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25 best concert Blu-ray discs

We've put together a few roundups of top Blu-ray discs, but for some reason, trying to do a list of the best concert Blu-ray discs was more challenging. Part of the problem is that music--and musical tastes--are such personal things that it's hard to declare something the "best" or "top" when it's more than likely that a lot of people will think the pick is bad because they simply don't like the artist or band.

That's totally understandable, so I apologize in advance if some of these picks don't appeal … Read more

Get a new Sylvania Blu-ray player for $59.99

If you missed last week's $50 Magnavox Blu-ray player from Kmart or you simply weren't wild about buying a refurbished player, here's good news: Amazon has a new Sylvania NB530SLX Blu-ray player for $59.99 shipped.

That is, I believe, the lowest price I've ever seen on a new Blu-ray player.

Of course, you shouldn't expect Profile 2.0, Netflix streaming, or any other advanced features at this price. The NB530SLX supports Blu-ray Profile 1.1, HDMI 1.3a support, and has a remote control.

Actually, it does have one frill: an SD card reader. … Read more

Microsoft: Blu-ray costs holding PS3 back

Is Blu-ray the root of Sony's troubles in the gaming space? Aaron Greenberg, Microsoft's director of product management, seems to think so.

Speaking to Edge magazine in a recent interview, Greenberg said that because "Sony bet on the physical disc" for entertainment, it's facing "associated costs" that might be holding the PlayStation 3 back.

"The fact that we're able to offer a console starting at $199 is a benefit of not being burdened with that cost," Greenberg told Edge. "Being $100 cheaper is part of the reason why we'… Read more

Avatar to DVD, Blu-ray on Earth Day, but no 3D version this year

If industry scuttlebutt surrounding the home video release schedule of "Avatar" pans out, "3D" may as well stand for "third dip." The probable bestselling Blu-ray of all time will see at least three versions, and neither of the two coming this year will be in 3D.

Officially, Fox Home Video announced the initial, "bare-bones" release of the film on Blu-ray and DVD for April 22, 2010, which finally gives Earth Day the commercial sheen it has so sorely missed. Massive mounds of marketing will begin March 23, culminating in an anticlimactic "shelf price" of $19.99 for the DVD and $29.99 for the Blu-ray.

Unofficially, according to the Los Angeles Times, November will see a multidisc "ultimate version." We're sure it will include all of the commentaries, documentaries, deleted scenes, animation schematics, blue body paint, and alternate versions of the film fans could ever want--except a 3D version, says Fox.… Read more

Get a refurbished Blu-ray player for $50

This won't last the day, let alone the time it takes me to type these words, so click quick if you want to score the single best Blu-ray player deal ever.

Kmart is offering a refurbished Magnavox NB500MG9 Blu-ray player for $49.99 shipped (plus sales tax in some states). Note: The product page shows $149.99, but you'll see the $100 savings after you add the player to your cart and hit the checkout page.

This is a basic, no-frills player. It's probably best for folks who want to dip a toe in the Blu-ray waters, … Read more

The 404 Podcast 536: Where we're suffering from stereo blindness

All week long we've been talking about the popularity of 3D technology, both in the home and in the theater, and we've finally decided to invite someone on the show to answer our questions on the future of home theater. David Katzmaier, senior editor of TVs and home theater for CNET, joins us on today's episode to fill us in on the latest developments in the world of 3D TVs and what we can expect to see down the line.

3D TVs were easily the biggest trend at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, but they've only recently started becoming available to consumers. Panasonic announced its first 3D TV bundle at Best Buy earlier this week, but before you run out and drop $2,900, make sure you know exactly what you're getting into.

For example, David talks to us about the extra hardware you'll need to purchase along with your 3D TV. Aside from the obvious 3D-compatible television set, you'll also need a 3D Blu-ray player (unless you have a Sony PS3, which will get a 3D firmware upgrade in June 2010), and a couple sets of 3D glasses, since some companies like Sony won't include them with the TVs.

David also points out that although the concept of 3D TVs are definitely exciting, it'll be awhile before enough 3D video games and 3D DVDs come out to justify the high price of the hardware. In the meantime, it's worth the experience to head out to a theater and view a 3D movie, especially with so many titles coming out this year. "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland" in 3D are still in theaters, and with "Titanic" and In "The Beginning" (adaptation of the Genesis story) coming down the pike, there are plenty of opportunities to familiarize yourself with 3D before writing it off or becoming a fanboy.

We tried to answer as many of your 3D TV questions as possible, but don't stress if we didn't get to yours--there's a good chance that CNET's comprehensive 3D TV FAQ and 3D TV resource guide have your answers. We'll also have David on the show again soon as more 3D TV news unfolds. Have a great weekend everyone!

EPISODE 536 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

CNET overhauls its Blu-ray player reviews

Every year, before the deluge of new products begins, CNET editors have a chance to revisit testing guidelines and procedures for their product categories. Usually the changes are gradual, but in the case of Blu-ray we saw plenty of opportunities to improve on our coverage of the category.

For 2010, we're aiming to make Blu-ray testing more systematic and objective, while also making it easier to compare the models available on the market. To do this, we recently rolled out two new features: a new spreadsheet that makes it easier to compare all the testing we do and a complete revision of our Blu-ray testing procedure.

Link to the full spreadsheet

We've always kept a master spreadsheet of Blu-ray products we review for our own purposes, but this year we cleaned it up for public consumption. Our best Blu-ray players list and the individual reviews are still the best way for the average reader to make a buying choice, but if you're a home theater enthusiast interested in the nitty-gritty details, the chart gives you a detailed look at all the testing we conduct on each player. (We use this spreadsheet to track all our testing, so occasionally there will be testing data available for players before a full review goes up, as there is now.)

Our new Blu-ray testing procedure can be seen in full on the new "How we test Blu-ray players" page. Some highlights of the new testing procedure include:… Read more