) will take up the slack. While we all love to shop and buy online, there’s nothing quite like walking into a huge gadgets retailer and touching and feeling all of these gadgets before buying them. Don’t you think?

More at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Tags: Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, Wal-Mart

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Original post by nafiz

Wal-Mart has re-launched its new and improved MP3 Music Downloads store, with MP3 tracks starting at just 74 cents, to give us a greater value and an even bigger selection in digital music.

Wal-Mart has exclusively sold Ṃs through its online store since February 2008 and now offers more than 3 million MP3 tracks with content from all major labels.

The enhanced Ṃ online store is supported by multiple elements in Wal-Mart stores, including a free MP3 download with every CD purchased in stores or online at www.walmart.com/music. 

Get more at SmartBrief.com.

Tags: mp3 downloads, wal-mart

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Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Cellphones

Well, now isn’t this something? Best Buy has its fancy little iPhone 3G, but it’ll be Wally World offering up the G1 outside of official T-Mobile outlets. As we’d heard yesterday, 550 Walmart stores across the country will begin selling the Android-powered handset beginning tomorrow, and folks who opt to pick one up here versus a traditional T-Mob store will save $31.11. Yep — according to company spokeswoman Melissa O’Brien, the new / upgrade-eligible customer price for a Walmart-sourced G1 will be just $148.88 with a 2-year agreement. Wait, what? You already purchased your G1 at the full price? They always said the early bird pays the premium… or something along those lines.

T-Mobile G1 coming to Walmart for $148.88 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Just when you were ready to give up cable altogether and watch TV on your computer, telecommunication companies start aggressively rolling out fast new ways to get TV, Internet and voice services — do I hear “Triple Play″?

And they really, really want your business. AT&ampT has announced it would begin selling its AT&T U-verse TV and U-verse High Speed Internet services in Circuit City and Wal-Mart stores across the country.

U-verse uses a hybrid network of fast fiber-optic and conventional copper wires to bring TV, Internet and voice services to your home. Bundles start at $69 a month. It’s trying to sweeten the deal by offering $200 cash back to customers who order certain U-verse packages online.

Why the big deals and incentives? AT&T is duking it out with Verizon’s FiOS and cable companies like Time Warner Cable to get into new homes as customers frustrated with the relatively slow speeds of DSL look for faster service.

And they’re doing it at a tough time. Broadband service providers are having trouble recruiting new subscribers, due to a soft housing market, a weakened economy, broadband market maturity and predictable seasonality, according to research firm Strategy Analytics. 

More at the LA Times.

Tags: at&t, circuit city, fios, strategy analytics, time warner cable, u-verse, verizon, wal-mart

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Original post by nafiz

Just when you were ready to give up cable altogether and watch TV on your computer, telecommunication companies start aggressively rolling out fast new ways to get TV, Internet and voice services — do I hear “Triple Play”?

And they really, really want your business. AT&T has announced it would begin selling its AT&T U-verse TV and U-verse High Speed Internet services in Circuit City and Wal-Mart stores across the country.

U-verse uses a hybrid network of fast fiber-optic and conventional copper wires to bring TV, Internet and voice services to your home. Bundles start at $69 a month. It’s trying to sweeten the deal by offering $200 cash back to customers who order certain U-verse packages online.

Why the big deals and incentives? AT&T is duking it out with Verizon’s FiOS and cable companies like Time Warner Cable to get into new homes as customers frustrated with the relatively slow speeds of DSL look for faster service.

And they’re doing it at a tough time. Broadband service providers are having trouble recruiting new subscribers, due to a soft housing market, a weakened economy, broadband market maturity and predictable seasonality, according to research firm Strategy Analytics. 

More at the LA Times.

Tags: at&t, circuit city, fios, strategy analytics, time warner cable, u-verse, verizon, wal-mart

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Original post by nafiz

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

AT&T’s not messing around with spreading the good word on its U-verse services, as it has just nailed down an agreement to sell the aforementioned products in two of America’s largest retail outlets. Beginning this month, U-verse kiosks will emerge in over 600 Circuit City and Walmart locations, which will give unsuspecting consumers the chance to ditch their current cable / satellite / fiber provider and sign up for AT&ampT’s own programming / high-speed internet / digital phone suite. The move comes in the midst of its nationwide Total Home DVR rollout, which enables any connected TV in the crib to watch a recorded SD or HD show. Of course, U-verse still serves a comparatively small amount of the country at present time, but with an initiative like this, we feel pretty good about future expansion.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops

Really, eMachines? You′re honestly going to give your newest cheap-o PC this kind of tagline? Truth be told, we’re not exactly sure what a standard sized dictionary even looks like (there’s this thing called the internet…), but apparently, it’s exactly the same size as the EL1200 desktop. Not sassy enough to be called a nettop, this here mini-tower is 40% smaller and 55% lighter than the company’s second tiniest rig, and while it won’t handle the likes of Crysis, it shouldn′t have too many issues surfing the web and opening Word documents. As for specs, we’ve got a 1.5GHz AMD Athlon 2650e 64-bit CPU, NVIDIA’s GeForce 6150SE integrated graphics, 1GB of DD̶, 160GB hard drive, a dual-layer DVD burner, 14-in-1 multicard reader, seven USB 2.0 ports and a $298 (MSRP) price tag. That system we just rattled off is available now at Wally World, while a slightly more stacked edition can be had at Best Buy for $349.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio

Back by popular demand, it’s the Walmart DRM servers! You heard right — just days after Wally World announced its plans to turn the screw on its digital rights management servers, we’re now being shown a big “just kidding.” According to an e-mail (posted in full after the break) sent out to previous downloaders, the mega-corp be leaving things as-is for the foreseeable future, and it’s all because of “feedback from the customers.” In other words, those actions it urged you to take late last month are no longer required, though we’d still back those tracks up on CD just in case. Can′t be too careful, you know.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Walmart has a change of heart, decides to maintain DRM servers

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio

Walmart began selling DRM-free tracks in its music store in August of last year. 13 months later, the mega-corp has decided to follow the footsteps of so many others and hit the kill switch on its DRM management servers. As noted in an e-mail to customers, Wally World will be making the final transition into a fully DRM-free Ṃ store on October 9th, and in order to keep those DRM-laden files playable on anything, it’s recommended that you burn protected files on a CD on the double. If you choose to ignore this message, you’ll be unable to “transfer your songs to other computers or access your songs after changing or reinstalling your operating system or in the event of a system crash.” Heed the warning, kids.

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Original post by Darren Murph