Hasta La Gadget!

Google made a big splash into the home entertainment world yesterday with the announcement of Google TV — particularly because it’s partnered up with some major names like Sony, Intel, Logitech, Best Buy and Dish Network. That’s a lot of industry momentum behind a platform that’s trying to achieve what many believe to be impossible: marry the television to the internet. Will Google finally be the one to pull it off? To be honest, the Engadget staff is nowhere near agreement on this, so we’re just going to let everyone speak for themselves — read on!

Continue reading Editorial: Engadget on Google TV

Editorial: Engadget on Google TV originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 20:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That Best Buy is ready to launch its entry into the online video on-demand game is not at all a surprise, but we weren’t expecting to see such a familiar name. The retail giant purchased the CinemaNow brand away from Sonic Solutions (explaining the latter’s sudden switch to RoxioNow) and will start selling movies sans-disk to web connected devices later this month, starting with LG Blu-ray players (where buyers won’t see the Best Buy logo at all) and home theater in a box systems, followed by Samsung’s internet connected home theater equipment and of course the house Insignia brand. As planned, it will have “first run” movies for sale as soon as they arrive on DVD, with rentals for $2.99 – $3.99 per movie and purchases at $9.99 to $19.99, including HD titles and some available in 1080p. Apparently the name game is how Best Buy plans to sneak boxes with its store embedded through other retailers, we’ll see how Wal-mart / VUDU, Amazon and the rest respond to the challenge.

Continue reading Best Buy’s internet movie store launches this month under the CinemaNow brand

Best Buy’s internet movie store launches this month under the CinemaNow brand originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah, there it is, UK’s first-ever Best Buy store, officially born at 7am local time yesterday. Naturally, we had to be there to witness such magical moment for Britain’s consumer tech market — the Brits had longed for an injection of energy and professionalism to the seemingly slacking chain stores. Many would agree that DSGi’s two main brands — Currys and PC World — are on the naughty list, even after their recent relaunch. From what we saw today, it looks like Best Buy’s already heading in the right direction. Let’s start with the front-line employees. Most of these Blueshirts provided genuine technical answers rather than bluffing their way out, plus we were given product recommendations with no desperate sales pitch as commonly seen in other stores. When we revealed our identity to one of the sales reps, he confirmed that they were trained to not force random products onto customers — quite the opposite culture to his old days at DSGi (assuming he was telling the truth). We sure did appreciate this new-found shopping freedom in gadget stores, but did the other customers feel the same way? Find out what we heard after the break.

Continue reading Best Buy opens first UK store in Thurrock, we go hands-on (video)

Best Buy opens first UK store in Thurrock, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 May 2010 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This shot courtesy of Mr. Blurrycam might not give the “Oh my.” reaction we were expecting from the ads but it appears Sharp’s latest and greatest LCDs are showing up at retail, including this 40-inch Quattron model for $1,599. Our man spotted 46- and 55-inch versions as well but if that’s not your speed, we also have word that Amazon is shipping the 240Hz Samsung LN46C750 a few weeks ahead of its anticipated May ship date. Sure, it’s not a super slim LED model like the rest of the 3D lineup, but at $1,450 (no glasses) it is the cheapest 3DTV we’re likely to see anytime soon. Choose wisely.

[Thanks, kalistyles11]

Sharp’s four-color HDTV, Samsung’s cheapest 3DTV now on sale originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yesterday, the National Labor Committee produced a report on the working conditions at the KYE Factory in Dongguan City, Guangdong, China. KYE operates (like many factories in China) a live-work facility and generated sales of $400 million in 2008. KYE manufactures outsourced products for HP, Best Buy, Samsung, Foxconn, Acer, Logitech, and ASUS. Their largest customer, however, is reportedly Microsoft. The report details some of what we’ve come to expect in stories of labor abuses — near children, most of them women, working for 16 or 17 hours a day, living in nearly deplorable conditions, for less than a dollar an hour — all so that the world’s ever-growing need for / addiction to consumer electronics can be fed. Now, the gadget industry isn’t the only offender by a stretch — but it’s quickly becoming one of the largest (in addition to producing a truly horrific amount of toxic garbage). After the break are some choice facts from the report that our readers might be interested in ingesting, so read on.

Continue reading National Labor Committee report on Chinese CE factories uncovers deplorable conditions

National Labor Committee report on Chinese CE factories uncovers deplorable conditions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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