Posted 11/03/09 at 02:25:27 PM by Pulkit Chandna

Technology purists may still swear by the ubiquitous DVD. It is probably a sense of nostalgia that usually deludes them when a much loved technology draws perilously close to the brink. But the writing surely has to be on the wall for the DVD if one of its biggest backers and beneficiaries is busy bracing for its demise.

Best Buy has announced a new deal with Sonic Solutions. It will use the latter's Roxio CinemaNow service to stream DVD titles to a wide range of internet-enabled devices, inlcluding Blu-ray players, TVs, PCs, smartphones, and personal media players. Users will be able to enjoy their favorite movies on a host of devices after they purchase them on DVD: pay once and watch on any device.

“All these guys — Best Buy, Blockbuster and Netflix — realize is that the era of the boxed DVD is about to end,” Creative Stratigies' president Tim Bajarin told the New York Times. The service is set to debut early next year.

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Posted 10/29/09 at 11:45:59 AM by Paul Lilly

We suspect there's going to be a lot of interest in Motorola's upcoming Droid smartphone, which is set to launch on November 6. And if you're itching to get your hands on one, Best Buy is already taking preorders for the handset, and the best part is they'll remove the hassle of dealing with the $100 mail-in-rebate and issue the kickback as an instant savings instead.

"We're excited to feature this new device for our consumers, as it represents the latest and greatest in mobile technology," said Best Buy Mobile President Shawn Score. "Bringing the Droid to Best Buy Mobile expands our already unmatched assortment of smartphones allowing customers to compare high-end devices like the iPhone 3GS, HTC Hero, and Droid all under one roof. The fact that customers can purchase the phone first at Best Buy through the pre-sell is an added bonus."

This is similar to what Best Buy did with the Palm Pre, and we imagine an even better turn out this time around. Motorola's Droid is poised to become the first Android 2.0-based smartphone, and has the best chance of all Android handsets to date at challenging Apple's iPhone.

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Posted 10/14/09 at 09:53:47 AM by Pulkit Chandna

Nokia has announced that its upcoming netbook, the Booklet 3G, will make its U.S. debut in November. AT&T and Best Buy will serve as the Finnish mobile phone giant’s launch partners. The netbook will be available for $299 with a two-year AT&T service contract.

Those not too keen on a two-year contract can buy the untethered version for $599. The choice seems to be between Mt Everest and K2. In an attempt to tap the launch of Windows 7, Best Buy will begin accepting orders for the netbook on October 22nd.

The Intel Atom-powered device features Windows 7 Home Premium, a 10.1” screen, Wi-Fi, inbuilt 3G connectivity, GPS, a 120GB HDD and 1GB RAM.

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Posted 10/01/09 at 06:40:18 PM by Jason Barry

Looks like Best Buy wants to keep its hands, and its phones, in everyone’s pockets. They sealed a deal with Google on exclusivity of some mobile applications and collaboration on an online and in-store mobile storefront. With this effort, they hope to continue to make Best Buy’s mobile division competitive with mobile carrier stores.

In the works so far is a location aware Best Buy mobile application where users can search for, and track stock of, in-store products. They are collaborating on a few other applications in addition to Android specific and Ford Sync applications, but Best Buy declined to give details.

They also hope to launch a Best Buy Mobile online store where eventually users can share reviews and research mobile electronics, as well as purchase products online. Amazon opened a similar storefront (AmazonWireless) earlier this summer.

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Posted 09/24/09 at 09:34:32 AM by Paul Lilly

The question isn't 'why would Best Buy and Verizon look to get into the e-book business,' but 'why wouldn't they?' After all, everyone else is diving in, and while it's true that you shouldn't follow your friends (or competition) off a bridge, the e-book business could hardly be considered suicidal.

For Verizon's part, The New York Times reports it plans to sell digital books and newspapers wirelessly over its 3G network for owners of iRex Technologies' upcoming $399 touchscreen e-reader. Customers will be able to purchase the iRex DR800SG at a few hundred Best Buy stores, while the electronics chain also plans to carry Sony's more affordable Reader.

With Best Buy, Verizon, and several others jumping on the e-book bandwagon, digital readers are poised to become the next biggest thing since the netbook, which took the market by storm in similar fashion.

"The e-reader has high awareness, but most people have still not seen or touched or played with them," said Chris Homeister, senior vice president for entertainment at Best Buy. "We feel at that this is a technology that is beginning to emerge and that we can bring a unique experience to the marketplace."

Casting somewhat of a wet blanket over the e-book bonanza, a recent report from Forrester Research suggests that digital readers need to approach the $100 mark before most consumers will dive in.

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Posted 09/10/09 at 10:22:54 AM by Pulkit Chandna

A couple of days after an anonymous forum poster, who claimed to be a Best Buy employee and a Linux aficionado, exposed Microsoft’s surreptitious anti-Linux training material for Best Buy employees, it has now become apparent that Redmond is providing them with anti-Mac training material as well.

The training material is part of its ExpertZone training courses, which are aimed at sifting bitter facts from popular myths about Mac computers and Linux. AppleInsider was the first to post screenshots of the Mac-centric training material. Upon their successful completion of the course, Best Buy employees are handed close-to-free Windows 7 retail copies.

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Posted 09/09/09 at 09:31:45 AM by Pulkit Chandna

Microsoft’s insecurity has forced it to mount an anti-Linux indoctrination campaign. It is now trying to becharm Best Buy employees with the carrot of dirt cheap Windows 7 copies for those that answer some simple question, which are part of its highly biased “Comparing Windows 7 to Linux-based PCs” training module. 

According to an anonymous forum poster, who posted screenshots of the training module on Overclock.net, Best Buy employees are being offered a Windows 7 retail copy for only $10, if they can suppress their conscience to subserviently toe Microsoft’s line.  The training material mocks Linux’s supposed incompatibly with popular games, gadgets and software. Windows 7 for just $10 is quite a steal, though the most fervid of Linux supporters might find their end of the bargain to be worth more than a Windows 7 copy, howsoever cheap.

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Posted 08/21/09 at 02:48:42 PM by Pulkit Chandna

Zune zealots, skeptics, and all the people that lie in between and outside the two groups can get up close and personal with the Zune HD at select Best Buys over the weekend. The preview has been organized by Nvidia and Best Buy. The GPU maker’s ebullience for the Zune HD stems from the fact that it has lent its Tegra chip to the PMP. The portable media player is scheduled for release on September 15. Nvidia has released a PDF document that lists all the Best Buys where the Zune HD will be available for preview. 

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