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The buzz
Quick notes from the technology world.
By Staff and Wire Reports
Published February 13, 2006
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Retail price for Sony's Blu-ray discs: $35
Sony Pictures became the first studio to say how much it will charge for films released on the next-generation DVD format.
Sony is a backer of Blu-ray, a technology that displays films, TV shows and other programming in high definition. A rival and incompatible format, called HD-DVD, also will hit shelves this year.
Sony set a wholesale price of $23.45 for new releases and $17.95 for older titles. That translates into a retail price of about $34.95 for new movies and $29.95 for catalog films.
Sony, which also distributes films from MGM Home Entertainment, said it will release 18 catalog titles this year, including Hitch, The Fifth Element and Species.
The first HD-DVD players will hit stores next month. Blu-ray players are scheduled to be available shortly after.
Microsoft's security service available in June
A new security service from Microsoft Corp. will charge users $49.95 per year to better protect its Windows operating system from spyware, viruses and other Internet attacks. Microsoft plans to release the product in early June.
Called Windows OneCare Live, the subscription service will compete with security products made by traditional Microsoft partners, including Symantec Corp. and McAfee Inc., although the software giant insists that its aim is not to run those companies out of business.
Ryan Hamlin, general manager of Microsoft's Technology Care and Safety Group, said Microsoft is less concerned with converting people already using other products. Instead, Hamlin says Microsoft's goal is to provide protection for users who don't have any added or up-to-date security, a group that Microsoft estimates comprises 70 percent of consumer users.
OneCare, which is already available for free in test form, aims to protect people running the most recent version of Windows against Internet attacks and intrusive spyware. It also promises to provide regular tuneups to help keep computers running smoothly, and offers users a way to back up and restore data.
The subscription fee is for up to three personal computers.
Dell testing Google software for PCs
Dell Inc., the world's largest maker of personal computers, is testing software from Google Inc. and may distribute the programs on its PCs, a move that would be a blow to Microsoft Corp.
The test includes a Google-powered Dell home page, Google desktop search and Google Toolbar, Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn said. He declined to say how long the testing has been going on or to discuss details about a possible deal.
An agreement would underpin efforts by Google, the top Internet search engine, to expand beyond search and ultimately may threaten Microsoft's biggest businesses. Microsoft is building a search program into the next version of its Windows operating system and creating links to online versions of popular programs to woo users from rival services such as those offered by Google.
Apple drops prices on Nano, Shuffle
As competitors continue leaving the portable audio player market, Apple Computer Inc. beefed up its iPod product mix with a new 1-gigabyte version of the Nano and lower-priced Shuffles.
The pencil-thin, flash memory-based Nano player now ranges from $149 for the new 1GB model to $249 for the 4GB model. Previously, the 2GB Nano was the lowest-capacity and least expensive model at $199.
Apple also cut the prices of its bare-boned Shuffle players. The 512-megabyte version dropped from $99 to $69 and the 1GB model was discounted from $129 to $99.
Dell Inc. quietly began to phase out production of its hard drive-based audio players in December but said it will continue to sell its flash-based DJ Ditty player, which costs $99. MP3 player pioneer Rio has retrenched as well.
-- Compiled from Times wires.
[Last modified February 13, 2006, 07:18:02]
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