Month: January 2008

Get Ready for DRM-FREE 2008: Amazon, Napster, Sony, Yahoo Music

January 7, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 8 Comments

DRM-free 2008 Last year around this same time I wrote on the then current companies killing DRM (Digital Rights Management, music with restrictions). Coincidentally, this year has the month of January giving us even more news on the battle-for-unrestricted-music front.

Here’s the latest news about music within the context of Amazon, Napster, Sony, and Yahoo:

Amazon, Internet, Music, Sony, Tech News, Web 2.0, Yahoo

HD DVD Press Releases Before & After Blu-ray Warner Deal, Bloggers Already Giving Up On HD DVD

January 5, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 1 Comment

HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray Right on the heels of Warner Bros. announcing exclusive Blu-ray support comes news of HD DVD canceling its CES press conference due to its rival’s announcement. The HD DVD group previously invited attendants with this upbeat message:

“Please join us as we present exciting news and a sneak peak at what’s to come for 2008, featuring executives from the HD DVD Promotional Group: Intel, Microsoft, Paramount Home Entertainment, Toshiba, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video.”

Media, Tech News

Breaking: Blu-ray Gets Warner Bros. Movies Exclusively, HD DVD Left Relying on Low Price

January 4, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 7 Comments

Blu-ray According to Warner CEO Barry Meyer, this move is a “strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want,” and he also mentions that “the window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger.” Warner movies will be released on both next generation formats (HD DVD and Blu-ray) until May 2008, but the studio will then go exclusively with Blu-ray.

Media, Sony, Tech News

Netflix TV Boxes Coming Soon + Netflix via Gaming Consoles

January 3, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 8 Comments

Netflix LG Interface The big news today is that Netflix and LG plan to market an LG-branded device (like a cable box) that will allow you to watch movies on your TV via Netflix streaming. Details are sketchy, but the product is to be available in the second half of this year.

And multiple sources are claiming that this magical device will play both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs, the two big next generation high definition rival formats that are incompatible with each other. LG already offers a Blu-ray / HD DVD combo player for $799, but some are hoping this new Netflix device will be priced much lower.

Media, Netflix, Tech News