The Blu-ray Blog » Hardware News

Apple iPad misses the mark as HD-enabled living room tablet, media controller

Brenden — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:43:20 +0000

“Missed it by that much!” – Maxwell Smart, Get Smart

Huh. Yeah. That new Apple iPad is full of potential. I really want to want one but it feels like it’s just missing the mark by a hair. And that hair is going to keep this writer from buying. At least for now.

I’m not going to run down all the details of the iPad. I’m sure you’ve read an article or watched a newscast that’s covered the tablet in-depth. If not, watch Apple’s overview video above. That should do the trick.

…

You see? It’s not a smart-phone and it’s not a laptop. Apple claims it’s a whole new category of device. I get that. And I think the devices it’s directly competing with are the Amazon Kindle (a dedicated book reader) and the netbook (crippled, mini-laptops). But the iPad doesn’t offer the easy-on-the-eyes ePaper screen of the Kindle, making eye-strain a probable issue when reading ebooks. And it doesn’t have the ability to multi-task or the extensibility of a mini-laptop. The iPad only has one port and it’s not standard. If you want to plug anything into it, you’ll need a handful of adapters.

So, it’s not the best eBook reader and it’s not the best mobile workstation. At the end of the day, it just comes across as a big iPod Touch or iPhone, right?! Another window to consume media. Well, here’s where Apple missed the boat. They focused on functions that we see everyday on our phones, and functions that other, cheaper devices do better. They spent their keynote speech demonstrating the devices ability to read text and create spreadsheets. They should have shown us new things. Things that this device can do better than anything on the market. Like comic books. Like magazines. Any two-bit e-reader can handle text. There isn’t anything on the market at the moment that can allow a comic or magazine as printed to resonate with a reader in digital form. The iPad can do that. It can display full, large coloured pages as they were designed. As they were meant to be read. And I’m certain it will, through applications like ComicZeal, Comixology and iVerse.

But more exciting to me is the potential for this device to become something new in my home. Like, for instance, to become my media controller. I can envision myself sitting on the couch, leaning back with my iPad, scrolling through all my music, movies, TV, books, comics, magazines. The access is all there in my hands. But I imagine some of this content living on my Macbook Pro hard drive, on an external HD networked through my Airport Extreme or on another dedicated media device like Apple TV or PS3. I should be able to find a movie, no matter where it’s living in my house and click play on my iPad. And when I want to share it with others in the room, the iPad should be able to move the film to my 40″ LCD display, whether through a media centre like the Apple TV or directly through a wireless DLNA connection. All of these things are possible with the hardware built in to the iPad.

When I say that the iPad misses the mark, it’s really in relation to our expectations of the product. We were hoping for something revolutionary and transformative but were shown more of the same. Only bigger. In hardware terms, it fails to make the grade by not including a more universal port (like USB) and a webcam to video chat. I’m not sad that it doesn’t include a Blu-ray drive. I think it’s ridiculous to expect a thin, handheld device to contain a spinning optical drive. I got over carrying my discman around with me about fifteen years ago.

In terms of the software, the sky is the limit. Anything is possible. So, to my mind Apple really missed out on impressing its consumers and critics by failing to provide an example of the potential of the product, leaving it up to application developers to dream of new directions for the product. It could be so much more if Apple will only allow it to be. If they have the vision to take it there.

Will I buy an iPad this year? I’m still undecided. Do I hope it succeeds? Absolutely. I look forward to owning an iPad that proves itself to be more than my iPhone. And more comfortable on my lap and in my hands than my Macbook Pro. And if it manages to somehow become interoperable with my Blu-ray player so much the better!

[VIDEO] HD Nation Covers Blu-Con 2.0 – Martin Scorsese, Best Buy, Restoration

Brenden — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:22:05 +0000

If you’re not watching HD Nation, we can’t be friends. No seriously. Don’t even try to talk to me. Especially about Blu-ray or TVs or … well, just don’t even talk to me.

HD Nation is Patrick Norton and Robert Heron, both ex of Tech TV, hosting a new show every Tuesday about our favourite topic – High-Def stuff! And this episode is a particular delight! Shot during Blu-Con 2.0 a couple of weeks ago, the guys managed to nail down interviews with some pretty influential folk as well as getting some footage of Martin Scorsese‘s keynote Q&A. Check out this episode and then head on over to revision3.com/hdnation to watch more and subscribe!

Previously on The Blu-ray Blog: Blu-Con 2.0 – Blu-ray Conference News Round-up

Netflix Streaming Coming to Playstation 3 in the USA

Brenden — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:17:59 +0000

Microsoft can’t catch a break this week! First came the dashed hope of an Xbox 360 Blu-ray player accessory, now comes the news that their Netflix Streaming feature is no longer exclusive to their gaming console, despite the fact that they were touting it as such only a scant couple of months ago. Netflix and Sony have announced that we’re only a month away from seeing the streaming movie service debut on the PS3…only in the USA, of course. We Canadians are going to have to suck it up once again and wait for the priveldge of a no-doubt far inferior service to appear on our gaming consoles. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

Details of the Netflix/PS3 deal in the press release:

COMING SOON: NETFLIX MEMBERS CAN INSTANTLY WATCH MOVIES AND TV EPISODES STREAMED TO TVs VIA THE PLAYSTATION®3 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

With Movies Streamed Instantly from Netflix, Blu-ray/DVD Playback and Downloadable Videos via the PlayStation®Network, the PlayStation 3 System Offers The Industry’s Most Comprehensive Options for Watching Movies and TV Shows

FOSTER CITY and LOS GATOS, Calif., October 26, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] today announced that they are joining forces to make thousands of movies and TV episodes from Netflix available to be streamed instantly to TVs via the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. Netflix expects to begin streaming via the PS3 system next month at no additional cost to Netflix members in the United States who have a PS3 system.

Today’s announcement pairs two of the most popular and fastest growing home entertainment brands in the U.S. The PS3 system’s installed base has reached close to 9 million units in the United States, and Netflix recently reported 11.1 million U.S. subscribers as of September 30.

The partnership further solidifies the PS3 system as the most complete home entertainment hub on the market today, enabling consumers to play high-definition games, watch Blu-ray movies, listen to music, view photos, browse the Internet, and download content from PlayStation®Network − from exclusive games to blockbuster movies and popular TV shows. PS3 system owners will soon enjoy an unparalleled experience watching their favorite movies and TV shows streamed instantly from Netflix, downloading from the PlayStation Network or watching Blu-ray/DVD media. The Netflix offering expands on the entertainment experience delivered to PS3 system owners via PlayStation Network.

For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers via Netflix ready devices such as the PS3 system and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes.

“The PlayStation 3 system has always been about more than just gaming, and it will soon be the only platform in the industry to offer consumers such a variety of convenient options for enjoying movies and TV shows,” said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. “Whether you want to watch content on Blu-ray disc and DVD, download it from the PlayStation Network’s video delivery service, or stream videos instantly from Netflix, the PS3 system is the only solution that offers it all.”

“As instantly watching movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix becomes an increasingly popular way to enjoy the Netflix service, our goal is to rapidly expand the devices that stream to our members,” said Netflix CEO and co-founder Reed Hastings. “As a leading game console and Blu-ray disc player, bringing Netflix to the PS3 system is a real win for both Netflix members and PS3 system owners.”

Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members. The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live™ technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Netflix members simply slide the disc into their PS3 systems to reveal movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. These titles are conveniently organized into a variety of categories based on members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant Queues. Members can use the Netflix Web site or navigate directly on their PS3 systems to add movies and TV shows to their Queues. With the PS3 system’s Wireless Controller, members can choose a movie to watch from their instant Queues or just play directly from any of the lists. They also have the ability to read synopses and rate movies. In addition, they have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream via the Wireless Controller.
Netflix members and PS3 system owners can now reserve a free instant streaming disc for PS3 systems by going to www.netflix.com/ps3. Upon availability, the instant streaming disc will be delivered for free by first-class mail, generally one business day after members request it.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game consoles, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its digital services which include the PlayStation®Network and the PlayStation®Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one® game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, and the PlayStation 3 and PSP systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

About Netflix, Inc.
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world’s largest online movie rental service, with more than more than 11 million subscribers. For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes. There are never any due dates or late fees. Netflix members can exchange DVDs as often as they want using a postage-paid return envelope. Members can choose from a vast selection of DVD titles and a growing library of movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. Netflix is partnering with leaders in consumer electronics to bring to market a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly to members’ TVs. These devices currently include Blu-ray disc players and new Internet TVs from LG Electronics; Blu-ray disc players from Samsung and Best Buy’s Insignia brand; the Roku digital video player; Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console; TiVo digital video recorders; and, soon, the PS3 system and Internet TVs from Sony and VIZIO.

Previously on The Blu-ray Blog: Netflix Streaming Comes to Samsung Blu-ray

No Blu-ray Drive for XBox 360, despite what Microsoft CEO says

Brenden — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:16:13 +0000

Did you see this video? This interview with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer? He appears to be saying that you Xbox 360 owners are going to be getting a Blu-ray drive accessory some time in the near future. Seemed suspicious to me. I didn’t believe it for a moment. And now my suspicions have been born out. Apparently Steve made a slip of the tongue, or was a little obtuse or just led us astray with his poorly worded comments – Microsoft now confirms that there will be no Blu-ray on the Xbox.

Gizmodo posted the interview with Ballmer last week and the internet nerderati lit up with cries of hurrah or foul or meh. Seems like a lot of people have been awaiting a Blu-ray drive accessory on the 360 for quite some time. Well, no sooner had the video seen a thousand plays than Microsoft had issued a statement claiming that their CEO had been mistaken:

“Steve was referring to Blu-ray accessories for the PC. As we have said in the past, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360. In fact, the future of home entertainment starts this fall when Xbox 360 becomes the first and only console to offer instant-on 1080p streaming HD movies. With a library of thousands of TV shows and movies to choose from, Xbox 360 owners can instantly watch the movies they want, when they want, in the highest form of high definition.”

Hey, you know what? The PS3 has a Blu-ray drive! Why not run out and buy one of those instead?!

Canadian Home-Video retailer Future Shop "Lowest Price Guarantee" a lie

Brenden — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:57:53 +0000

I know. Calling a major chain’s policies “a lie” is pretty strong. Well, I have proof.

My girlfriend and I just got off the phone with Future Shop, a major electronics and appliance retail chain here in Canada. We’re in the market for a new motorized projector screen and were looking at the affordable Accuscreen 106″ model. Future Shop has it listed for $670.99. But it’s much cheaper at Tiger Direct.ca. It’s priced at $242.99 to be exact. But we like dealing with Future Shop. We’ve been shopping there for years. We’re loyal customers with online accounts and a great deal of customer loyalty. Well, this mornings ordeal might have just changed all of that.

Future Shop offers a “Lowest Price Guarantee“. They’ll beat any advertised price from a competing retailer in Canada by 10% of the difference. So, of course, we decided to order the screen through Future Shop and contacted them about matching or beating Tiger Direct.ca’s lower price. The web-support team instructed us to call in and place the order and that the retailer would hold true to their guarantee if all conditions are met (email reprinted below). After 40 minutes on the telephone, we learned this to be untrue.

Apparently, Future Shop’s cost on the screen (almost $400 we were told) is above the Tiger Direct.ca retail price which, according to the supervisor of the poor representative who was stuck on the phone with us, is way too low for the retailer to beat. That’s right – Future Shop’s “Lowest Price Guarantee” doesn’t count if that price is TOO low. Even when all of Future Shop’s conditions are met!

The Future Shop rep on the phone agreed that the “Guarantee” should apply to the purchase. All of Future Shop’s conditions were met. She double checked both listings. Double checked all of the details. Went back and forth between web sites to ensure that everything was on the up-and-up. And when she had cleared us to make the purchase with the price beaten by 10% of the difference we went ahead and gave the VISA card a work-out. It was then, after the purchase had been made, as the rep was trying to apply the discount that her supervisor stepped in and told her that it couldn’t happen. That the retailer would be losing too much money if they held true to what they had promised us. If they held true to their “Guarantee”. Future Shop was not going to beat or even match Tiger Direct.ca’s lower price. She apologized and asked if we still wanted the screen for their price of $670.99. We politely declined. As we will decline any further opportunities to purchase anything from Future Shop.

For the record – Tiger Direct.ca is an authorized dealer in Canada. The price of the screen is advertised in Canadian dollars and is not a promotion. $242.99 is their regular, everyday price for the screen that Future Shop is selling for $670.99.

The email we received from Future Shop:

Hi

We will gladly price match against any other retailer as long as they are an authorized dealer in Canada, advertised in Canadian dollars, and the item is not involved with a special promotion, such as limited time or limited quantity sale or packaged deal.
If you would like to have the Lowest Price Guarantee applied to your online order for shipment, we suggest contacting us at 1-800-663-2275 at any time, as we are always available to take your call. We are also more than willing to assist you if you wish to verify the eligibility of this request prior to placing an order.
For in-store purchases or online orders for In-Store Pick Up, we request that you bring the flyer or advertisement to a store associate during the time of sale. They will ensure all criteria matches and provide the lower price, if applicable.

Sincerely
John
Agent ID XXXXX
Future Shop

From Future Shop’s website:

Our Lowest Price Guarantee

Get it for less. Guaranteed™.
We will beat any advertised price by 10% of the difference.
3 great reasons to buy at Future Shop.

1) If you find a lower advertised price we will beat it by 10% of the difference.
2) If you find a lower advertised price within 30 days* of your purchase we
will beat it by 10% of the difference.
3) If our own price is reduced within 30 days* of your purchase, bring in your
receipt and we will refund the difference.

* 14 days for computers, laptops, monitors, printers, camcorders, digital cameras, portable DVD players, radar detectors, projectors and air conditioners.
Here’s how it works.

If you are purchasing today:

Present us with a copy of the competitor’s current ad.
Our associates will verify that the item is in stock and available for
immediate sale and delivery at the advertised price.
We will beat the competitor’s price by 10% of the difference.
If you purchase the item from futureshop.ca and there is no Future Shop in your area you can contact us at 1-800-663-2275 or by email at websupportcan@futureshop.com

If you made your purchase in the last 30 days*:

Present us with a copy of the competitor’s current ad and your original invoice.
Our associates will verify that the item is in stock and available for
immediate sale and delivery at the advertised price.
We will refund you the difference and give you an additional 10%
of that difference.
If you purchase the item from futureshop.ca and there is no Future Shop in your area you can contact us at 1-800-663-2275 or by email at websupportcan@futureshop.com

If our own price is reduced in the last 30 days*:

Present us with a copy of our original invoice.
We will refund you the difference between the purchase
price and the current price.

* 14 days for computers, laptops, monitors, printers, camcorders, digital cameras, portable dvd players, radar detectors, projectors and air conditioners

Here are a few terms and conditions.

The advertised item must be for the same brand and model and the product must be new and factory sealed, and subject to a manufacturer’s warranty applicable in Canada.

Advertised prices must be in Canadian dollars, and will be calculated as including all charges applicable for next day delivery to your home address.

The advertised item must be sold through an authorized dealer located in Canada. The terms and conditions of “Get it for less, guaranteed™” are subject to change without notice.

Our lowest price guarantee does not apply to advertising errors or misprints, special educational prices, restricted offers, mail order offers, rebates, coupons, premiums, free or bonus offers, OEM products, limited or minimum quantity or limited time offers, close-outs, liquidations, clearances, financing or other special offers.

If you are not completely satisfied, please talk to our store General Manager. If you need more help call 1-800-663-2275 for further assistance.

Sony's PS3 Slim News Round-Up: Released, Reviewed, Compared

Brenden — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:08:21 +0000

It’s smaller, thinner, lighter, better, uses less energy and best of all…IT’S ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS CHEAPER!!!

I know, I know…I’m a little slow on reporting the release of the new PS3 Slim from Sony. (Give a guy a break! I’ve been a little swamped with all this vacationing lately, you know!) But this is really important news to gamers and Blu-ray enthusiasts alike, so I thought I should chime in with some thoughts and a collection of links to check out.

First things first – check out the announcement video above for a quick, corporate look at the new system. All right. All done? Here are the rest of the details you need to know.

The new PS3 Slim…POINTFORM:

$299 (MSRP)
Matte finish replaces shiny, grand-piano black
Touch-sensitive power and eject buttons replaced with matte click buttons
33% Smaller than original model
36% Lighter (7.05lbs down from 11)
Stand (for vertical placement) not included
2 USB Ports (down from the original 4)
802.11 b/g wireless connectivity (still no Draft-N wi-fi for higher bandwidth, faster connections)
Ground pin removed from A/C cord
BD-Rom drive still only 2x speed
Physical On/Off switch removed from back of console
Third-party OS install discontinued
No flash memory slots
No PS2 backward compatibility
New 45nm Cell processor uses almost half as much power
2 to 3 decibels quieter on average during gameplay, and up to 10 decibels quieter while watching Blu-ray movies
Bitstream lossless TrueHD and DTS-HD MA audio
Bravia Sync

Looks pretty decent, don’t you think? Even considering what Sony has left out of the system since it’s initial offering, you really get a lot for your 300 bucks here. Not only is this still one of the best Blu-ray players on the market, but it’s also a great media server and, oh yeah, it plays videogames too! I would love to have a PS3 that’s smaller and quieter and sends lossless bitstream audio to my receiver. That’s a pretty fair trade for losing the ability to play the handful of PS2 games I’ve got left sitting around.

While I’m not quite ready to trade up to the Slim yet, I think this new machine is bananas! You better believe I’m going to be recommending this thing to all of you who’ve been on the fence about bringing home a PS3 for the last couple of years. It plays videogames. It plays Blu-ray and DVD movies. It plays CDs and MP3s. It streams all of your media from a Windows or Mac OSX computer. It downloads more media directly from the Sony Store. It does just about everything you need a full featured media system to do and it does it for way less money than last year at this time! What are you waiting for? Go get yourself a new PS3 Slim now!

How a Blu-ray Disc is made: Inside Sony's Blu-ray Factory

Brenden — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:37:58 +0000

Designer Elaine Ho (www.roadkillroadkill.com) of Montreal forwarded me a link to this excellent exposé on the Blu-ray manufacturing process yesterday: a slideshow of images from Sony‘s new Blu-ray factory in Sydney, Australia, with an excellent, concise walkthrough of the process by Charlie Brewer. He takes you from tiny polycarbonate granules being piped around the factory to molded, flat, coated discs, packaged and ready to ship out to shops in fifteen easy steps. The photos are fascinating and the text, while short is pretty illuminating.

Read the article, look at the pretty pictures here: Inside Sony’s Blu-ray Factory

When you’re finished learning how your favourite films make their way onto your favourite format, head over to Elaine’s site and check out her amazing designs and really fun design/fashion/cat blog: Elaine Ho

Universal to release iPod Touch/iPhone apps that control Blu-ray players, PS3

Brenden — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:06:16 +0000

I’ve been waiting for this to materialize in some form or another. I knew it would happen some day. I just didn’t expect to be able to control my PS3 with my iPhone via a Fast and Furious movie related application.

So, it turns out that Universal Studios Home Entertainment has beaten all the iTunes App Store developers to the punch and come up with a way for us to control our Blu-ray players through an application downloaded onto an iPhone or iPod Touch. The bummer of it is that it’s such a specific and limited control that we’re offered through the device that it’s almost not worth the bother, at this point. But I see a lot of potential here. On July 28th the studio will release the film Fast and Furious on Blu-ray with a “Virtual Car Garage” bonus feature that uses BD Live technology. If your player is connected to a network, you’ll be able to manipulate this content on-screen by using a free app you can download onto your iPhone or iPod Touch through the iTunes store.

According to the article at Home Media Magazine, Universal intends to broaden their reach into our set-top boxes and connectivity through mobile devices,

“On subsequent Universal Blu-ray Disc releases coming later in the year, consumers will be able to access bonus content found on their Blu-ray Disc releases and download it onto their iPhone or iPod Touch. They’ll also be able to use the devices as a virtual remote to control their Blu-ray Disc features and access additional information while watching the movie.”

I don’t know about you, but while I find this kind-of cool and all, I’d much rather just have an app on my iPhone that works as a full-on PS3 remote control! Why has no-one developed this yet?! I mean, Sony could have released one themselves and, at $0.99 probably made back all of their losses on the console. Why is Universal the first one to take advantage of this obvious hole in the market?

Read the full article at Home Media Magazine: Universal Bows iPod Touch/iPhone Apps for Blu-ray

Rumour: PS3 to offer "Completely New System" in Firmware 3.0

Brenden — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:51:59 +0000

Stop the presses!

According to awesome game-nerd site VG247, we Playstation 3 owners have got a treat in store for us, coming down the bits-and-bytes pipes before the holidays. Their super-secret sources deep in the bowels of Sony have revealed to them that we’re going to get a firmware update to version 3.0 that will amount to a having a completely new gaming/media machine. A radical PS3 operating system redesign. Awesome!

Here’s what they have to say:

“The before-rumoured reputation system will be included. We were told that, “A reputation system in which users will be able to evaluate each other will be provided for… game applications.

“There will be a new API available to so the user can… allow users and also obtain users’ reputation.”

A “grief reporting system” will be included in the update, allowing gamers to take screens of offensive players and submit them to Sony. Apparently this is going to be similar to the LBP system, and is likely to include a text input.

Firmware 3.0 will allow patches will be downloaded in the background, meaning you’ll no longer have to sit staring at the screen while Random Shooter updates itself with a 500Mb fix.

There’s more. Simultaneous HDMI and digital optical outputting will be included in the release, a move likely to bring big smiles to the audio heads in the crowd.”

Apparently there’s a lot more that they won’t talk about right now. Ok. This is all cool and the notion of having a drastic system overhaul is always fun but man, all I really want from my PS3 that I’m not getting right now is the ability to play MKV files. That damn Matroska AVI container is killing me! C’mon, Sony! Get working on bringing us THAT!

Sony to Cut PlayStation 3 Price $100 in August, $99 Blu-ray Players by Holidays

Brenden — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:43:10 +0000

Home Media Magazine has gotten a quote from Arvind Bhatia, media analyst with Sterne Agee in Dallas, stating that Sony will drop the Playstation 3 by $100 before EA‘s Madden NFL 2010 is released on August 18th. Sony has previously stated that their goal is to increase console business by 30% in 2009.

“That’s not going to happen unless they lower the price significantly,” Bhatia said. “It’s widely known that a price cut is going to happen; it’s a question of when and how much.”

This sounds pretty likely to me, in the wake of all the PS3 Slim rumours swirling around the inter-webs. Sony can drop the price of the old version of the console, while pimping their newer, slimmer model for the original MSRP of $399. An old-school PS3 for $299 is nothing to sneeze at. I think a lot of people would be anxious to scoop one up for that price, even with the newer, flashier, sexier model on the shelves.

In other get-yo’self-a-blu-ray-player news, it’s being reported that the the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) are predicting a slew of $99 Blu-ray players to hit around the holidays this year. Giving their outlook for the second half of 2009 at last week’s CEA Line Show and Digital Downtown Conference in New York City, the CEA noted that Blu-ray is seeing strong sales fueled by plummeting prices. They feel that a steep price drop on players would keep up this momentum.

The Blu-ray Blog » Hardware News

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