Microsoft Zune Priced and Dated October 1, 2006 11:27 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Microsoft, Multimedia Devices, Music.add a comment
Microsoft has set the price and release date of its personal multimedia iPod like device.
The Microsoft Zune will launch on November 14th this year for the MSRP of $249.99. The 30GB model’s price is $50 less than the comparable iPod model from Apple.
Users can purchase a Zune Pass ($14.99/month) and have access to millions of songs, or they can download individual songs for 79¢ per track (also less than what Apple charges – 99¢ per track).
The press release from Microsoft follows below:
Superman Returns DVD Premieres in China October 1, 2006 11:25 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in DVD, Movies, Piracy, Superman Returns.1 comment so far
The Superman Returns DVD, this past Thursday, launched in China. A full two months before its North American launch of November 29th.
In an effort to combat piracy, a very big problem on the Asian continent, Warner Brothers has decided to release the movie on DVD much earlier than is normal, and for a low dollar amount.
Priced between $1.80 and $2.80, the DVD packs the full release encoded with a hard-to-copy disc encryption. Because the studio has to compete with the pirated copies (in retail stores no less), it’s almost impossible to sell for a higher retail price in China.
You can read more about this and some background on the piracy problems at Video Business.
Xbox 360 HD DVD Disc Drive – Price and Release Frame October 1, 2006 11:22 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in HD DVD, High Definition Optical Disc, Microsoft, Movies, Video Games, Xbox 360.3 comments
Microsoft has announced its price point ($199.99) and release frame (mid November) of its HD DVD Disc Drive for the Microsoft Xbox 360 Core or Premium Console.
The add-on device will be capable of outputting the formats full 1080p resolution, and will connect via USB 2.0.
At current prices, an Xbox 360, equipped with the required add-on to play the movies, will run anywhere from $499.99 to $599.99, the same price range as the formats competing Blu-ray technology from Sony.
This November, Sony will release the PS3 in two models, one for $499.99 and one for $599.99. Both models will be capable of playing back full 1080p Blu-ray movies.
Neither console will be capable of paying both formats.
Currently, Toshiba and RCA sell HD DVD units for $499.99 to $799.99, while Samsung has the only Blu-ray player out at $999.99.
More hardware manufactures are expected to release their own units come holiday season.
The Full Press Release is viewable below:
Robert Downey Jr. Cast as Iron Man October 1, 2006 9:48 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies.add a comment
Robert Downey Jr. has been cast to play the part of Marvel Comics superhero Iron Man.
The movie Iron Man, the first movie to be independently produced by Marvel Comics, will premiere on May 2nd, 2008.
The film is being directed by Jon Favreau and will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Casting is underway for all secondary roles and filming is scheduled to begin sometime in February of 2007 in Los Angeles.
The Amazing Race Gets an 11th Season October 1, 2006 9:48 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Renewals, Television.add a comment
CBS has decided to go ahead with a new season of their Emmy winning reality based tv-series.
The series premiered its 10th season this past Sunday to the tune of 10.57M viewers (#38) and a 3.9 Rating in A18-49.
The 11th season will launch in the Spring of 2007.
NBC Picks Up New Cop Drama Pilot October 1, 2006 9:48 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in New Show Orders, Television.1 comment so far
NBC has picked up a new drama pilot titled “Life” from sister company NBC Universal Television Studio.
From Source (TV Week):
The one-hour pilot, titled “Life,” follows a falsely imprisoned police officer who rejoins the force a changed man to find out who really committed the crime he was charged with.
“Life,” which is from executive producers Rand Ravich and Far Shariat, will be shot sometime this season and is expected to be in contention for a series pick up in fall 2007.
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