Rumor: Microsoft to "Upstage" Apple WWDC With Xbox 360 Blu-Ray Announcement

Microsoft's on-again, off-again relationship with an Xbox 360 Blu-Ray drive looks set to be on again this Monday. As you all know by now, Monday marks the beginning of Apple's annual WWDC, and a little bird told us something is going to be announced by Steve Jobs there during his keynote. Microsoft doesn't care; a tipster told CrunchGear it's going to "upstage" Jobs, Apple and the entire known tech-using world by announcing an Xbox 360 with Blu-Ray drive one hour before the beginning of the conference. More »

Do You Feel Lucky, Punk? Complete Dirty Harry Blu-Ray Collection Arrives June 3

Do you feel lucky, punk? Do ya? Does Blu-Ray have five years left before digital distribution knocks it out of commission, or just four? So I ask again: Do you feel lucky? Annnnd, scene. Anyway, all kidding aside, this immense collection of all things Dirty Harry arrives on store shelves (brick and mortar, digital or otherwise) in a mere two days. It includes a bunch of released, updated and never before released stuff, including—wait, what's that there? A badge?! More »

Dealzmodo: Wal-Mart Spotted Offering Funai NB500 Blu-Ray Players For $298

Personally, I think that a "budget" Blu-ray player priced at $300 is not a true bargain, but given the prices of most of the majors out there it definitely falls into that category. The untested BD Profile 1.1 Magnavox (Funai) NB500 has been spotted on Wal-Mart shelves sporting 1080p/24 and 1080p/60 video output resolutions, bitstream HD audio output, DVD upconversion to 720p, 1080i, 1080p and HDMI 1.3 for $298. Low price or not, keep in mind that the PS3 is still your best value. [Blu-ray Forum via Engadget HD via Electronic House]

Question of the Day: If Competition is a Good Thing, Why Do We Keep Wishing For One HD Format?

Would we be worse of with only one HD format and no competing group to make them work for our dollars? [How To Comment]

Macrovision Buys Broken Blu-ray DRM Tech for $45 Million

While both Blu-ray and HD DVD use the long-cracked AACS copy protection scheme, Blu-ray has its unique flavor of DRM underneath that, BD+, which is based on the Self-Protecting Digital Content spec. Macrovision is plunking down $45 million for SPDC and its related patents. This is despite the fact BD+ was cracked by AnyDVD's daddy, Slysoft, a couple weeks ago. So why drop that much dough on cracked tech? More »

Gloves off At Blu-Ray Camp

Ah, the quibbling of media giants. Sort of fun to watch. And now the Blu-Ray backers have fired back at Microsoft and Intel for the reasons the companies gave earlier this week for backing HD DVD. From capacity to managed copy support, the Blu-Ray Disc Association group has said that there have been inaccuracies on all kinds of issues—and they want their toys back! Jordi Ribas, director of technical strategy for the Windows Digital Media Division, was quoted as saying that, "Microsoft's decision to back HD DVD was based on how the competing specifications look today, and not on claims about what may or may not be available in the future." More »