J&R is selling the Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD for $599.99 which is anywhere from $50 to $100 lower than other online stores.
The Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD plays High Definition DVDs which bring higher resolution (720p and 1080i) and higher image quality to your widescreen HDTV. The HD-AX1 can deliver 1080p interpolation when connected through the HDMI port. To see the benefit of HD-DVD, you will need to buy new movies in the HD-DVD format, but the device does support and will up-convert your existing standard DVDs.
Some of the other specs include multi-channel decoders (Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, and DTS-HD), four 32-Bit floating point signal processors, HDMI Audio support up to 5.1 L-PCM / 5.1 Channel Bass Management, and a plethora of connections including 2 USB Terminals, 1 HDMI, 1 ColorStream Pro Component Video (gold plated), 1 S-Video (gold plated), 1 Composite Video (gold plated), 1 Stereo Analog Audio (gold plated), 5.1 Multi-Channel Analog Audio (gold plated), 1 Coaxial Digital output (gold plated), 1 Optical Digital Output, 1 Ethernet Port, and 1 RS-232C.
As reportedeverywhere, Microsoft has officially announced the launch of Zune, a music and entertainment platform which includes portable media players and a content download service (Zune Marketplace). Expected to arrive just before the holiday shopping season (at TBD price), the first Zune device is a 30GB digital media player built by Toshiba which includes WiFi, an FM tuner, and a 3-inch screen. Every Zune device comes preloaded with content from several labels including Virgin, Sub Pop, and Astralwerks. Zune comes in three colors: black, brown, and white.
Zune Marketplace is an application which works like iTunes or Napster in allowing you to manage your existing content (music, movies, and photos) while buying new content from the service. Content can be purchased a la carte or through the Zune Pass subscription service.
Sharing and community are key components in the Zune product line. Using a wireless connection, Zune users can share some of the full-length tracks with friends who also have a Zune. You can listen to any shared track three times over three days. If you like it, you can flag it and the device will purchase it from the Zune Marketplace.
At launch, you will be able to purchase several Zune accessories including a Car Pack to enable integration into your car, a Home Pack which will include a dock with wireless remote and various cables, and a Travel Pack which will include premium earphones, a remote control, and a bag.
The iTunes movie store is now live and includes about 70 movies from the Disney family of companies. Despite being Disney-only, the initial batch is pretty interesting and includes some of our favorites. Leading off the list are a select group of Academy Award winners:
iPod Video
Apple announced the 6th generation iPod which will be similar to the current iPod Video but with several major upgrades. The 60GB iPod is being replaced by a new 80GB iPod. Prices are also dropping as the 30GB will retail for $249 and the new 80GB will retails for $349. Additionally:
The screen will be 60% brighter (as if the current screen wasn’t great already)
Battery life was upped from 4 to 6.5 hours
Includes games such as Tetris, Pac-Man, Mini Golf, Texas Hold ‘Em, Mahjong, and Bejeweled
Additional games can be downloaded from iTunes for $5
Instant search will make it easier to find tracks
iPod Nano
Also changing is the new second generation iPod Nano which is now available in colors (black, blue, green, and pink) and aluminum. Pricing and sizes are as follows: 2GB Nano (aluminum) for $149, 4GB (colors) for $199, and 8GB (black) for $249.
iPod Shuffle
The new second generation 1GB iPod Shuffle comes in an aluminum case and includes a built in clip. Oh, and it’s the size of a stamp. It’s the smallest MP3 player on the market. Priced at $79 it will include a dock and the new earbuds.
iPod Accessories
Even iPod accessories are seeing a change. The ubiquitous earbuds have changed a bit and the power charger is 40% smaller.
The not-so-secret-secret is no longer a secret: Apple has added full-length movies to iTunes 7. As expected, the first 70 movies all come from the Disney family. New movies will cost $12.99 as pre-orders and during the first week. To help produce “Near-DVD” video, movie resolution is upped to 640×480 instead of 320×240. This feature is only available at the US store but will launch internationally in 2007.
The new iTunes 7 will look similar to iTunes 6 but also an organized navigation bar, album viewing, and album art viewer. The upgraded iTunes will also download missing album art (a feature which will make many iPod Video users very happy). Another major update is the ability to transfer purchased content between authorized computers using your iPod.
As for new shows, iTunes 7 will offer highlights of the whole 2006 NFL season for $1.99 per game or $24.99 for a season pass.
Amazon.com officially launched its first full digital store with the debut of the Amazon Unbox Video Downloads Store. The concept is pretty simple — download the Amazon Unbox Video Player and then go to to the Amazon Unbox Video Downloads Store and download the videos of your choice (see Amazon graphic below).
Videos will play on computers identified in the “RemoteLoad” pull-down menu when you make a purchase (so you can play on multiple PCs but only select ones.
Amazon Unbox video downloads are not compatible with Apple / Macintosh hardware and computer systems and iPods.
One hour of programming is roughly equal to one gigabyte (1 GB) of file space on your computer.
Amazon Unbox only plays files downloaded from Amazon.com. Each download includes two .wmv files (one main file containing the video and a preview file) and a .amzn file (smaller format file optimized for mobile devices). You cannot use Amazon Unbox to play video files downloaded from other vendors.
You can store your downloaded files on a DVD or other removable computer storage. However, any DVDs that you burn with Amazon Unbox files will not be readable by a DVD player.
When you choose to rent an Amazon Unbox video, your access to view the file is limited by the rental term (usually 30 days). After you begin playing an Amazon Unbox Video, you will have 24 hours to complete viewing it. After these expiration times, the Amazon Unbox Video will automatically be deleted from your computer and Your Media Library.
Puchased videos do not expire. You can download a purchased file onto 2 different PCs at one time and each PC can transfer the file to one portable video device.
In the TV category, Amazon Unbox offers shows from: A&E, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BBC, The Biography Channel, Cartoon Network, CBS, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, E!, Fine Living, FOX, Fuel, FX, Hanna-Barbera, HGTV, The History Channel, Logo, MTV, MTV2, The N, Nickelodeon, PBS, Speed, The Travel Channel, and VH1. That means you can download 24, South Park, CSI: Miami and some of our favorites including Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Mythbusters, and Chappelle Show: Uncensored.
To celebrate the opening of our new Amazon Unbox Video Downloads store, Amazon is offering a $1.99 instant rebate on your first purchase or rental (most TV shows are available for purchase at $1.99)
Every day, Overstock.com brings you a new and different deal which is priced even lower than their usual low prices. This deal (or as they call it “steal”) is only available for 24 hour or until it sells out. Really worth checking daily.
Bookmark this link and visit daily, you never know when it’s going to be something you really want.
Playboy has a very revealing offer for us. For the next four days (8/24-8/28) everything at Playboy.com is 15% off. We, of course, are only interested in the articles… of clothing that is.
Anyway, it’s a very good sale so make sure you check it out (unless you’re under 18).
Movielink is a fast, easy, and legal movie download service that you can watch from home or on the road. They offer both movie rentals and purchase. You can download Free Samples here
To entice new customers, Movielink is offering the following promotion: new customers can download all movie rentals for 99ยข or less in their first order. That is 80% off all rental new releases, box-office hits, classic movies, TV shows, and more. This offer expires on 8/31/06 and as always, make sure you read all the terms and conditions.
You can reach this discount by clicking on the banner below.
