Audio Video News

Bits of debris from the HD DVD explosion continue to hit the ground. Among the possible consequences are lower Blu-ray pricing and an Xbox drive--though not right away. And at least one retailer appears to be holding out a helping hand for consumers who invested in the wrong format.

Sony came to New York last week to chat with the business press, which apparently doesn't include us but does include Gizmodo, c|net, and the tech (not business) section of The New York Times. Stan Glasgow, president of the Sony electronics division, hinted for the first time that Blu-ray may drop below the psychologically significant $200 mark. But don't look for that affordable player before 2009, he warned--either from Sony or a no-name Chinese manufacturer. Sony isn't ready offer it, or to license to small brands that price aggressively.

Microsoft has been working on improving Windows compatibility with Blu-ray. Can Xbox be far behind, wonder gamers? Here's what Steve Ballmer said at the Mix08 conference in Vegas, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "We've already been working on, for example, in Windows, device driver support for Blu-ray drives and the like, and I think the world moves on. Toshiba has moved on. We've moved on, and we'll support Blu-ray in ways that make sense." Sounds like a definite maybe for a Blu Xbox, at least to our ears. Microsoft's HDi was the reason HD DVD's interactive features worked so well.

Meanwhile, a Circuit City employee in Chicago delivered a hot tip to Gizmodo: The store is accepting trade-ins of HD DVD players within three months of Toshiba's February 19 fat-lady-sings announcement. That's a notable improvement over the usual 30-day return policy. Customers may trade for credit toward a Blu-ray player or a gift card. If the Blu-ray player costs more, the customer must cough up the difference. Still, a sweet deal! A Circuit spokesperson later confirmed the rumor, saying the chain will "take care of our customers."