Explore the latest trends and news in the CE (Consumer Electronics) space. Stay tuned daily for more updates.
Best Buy Will Stop Selling DVDs and Blu-Ray Come 2024
The big box store Best Buy has confirmed with the entertainment trade publication Variety that it will stop selling physical media, including DVDs, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD discs, in-store and online in 2024. This news comes just a couple weeks after Netflix, the streaming giant that was once a go-to for DVDs, ended its delivery subscription service and shipped the last of its discs to customers on September 29.
“To state the obvious, the way we watch movies and TV shows is much different today than it was decades ago,” a Best Buy spokesperson said in a statement to Variety. “Making this change gives us more space and opportunity to bring customers new and innovative tech for them to explore, discover and enjoy.”
Entertainment blog The Digital Bits speculated on October 12 that Best Buy would discontinue disc sales after conferring with industry sources. The blog suspected this to be the case after observing the DVD sections in several Best Buy store locations were moved around several times and shelves on the sales floor were barely stocked, even with new releases.
According to Variety, “sales of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs have been shrinking for years,” citing data from trade association DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group that “U.S. physical media revenue in the first half of 2023 dropped 28%, to $754 million, compared with $1.05 billion in the year-earlier period.”
Best Buy will continue to sell discs through the 2023 holiday season, so grab some limited-edition boxsets of your favorite TV shows and movies while you still can.
Samsung Announces The Frame – Disney100 Edition for the Studio’s Centennial
Disney Studios turns 100 years old this year, and to celebrate, Samsung Electronics America is releasing a limited edition of The Frame to commemorate the magic the studios have brought to audiences for generations.
“It is wonderful to collaborate with Disney for this special edition of The Frame, and while the unbelievable demand came as no surprise, we are absolutely thrilled by the tremendous response,” said James Fishler, Senior Vice President, Home Entertainment & Display Division, Samsung Electronics America, in a press release. “Samsung technology should seamlessly blend with your personal style in a way that easily enhances both your day-to-day, and your décor look. Put simply – it should be magic. We’re so excited that people can see how The Frame delivers all that and more, as even more experience their Disney100 edition TVs firsthand!”
The Frame – Disney100 edition comes in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch models and features a branded bezel, 100 special pieces of art from the Disney collection, and a Mickey Mouse-inspired SolarCell remote. Included with The Frame – Disney100 edition comes art from the likes of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and National Geographic. The special artwork can be accessed directly on the Samsung Art Store.
Meet SHANE, a Parallel Two-Wheeled Electric Vehicle Concept by Shane Chen, Inventor of the Hoverboard
Today, Inventist announced its latest invention, SHANE, a parallel two-wheeled electric vehicle concept that is practical and efficient for everyday use. The concept vehicle has a shifting center of gravity and parallel wheels that react automatically relative to the body to keep the vehicle in balance. Two large wheels on the side of the car’s body make maneuvering the car at high speeds and parking the vehicle easy. The concept vehicle is also energy-efficient thanks to the wheels’ minimal rolling resistance and in-wheel regenerative shocks.
“Two-wheeled cars have simply not been practical or stable enough for everyday driving, until now. I was excited to create a car concept with two wheels that can go at high speeds and be energy efficient. I truly believe SHANE will make a difference in how we approach mobility and I look forward to collaborating with partners to bring this concept to life,” says Shane Chen. Chen holds 76 patents including the popular Hoverboard, Solowheel, Orbitwheels, Powerwing and Aquaskipper.
For those interested in licensing or being a part of making SHANE, visit www.inventist.com.
