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Amazon offering $50 credit to HD DVD adopters
Amazon is joining the ranks of a few other retailers in offering a consolation prize to those who purchased an HD DVD player. Engadget HD has a letter from Amazon stating that customers who purchased an HD DVD player (including the Xbox 360 drive) prior to Feb. 23, 2008 are entitled to a $50 store credit. If you purchased an HD DVD player from Amazon be sure to check your email. While we're on the subject, don't forget to grab that spiffy new update available for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player.
Amazon offering $50 to HD DVD owners
Not one to be outdone by the likes of Best Buy, Amazon is now offering a $50 credit to anyone who purchased an HD DVD player from the website before February 23, 2008. Strangely enough, the credit can be redeemed for up to 10 players by any one customer. Why in the world anyone would buy 10 HD DVD players, we'll never know. Also, there are a few restrictions on the deal. The credit can't be used on "special-order titles, e-books or downloadable e-content, wireless service plans, gift certificates, gift-wrap, taxes, or shipping and handling charges." Still, it's not a bad offer and it's hard to argue with free money.Find a copy of the email being distributed by Amazon after the break.[Thanks, zlionsfan. Via Engadget]
Amazon offers $50 credit for those who purchased a HD DVD player
Following the crowd, Amazon has decided to fire off emails to folks who purchased a HD DVD player from it before February 23, 2008 in order to bestow upon them a $50 credit for their trouble. Granted, it's not as good as cash per se, but at least you get to keep your perfectly functional HD DVD player / DVD upconverter, right? Oh, and before you start having a panic attack after seeing that "must use before April 9th" phrase, you may want to inspect the year a little closer (hint: you've got a full year to use the voucher). Check the email in full after the jump.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Just for laughs: Xbox HD DVD player gets update
Major Nelson has informed the populace that the next time one of the surviving members of the defeated HD DVD army watch a movie they'll be prompted with an auto update. No, the update will not magically convert the dead format into a Blu-ray player, sorry.Instead, the update will add "compatibility improvements with certain titles" and "additional support for network features." Xbox 360 owners without Live can download the update through Xbox.com later this week.
Microsoft rolls out 360 HD DVD player update
Even though HD DVD died a slow and painful death, Microsoft is still showing current Xbox 360 HD DVD player owners ongoing love with the release of today's auto update. Once connected to Xbox Live with a HD DVD player firmly integrated into your 360, you'll be prompted to download a new update that's said to help with compatibility issues with some titles and will add additional support for network features. Even though this update won't resurrect Toshiba's commitment to HD DVD, it should make your HD movie experience a tad bit more enjoyable.
Microsoft releases one more Xbox 360 HD DVD player update
Microsoft is releasing one more update for owners of the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive (all 269,000 of you, give or take a few), promising "additional support for network features" and compatibility improvements with certain titles, although which ones aren't mentioned. It's good to see they haven't left these issues to simply whither on the dying vine of HD DVD, but unless an alternate ending to the format war is tucked into those network features we don't see this making things all better anytime soon. Expect a prompt the next time you watch an HD DVD while online, and remember the good times we had.
HD VMD clears up European Union, spring break related rumors
Alleviating worries that mere format war irrelevance had gotten our friends in the VMD camp down, a statement was issued today regarding stories "emerging" on the internets alleging EU officials had confiscated money from Microsoft and/or Sony, and given to NME to subsidize its fledgling red laser HD disc (Hadn't heard about it? Neither did we.) NME, the backers of HD VMD, would like everyone to know that not only is that completely false, it also did not have sex with Brad at Cabo San Lucas, as had been reported. With that rumor smashed we can go back to eagerly anticipating our pre-ordered Lazy Town HD VMDs, just 499,999 more to go!
Wal-mart offers up HD DVD returns
More good news for those left on the short end of the format war, Wal-Mart has quietly decided to offer refunds for anyone who purchased their HD DVD player between November 1, 2007 and now. You won't need the box it came in, but the receipt will be necessary, and get moving because this offer is only open until the 30th. A $50 gift card just 'cause this isn't, but for those looking to erase a red moment in their lives, Wal-mart's doors are open.[Thanks, Tavaris]Read - Wall Street JournalRead - Slickdeals.net
Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending March 30th, 2008
Here we are two weeks into the new Nielsen VideoScan charts courtesy of Home Media Magazine, and Blu-ray has managed to increase its share from 6 to 8 percent. This was mostly due to the super hot I Am Legend that has for the second week in a row dominated both the High-Def Sellers list and the DVD charts. The big missing title for Blu-ray this week was The Mist from the once Red exclusive studio Weinstein. So while Weinstein has been quiet about its HD plans, this new release takes the number two spot on the DVD charts. This is one of the eight titles that made the DVD top 20 list, but isn't available in HD. Meanwhile, half the titles that made the HD list are older titles, so no doubt promotional sales are making the difference here. HD DVD didn't make the list at all, but did manage to regain some market share overall -- but not much. We'd be very surprised to see that become a trend as the format is officially out of exclusive new releases. At the same time, we'd be surprised if Blu-ray was able to keep its 8 percent share next week considering the lineup, but sometimes catalog titles sell so well, Blu may prove us wrong.
Niveus Movie Library (Beta) now available for download
Remember that Niveus Movie Library we got a chance to check out in-person at EHX? Yep, it's finally ready to break away from the show floor and into your home. Starting today, any user piddling around on Niveus Media Center Vista can test out the Beta version of the software. Put simply, the application is a "movie management tool that aggregates an entire movie collection into one distinct and intelligent interface," and better still, it'll play nice with material from nearly anywhere. Click on the read link [Warning: PDF] for the full release, check out the images below and get your download on if you're so brave. %Gallery-19674%
April Fools' Alert #10: Wii Sports on iPhone and utter obsolescence
ThinkGeek is certainly on a roll today with the April Fools hijinks. Not only do we have Super Pii Pii Brothers (and its bizarre peripheral), but now we have Wii Sports on the iPhone, as well as a conduit for shuffling between dead video formats.The Wii Sports on iPhone gag is nothing more than an unclickable banner ad, making us wish the joke was taken a bit further. The Betamax to HD-DVD converter, on the other hand, is quite the stroke of genius. The idea alone is brilliant, made even more so by the "promotional" video, viewable after the break.
Best Buy Canada offers 'free' 360 HD DVD players
There's an "interesting" deal up north for our Canadian friends who are still (for reasons we don't understand) interested in owning an Xbox 360 HD DVD player. From now through May 2nd, Best Buy Canada is being generous by offering a free $50 gift card to anyone who brings in a receipt proving that they have purchased a HD DVD player after January 1, 2007. And wouldn't you know some Best Buy's in Canada still have a few Xbox 360 HD DVD players laying around for $50. You see what we're saying? The "free" offer? That's right, you can grab a new 360 HD DVD player for $50 AND get a $50 gift card in the process, thus making your purchase technically free. Yes, your mileage will vary as our tipster xenocidic had to try two locations to get Best Buy to pony up a gift card, but it's worth a try if you're feeling some nostalgic HD DVD love.[Via xenocidic]
Okoro's OMS-ZX100 Media PC does Blu-ray, HD DVD and SSD
Okoro Media Systems has been offering up well-spec'd HTPCs for quite some time, but it has finally seen fit to jump on the flash-based storage bandwagon. The firm's new ZX series of Extreme Digital Entertainment Systems gets going with the OMS-ZX100, which comes standard with a 32GB SSD (for the OS and such) and a 1TB HDD for media storage. Moreover, you'll find a 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6850 processor, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, NVIDIA's 256MB GeForce 8600 GT graphics card, Blu-ray / HD DVD playback and your choice of "any automotive color" on the chassis. 'Tis a shame it costs $5,995 to even join the ZX100 club, but look to spend even more if you're hankering for a built-in CableCARD tuner and WiFi adapter.
Ken Graffeo leaving HD marketing role at Universal, still sticking around the studio
Ken Graffeo, who formerly served as executive VP of marketing before signing on as executive VP of HD strategic marketing at Universal, has decided to step down from a position that had essentially crumbled since the fall of HD DVD. Curiously enough, the bigwig noted that he wouldn't be taking on a similar role for the Blu-ray side, but did assert that he would be hanging around Universal Studios Home Entertainment. More specifically, he was quoted as saying that he would be "looking at what [his] different options are and what [his] next moves would be," which -- to be fair -- is about as canned of a response as one could hope for. Somehow, we get the feeling Ken will be quite alright, though.[Via FormatWarCentral, image courtesy of FutureNet]
HD DVD Promotion Group officially dissolves in a high-res burst of tears
Well, it's no surprise that it was going to happen, but the HD DVD Promotion Group officially dissolved today, leaving behind nothing but this terse message directing us to individual "selling agencies." And so, with literally nothing left of HD DVD, we formally close the sad chapter of consumer electronics history known as the HD Format War, remembering those times when HD DVD rode high, with low prices, more features and less restrictive rights management as its rallying cries, and the rantings of Michael Bay still only the delusional fantasies of a fool. May the resistance live on, and our PS3s always be reminded of a time when their ascension was not guaranteed. Red's dead, baby.
Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending March 23rd, 2008
Many of you asked for it, and this week you got it, thanks to Home Media Magazine's Nielsen VideoScan numbers, we now know how the favorite HD home movie format compares to the reigning home media champion. Sure, 6 percent isn't that much, but it's more than most people thought it was, but to be fair it is only taking into account the top 20 BDs vs the top 20 DVDs. This is an interesting way to compare the two formats as seven out of the top 20 -- three in the top 10 -- DVDs aren't available on Blu-ray, but DVD has many more releases than Blu-ray, so while the angle is obviously in Blu-ray's favor, it'll become even more true, as more Blu-ray titles are released day-and-date with DVDs. Looking back at our old fight, HD DVD's last exclusive is now done and gone and as expected, HD DVD has its worst week ever, but with the recent events we only expect this to get worse, and wonder how long HMM will continue to compile results. The other indicator that it's officially over -- as if we needed another -- is the lack of a single HD DVD on the HDM top ten chart. Not even HD DVD's last exclusive could make the list, but Blu-ray's latest didn't have any problem killin' the competition as I Am Legend destroyed Disney's Enchanted by almost four to one. The other interesting thing about this week's chart is that most of the rest of the 10 ten is made up of oldies, which makes us want to know; where are all the sales?
HD DVDs vanishing from Best Buy stores
With a few HD DVDs still left to be released, you can go ahead and mark Best Buy off of your list of places to pick 'em up. According to swarms of e-mails from folks around the US, the retailer everyone loves to hate has decided to rid its stores of films on the red format. We've heard some reports that the discs are simply being shipped back to studios, but nevertheless, it seems that the 30-percent-off sale has reached an abrupt halt. Truthfully, we can only imagine that the other big box retailers will follow suit in short order, but it is somewhat interesting to see such a notable store purging its shelves before the format has zero titles on deck.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in][Image courtesy of Aaron S.]
Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics gets reviewed
You did remember that Joe Kane's Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics was launching today, didn't you? If not, we're here to remind you and pass along an in-depth review of the calibration disc while we're at it. The kind folks over at UltimateAVMag were able to grab hold of both the HD DVD and Blu-ray version of the disc, and put simply, it does everything you'd expect it to and possibly a bit more. Hailed as having "the most user-friendly set of test materials to date," reviewers had a difficult time finding any niggles within HD Basics. Interestingly, the HD DVD version was seen as "clearly superior, not only for its My Favorites function, but also for its speedier menu response, predictable display of text, 5.1 and 6.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtracks, and reliable performance with the 720p demo material." As for the BD flavor, the fact that bookmarking and Dolby TrueHD are "optional" on the format made it "difficult to author a robust disc for all players." Still, those hoping to make their display look its best will likely be thrilled with this one, but check out the full review in the read link below before cracking open that wallet.
Plextor's Blu-ray / HD DVD combo drives still on the way
Oh, how things have changed since Plextor originally announced its combo HD DVD / Blu-ray drives would ship in February. Probably due to the end of the format war, the PX-B920SA and PX-300SA slipped a bit but should hit store shelves by the end of this month. The cost of hanging on to HD DVD compatibility? The all-HD media playing, 4x BD-R / 2x BD-RE / 16x DVD±R burning PX-B920SA will cost $599, while the PX-B300SA (hold the BD-R/BD-RE, please, we're on a diet) is $499.
Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending March 16th, 2008
Our friends over at Home Media Magazine are serious about their holidays, and thus this week's Nielsen VideoScan numbers are a few days late. For the fifth week in a row though, the so called dead format has been able to hold off Blu enough to keep at least 20 percent of the market share, but what is different is that with the last of the big HD exclusives already said and done, Red doesn't have a title in the top five for the first time in a month. So while we'll have to wait and see how long the final two exclusives can hold a spot in the top ten, we can really see how much of an impact the Bee Movie could've had on the charts by looking at the DVD sales. At the same time as No Country for Old Men easily outsold any other title available in HD by 2:1, it was outsold by the Bee Movie on DVD by almost 12 percent. The other missing title this week is Disney's dog movie, which took the number four spot on the DVD charts, and is apparently too valuable for a Blu-ray release. What's really different about this week, is that for the first time -- that we can remember -- all seven top spots are new releases. We definitely don't expect to see that again, as I Am Legend is sure to top all the charts next week, we're not sure how well Enchanted will do, but we'd bet it'll do better than Atonement.
