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Panasonic 3D home entertainment system goes on sale to a country in mourning

By Joseph L. Flatley

Beginning today, customers at Best Buy’s Magnolia stores can pick up that Panasonic full HD 3D Home Entertainment System the kids in Japan have been going crazy over for the last month or so. Consisting of a 50-inch Viera VT20 HDTV, a BDT300 Blu-ray Disc Player, and but one pair of Panasonic 3D Active Shutter glasses, the total price is $2900 — but if you plan on having company over you’ll need to pick up additional pairs of 3D eyewear for $150 each. As you well know, Panny is due to start sponsoring free 3D programming to DirecTV HD customers starting in June, so if you’re not set up with the service you might as well add that to your shopping list. PC Magazine braved the stampede to check out the scene in Manhattan, so hit the source link to see the pics. As for us, we’re going back to watching Snowboard Academy on VHS, as we do every time one of its stars has fallen. PR after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic 3D home entertainment system goes on sale to a country in mourning

Panasonic 3D home entertainment system goes on sale to a country in mourning originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Adamo XPS removed from system

By Ubergizmo

Dell Adamo XPS removed from system

Strange as it might sound, Dell’s Adamo XPS is no longer available in the company’s system for those living Stateside, although it is still available in the UK via Dell’s exclusive retail deal with John Lewis, although there were just seven units left in stock about an hour back. This is rather strange considering the system shipped just in December. We are curious to know what Dell has up their sleeves though.

Update 3/8 3pm PT: Dell has informed us that you might still find the Adamo XPS at BestBuy.com and in select BestBuy stores. The Adamo XPS is seen by Dell as a “limited edition”, and they told us that future Adamo products would be introduced in the future.

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Panasonic’s VT25 3DTVs will be nearly 50% off Japanese prices, launch this week at Best Buy

By Richard Lawler

Good news for those who found themselves a few yen short after hearing the Japanese prices of Panasonic’s first 3D plasma HDTVs — their American counterparts will be considerably cheaper. Even at a recent line show the company kept the MSRPs close to its chest, but March 10 Best Buy’s 24 hour location at Union Square will sell the first full HD 3D home theater system, consisting of the aforementioned VT25, DMP-BDT350 Blu-ray player and active shutter glasses. Japan’s Nikkei pegs the bundle price at around $3,000, with 50-inch televisions by themselves arriving for around $2,500. Compare that to the ¥430,000 ($4,813) price in Japan and you’ve got an idea of the discounting going on so Panasonic can hit its targets of 1 million 3DTVs (worldwide) sold in 2010. Can’t get to Manhattan by Wednesday? The Panasonic/Best Buy team up will reportedly place demos at 300 or so stores shortly, rising to 1,000 locations by the end of the year. Unfortunately they won’t be able to advertise an Academy Award for Best Picture winner (catch Samsung’s ad last night?) in the 3D demo reel, but between Avatar and this week’s box office smash, Alice in Wonderland, we’re sure there will be at least a few people interested in taking 3D home once it’s available.

Panasonic’s VT25 3DTVs will be nearly 50% off Japanese prices, launch this week at Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest round of LG, Panasonic and Samsung Blu-ray players begin retail invasion

By Donald Melanson

We’ve already seen Sony’s newest Blu-ray players turn up at retail, and it looks like they’ve now been joined by LG, Panasonic and Samsung’s latest offerings. Those include the BD590, BD570 and BD550 from LG, the DMP-BD85 and DMP-BD65 from Panasonic, and a lone BD-C6500 from Samsung, although that’s just the first of more to come from the company. No surprises with the prices or specs, but you can check out a slew of in-the-wild shots at the link below, or head down to your local Best Buy (or other retailer) to see if you’re able to spot any of them first-hand yourself.

Latest round of LG, Panasonic and Samsung Blu-ray players begin retail invasion originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo Premiere, XL DVRs show up in Best Buy systems for $299, $499; due March 27

By Richard Lawler

It’s not March 2 yet, but we do have another early indication of what TiVo’s big announcement will be as a tipster spotted two new DVRs in Best Buy’s intranet. Other than the shocking revelation that the two SKUs would allow users to record, pause and rewind live TV and pack in HDMI cables, they went on to mention pricing information and ship dates not seen in this screen grab pegging the new Premiere at $299 and THX Certified XL edition at $499 with an expected arrival of March 27. No word on any subscription fees, features or hard drive sizes, we guess there’s a few secrets left to be revealed next week in New York.

Gallery: Best Buy TiVo Premiere info

[Thanks, anonymous]

TiVo Premiere, XL DVRs show up in Best Buy systems for $299, $499; due March 27 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Devour to sell for $150 at Best Buy?

By Darren Murph

You’ve just got to love the slow trickle of information about your next smartphone, right? Just days after hearing that Best Buy would gladly accept your pre-order on Motorola’s Devour (without actually telling you the final price, comically enough), this leaked flyer has flown into our inbox to clear up the mystery. Unless we’ve got some seriously awesome Photoshop work going on here, it seems as if the Flash supporting handset will sell for $149.99 on a 2-year Verizon contract, and of course, that’s sans mail-in rebate if you snag one from the Big Yellow Tag. Not bad given the specs, wouldn’t you say?

Update: Looks like a case (shown after the break) has popped up as well. Thanks, H.R.!

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Continue reading Motorola Devour to sell for $150 at Best Buy?

Motorola Devour to sell for $150 at Best Buy? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sezmi launches $20 per month cable/satellite alternative today in L.A.

By Richard Lawler

After a trial period, Sezmi is finally available to those looking for a way out from under overloaded and overpriced cable and satellite TV packages. $299 fetches the Sezmi System, with 1TB HD Media Recorder, OTA antenna and remote, then choose either a $5/month Select Service plan limited to whatever broadcast networks you can pull in plus IPTV sources and VOD (YouTube, CinemaNow, etc.) or the Sezmi Select Plus package at $19.99 which adds familiar premium networks including USA, CNN, MTV, Syfy and more, also delivered over antenna. In case you like what you’re hearing, all that traditional TV and internet content gets blended together in the company’s unique UI (check out our CES 2010 hands-on for a preview) that can be personalized for each person in the house. Of course the revolution isn’t without its downsides, it’s currently only available in the L.A. area (Select Service goes nationwide this spring, with Plus expansions planned for the summer) while a lack of ESPN and no HD on any of the premium channels will serve to kill its appeal for some. Don’t plan on grabbing one at the Burbank Buy More either since it’s a Best Buy exclusive for now, but if your zip code and TV watching needs fit the description then check out the introduction video and press release embedded after the break.

Continue reading Sezmi launches $20 per month cable/satellite alternative today in L.A.

Sezmi launches $20 per month cable/satellite alternative today in L.A. originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iREX DR 800SG e-reader now shipping via BestBuy.com

By Ross Miller

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Despite being listed on Best Buy’s interweb pages for well over three and a half months, it seems only just now has iREX taken the chance to officially ship its DR 800SG e-reader out to the hungry e-tailer masses. Price is back to being listed at the proper $399.99 tag and given the recent proliferation of e-readers in the market, we can’t blame you if you’re not immediately reaching for your wallet. Press release after the break.

Continue reading iREX DR 800SG e-reader now shipping via BestBuy.com

iREX DR 800SG e-reader now shipping via BestBuy.com originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy kicks off Motorola Devour pre-sale, no rebate required

By Donald Melanson

You’ll still have to wait until February 25th to actually get your hands on one, but those not wanting to take any chances on missing out on the Motorola Devour can now head down to their local Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile store and reserve one starting today. The only catch is that you’ll have to buy a $50 Best Buy gift card to hold your spot for the phone, but the good news is that you won’t have to deal with any of those pesky mail-in rebates — just a simple instant discount at the check-out. Curiously though, while Best Buy will gladly sell you a $50 gift card, it’s still not saying exactly much the phone itself will actually cost — here’’s hoping we hear more about that before you actually wind up in the check-out line.

Best Buy kicks off Motorola Devour pre-sale, no rebate required originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dummy Apple SKUs materialize in Best Buy’s inventory system?

By Ross Miller

Listen, we know what you’re thinking: “Hey Engadget, what’s with all the excessive Microsoft coverage today? Where’s our Apple rumors?” Here you go! Though the last Best Buy database screencap ended up being even more dubious than we had suspected, today’s MacRumors-borne pic has the added bonus of a trio of new entries, aptly titled Dummy SKU A, B, and C, respectively. There’s not a lot to go on here, and assuming the shot is legit (we cannot independently confirm at this point), it doesn’t really say much. Oft-coveted refreshed MacBook Pros? Those pesky WiFi iPads due out next month? Bobble heads for Steve Jobs, Phil Schiller and Scott Forstall? We may never know for sure.

[Thanks, Ryan]

Dummy Apple SKUs materialize in Best Buy’s inventory system? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Current MacBook Pro SKU given mark of death in Best Buy database?

By Ross Miller

We’ll admit to not being leading the field of study in Best Buy-ology, but here comes a new quiz for us care of a tipster who sent TUAW a screenshot of the inventory screen that shows what looks to be the current MacBook Pro SKU with status: deleted. What that means is no new orders can be made for that unit, at least for that particular store. Sign of impending MBP refresh? Intel certainly had us riled up last month with that Core i5-infused flier, but we won’t get fooled again. Don’t hold your breath for this one, but if more telltale signs start popping up, we’ll be sure let ya know.

Update: Giving credit where due; the image originates from the MacRumors forums.

Update II: Another tipster familiar with Best Buy’s systems wrote in and noted that “Deleted only means that the that particular store is having it pulled from their planogramed assortment.” Sorry to burst your bubble.

[Thanks, Jose R]

Current MacBook Pro SKU given mark of death in Best Buy database? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Arc Keyboard hands-on

By Donald Melanson

Microsoft’s Best Buy-exclusive Arc Keyboard still won’t be hitting stores for another couple of weeks (February 21st, to be specific), but we were lucky enough to get our hands on one a little early, and figured we’d share a few impressions with you, the keyboard-using masses. The first thing you’ll notice when seeing the keyboard in person is that it’s smaller than even the press photos suggested — basically the same size as your average 15-inch laptop keyboard, with a glossy bezel just big enough to let you pick it up without pressing a key. It’s also undeniably eye-catching, with an “arc” that actually more closely resembles Apple’s Magic Mouse than Microsoft’s own Arc mouse.

Of course, most folks will choose function over form when it comes to a keyboard, and in that respect the Arc Keyboard is a bit of a mixed bag.

Gallery: Microsoft Arc Keyboard hands-on