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Best Buy shipping HTC One for T-Mobile starting April 19th, priced at $250
We knew good and well that HTC's One would be arriving on T-Mobile USA at some point, and for those uninterested in tying themselves to Sprint or AT&T, here's some news that matters: Best Buy has just confirmed to us that it'll begin shipping T-Mobile's flavor of the aforementioned phone on April 19th. The "Glacier Silver" kit will be on sale for as little at $249.99 on a two-year deal, whereas you'll be forced to pay $699.99 for the blessing of having no strings attached. Granted, T-Mob's Simple Choice suggests that no contracts will be involved, but if you take the bait on the subsidized price, you'll either be hanging with the carrier long enough to pay it off, or you'll be forking out the difference on the way to some other operator. Brad Molen contributed to this report.
Big box, online retailers slash iPad prices
Are you about to purchase an iPad? There's good news if you are -- Apple 2.0 is reporting that three large retailers have lowered prices on the iPad and iPad mini. Best Buy, Walmart and MacMall are all showing price cuts on the third-generation iPad and the iPad mini, possibly signaling that the retailers are beginning to clear inventory for new models of Apple's popular tablet. There are definitely some bargains to be found on the full-sized iPad. A 64 GB WiFi + Cellular third-generation iPad was selling for US$779.99 at Best Buy and is now showing a sale price of $545.99. A 64 GB Wi-Fi model was going for $649.99 and is now a bargain at $454.99. Remember, the third-generation iPad includes a Retina display... While Best Buy retained regular pricing on the iPad mini, Walmart has done a price rollback on the 16 GB Wi-Fi model, knocking the price back to $299. MacMall has dropped the price on a large variety of iPad mini models, with cuts from $10 to $29 depending on the storage capacity and connectivity.
Samsung partners with Best Buy to bring Experience Shops to 1,400 stores
Not content with a gazillion Galaxy phone sales, Samsung is hoping to continue winning the smartphone war in one of the biggest battlegrounds any manufacturer can face: retail. The Korean OEM has partnered with Best Buy to bring its Experience Shops to the big box retailer nationwide -- 1,400 of them by early summer (with 900 launching this month), to be precise. So what does Sammy hope to achieve? In addition to the standard shopping setup, the company wants to give customers the ability to actually use its products and get a first-hand feel of what they have to offer: phones, accessories, Smart TVs and tablets will be on display. Each shop will be manned by Samsung-employed consultants as well as specially trained Best Buy employees. This appears to be Samsung's way of offering a thorough retail experience without actually launching its very own stores across the country. It'll be interesting to see if it will be a more effective retail alternative to what companies like Apple and Microsoft have adopted, but Samsung sure seems quite optimistic about its chances. Find the press release below for the full experience. Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Daily Update for March 29, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Best Buy to provide Samsung mini-stores as Apple competition heats up
The battles between Apple and Samsung have been heating up for a while, and there is a new battleground for the two foes -- the aisles of Best Buy stores. Geek.com reported this morning that some high-traffic Best Buy stores have been given orders to remove two aisles next to the mobile section of their stores to make room for a Samsung "store within a store." At this time, Best Buy stores include an Apple mini-store where customers can browse and buy their favorite Apple products and accessories. The first wave of the Samsung mini-stores will be done in time for the release of the Galaxy S4 next month, but it's expected that the content and ubiquity of the stores will later in the year. By then, other Samsung phones and tablets will be added to the mix of products, and the mini-stores should be in every Best Buy. Like the Apple mini-stores, the Samsung stores will be manned by Best Buy employees specially trained to answer questions about the company's products and to assist customers in making purchasing decisions. Samsung has been opening its own "Samsung Experience Stores" in major cities around the globe to market its tablet, smartphone, PC and HDTV products, but the stores haven't achieved the success of Apple's retail outlets. While the Samsung mini-stores are sure to give their Apple counterparts a lot of competition, the move will definitely benefit Best Buy by furthering its reputation as the place to go for mobile technology.
Canon's unannounced $800 18MP EOS-b DSLR pops up on Best Buy's website for pre-order
It looks as though Canon will have a new DSLR to announce very shortly, if a listing on Best Buy's website is any indicator. The page offers us no images to ogle, but it betrays an unannounced 18-megapixel shooter dubbed the EOS-b, accompanied by an 18-55m lens kit and an $800 price tag. Canon Rumors notes a smaller footprint, trimming five ounces of fat and bulk off the T4i's measurements. The camera specs are identical to the T4i and EOS M, too, but an optical viewfinder and pop-up flash make us wonder if it isn't a pint-sized follow up to the T4i. You can look forward to a Digic 5 image processor, nine-point autofocus system, 3-inch 1.04K dot TFT-LCD touchscreen, four frames-per-second burst shooting, an ISO range from 100 to 12,800 with a high setting of 25,600 and HD video capture. There's no word on when this APS-C shooter will officially be announced, but you can try your luck at placing a pre-order by clicking the Best Buy source link.
Verizon BlackBerry Z10 launching March 28th, pre-orders begin March 14th
It was AT&T's turn earlier this week, and now it's Verizon's. Big Red has confirmed that its edition of the BlackBerry Z10 will be in stores on March 28th, just a week after it surfaces at its first major US carrier. Pricing will remain the same $200 on a contract, although Verizon has a decided edge for fans of variety: it'll have an American exclusive on the white model, albeit with conspicuous branding. Pre-orders start March 14th at both Verizon itself (starting from 8AM) and Best Buy, so those who've embraced Hubs and Peeks can commit to a Z10 very quickly.
Best Buy's anti-showrooming price match starts Sunday 3/3
You know you do it. Walk through any big-box retailer and look around at your fellow consumers, or at yourself in the mirror: now and again you're checking out a product in person, sizing it up and making a decision -- then jumping online with your iPhone to price (and probably buy) that same item online. The practice is called showrooming, and it's hitting traditional retailers right where it hurts. Although the showrooming trend is likely to hit housewares giant Bed Bath & Beyond the worst, says survey company Placed -- BB&B's products tend toward the bulky and infrequently purchased, but require "hands-on" shopping -- consumer electronics shops are also on the ropes. Best Buy's plan to combat showrooming is simple: if you see a price online from one of the electronics chain's storefront-free competitors, it gets matched on the spot. The new deal, announced in mid-February, goes into effect this Sunday, and Apple's online store is one of the matched sites. The Consumerist has the full list of matchable websites, and aside from Apple and Amazon there are plenty of heavy hitters: Newegg, Target, Amazon, TigerDirect, HP and Dell's sites are all among the price match contenders. Note that Best Buy will not match mobile phone plan pricing, refurb pricing or bundled offers. Of course, Best Buy is matching the pre-tax retail price; if you're in a state where Amazon doesn't charge sales tax, you're still going to come out ahead with the online deal -- except for shipping cost and having to wait to get your goodies. Does Best Buy's move make you more likely to shop, and buy, from Big Yellow? Or is it too late for the electronics retailer to clutch back your dollars? Let us know in the comments.
Best Buy announces fourth quarter net loss of $377 million, no rescue bid coming from founder
It's a hard time to be in the tech-retail sector, a fact that Best Buy knows all too well. The business has announced a fourth quarter net loss of $377 million on revenues of $16.7 billion. Incoming CEO Hubert Joly was upbeat despite the bad numbers, saying that the company's domestic sales helped offset its failures overseas. At the same time, Best Buy announced that founder Richard Schulze's attempted bid to buy back his company had failed, as the deadline for his offer expired at the end of February. As such, the company will now concentrate on turning a profit without any Apple store-style reinvention.
Leap Motion Controller starts shipping May 13th, hits Best Buy on the 19th
If you were still thinking that the Leap Motion Controller was going to turn into vaporware, it looks like you were wrong. Just less than a year after the company first made waves with its tiny gesture recognizing box, a finished product is getting ready to ship. Those that pre-ordered should receive their shipping notices starting May 13th. If you weren't willing to commit to the device before hand, you'll still be able to snatch one up at Best Buy on May 19th for $80. Or, if you're so inclined, you can continue to use your mouse to play Cut the Rope on your desktop... your choice we suppose.
Samsung Series 7 Chronos trickles into US stores
After whetting our appetite at CES, Samsung's updated Series 7 Chronos is slowly squeaking its way into US retailers. Spotted at Best Buy for $1,200, this 21mm dynamo packs a 2.4GHz Intel Core i7 3635QM CPU and an AMD Radeon HD 8870M GPU along with a 15.6-inch touchscreen. While this lean, mean, Windows 8 machine's streamlined design and spec sheet are impressive, such adornment comes at a price. Absent from the Chronos' fine engineering is room for an optical drive, so DVD and Blu-ray enthusiasts be warned. However, should this caveat not apply to you, then by all means you have our blessings to check out Sammy's new up-and-comer. [Thanks, Noah]
Best Buy to make online price-matching policy permanent
Best Buy started matching prices of online retailers in time for the holidays last year, and now it's set to make the practice permanent in an effort to cure its showroom syndrome and turn window-shopping visitors into paying customers. Come March 3rd, the policy will go into effect for the outfit's website, typical brick and mortar locations, Best Buy mobile shops and even phone orders. Officially dubbed the Low Price Guarantee, the plan will meet prices for all local competitors and a total of 19 online storefronts, including the likes of Amazon, Apple, Staples, NewEgg and Target. Also, the pricing arrangement has been expanded to additional products, but it still doesn't cover on-contract smartphones and other items. While customers might end up saving some coin with the new deal, they'll see the item return period drop from 30 days to 15. By the looks of it, company founder Richard Schulze might be getting his way with plans to save his struggling creation. [Image credit: Daniel Oines, Flickr]
Microsoft starts taking orders for 128GB Surface Pro, $999 gets one shipped on March 1st
Microsoft has been having troubles keeping the 128GB model Surface Pro tablet on virtual and actual store shelves, but it looks like the drought, as promised, is ending. The tablet's now up for pre-order on the Microsoft Store website with an estimated March 1st ship date. Best Buy will also be receiving shipments of the slate soon and is also willing to take your money now to reserve one. Alas, our friends north of the border in Canada are still without a 128GB Surface purchase option, but at least the folks at the Surface Blog have promised to provide more info on the matter sometime soon. Don't believe us? Head on down to the source and see for yourself. [Thanks, Jon]
Microsoft starts shipping Surface Pro again, says more coming to market 'quickly'
Microsoft's trying to address the recent shortfall of Surface Pro models, and has vowed via its Surface Pro blog to get more into the market "as quickly as we can." As such, it's begun dispatching 64GB SKUs to Best Buy, Staples and its own Microsoft Store in the US, with Canada to follow in a few days. 128GB SKUs will ship "later this week" to retailers, according to Redmond, "with some units available by the end of the week." All flavors of the tablet-cum-laptop disappeared from shelves shortly after they arrived in retail stores and online, both stateside and north of the border. The company said it'll fulfill orders for customers who made a reservation first, but that your local retailer "should have (stock) soon," too.
Microsoft sells out of 128GB Surface Pro models online and in some stores
If you were wondering how well the public would take to a Microsoft-made tablet costing $899 or more... quite well, at least from initial impressions. The 128GB Surface Pro has sold out at Microsoft's US online store, and checks suggest a lack of stock at both the company's retail stores as well as Best Buy and Staples. Canada is facing similar shortages at Best Buy and Future Shop. Not surprisingly, storage worries (since partly alleviated) have left the 64GB tablet as the only one in consistent supply, and we suspect that the 128GB model in Microsoft's Canadian store won't last for much longer. We'd be cautious before declaring the Surface Pro a runaway hit, however -- there's no word on how many units each store had, and Microsoft has refrained from reporting Surface sale numbers to date. Still, the early uptake is good news for Microsoft's first foray into designing an x86 PC, and it shows that many early adopters aren't hung up on the price.
OUYA will come to stores for $99 in June after Kickstarter, online pre-orders ship
Whether you missed out on the OUYA console's initial Kickstarter frenzy, (and still open pre-order window) or are just waiting around to see what kind of games are available on the Android box this spring, it should still be easy to find one very soon. The company has announced that it will be available at retailers including Amazon, GameStop, Target and Best Buy for $99.99 this June, with pre-orders opening up later today. CEO Julie Uhrman informed the Wall Street Journal's Digits blog that additional controllers would be priced at $49.99 alongside the consoles at its official launch in June, with a "large suite" of gaming titles. She declined to reveal the exact number of systems already ordered, but proudly pointed to the OUYA as a box that will inventive and creative content that has never before been seen on television.
Droid RAZR M 'blue steel edition' now available at Best Buy
What's black and white and pink all over? Well, not too long ago, the answer to that was the Droid RAZR M. As of today, however, Motorola's nearly bezel-less Jelly Bean handset will also be pretty in platinum. Available as a special edition for Best Buy, the Verizon-locked device has been given a steely makeover, but that's not to say the M's been scrubbed of all its flair. Turn the phone on its side and you'll note its hardware keys now pop with a blue hue. Apart from the cosmetic overhaul, not much else on the 4.3-inch device has changed. So, if you're still game for a solid Android mid-ranger, you can snag this freshly embellished phone for $50 on a two-year contract at the source below.
Super Bowl 2013 ads: Samsung, Best Buy, BlackBerry and... Zombies
So, catch the big game on the, er, internet? Or, if you took our advice and used more traditional hardware, you may have caught Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd trying to outdo each other to become Samsung's "Next Big Thing" promoters (only to be trumped by LeBron James), or a BlackBerry Z10 user turning a tanker truck into rubber duckies. Other tech ads included Best Buy's "Ask Amy" with Amy Poehler in full-on adorkable mode, Sony's cinematic PlayStation God of War teaser and a pair of skeevy / cleverish Godaddy ads. We also got a sneak peak at the trailers for Iron Man 3 and Zombie apocalypse / Brad Pitt starrer World War Z. Finally, Star Trek: Into Darkness launched another teaser, which notably featured the debut of the Apple Store's "AppStore.com" short link. All-in-all, pretty weak sauce compared to last year, in our opinion -- but you can decide for yourself after the break.
Best Buy cuts $200 off MacBook Air for two days only
If you're in the market for Apple's slimmest notebook, Best Buy has a rather enticing deal going on for January 25 and 26 only: $200 all models of the MacBook Air. All four 2012 models of the Air (11-inch and 13-inch with either 64GB of 128GB of storage) are now $200 cheaper, lowering the overall entry point to just $799 for a 64GB, 11-inch model. It's worth noting that Apple also has a full selection of refurbished MacBook Airs on offer, for between $150 and $180 off the regular retail price. But for now, you can score brand-new versions of the same notebooks for even cheaper through Best Buy. Christmas in January, anyone? [Via: CNET]
Office 2013, 365 listed as arriving January 29th at Canadian retailers
What is it with Canadian stores potentially spoiling launch plans? Fresh from revealing a white PS3 bundle on late notice, Best Buy Canada and its Future Shop sibling are both listing multiple entries for Microsoft's Office 2013 and Office 365 in downloadable and retail forms. We'll refrain from comments on pricing given possible cross-border markups, but all of the entries are shown arriving January 29th. Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything beyond its established first-quarter target, so take the date with the requisite grains of salt; any truth to the schedule, though, will leave just a short wait for productivity mavens.
