Engadget

WSJ: Walmart to offer in-store disc to digital UltraViolet service

Ben Drawbaugh — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:46:00 EST

Hollywood's latest digital ecosystem offers lots of promise, but in the five months since its release, it couldn't be further from delivering on it. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Walmart will finally make use of its membership to the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem by offering in-store disc to digital UltraViolet upgrade opportunities, for a small price of course. No doubt UltraViolet can use all the help it can get, but this is far from what we were hoping for when we learned Walmart would be in the mix -- we were hoping for the ability to buy and watch UltraViolet movies via Walmart's Vudu. Beyond our personal wishes, this no where near the big revelation that most consumers would actually find interesting: the release of the Common File Format which promises universal offline playback of our movie collection.

WSJ: Walmart to offer in-store disc to digital UltraViolet service originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vudu starts streaming movies to the iPad, chooses the web app route

Richard Lawler — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:46:00 EST

Now that Vudu has started streaming movies to PCs over the web, we're not surprised that starting today, it's moving to the iPad as well but what is surprising is the decision to stream over the web and forego a dedicated app. This approach lets the Wal-mart-owned (and fully integrated) video delivery company avoid the restrictions of Apple's app store and any additional fees, but unfortunately still means that like the PC, it's restricted to standard definition resolution and due to licensing issues is missing any flicks from Disney. The company plans to keep expanding onto other platforms like Android soon (if you must, the site does work on the iPhone right now but the UI isn't optimized for it yet) but it appears accessibility is replacing high quality HDX streaming as the service's most notable trait, for better or worse.

Continue reading Vudu starts streaming movies to the iPad, chooses the web app route

Vudu starts streaming movies to the iPad, chooses the web app route originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart to shutter its online music store, somewhere Steve Jobs is smiling

Michael Gorman — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:16:00 EST

It seems like only yesterday that Walmart was doing its best to beat Apple at the digital music game by delivering us DRM-free digital music. Alas, the inexorable might of iTunes has, at last, become too much to bear. According to Digital Music News, Wally World's MP3 store will shut its digital doors forever on August 28th. Chin up, Walmart, we won't be coming to you for the new Kanye jam (not that we ever would), but we'll still head on down when we're in need of damn near anything else.

Walmart to shutter its online music store, somewhere Steve Jobs is smiling originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp FX Plus for AT&T caught on Walmart brochure, shows off its Froyo side

Brad Molen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 06:30:00 EST

Just as paper adds fuel to a fire, so does an official Walmart brochure with images of new phones. The latest exclusive to come out of Wally World is the Sharp FX Plus (Google lawsuit, anyone?), an Android 2.2-powered follow-up to last year's blip on the AT&T radar. The photo confirms that this is indeed identical to the puzzling Sharp Android slider that appeared in fuzzy renders two months ago, only with an AT&T logo on the bottom to make it look all the more official. The brochure indicates the FX Plus will feature Froyo pre-installed (upgradeable to Gingerbread soon enough, we assume), a 3.2-inch display, and Audience's earSmart noise cancellation technology. It's unclear when we'll see it hit store shelves or how much it'll set us back; even if we knew, the phone isn't likely to deter a lot of keyboard lovers from getting something as desirable as the Samsung i927. At least AT&T's QWERTY Android lineup is filling out fast after a lengthy drought.

[Thanks, Billy]

Sharp FX Plus for AT&T caught on Walmart brochure, shows off its Froyo side originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart brings Vudu into the fold, still can't stream you tube socks

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:52:00 EST

Roughly 18 months after plunking down the cash for Vudu, Walmart has finally made the streaming media service an integrated part of its web store. Fans of digital video can now stop by the discount retailer's site and rent flicks for between $1 and $5.99 or purchase them $4.99 and up. The service compliments Walmart's sizable physical media library with over 20,000 titles that can be played directly from the website, as well as on Vudu-enabled devices like connected TVs, Blu-ray players, and steaming media boxes such as the Boxee Box. If you're a fan of companies tooting their own horn, check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Walmart brings Vudu into the fold, still can't stream you tube socks

Walmart brings Vudu into the fold, still can't stream you tube socks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart clearing off shelf space for $599 HP TouchPad?

Brian Heater — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:46:00 EST

Hey now, what's this? Looks like Walmart has made some space on its crowded shelves for the HP TouchPad. An eagle-eyed tipster sent in a shot from his local Wally World of a tag and some room just waiting to be filled up with the planet's first webOS slate. It's always possible that someone's just throwing out their latest Photoshop masterpiece, but the $599 mark certainly has an air of legitimacy (and matches what we saw, back in May). So why not swing by for a better look? And maybe pick up a few dozen iPhones while you're at it.

[Thanks, Mitch]

Walmart clearing off shelf space for $599 HP TouchPad? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP TouchPad available at OfficeMax on July 17th?

Amar Toor — Mon, 30 May 2011 09:31:00 EST

Here's something to add to your long list of webOS-related rumors: OfficeMax may be getting the HP TouchPad this July. If the above document is to be believed, HP's new 9.7-inch tablet will be available at the retailer on July 17th in both 3G and 4G versions -- which is a bit puzzling, considering the company hasn't made any mention of WiMAX or LTE compatibility. As for that earlier Walmart gossip, another tipster provided PreCentral with a screenshot of the big box's database (after the break), which corroborates the $600 price tag we've been hearing about for the 32GB model. If this proves true, it'll be another month before we find out whether the slate truly lives up to HP's exceedingly high expectations.

Update: We received a note from a reliable source inside Office Max that not all details in the above sheet are correct -- specifically the talk of 3G / 4G versions are a little unreliable, given the sheet currently lists a 4G version of the PlayBook that OfficeMax does not have. Our source expects the OfficeMax TouchPad to be WiFi-only, but at least that July 17th date is looking accurate.

Continue reading HP TouchPad available at OfficeMax on July 17th?

HP TouchPad available at OfficeMax on July 17th? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart and Vizio kick off Black Friday a few weeks early

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:08:00 EST

We don't know what's crazier, the fact that each year the Black Friday sales get started earlier and earlier, or the fact that LCDs are down right cheap these days. Seems like just yesterday that we paid $4000 for a 30-inch LCD TV -- still in service, although very wavy -- and this weekend you can pick up a Vizo 32-inch at Walmart for $298! But yeah, these days 32-inch is small so you might as well step up and get the 55-inch version for $898 (full list of models on sale after the break). Of course if you're persuaded by the mighty Kenny Powers, then you'll get a 2D Sony TV instead -- those not offended by profanity should search YouTube for powers vizio.

Continue reading Walmart and Vizio kick off Black Friday a few weeks early

Walmart and Vizio kick off Black Friday a few weeks early originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VUDU, Walmart and Disney join forces, add a free streaming copy to Toy Story 3 Blu-ray discs

Richard Lawler — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 01:01:00 EST

Walmart is showing how it might make use of VUDU after purchasing the 1080p movie streaming house earlier this year, now that the two have teamed up with Disney to throw in a free digital copy of Toy Story 3 with each one purchased at the store on DVD or Blu-ray. When the movie goes on sale today, customers will receive a download code they can use on their nearest VUDU player (now including Boxee on the Box, PC or Mac) to stream some Buzz and Woody at any time without a disc involved. Walmart and VUDU are quick to describe this mix of physical and digital access as the future of content, and we're thinking this type of promotion is about to become much more widespread since Amazon's already offered a similar deal with Disc+, and Best Buy purchased CinemaNow specifically for this type of offer. The only question now is if customers will start asking "which streaming service does this connect to?" before they run out to buy a new Blu-ray instead of simply looking for the lowest price or other promotional tie-in.

Continue reading VUDU, Walmart and Disney join forces, add a free streaming copy to Toy Story 3 Blu-ray discs

VUDU, Walmart and Disney join forces, add a free streaming copy to Toy Story 3 Blu-ray discs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart Family Mobile enters the postpaid war, reselling service from T-Mobile

Darren Murph — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:32:00 EST

Walmart's already firmly entrenched in the prepaid cellular business, offering handsets and service via Common Cents (Sprint) and Straight Talk (Verizon Wireless), but according to Greg Hall, vice president of merchandising at Walmart US, there's a "perception among customers that prepaid service doesn't offer access to the best phones or the best network quality." In order to combat that, the outfit will be launching a new postpaid service today dubbed Walmart Family Mobile. The actual fine print is somewhat confusing, as it offers the best of both the pre- and postpaid worlds; users will still pay their monthly bill at the end of the month, but no subsidization will take place on the phones themselves due to this being a no-contract ordeal. It'll cost $45 per month for unlimited calling and texting for the first line, and $25 per month for every extra line; unfortunately, data will be a pricey addition at $40 per month for 1GB... but at least that rolls over each month in case you don't use it all. Initially, Wally World will offer five handsets, with the flagship phone being Motorola's Cliq XT at $249. Frankly, we aren't too impressed at what's on offer here -- get unlimited data bundled with calling and texting for the same $45 / month, then we'll talk.

Update: Official PR is now after the break, and that's a September 20th launch date, so next Monday.

Update 2: So, Walmart's PR team contacted us to flesh out the data plan details that the AP sort of glossed over. Thankfully, the full skinny is far more attractive than what we were led to believe. In short, each line comes with 100MB of data (one-time); after you use that up, you've got a trio of prepaid 'WebPak' options to keep you going. $10 buys you an extra 200MB, $25 gets you 500MB and $40 gets you 1GB. Good stuff!

[Thanks, Ksadd]

Continue reading Walmart Family Mobile enters the postpaid war, reselling service from T-Mobile

Walmart Family Mobile enters the postpaid war, reselling service from T-Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart to add RFID tags to individual items, freak out privacy advocates

Darren Murph — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:23:00 EST

Walmart's been pushing RFID for years now, using it to better manage the company's vast inventories and understand where products are and how fast they're approaching. Now, the mega-retailer is about to take things to another level, and it just might push competitors into getting with the program. As of now, there's limited consumer-facing benefit to tracking pallets in transit, but a Wall Street Journal report suggests that Wally World will be placing radio-frequency ID tags on individual clothes. The initiative is slated to kick off next month, and it's expected to help apparel managers know when certain sizes and colors are depleted and need to be restocked. In theory, having this ability will ensure that consumers never see their desired size or hue as sold out, and if the clothing trial is successful, the tags could be rolled out to a near-infinite amount of kit. Of course, privacy advocates are all wound up about the idea, though it seems as if most sniffing concerns could be dealt with if the tags were removed as customers departed the store. Unless you're leaving in a hurry, that is...

Walmart to add RFID tags to individual items, freak out privacy advocates originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blio finally launching e-reading software soon, Walmart excited for some reason or another

Joanna Stern — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 07:40:00 EST

So yeah, we sort of forgot all about Blio and its e-reading software for laptops and smartphones, but it turns out the company has kept on truckin'. While it seems to have missed the February release of its software, famed inventor and founder of the company Ray Kurzweil told the New York Times that it will be more widely available over the next two months. He also went on to mention that "large PC" manufacturers along with retailers "like Walmart" will start offering it on their own products. Oh, Wally World, you say? Apparently, the mega-tailer wouldn't comment on the statement, but it certainly has us raising our eyebrows wondering about a Walmart e-reading product of sorts. Regardless, we're excited to see Blio finally making some waves after being fairly impressed with the features of the color reading experience when we saw it back at CES -- now, to see if those waves lead to action.

Blio finally launching e-reading software soon, Walmart excited for some reason or another originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart officially cuts iPhone 3GS to $97, potentially clearing out inventory for the iPhone 4?

Nilay Patel — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:58:00 EST

Well, this is intriguing: Walmart just officially announced that it'll be selling the 16GB iPhone 3GS for $97 starting Tuesday, a full $100 off the regular price. Given the high probability that Steve Jobs will introduce the thoroughly-leaked next-gen iPhone when he gives the WWDC 2010 keynote on June 7th, the price cut seems like either an attempt to clear out remaining inventory or a way to slide the 3GS down the line to replace the $99 8GB iPhone 3G -- a move which would corroborate some whispers we've heard today that the 3G is no longer being shipped to stores. Either way, the 3GS just got a lot cheaper, which is never a bad thing, but we'd still say potential iPhone owners should wait a couple weeks and see what's coming next.

[Thanks, Ryan]

Walmart officially cuts iPhone 3GS to $97, potentially clearing out inventory for the iPhone 4? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 May 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VUDU rolls in Facebook and Twitter integration

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST

If you thought the constant roll out of VUDU updates would end once Wal-mart took over the reins, think again -- and no, were not talking about how quickly the after dark content got pulled. The update this week will be of particular interest with those who love to flood their social feeds with their every movement, as now VUDU will update your Facebook or Twitter status with the your impressions of the movie you're watching. In addition your friends with VUDU will also be able to see those particular updates, but also join in on the fun by watching the same movie. A pretty neat way to promote and discover content, but we're not sure we'd want to follow anyone with such mundane updates and wonder if baking the social features in makes more sense, you know, the way Boxee does it.

VUDU rolls in Facebook and Twitter integration originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wal-Mart buying Vudu streaming movie service? (update: yes!)

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:12:00 EST

Wal-Mart often finds itself on these pages not only for its deals but for the fair amount of comedy its stores provide us, but this next item could be big. According to The New York Times, the company has indeed agreed to purchase Vudu -- giving it a leg up on digital distribution and helping to brace against a declining market for DVDs. Details are scarce, but apparently the two companies have been informing Hollywood studios and TV manufacturers about the plan all day -- so an official announcement can't be too far off. Let's just hope this goes a little better than the Wal-Mart MP3 sales have, eh?

Update: It's official, and the full press release is after the break. Walmart will be acquiring Vudu, and the deal is expected to close "within the next few weeks." We are told that Vudu will "continue developing entertainment and information delivery solutions such as Vudu Apps," but outside of that, few details (including a purchase price) are being made available.

Continue reading Wal-Mart buying Vudu streaming movie service? (update: yes!)

Wal-Mart buying Vudu streaming movie service? (update: yes!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart shopper takes a bat to 29 TVs, lobbies to join Braves' spring training squad

Darren Murph — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:26:00 EST

Look, we've all had rough days. Ones that we wish never even happened, in fact. But we've yet to be pushed to the brink where the only logical solution to blow off steam would be to take an aluminum baseball bat to nearly three dozen TVs that weren't ours. For whatever reason (the accused is pleading the Fifth), Westley Strellis waltzed into a Walmart just outside of Atlanta yesterday, where he proceeded to lift a bat from the sporting goods section and then demolish the screens of 29 televisions in the electronics department. Shortly after, he submitted to a pair of handcuffs and 29 counts of criminal damage to property in the second degree, and if the initial tallies are correct, he somehow managed to mar over $22,000 worth of goods. Chin up, Mr. Strellis -- maybe you'll end up in a cell next to this brainiac.

P.S. - Store footage of the rampage is after the break.

Continue reading Walmart shopper takes a bat to 29 TVs, lobbies to join Braves' spring training squad

Walmart shopper takes a bat to 29 TVs, lobbies to join Braves' spring training squad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Wal-Mart interested in buying Vudu?

Ben Drawbaugh — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:53:00 EST

It is no secret that we're big fans of Vudu's HDX streaming around here, in fact it is the only internet delivered HD we've ever enjoyed. At the same time we're not big fans of Wal-Mart because no matter how cheap the prices, we've had a number of issues with the level of service. So we're not exactly sure how we feel about the possibility that the two might be getting together. We really don't see the upside here either as Wal-Mart is so big, why would it want to buy Vudu. The only thing we can think of is that Vudu isn't sustainable on its own, so it needs a big brother to funnel money into it. So yeah, we don't really get this one, so hopefully it just remains a rumor.

Is Wal-Mart interested in buying Vudu? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint hooking up with Walmart for WiMAX buildout?

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:09:00 EST

Sprint's got a nice head start in the 4G race over Verizon and AT&T -- a message it's heavily broadcasting these days -- but with the onslaught of LTE networks and equipment around the world now just months away, momentum is unquestionably going to shift, giving the carrier every reason to act quickly to build out now and score as many subscribers as it possibly can. That seems to be the gist of a rumor coming out of AndroidGuys today that says Sprint is working on a deal with Walmart to install WiMAX cells on all (yes, all) of its locations, a move that would give it a significant boost in national coverage while presumably lowering infrastructure costs significantly. As many Walmarts as there are, it seems like this would still leave huge coverage gaps (particularly in rural areas) between locations, but hey -- maybe these guys are going for the parking lot RV crowd, which would actually make a ton of sense. Best part? You'd probably be able to buy the modem right in the store.

Sprint hooking up with Walmart for WiMAX buildout? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pixi arrives early for the people of Walmart

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:21:00 EST

Brush back that mullet and adjust your ill-fitting halter tops folks 'cause Palm's newest webOS device has been spotted at Walmart. This pair of Pixi lovelies was ogled overnight inside one of Sam Walton's finest Tennessee locations reportedly sporting a $400 price tag and little else -- it wasn't in Walmart's system so it wasn't yet available for purchase. Something that should be rectified in time for Sunday's official launch with Sprint ($100 on contract) if not sooner.

Filed under: Handsets, Palm, Sprint, EV-DO, CDMA, webOS

Palm Pixi arrives early for the people of Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pixi arrives early for the people of Walmart

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:21:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Pixi arrives early for the people of Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart offering $100 gift card with any BlackBerry purchase (but only next week)

Darren Murph — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:42:00 EST

We're onto you, Wally World. Granted, you already confessed that you'd be dishing out a deal a week until sometime in the future, but hey, we'll feign surprise without thinking twice. Next week's bargain is a good one for those in the market for one of RIM's handsets, as Walmart shoppers will be given a $100 gift card (to Walmart, obviously) if they purchase practically any BlackBerry phone on a 2-year contract from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless. The offer begins at 8AM local time this Saturday and runs through November 20th, and if you're looking to see exactly which handsets are included in the deal, have a look past the break.

Continue reading Walmart offering $100 gift card with any BlackBerry purchase (but only next week)

Filed under: Handsets, RIM

Walmart offering $100 gift card with any BlackBerry purchase (but only next week) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart offering $100 gift card with any BlackBerry purchase (but only next week)

Darren Murph — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:42:00 EST

Continue reading Walmart offering $100 gift card with any BlackBerry purchase (but only next week)

Filed under: Cellphones

Walmart offering $100 gift card with any BlackBerry purchase (but only next week) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked Walmart ad reveals Xbox 360 Arcade with $100 gift card, $300 HP G60 laptop

Ross Miller — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:29:00 EST

It's not quite a $99 Xbox 360, but if this apparent Walmart scan via Kotaku is to be believed, that $199 Arcade version is getting a $100 gift card promotion going into effect this Saturday. In real terms, that boils down to a $234 Xbox 360 Pro for first-time buyers, seeing as you'll be needing that $135, 120GB hard drive, too. Also listed are a Sony Blu-ray player for $148 (we're guessing the currently-MSRP'd $199 BDP-S360), and a $298 HP G60-519WM, which touts a 2.2GHz Intel Celeron, 15.6-inch HD display, Windows 7 Home Premium, 3GB RAM, and a 250GB HDD -- not a bad followup at all for that Compaq CQ60. Some interesting spy shots from the Slick Deals forum seem to give credence to the scan, although we're still playing wait-and-see -- that $100 gift card with the Xbox 360 arcade is almost too good to be true, even if it is just a clever tactic to clear shelf space in the lead-up to Black Friday.

Update: Sure as the sun, an official ad has popped up on Yahoo's front page. Screenshot after the break.

[Thanks, just4onepost]

Continue reading Leaked Walmart ad reveals Xbox 360 Arcade with $100 gift card, $300 HP G60 laptop

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

Leaked Walmart ad reveals Xbox 360 Arcade with $100 gift card, $300 HP G60 laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart to rival Best Buy's Geek Squad with own in-home install crew

Darren Murph — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:07:00 EST

We've never truly been at ease with that Geek Squad crowd. Something about "the people" they hang with and "the places" they hang at just worries us, so we're pretty thrilled to see another mega-corp stepping in to take the place of the now-deceased Circuit City FireDog crew. Starting sometime before the holiday season, Wally World will be partnering with N.E.W. Customer Service Companies in order to offer in-home installation to customers buying anything from a wireless router to a HTIB. The service plans will be sold on prepaid cards ranging from $99 to $399 in value, and each install includes a "preliminary consultation and a tutorial after installation is completed." Granted, it may be a bit tough to get the dude looking to spend $5 on a new plasma to spring for such a service, but hey, it's not like competition is a bad thing.

[Via Hot Hardware]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless, Networking

Walmart to rival Best Buy's Geek Squad with own in-home install crew originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Where do you buy your Blu-ray discs now, if you buy them at all?

Richard Lawler — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST

With Blu-ray disc adoption continuing to grow, we're wondering if your buying habits have changed. Last year Amazon ran away with the results, but it's 2009 now, Wal-mart has expanded its focus on Blu-ray (even nabbing the exclusive on TDK-style IMAX scenes for the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen release next week), Circuit City no longer exists and that weird guy in the white panel van even has a much better selection than he used to. So, where are you buying Blu-ray movies?

View Poll

Filed under: Polls, Blu-ray

Poll: Where do you buy your Blu-ray discs now, if you buy them at all? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No-contract $30 / $45 Straight Talk wireless plans storm Walmart

Darren Murph — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:16:00 EST

Remember when TracFone horrified the world with its Straight Talk phone selection back in July? Clearly the suits in Bentonville weren't so scared, as now Walmart is latching on to that very plan and claiming it as its own. In over 3,200 of the outfit's retail stores across America, consumers will be able to snag an admittedly pathetic cellie and a rather decent calling plan for just $30 a month. Three Hamiltons gets you 1,000 voice minutes, 1,000 texts and 30MB of mobile web access, not to mention nationwide coverage and free 411 calls. If that's not quite enough, a $45 per month option provides unlimited everything (voice / SMS / mobile web). Of course, the price of using an antediluvian LG 220, LG Slider 290 or Samsung 451 can't be measured in mere dollars, but hey, humiliation's only temporary -- right?

Gallery: No-contract $30 / $45 Straight Talk wireless plans storm Walmart

Filed under: Handsets, LG, MVNOs

No-contract $30 / $45 Straight Talk wireless plans storm Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No-contract $30 / $45 Straight Talk wireless plans storm Walmart

Darren Murph — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:16:00 EST

Gallery: No-contract $30 / $45 Straight Talk wireless plans storm Walmart

Filed under: Cellphones

No-contract $30 / $45 Straight Talk wireless plans storm Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wal-Mart cutting back DVD and Blu-ray display area

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:53:00 EST

Looks like the nation's biggest retailer is figuring out that DVDs and Blu-ray Discs don't bring in the number of customers that they used to. Honestly this is pretty much what we'd expect as more and more consumers are renting from Netflix and Redbox and when they do decide to buy instead of rent, they know that Amazon is hard to beat. So all of that combined with the streaming competition, it makes sense to reassign the valuable shelf space to something a little more profitable.

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray

Wal-Mart cutting back DVD and Blu-ray display area originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pre drops to $79.99 at Walmart

Joshua Topolsky — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:09:00 EST

Hey, thought that $99.99 Amazon deal for a Palm Pre was really snazzy? Well today, Walmart appears to go one better by cutting the smartphone's price down to a staggering $79.99 (on contract and with mail-in rebate). If prices keep going this low, you can probably expect the Pixi to show up for about nothing (zero, zip, zilch) sooner rather than later. If you've been looking for a deal to get into the Pre, this is it... but too bad if you dropped $200 a few months ago.

[Via everythingpre]

Filed under: Handsets

Pre drops to $79.99 at Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pre drops to $79.99 at Walmart

Joshua Topolsky — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:09:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Pre drops to $79.99 at Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart recalls 1.5 million flammable Durabrand DVD players

Vlad Savov — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:37:00 EST

Remember those amazingly cheap doovde players Walmart was so proud of a couple years back? Well, they ain't so amazing anymore, unless that's what you'd call a device capable of spontaneously bursting into flames. Sold between January 2006 and July 2009 exclusively at Walmart stores in the US and ASDA supermarkets in the UK, the explosive Durabrand units are being called back due to 12 reported instances of overheating, including five that caused fires. You have to love the irony of skimping on a doovde player purchase, only to pay for it later with "enhanced" insurance premiums. We reached out to Walmart for comment, but they didn't know what a doovde was. Nevertheless, we captured the conversation after the break.

Update: While we haven't yet got clear confirmation that ASDA is following suit, we'd be very surprised to not see the product pulled and returns honored in the UK in the same fashion as in the US.

[Via CNN Money; Thanks, Keith]

Continue reading Walmart recalls 1.5 million flammable Durabrand DVD players

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Video

Walmart recalls 1.5 million flammable Durabrand DVD players originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple sells 25% of music in the US, none of which is AC/DC

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:13:00 EST

According to the number crunchers at NPD Group, the trend that came to a head last year when Apple beat out Wal-Mart for the title of largest Stateside music retailer is continuing apace. That's right -- one in four songs sold in America is sold on iTunes, while Wal-Mart (including CD sales through retail stores, sales through their website, and Wal-Mart Music Downloads) holds the number two position at 14 percent. And number three, if you're morbidly curious, is Best Buy. In addition, 69% of all digital music sold in the US comes from the iTunes store, with Amazon ranking second at 8 percent. When talking formats, the CD remains the most popular at 65 percent, but as some dude named Russ Crupnick (NPD's vice president of entertainment industry analysis) notes, "with digital music sales growing at 15 to 20 percent, and CDs falling by an equal proportion, digital music sales will nearly equal CD sales by the end of 2010." Which can only be a good thing, if it means that we'll never have to step into a Wal-Mart again. Sales of ringtones and sales to consumers under 13 were not tabulated, which means the data may incorrectly skew away from purchases of The Wiggles' Go Bananas! and that Crazy Frog song.

[Via TUAW]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Apple sells 25% of music in the US, none of which is AC/DC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't let retailer's lights distract you from buying the right HDTV

Richard Lawler — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:01:00 EST

In case you hadn't already learned your lesson and started checking behind the displays while HDTV shopping, the HD Guru points out another element of the in-store experience that throws off buyers (and likely contributes to the LCD vs. plasma choices we find so infuriating): lighting. In case you don't recall from your last trek to a big box superstore, the lighting is quite often stuck on blinding making it nearly impossible to discern any difference in picture quality between televisions, specifically in terms of contrast and black levels (the pictures above are of the same value priced display, at left, under normal home lighting, at right, how it looks under some store lighting setups.) Tested with an illuminance meter, all the stores (except Best Buy's Magnolia showrooms) averaged well above home ambient lighting levels, with Wal-Mart and Costco measuring the highest at 411.66 and 742.77 lux. Still, there's tips on how to get a good idea of a TV's black levels even under those circumstances, plus some choice words left over for the incredible (and useless) dynamic contrast ratio numbers every manufacturer trots out these days, so go ahead and get educated.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Don't let retailer's lights distract you from buying the right HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't let retailer's lights distract you from buying the right HDTV

Richard Lawler — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Displays, LCD, Plasma

Don't let retailer's lights distract you from buying the right HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray player freed from superstore confines, unboxed on video

Richard Lawler — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:44:00 EST

We'd heard VIZIO's VBR100 BD-Live ready (& timed Wal-mart exclusive) Blu-ray player would be making an appearance this month, and our friends over at FormatWarCentral have not only spotted the rare bird in the wild, but brought one home and performed a video unboxing for all to experience. Be prepared for bad news like a lack of high definition cables included in the $178 package, though coax and optical audio outputs plus the too often-forgotten rear mounted USB port are welcome bonuses. Still avoiding the potential trampling issue at Wal-mart? Other stores should have a similar VBR110 model soon, check the video beyond the link or embedded after the break and imagine the packaging splayed about your own living room.

Continue reading VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray player freed from superstore confines, unboxed on video

Filed under: Home Entertainment

VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray player freed from superstore confines, unboxed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray player freed from superstore confines, unboxed on video

Richard Lawler — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:44:00 EST

Continue reading VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray player freed from superstore confines, unboxed on video

Filed under: Blu-ray, Players, Others

VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray player freed from superstore confines, unboxed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Compaq's $300 laptop reviewed, makes strong case to bypass netbook

Ross Miller — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:35:00 EST

For all intents and purposes, HP's Compaq Presario CQ60 is a pretty unremarkable laptop -- but slap a $300 price tag on it like Walmart has done, a price comparable to most netbooks on the market, and that reframes the entire conversation. Computer Shopper has gotten some hands-on time with the machine, and while not spectacular, it seems to outperform Intel Atom-based machines. You're still not gonna be able to do much more than check your email and browse the web, though, and the tradeoff for having a 15.6-inch display and DVD burner is a bulkier, less travel-friendly form factor. Still, this seems to do an apt job at filling in that gap between netbook and laptop, and we're sure someone out there will appreciate or feeling nostalgic over that modem jack.

Filed under: Laptops

HP Compaq's $300 laptop reviewed, makes strong case to bypass netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wal-mart rolls back cheap Blu-ray player price to $98

Richard Lawler — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:18:00 EST

Like Blu-ray but hate spending lots of money? The guys at FormatWarCentral spotted the Magnavox NB530MGX Blu-ray player cold lampin' on the shelf of a local Wal-mart now permanently rolled back from $168 to a mere $98. as usual, you'll pass up the newest, fastest, internet-connected-est features of high end Blu-ray players, but for less than a hundred it's hard to complain. We know many probably missed out on the Meijer deal last month, anyone planning on picking this one up for a second -- or first -- Blu-ray player? We'll see how long Sony avoids the "battle to the bottom" now.

Filed under: Misc, Blu-ray, Players

Wal-mart rolls back cheap Blu-ray player price to $98 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony to leave the "battle to the bottom" of Blu-ray player prices alone, for 2009 at least

Richard Lawler — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:12:00 EST

Just in case you were wondering whether Sony would get down and dirty with the low-priced rabble this year, word from its community blog is the company predictably held its premium brand mantle high, proclaiming during a recent industry analyst meeting that it wouldn't be launching a value-priced Blu-ray player. Still, after turning around and selling TVs bearing its name at Wal-mart of all places, we would be surprised to see Sony flip on this policy and offer price-conscious shoppers a Vizio alternative sooner rather than later.

Filed under: Blu-ray, Sony

Sony to leave the "battle to the bottom" of Blu-ray player prices alone, for 2009 at least originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vizio's VBR100 Blu-ray player is a $188 Wal-mart exclusive next month

Richard Lawler — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:12:00 EST

We still don't know what it looks like, but during its line show, Vizio let slip that the sub-$200 VBR100 Blu-ray player announced at CES is now scheduled to come to Wal-mart only in July. For $188 (just not that cheap anymore) Wal-mart shoppers can expect a BD-Live ready (with optional 1GB+ USB thumbdrive attached) player, though no details on codec or output support. Don't shop at Wal-mart for philosophical reasons, quality concerns or fear of being trampled during an early Black Friday rush? A similar VBR110 model should follow, coming to other retailers around November/December, just in time to match with that brand new WiFi connected Netflix / Amazon / Twitter etc. widget packing LCD.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Vizio's VBR100 Blu-ray player is a $188 Wal-mart exclusive next month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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