Blockbuster Boosts Blu-ray

How's that for an alliteration? I know, it's kind of wimpy, but I tried! Anyhow, Blockbuster has decided that the vast majority of their rental stores will only carry the Blu-ray format out of the next-generation DVD formats given that Blu-ray rentals covered 70% of the high-definition format rentals. What I'm curious about is why there's so much consumer support for Blu-ray. It seems like Internet geeks prefer HD-DVD, and it sounds like it has better video quality also, so why the huge disparity between HD-DVD and Blu-ray rentals? I guess the more important question is whether or not HD-DVD stands a chance. Given that these movies aren't going to have big price drops for a while, unlike current-gen DVDs, I'd estimate that more people would invest in rentals than in purchases. I don't know if I'd declare Blu-ray a winner quite yet though, because people have turned more to online rentals nowadays like Netflix and Blockbuster's online thing, which will have both HD-DVD and Blu-ray unlike the majority of their stores. This is a pretty big blow, but it ain't over by a long shot.

YouTube has added a new feature to their site: you can now edit your videos right from the comfort of your very own browser. It's not very fleshed out, or very pretty, but it gets the job done. I'd like to see them do a lot more with it, because it's not going to appeal to anyone who knows what they're doing with video editing.

In Apple land, geeks are planning to unite in a voluntary conference to discuss how to develop software for the iPhone without an SDK. These guys must be really obsessed, but I guess it's a good idea. Oh, and Apple is helping along the marketing with a little Flash movie on their iPhone home page showing how the multi-touch technology works on a very high level. I'm curious as to how the hardware works on the low-level though.

If you're a programmer who appreciates dry humor, you may like this look at Abject Oriented Programming.

The box office this weekend wasn't too surprising with the Fantastic Four sequel coming out on top at over $57 million dollars despite the less than favorable reviews. I guess that the well-cut trailers brought in enough people. It was followed as expected: Ocean's 13 and Knocked Up, with only a few million bucks between the two of them. What was kind of funny was how steeply Hostel 2 dropped, but I'm more surprised that Spider-man 3 is clinging to the #10 spot. Oh, and the DOA re-release was horribly conceived bringing in not even half a million dollars. I wonder if 1408 will be good? It is based on a Stephen King book, and I love his stuff.

A trailer has popped up for a movie called There Will Be Blood, and it features a cool, gritty monologue. It's another Western movie, but I suppose that we're about due for a sprint of Western flicks anyway.

AICN has gotten more reviews for Transformers, and they pretty much confirm what one would expect: it's great eye candy and a fun summer flick, but it's not without its share of flaws. Still, it sounds quite worthwhile. Do you really expect a heavy plot from a Transformers movie anyway? Come on, it's alien robots that transform into American cars.

Lastly, it sounds like Indiana Jones 4 will have an atomic explosion in it. Hmmm, interesting.

Now for some Unconscious Mutterings:

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Riding :: Tractors


2. Actress :: Julia Roberts


3. Flowers :: Lilies


4. Making :: the Band


5. Robot :: Chicken


6. Enjoy :: Coke (stupid ads)


7. Identify :: Object


8. 22 :: 44


9. Busy :: Work


10. Forward :: E-mail