Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Circuit City starts shipping Lenovo IdeaPad U400, reminds you it still exists]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/circuit-city-starts-shipping-lenovo-ideapad-u400-reminds-you-it/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/circuit-city-starts-shipping-lenovo-ideapad-u400-reminds-you-it/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/circuit-city-starts-shipping-lenovo-ideapad-u400-reminds-you-it/#comments Remember Circuit City? It may no longer exist in your local mall (or alongside the 405) but somehow it's wangled a flock of Lenovo's new IdeaPad U400s -- ahead of the company's own official store. This thin yet powerful object of desire has a 14-inch 1366 x 768 Backlit LED screen, 6GB of DDR3 RAM, 1GB ATI Radeon HD6470M graphics and a 2.40GHz Intel Core i5-2430m processor. Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit is stashed on the 750GB HDD and the whole thing is rated to run for four-hours on the built-in battery. If you want one to be slung on the back of a UPS truck on its way to your domicile, it'll set you back $920 -- a little more than the $850 that Lenny had promised, but isn't it worth a little bit extra to get one before anyone else?

[Thanks, Elliott]

Circuit City starts shipping Lenovo IdeaPad U400, reminds you it still exists originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amazon.comCircuit CityCircuitCityIdeaPad u400IdeapadU400LenovoLenovo IdeaPadLenovo IdeaPad u400Lenovo U400LenovoIdeapadLenovoIdeapadU400LenovoU400TigerDirectTigerDirect.comUltrabookThu, 13 Oct 2011 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City puts DIVX patents up for sale, anyone in need of a failed disc format?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/16/circuit-city-puts-divx-patents-up-for-sale-anyone-in-need-of-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/16/circuit-city-puts-divx-patents-up-for-sale-anyone-in-need-of-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/16/circuit-city-puts-divx-patents-up-for-sale-anyone-in-need-of-a/#comments Circuit City's ill-fated video rental alternative, DIVX (not DivX), went belly up over a decade ago but just like Nortel, now that its parent company is belly-up its patents may still have some value. In case you've forgotten, the DIVX scheme offered discs similar to DVDs that were initially viewable for 48 hours, but could be activated for more time over a phone line. Now, the Circuit City Stores Inc. Liquidating Trust has entered into an agreement to sell the remaining patents to Imaging Transfer Co., but not before opening the sale to others in an auction, scheduled to take place August 16th. We're not sure what can be done with a bundle of patents covering compression, watermarking and other digital media technologies, but if you do and have more than $750k to offer, you'll want to contact Streambank LLC right away.

Continue reading Circuit City puts DIVX patents up for sale, anyone in need of a failed disc format?

Circuit City puts DIVX patents up for sale, anyone in need of a failed disc format? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctioncircuit cityCircuitCitydigital videoDigitalVideodivxdvdhdpatentpatentsrentalsaleSat, 16 Jul 2011 14:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's 11.6-inch Series 9 now shipping in the US, priced at $1,160]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/samsungs-11-6-inch-series-9-now-shipping-in-the-us-priced-at/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/samsungs-11-6-inch-series-9-now-shipping-in-the-us-priced-at/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/samsungs-11-6-inch-series-9-now-shipping-in-the-us-priced-at/#comments
It's been about a month since Samsung's 11.6-inch Series 9 laptop first surfaced for pre-order on Amazon, and now it's finally available for shipping. Touting a $1,160 price tag, this duralumin-enclosed little beast packs an Intel Core i3-380UM processor, 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD. The 2.3-pounder also ships with 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 3.0 and WIMAX 4G capabilities, along with a 1.3-megapixel HD webcam and a 1366 x 768 display with 340 nits of brightness. The newest addition to the Series 9 family is available on Amazon, Circuit City and Tiger Direct, but if they don't suit your fancy, you can check with Samsung to find a full list of retailers, below.

Samsung's 11.6-inch Series 9 now shipping in the US, priced at $1,160 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11.6-inch4G WiMAX4gWimax9Seriesamazonbluetoothcircuit cityCircuitCityduralumini3-380UMIntelIntel Core i3-380UMIntelCoreI3-380umlaptopmoneynetbookpriceprocessorsamsungsamsung series 9SamsungSeries9series 9Series9shippingssdwimaxMon, 16 May 2011 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Systemax relaunches Circuit City's website, this time with feeling ]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/23/systemax-relaunches-circuit-citys-website-this-time-with-feeli/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/23/systemax-relaunches-circuit-citys-website-this-time-with-feeli/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/23/systemax-relaunches-circuit-citys-website-this-time-with-feeli/#comments
After shelling out some $6.5 million, you had to know that Systemax planned on doing something with Circuit City's trademarks and internet domain names. As of today, CircuitCity.com is back and better than ever, carrying on the legacy of a name that became synonymous with overpriced consumer electronics for nearly six decades. Of course, this doesn't mean that any Circuit City retail stores will be re-opening, but at least the brand is living on in the world wide web. The wonders of the internet: I Can Has Cheezburger?, Twitter and the continuation of an icon that would otherwise be six feet underground.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Systemax relaunches Circuit City's website, this time with feeling originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 May 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptbankruptcybrandcircuit cityCircuitCityeconomylaunchmarketingonlinerelaunchretailsalesSystemaxtiger directTigerDirectwebsiteSat, 23 May 2009 17:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Wal-Mart making move for Circuit City's old slice of the pie, prepping for Apple sections, Pre sales and higher-end electronics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/19/wal-mart-making-move-for-circuit-citys-old-slice-of-the-pie-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/19/wal-mart-making-move-for-circuit-citys-old-slice-of-the-pie-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/19/wal-mart-making-move-for-circuit-citys-old-slice-of-the-pie-pr/#comments
While Wal-Mart will always be our hot spot of choice for picking up a mixed assortment box of granola bars and meeting other thrifty, outdoors-loving singles, the retailer is on a course to upping its electronics game, in light of the void left by Circuit City's closure -- about $11.1 billion in annual revenue just there for the taking. The store is rolling out new boutique sections for Apple and Nintendo products to some of its electronics departments this week, is adding to its selection higher-end Sony and Samsung televisions, will be expanding its Blu-ray equipment and selection, is nabbing some Studio One 19 all-in-ones from Dell next month, and obviously is getting the Palm Pre next month as well. Apple has been traditionally slow to offer up its higher-end products to Wal-Mart shelves, so hopefully this means that not only will Wal-Mart be doing Macs "right," but perhaps Apple will give a little in return and offer some more sub-$1000 macs beyond the Mac mini and low-end MacBook -- some Laptop Hunters fare, if you will.

[Via AppleInsider]

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Wal-Mart making move for Circuit City's old slice of the pie, prepping for Apple sections, Pre sales and higher-end electronics originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 May 2009 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecircuit cityCircuitCitynintendopalm prePalmPreprewal-martTue, 19 May 2009 16:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Systemax snaps up Circuit City's brand and domain name]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/13/systemax-snaps-up-circuit-citys-brand-and-domain-name/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/13/systemax-snaps-up-circuit-citys-brand-and-domain-name/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/13/systemax-snaps-up-circuit-citys-brand-and-domain-name/#comments
Just like it did in January of last year, Systemax is snapping up leftovers from a now-defunct national consumer electronics retailer. As part of the post-bankruptcy proceedings, Circuit City Stores Incorporated recently closed a deal that'll net it $6.5 million. The price for the coinage? Systemax taking control of its trademarks and internet domain names. Circuit City stated in the filing that the sale of its intellectual property and internet assets would bring "significant recovery for the sellers' estates and creditors," and we're also told that Circuit City would be able to snag an unspecified share of sales from the brand name. Look out, Best Buy -- we hear Systemax has eyes for you, too.

[Thanks, Sid]

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Systemax snaps up Circuit City's brand and domain name originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To an icon in the consumer electronics retail space, we wave goodbye. And for the hordes of employees already / soon to be looking for new uniforms elsewhere, we empathize. Circuit City has just announced that on March 8th, all of its stores will lock up for the last time. Granted, some locations have already shut their doors in permanent fashion due to stock depletion, but regardless of leftover wares, March 8th is the end of the line for the laggards. We'd say you might want to stop by your local outlet to catch any last-last-minute sales, but even at a penny, you're not going to want that open-box 4MB SD card.

[Via HotHardware, image courtesy of wbeebe]

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All Circuit City stores closing permanently on March 8th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit cityCircuitCityclosedclosingdeadeconomykillkilledretailFri, 06 Mar 2009 04:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Caption Contest: Best Buy FTW]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/caption-contest-best-buy-ftw/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/caption-contest-best-buy-ftw/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/caption-contest-best-buy-ftw/#comments
A Twitterer documents the demise of one big box via the burn of another.

Tim: "And thus the 2009 FatWallet suicide craze began."
Josh F: "First!"
Joe: "Yeah, but what about the Palm store?"
Laura: "So, you're telling me I have to pay full price for this copy of Final Destination IV? FINE."
Richard: "...And we finally have proof you never actually shopped there anyway."
Paul: "We've also stopped matching Buy More prices ever since that silly 3D episode."
Jacob: "...And we're therefore rebranding to Kinda the Best Buy.'"
Ross: "For $100, the Geek Squad has offered to read these aloud to you. For an extra $50, they'll stop themselves from giggling through the word 'unfortunate.'"
Nilay: "Also, it's okay to start liking 'Just What I Needed' again."
Sean: "We will, however, attempt to make the Circuit City faithful feel right at home with some new bait and switch tactics of our own."
Don: "Circuit City employees will be hired based on their technical knowledge, communication skills, and rapping ability."

[Thanks, Adam]

Continue reading Caption Contest: Best Buy FTW

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Caption Contest: Best Buy FTW originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buyBestBuycaption contestCaptionContestcircuit cityCircuitCityfeaturesliquidationtwit picTwitPicWed, 04 Feb 2009 13:09:00 EST<![CDATA[hhgregg continues to scoop up Circuit City business]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/hhgregg-continues-to-scoop-up-circuit-city-business/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/hhgregg-continues-to-scoop-up-circuit-city-business/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/hhgregg-continues-to-scoop-up-circuit-city-business/#commentsClosed Circuit City store hhgregg signage
We wouldn't have predicted that when hhgregg started its Circuit City gift card program months ago that it would have come to this, but it's really just a natural extension of what the Naptown-based retailer has been up to. Circuit City customers left in a liquidation lurch can turn to hhgregg (assuming one is nearby) for factory authorized service on items purchased from the big red plug that are still under the original warranty. Additionally, hhgregg is extending its Circuit City gift card amnesty program to April Fool's Day -- a fitting date to end the cakewalk music, we think. It's good to see a retailer stepping in to help out consumers, and this kind of action might score some loyalty points redeemable in more flush economic times.

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hhgregg continues to scoop up Circuit City business originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit cityCircuitCityeconomygift cardGiftCardhdhhgreggretailsalessevicewarrantyTue, 27 Jan 2009 08:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City closings begin, lines form, bargains await]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/circuit-city-closings-begin-lines-form-bargains-await/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/circuit-city-closings-begin-lines-form-bargains-await/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/circuit-city-closings-begin-lines-form-bargains-await/#commentsCircuit City closings begin, lines form, bargains await
If you were waiting to get some fliers in the mail announcing the beginning of clearances at your local Circuit City, we're sorry to report you've probably already missed the best deals. The liquidation was just made official last week, but, when Christen over at Gadget Review happened by the trendy Santa Monica branch of the doomed franchise yesterday, he found lines of people already waiting for their chance get in on the "everything must go" action. It looks like the crowds were somewhat contrived, as sales associates were making people wait outside before going in, but just the same you might want to bundle up before heading out for bargain hunting today.

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Circuit City closings begin, lines form, bargains await originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptbankruptcychapter 11Chapter11circuit citycircuit city storesCircuitCityCircuitCityStoresdiscounteconomygoing out of businessGoingOutOfBusinessliquidationretailsaleMon, 19 Jan 2009 09:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City fails to be wanted, will now be liquidated ]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/circuit-city-fails-to-be-wanted-will-now-be-liquidated/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/circuit-city-fails-to-be-wanted-will-now-be-liquidated/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/circuit-city-fails-to-be-wanted-will-now-be-liquidated/#comments
Even Circuit City's CEO admitted that liquidation was a very real possibility if a sale of the company didn't occur by January 16th, and needless to say, time's up. According to a breaking report from the AP, the once colossal electronics retailer will indeed be forced to liquidate, which should bring happy times for bargain hunters and sad times for employees. Now that details are starting to flow in, we're told that it will liquidate 567 of its US stores after failing to secure a buyer or refinancing deal. For those who care, Great American Group LLC, Hudson Capital Partners LLC, SB Capital Group LLC and Tiger Capital Group LLC have been chosen as liquidators.

[Thanks, Doug]

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Circuit City fails to be wanted, will now be liquidated originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Things have been a little rocky (to say the very least) for Circuit City since it filed for bankruptcy protection back in November of last year, and now the acting president and CEO has sent out a letter informing a select few (or the world, as the case may be) of what exactly is going / could be going on. In short, the company has just recently "filed with the Bankruptcy Court a motion that seeks Court approval for a process that formally puts the company up for sale." There's a lot of fluff after that, but the long and short of it is this: a sale could be approved before an auction begins (and its working mighty hard to make sure that happens), but if that doesn't go down by the 16th, the outfit will be " forced to liquidate" soon. We're not trying to be overly dramatic or anything, so we'll encourage you to read the entire, soul-soothing email posted just after the break before going into full-on panic mode.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Continue reading Circuit City CEO details bankruptcy proceedings, admits possibility of liquidation

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Circuit City CEO details bankruptcy proceedings, admits possibility of liquidation originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptbankruptcyceocircuit cityCircuitCityeconomyexecretailFri, 09 Jan 2009 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[hhgregg extends Circuit City gift card deal through Super Bowl weekend]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/hhgregg-extends-circuit-city-gift-card-deal-through-super-bowl-w/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/hhgregg-extends-circuit-city-gift-card-deal-through-super-bowl-w/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/hhgregg-extends-circuit-city-gift-card-deal-through-super-bowl-w/#commentsCircuit City gift card accepted at hhgregg
Apparently buoyed by the initial response to its Circuit City gift card offer and now happily sitting on top of a pile of the red and yellow plastic cash substitute, retailer hhgregg is extending the program through the Super Bowl weekend. It's all about lemons and lemonade, we suppose, but the conditions of the deal haven't changed -- your Circuit City card is good for up to 20-percent off your hhgregg (brick and mortar only) purchase, and the card gets handed over to hhgregg when used. Still, if Black Friday ended with you holding a Circuit City card and no toys, you could do worse than to pass the buck on to hhgregg.

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hhgregg extends Circuit City gift card deal through Super Bowl weekend originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscircuit cityCircuitCityeconomygift cardGiftCardhdhhgreggretailsalesMon, 15 Dec 2008 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Friday 2008 roundup: HD deals]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/26/black-friday-2008-roundup-hd-deals/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/26/black-friday-2008-roundup-hd-deals/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/26/black-friday-2008-roundup-hd-deals/#comments
Let's face it -- it's easy to get overwhelmed when it comes to Black Friday. For starters, it's the day after Thanksgiving, a day in which you're likely already stressed out about what to cook, where to clean, who to invite and how to get off work early. The last thing you need is more stress when thinking about what HD gear you'll be adding to your collection a few days from now. Thus, we've scoured the intarwebz and scrubbed the deal sheets in order to present a slimmed down, easy-to-digest guide of where the best buys on high-def-related kit will be on November 28th. Hop on past the break to start making your list.

[Image courtesy of SmackShopping]

Continue reading Black Friday 2008 roundup: HD deals

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Black Friday 2008 roundup: HD deals originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbest buyBestBuyblack fridayblack friday 2008BlackFridayBlackFriday2008blu rayblu-raybluraycircuit cityCircuitCityconsumer spendingConsumerSpendingdealdealseconomyfeatureshdother hardwareotherhardwarereceiversretailsaleshoppingwal-martwalmartWed, 26 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[hhgregg accepting Circuit City gift cards, some strings attached]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/19/hhgregg-accepting-circuit-city-gift-cards-some-strings-attached/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/19/hhgregg-accepting-circuit-city-gift-cards-some-strings-attached/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/19/hhgregg-accepting-circuit-city-gift-cards-some-strings-attached/#commentshhgregg CircuitCity gift card
In case you can't make it to the bargain hunting unfolding at Circuit City stores, or just don't want to face the frenzied atmosphere tinged with gloom, retailer hhgregg will gladly take any Circuit City gift cards you have lying around off your hands. So if your local Circuit City just got closed, or if it just doesn't have that model you're craving, you can cash in your gift cards at hhgregg, to the tune of (up to) 20-percent of your register total. The offer does not extend to online purchases, and you better make sure you use up the entire card value, too, because you'll have to surrender the card to hhgregg before they hand you the goods. Use it or lose it, friends!

[Via TV Lamps N Bulbs]

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hhgregg accepting Circuit City gift cards, some strings attached originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscircuit cityCircuitCityeconomygift cardGiftCardhdhhgreggretailsalesWed, 19 Nov 2008 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City's Black Friday deals leak, no word on if it'll be open to sell things]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/14/circuit-citys-black-friday-deals-leak-no-word-on-if-itll-be-o/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/14/circuit-citys-black-friday-deals-leak-no-word-on-if-itll-be-o/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/14/circuit-citys-black-friday-deals-leak-no-word-on-if-itll-be-o/#comments
Okay, so maybe Circuit City only formally closed 155 of its retail locations, but let's put it this way -- if we're up at 3:00AM and looking at which store to camp in front of, we're picking the one that, um, isn't bankrupt. All that aside, five pages of mildly delectable Black Friday deals have leaked for the company, giving you a full fortnight to think things over and handpick the bargains that you'll be hunting for. Of course, savvy online shoppers like yourself aren't apt to find anything here too fantastic, but we'd wager that even a $7.99 laptop sleeve is a far better value than a $12 Guns N' Roses CD.

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Circuit City's Black Friday deals leak, no word on if it'll be open to sell things originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black fridayblack friday 2008BlackFridayBlackFriday2008circuit cityCircuitCitydealdealsretailsaleFri, 14 Nov 2008 13:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City files for bankruptcy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/10/circuit-city-files-for-bankruptcy/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/10/circuit-city-files-for-bankruptcy/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/10/circuit-city-files-for-bankruptcy/#comments
Even after shutting down 155 retail stores and announcing plans to cut around 17% of its 43,000 employees, Circuit City couldn't avoid the dreaded bankruptcy court. Today, the Virginia-based company (along with 17 affiliates) petitioned for Chapter 11 protection in Richmond as it attempts to survive under the crushing pressure from Best Buy / Walmart. Beyond that, details about the outfit's future are unclear, though Best Buy has reportedly stated that it "might take over stores that distressed rivals close." Please, no.

[Via Bloomberg, image courtesy of AFSmith; thanks Daniel]

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Circuit City files for bankruptcy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptbankruptcybreaking newsBreakingNewsbusinesscircuit cityCircuitCitydeadeconomyindustrykillkilledretailripMon, 10 Nov 2008 08:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Forget Black Friday -- $175 Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray player here now]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/forget-black-friday-175-sony-bdp-s300-here-now/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/forget-black-friday-175-sony-bdp-s300-here-now/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/forget-black-friday-175-sony-bdp-s300-here-now/#comments
Sure, we might see $150 Blu-ray players on Black Friday, but how's about a $175 Sony right now? Okay, so maybe $176.96 isn't quite a buck seventy-five, but with a little digging we're sure you can uncover a coupon. Sony's BDP-S300, which has been free-falling in price over the past few weeks, has hit a new low at Circuit City. You should know, however, that this here player isn't apt to last long, and that "Outlet" tag makes us even more fearful of limited stock. So, the magic question: buy in (at long last), or hold out just a bit longer?

[Thanks, Darren F.]

Gallery: Forget Black Friday -- $175 Sony BDP-S300 here now

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Forget Black Friday -- $175 Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray player here now originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdp-s300black fridayblack friday 2008BlackFridayBlackFriday2008blu rayblu-raybluraycircuit cityCircuitCitydealdealshds300salesonyFri, 07 Nov 2008 13:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Podcast 117 - 11.07.2008: Zune giveaway edition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/engadget-podcast-117-11-07-2008-zune-giveaway-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/engadget-podcast-117-11-07-2008-zune-giveaway-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/engadget-podcast-117-11-07-2008-zune-giveaway-edition/#comments
Yes -- it's happening again. Another installment of the beloved Engadget Podcast has made its way to the virtual airwaves of the ever-loving internet, and now you can listen in for personal enjoyment and edification. Today Josh, Paul, and Nilay get to the heart of our recent "preferred OS" poll, Apple's treatment of iPhone developers, Amazon's abandonment of painful packaging, and more. Included in this podcast is a first-ever (for Engadget at least) on-air unboxing. That's right, hear the sounds of a Gears of War 2 Zune getting ripped open.

As a treat to our faithful listeners, we'll be giving away that very special edition 120GB Zune! Follow the instructions after the break to learn how to make it yours.

Update: We've also included that Best Buy rap discussed in the podcast. Enjoy!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, and Nilay Patel
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Smells Like Teen Spirit

01:43 - Poll: Which OS do you prefer?
12:38 - Apple adds OTA podcast downloads to iPhone firmware 2.2, continues to burn developers
27:14 - Amazon takes a stand to eliminate wasteful, hard-to-open gadget packaging
34:30 - Circuit City announces store closure plans, full list of locations revealed
45:51 - Dash cuts 50 employees, drastically changing business model
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Continue reading Engadget Podcast 117 - 11.07.2008: Zune giveaway edition

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Engadget Podcast 117 - 11.07.2008: Zune giveaway edition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonapp storeappleAppStorecircuit cityCircuitCitycontestdashengadget podcastEngadgetPodcastfeaturefeaturedfeaturesgears of war 2GearsOfWar2giveawayiphonemicrosoftmicrosoft zuneMicrosoftZuneoperating systemsOperatingSystemsosOS pollOsPollpackagingpodcastpodcastszuneFri, 07 Nov 2008 13:45:00 ESTEngadget Podcast 117Josh Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller01:03:04podcasts<![CDATA[Ripples from Circuit City and Tweeter to affect upscale dealers?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/05/ripples-from-circuit-city-and-tweeter-to-affect-upscale-dealers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/05/ripples-from-circuit-city-and-tweeter-to-affect-upscale-dealers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/05/ripples-from-circuit-city-and-tweeter-to-affect-upscale-dealers/#commentsCircuit City and Tweeter
It's not like folks in the market for custom-install gear go to big box retailers like Circuit City and Tweeter for their "fix," but who can deny the way that those Sunday paper ads get the imagination going about how to improve your digital lifestyle? Prognosticators of all things CE, NPD Group, says that the diminishing fortunes of these big box stores will be felt at specialty dealers, and not necessarily in a good way. Sure, the disappearance of all that advertisement money from the CE pool might hurt awareness; but in the end, we know all those displaced regular customers of Circuit City and/or Tweeter will need to shop somewhere, so it's also an opportunity for smaller shops. Tough times are ahead, but there's also opportunity for retailers who can provide top-notch service.

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Ripples from Circuit City and Tweeter to affect upscale dealers? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessceprocircuit cityCircuitCityhdnpdstorestweeterWed, 05 Nov 2008 10:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City announces store closure plans, full list of locations revealed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/03/circuit-city-announces-store-closure-plans-full-list-of-locatio/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/03/circuit-city-announces-store-closure-plans-full-list-of-locatio/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/03/circuit-city-announces-store-closure-plans-full-list-of-locatio/#commentsYesterday news broke that Circuit City would announce the imminent closure of 155 retail locations, and this morning the company confirmed the news. Detailing its next plan of action in a lengthy press release, the electronics-maker blames "waning consumer confidence and a significantly weakened retail environment" (amongst other things) for the closings, and says that it's considering "all available options and alternatives for the business." In the short-term, this means that we'll see store closings in 55 markets from coast to coast, and the retailer will axe 17 percent of its workforce. The company also plans to begin store closing sales this Wednesday, November 5th, so they're clearly not wasting any time with the process. We've got more info in the read links below, as well as a full list of the closing stores -- if you're an employee, we hope your number isn't on there.

[Thanks, Milachy]

Read - PDF List of store closings
Read - Circuit City to Retrench [Warning: requires subscription]
Read - Circuit City Stores, Inc. Provides Update on Liquidity and Announces Store Closing Plan

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Circuit City announces store closure plans, full list of locations revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit cityCircuitCityeconomystore closingstore closingsStoreClosingStoreClosingsMon, 03 Nov 2008 10:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City to shutter 155 stores, locations to go public tomorrow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/02/circuit-city-to-shutter-155-stores-locations-to-go-public-tomor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/02/circuit-city-to-shutter-155-stores-locations-to-go-public-tomor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/02/circuit-city-to-shutter-155-stores-locations-to-go-public-tomor/#commentsAccording to a slew of tips we've received, Circuit City will be closing down 155 of its retail locations, possibly even before Black Friday. Right now details are sketchy, but it seems that the company's traditional "holiday kickoff" meeting was actually a "holiday layoff" discussion instead. Apparently, a full list of store locations getting the axe will be revealed. In the words of a current employee:

"I'm an employee @ Circuit City and today there was a mandatory store meeting for the holiday season and to welcome all the seasonal employees. There was also some tension as rumors were rampant the days before that we were all going to find out we were out of a job today. Luckily, but still somehow unfortunately, I'm still an employee of Circuit City. The same can't be said for the employees of the 155 stores that are closing, possibly even before black Friday. The list of stores that are shutting down will be made public tomorrow. The idea behind closing the stores before Black Friday is to transfer product from the failing stores to the stronger ones to save some money."

This makes sense given the rumors we heard in October and the fact that the company's stock has been been essentially put on death watch by the NYSE -- but that surely won't soften the blow to everyone whose job will be affected by this. If you have more detail on the situation, feel free to drop us a line.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Circuit City to shutter 155 stores, locations to go public tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit cityCircuitCityeconomystore closingstore closingsStoreClosingStoreClosingsSun, 02 Nov 2008 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T to push U-verse services at Circuit City and Walmart]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/atandt-to-push-u-verse-services-at-circuit-city-and-walmart/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/atandt-to-push-u-verse-services-at-circuit-city-and-walmart/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/atandt-to-push-u-verse-services-at-circuit-city-and-walmart/#comments
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&T'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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AT&T to push U-verse services at Circuit City and Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attbusinessCircuit CityCircuitCityfiberhdtvindustryretailu-verseuversewal-martwalmartMon, 13 Oct 2008 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T to push U-verse services at Circuit City and Walmart]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/atandt-to-push-u-verse-services-at-circuit-city-and-walmart/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/atandt-to-push-u-verse-services-at-circuit-city-and-walmart/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/atandt-to-push-u-verse-services-at-circuit-city-and-walmart/#comments
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&T'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.

Filed under:

AT&T to push U-verse services at Circuit City and Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attbusinessCircuit CityCircuitCityfiberhdindustryretailu-verseuversewal-martwalmartMon, 13 Oct 2008 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Buy Samsung's BD-P1500, get The Matrix Collection on Blu-ray for free]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/buy-samsungs-bd-p1500-get-the-matrix-collection-on-blu-ray-for/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/buy-samsungs-bd-p1500-get-the-matrix-collection-on-blu-ray-for/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/buy-samsungs-bd-p1500-get-the-matrix-collection-on-blu-ray-for/#commentsSamsung's BD-P1500 didn't stay situated at $200 for long before selling out (or being removed) at RadioShack, but on the eve of one of the most anticipated Blu-ray releases in the history of the format, along comes yet another deal that could be just the one you were waiting for. If you've been holding off on buying a BD deck until The Ultimate Matrix Collection landed, have a look at this. A number of retailers (Amazon, Best Buy and Circuit City, most notably) are now offering the Profile 1.1 Profile 2.0 player with a completely free copy of the 10-disc box set. Of course, the price of the player varies depending on your e-tailer of choice, but considering that the MSRP on the film set alone is $129.95, you can probably see the value here. Dig in below, if you're so inclined.

[Thanks, Jason]

Read - Amazon
Read - Best Buy
Read - Circuit City

Filed under: , ,

Buy Samsung's BD-P1500, get The Matrix Collection on Blu-ray for free originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbdBD-P1500BDP1500blu rayblu-rayblu-ray playerBlu-rayPlayerbluraycircuit cityCircuitCityhdmatrixon saleOnSaleprice dropPriceDropsalesamsungthe matrixTheMatrixMon, 13 Oct 2008 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck gets delayed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/12/lgs-bd300-netflix-blu-ray-deck-gets-delayed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/12/lgs-bd300-netflix-blu-ray-deck-gets-delayed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/12/lgs-bd300-netflix-blu-ray-deck-gets-delayed/#comments
October 10th has come and gone, and LG's BD300 has yet to leave the shipping dock. In fact, Circuit City is sending out notifications to consumers that pre-ordered the unit to inform them of the holdup. According to the note, the manufacturer (that'd be LG) has yet to release the product to the store for shipment, meaning that there's no telling when it'll finally be received. What's the deal, LG? Is this just a momentary snag, or something we should really be concerned about? Check the full e-mail after the jump.

[Thanks, Jeffrey]

Update: Seems that only some retailers are getting their shipments delayed -- hopefully you get lucky.

Continue reading LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck gets delayed

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LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck gets delayed originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdBD300blu rayblu-rayblu-ray playerBlu-rayPlayerbluraycircuit cityCircuitCitydelaydelayedhdinternetLGnetflixSun, 12 Oct 2008 00:12:00 EST<![CDATA[LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck ships on October 10 for $349]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/02/lgs-bd300-netflix-blu-ray-deck-ships-on-october-10-for-349/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/02/lgs-bd300-netflix-blu-ray-deck-ships-on-october-10-for-349/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/02/lgs-bd300-netflix-blu-ray-deck-ships-on-october-10-for-349/#comments
Contrary to what LG coerced us into believing at CEDIA, its Netflix / Blu-ray-lovin' BD300 will actually be sold a full $50 cheaper than the previously quoted $399.95. Circuit City has the deck up for pre-order right this very moment for $349.99 (okay, so maybe that's not a full $50, but c'mon), and better still, the retailer is listing an October 10th release date. Now that Netflix has inked deals with CBS, ABC and Starz, there's just one question left: are you in for three fifty?

[Thanks, Joshua]

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LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck ships on October 10 for $349 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>availableBD300blu-ray playerBlu-rayPlayercircuit cityCircuitCityhdtvLGnetflixpre-orderrelease dateReleaseDateship dateShipDateThu, 02 Oct 2008 22:42:00 EST<![CDATA[LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck ships on October 10 for $349]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/02/lgs-bd300-netflix-blu-ray-deck-ships-on-october-10-for-349/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/02/lgs-bd300-netflix-blu-ray-deck-ships-on-october-10-for-349/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/02/lgs-bd300-netflix-blu-ray-deck-ships-on-october-10-for-349/#comments
Contrary to what LG coerced us into believing at CEDIA, its Netflix / Blu-ray-lovin' BD300 will actually be sold a full $50 cheaper than the previously quoted $399.95. Circuit City has the deck up for pre-order right this very moment for $349.99 (okay, so maybe that's not a full $50, but c'mon), and better still, the retailer is listing an October 10th release date. Now that Netflix has inked deals with CBS, ABC and Starz, there's just one question left: are you in for three fifty?

[Thanks, Joshua]

Filed under: , , ,

LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck ships on October 10 for $349 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>availableBD300blu rayblu-rayblu-ray playerBlu-rayPlayerbluraycircuit cityCircuitCityhdinternetLGnetflixpre-orderrelease dateReleaseDateship dateShipDateThu, 02 Oct 2008 22:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Nikon D90 now up for order at Circuit City]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/26/nikon-d90-now-up-for-order-at-circuit-city/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/26/nikon-d90-now-up-for-order-at-circuit-city/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/26/nikon-d90-now-up-for-order-at-circuit-city/#comments
Nikon's still unofficial D90 DSLR may have been pulled from Target's website after making a brief appearance a few days ago, but it looks to be holding steady at Circuit City, where you can now get your pre-order in for the expected price of $1,299.99. As you can see above, the site is also listing the camera with a release date of September 5th, which is only a tad off the mark of some of our earlier tips. There's also no surprises with the specs, although the "real movie-like" video recording mode that piqued our interest yesterday is apparently now officially known simply as an "HD movie mode" -- a step backwards if you ask us.

[Thanks, Chris]

Update: Looks like the game is still afoot! Circuit City has pulled its page too.

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Nikon D90 now up for order at Circuit City originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit cityCircuitCityd90dslrnikonnikon d90NikonD90Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:42:00 EST<![CDATA[D90 outed by inventory screen at $1,300 asking price]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/d90-outed-by-inventory-screen-at-1-300-asking-price/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/d90-outed-by-inventory-screen-at-1-300-asking-price/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/d90-outed-by-inventory-screen-at-1-300-asking-price/#comments
As Photokina looms large, D90 rumors have been in abundance -- with a varying range of legitimacy. This here Circuit City inventory screenshot, however, has a ring of truth to it, and even unveils a pricetag in the process: $1299.99. Not bad for rumored specs that include a 12 megapixel Live View sensor, video recording, HDMI out and GPS. The price also includes that new 18-105mm VR lens, but there's no more info to be had at the moment. A little help, Nikon? We won't tell a soul, we swear.

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D90 outed by inventory screen at $1,300 asking price originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit cityCircuitCityd90dslrinventory screenInventoryScreennikonrumorMon, 11 Aug 2008 17:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy accounts for most Blu-ray purchases, but Amazon and Wal-mart are catching up]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/best-buy-accounts-for-most-blu-ray-purchases-but-amazon-and-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/best-buy-accounts-for-most-blu-ray-purchases-but-amazon-and-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/best-buy-accounts-for-most-blu-ray-purchases-but-amazon-and-wal/#commentsLooks like all those specials are paying off for Amazon and Wal-mart, as surveys done last fall and this spring indicate they're narrowing the gap with "leading Blu-ray shopping destination" Best Buy. No nifty percentage numbers this time, but according to VideoBusiness, Amazon's own findings indicate its share of the Blu-ray retail market is 3.5 times bigger than its DVD slice. That seems to jibe with NPD's finding placing it number two, followed by Wal-mart (benefiting from enhanced Blu-ray displays and sales of its own), then Target and Blockbuster, respectively, having overtaken Circuit City in the period from fall to spring. Is there anything other than deep discounts and BOGOs that decides where you buy Blu?

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Best Buy accounts for most Blu-ray purchases, but Amazon and Wal-mart are catching up originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbest buyBestBuyblockbusterblu rayblu-raybluraycircuit cityCircuitCityhdnpdtargetwal-martThu, 10 Jul 2008 10:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Blockbuster calls the Circuit City merger off, asks for class ring back]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/blockbuster-calls-the-circuit-city-merger-off-asks-for-class-ri/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/blockbuster-calls-the-circuit-city-merger-off-asks-for-class-ri/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/blockbuster-calls-the-circuit-city-merger-off-asks-for-class-ri/#comments
It looks like the potential lovefest that might have been the Blockbuster and Circuit City mashup has drifted away as quickly as it appeared. "Based on market conditions and the completion of our initial due diligence process, we have determined that it is not in the best interest of Blockbuster's shareholders to proceed with an acquisition of Circuit City," said Jim Keyes, head-pimp at B-Buster. We can't be sure what the result was with Circuit City shareholders or employees, but we're willing to bet it didn't look anything like that Best Buy rap video. One more time, after the break.

Continue reading Blockbuster calls the Circuit City merger off, asks for class ring back

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Blockbuster calls the Circuit City merger off, asks for class ring back originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blockbustercircuit cityCircuitCitymergerTue, 01 Jul 2008 22:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Retailers contest FCC fines on in-store analog-only signage]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/19/retailers-contest-fcc-fines-on-in-store-analog-only-signage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/19/retailers-contest-fcc-fines-on-in-store-analog-only-signage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/19/retailers-contest-fcc-fines-on-in-store-analog-only-signage/#commentsBest Buy, Circuit City fight FCC
To no one's surprise, retailers are putting up a fight against fines handed out by the FCC regarding point-of-sale notification that analog-only TVs will go black after the digital switchover. Circuit City was the first to lodge a complaint and Best Buy followed quickly afterwards. Among the retailers' complaints are: the required signage was never made available for comment, the acts were not "willful or repeated," and that the FCC has no jurisdiction over the sales. We've tried to use arguments similar to those first two on speeding tickets -- you guess the result. Whether or not the FCC has jurisdiction is the more interesting point; the commission justified imposition of its point-of-sale rules in part III-B of its "Second Report and Order." Our take is that this legal action is really just a not-so-friendly way to negotiate the fines down, and expect the retailer bandwagon to get crowded if this is successful.

Read - Circuit City challenges FCC fine
Read - Best Buy challenges FCC fine
Read - FCC "Second Report and Order" [PDF link]

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Retailers contest FCC fines on in-store analog-only signage originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 May 2008 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best BuyBestBuyCircuit CityCircuitCityFCCfinehdlegalswitchoverMon, 19 May 2008 05:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City looks for a suitor, Blockbuster likely to be it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/11/circuit-city-looks-for-a-suitor-blockbuster-likely-to-be-it/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/11/circuit-city-looks-for-a-suitor-blockbuster-likely-to-be-it/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/11/circuit-city-looks-for-a-suitor-blockbuster-likely-to-be-it/#comments
Oddly enough, the far-fetched proposal is apt to be accepted. Circuit City has reportedly solicited the services of Goldman Sachs to help "negotiate a deal," which will essentially put the troubled electronics retailer in the hands of someone else. As it stands, Blockbuster looks to be the most interested in picking up the pieces, with billionaire Carl Icahn (Blockbuster's largest shareholder) agreeing to finance the get-together. Of course, it looks as if Blockbuster may be the only outfit interested. Not like that's any surprise, however, as Best Buy itself is having to look to Europe to boost revenues with US consumer spending off from where it once was. The real question here is whether a Circuit City-Blockbuster combo would be the perfect concoction to turn things around for both flagging firms, or will we find that two sinking ships actually do go down faster when anchored to one another?

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Circuit City looks for a suitor, Blockbuster likely to be it originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 May 2008 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blockbusterbusinesscarl icahnCarlIcahncircuit cityCircuitCitydeadicahnindustryinvestorretailsalesalesSun, 11 May 2008 12:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City comes through after trashing man's Honda Civic]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/15/circuit-city-comes-through-after-trashing-mans-honda-civic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/15/circuit-city-comes-through-after-trashing-mans-honda-civic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/15/circuit-city-comes-through-after-trashing-mans-honda-civic/#comments
It may have given him the runaround at first, but it looks like Circuit City is now finally doing the right thing after totally trashing the Honda Civic owned by an 8thcivic.com forum user that goes by the name VTECnical. As you may recall, that damage, which totaled over $12,000 in all, was incurred after VTECnical had Circuit City install a Pioneer AVIC Z2 GPS unit and some other components he purchased at the store, all of which went horribly wrong and left the car unsafe to drive. Now according to Autoblog, however, it appears that not only has Circuit City's insurance provider come through with over $10,000 to cover repair costs, but Circuit City has paid out the remaining amount itself, and thrown in a brand new $2,000 Pioneer AVIC Z2 to boot. No word if VTECnical's going to have Circuit City install it or not though.

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Circuit City comes through after trashing man's Honda Civic originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit cityCircuitCityhonda civicHondaCivicpioneer avic z2PioneerAvicZ2Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Blockbuster offers to buy, um, Circuit City: digital downloads be damned!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/14/blockbuster-offers-to-buy-um-circuit-city-digital-downloads-b/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/14/blockbuster-offers-to-buy-um-circuit-city-digital-downloads-b/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/14/blockbuster-offers-to-buy-um-circuit-city-digital-downloads-b/#comments
Huh? Blockbuster just made public its February 17th offer to purchase Circuit City for $6 to $8 per share. As of this morning, Circuit city has not provided the requested due diligence necessary to move the deal forward. As such, Blockbuster is pulling a Microsoft and making the proposal public in hopes of inciting shareholders. They've even gone so far as to publish an open letter from Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes to Phil Schoonover, CEO of Circuit City. Really, is this how all corporate affairs will be conducted in the future guys? What really boggles the mind though is Blockbuster's quest for even more brick-and-mortar as digital downloads begin to take off. Hit the read link for the full contents of the letter.

[Via I4U]

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Blockbuster offers to buy, um, Circuit City: digital downloads be damned! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huh? Blockbuster just made public its February 17th offer to purchase Circuit City for $6 to $8 per share. As of this morning, Circuit city has not provided the requested due diligence necessary to move the deal forward. As such, Blockbuster is pulling a Microsoft and making the proposal public in hopes of inciting shareholders. They've even gone so far as to publish an open letter from Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes to Phil Schoonover, CEO of Circuit City. Really, is this how all corporate affairs will be conducted in the future guys? What really boggles the mind though is Blockbuster's quest for even more brick-and-mortar as digital downloads begin to take off. Hit the read link for the full contents of the letter.

[Via I4U]

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Blockbuster offers to buy, um, Circuit City: digital downloads be damned! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionblockbustercircuit cityCircuitCityhostile takeoverHostileTakeoverportable videoportablevideotakeoverMon, 14 Apr 2008 06:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Man left with $12k in damages after Circuit City GPS install gone wrong]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/31/man-left-with-12k-in-damages-after-circuit-city-gps-install-gon/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/31/man-left-with-12k-in-damages-after-circuit-city-gps-install-gon/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/31/man-left-with-12k-in-damages-after-circuit-city-gps-install-gon/#comments
Installs gone wrong certainly aren't all that uncommon, but the tale told by one VTECnical of the 8thcivic.com forum is undoubtedly a cut above the rest, and could well have you reconsidering that suction cup option. As VTECnical tells it, he bought a Pioneer AVIC Z2 GPS unit and some other components from Circuit City last July for more $3,000 and decided to let their installers do the installation work for him -- apparently after he was told that it'd slide into his Honda Civic without any modifications.The problems then allegedly began when the installer whipped out a heat gun, which was purportedly intended to be used to mold a mounting guide for the GPS unit but instead wound up melting one of the Civic's heating ducts. As if that wasn't enough, the installer apparently also used tape to hold the GPS unit in place, installed the antennae on the inside of the car instead of the outside, and used a glue gun to install the speakers instead of bolting them in place. All told, that apparently not only resulted in over $12,000 worth of damages but, according to the estimate from a Honda dealership, left the car "unsafe to drive." For its part, Circuit City apparently did eventually remove the equipment and refunded the full $3,000+, but VTECnical is now left dealing with Circuity City's third party insurance company to recover the rest of the damages.

[Via Autoblog]

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Man left with $12k in damages after Circuit City GPS install gone wrong originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This day and age, consumers are a lot more willing to fork out thousands of dollars to bring home a swank HDTV than in years past, but that being said, price is still a primary concern even for those with deep pockets. According to new research from iSuppli, it found that over 63-percent of respondents making between $100,000 and $149,000 per year cited price as a "main determining factor when buying a TV." Curiously, it still found that 40-percent of buyers were heading to (generally overpriced) brick-and-mortar outlets in order to pick up their set (versus 23-percent buying at discount stores like Costco and 18-percent purchasing online). As an aside, the surveyors found that consumers saw Best Buy as having the best customer service (um, really?), while fledgling Circuit City was ranked even lower than Wal-Mart. Still, we maintain that B&M locales are great for scoping out which set you desire, but we'd certainly glance around online before paying a premium for getting it nearby.

[Via New York Times, image courtesy of StarTribune]

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Price still swaying decisions of HDTV buyers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buyBestBuybuyerscircuit cityCircuitCitycustomer serviceCustomerServicedatahdmoneypricepricingresearchretailstudyThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:19:00 EST<![CDATA[US economy hurting smaller LCD brands]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/us-economy-hurting-smaller-lcd-brands/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/us-economy-hurting-smaller-lcd-brands/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/us-economy-hurting-smaller-lcd-brands/#commentsUS economy hurting smaller LCD brandsWe've already heard about how the economic slowdown in the US may be hiking up your cable bills, and it stands to reason that gadget buying will feel a pinch as well as buyers tighten their belts. But like so many other things in business, it may be the "little guys" (in this case, smaller LCD brands) that get jammed up. Even though consumers will be looking favorably at value-oriented LCDs, there are murmurs that resellers are pushing out their payment terms from 2-months to 3-4-months. It's hard to argue that a change in payment terms like this will negatively affect smaller, more tightly-budgeted manufacturers. But, we'd also like to remind folks that in the specific case intimated in the article (Syntax-Brillian), there's also the whole issue of its ill-fated LCOS efforts. On a positive note, we suggest value-oriented manufacturers tout the money-saving that staying at home with a good TV can produce (cheaper and more enjoyable than going out).


[Via TGDaily]

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US economy hurting smaller LCD brands originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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