Skip to main content

Blu-ray Promo Gives ‘Free’ Players with TVs

Blu-ray Promo Gives

We won’t say that you can get a Blu-ray player for free any sooner than we’ll say that the free pizza that you get with the purchase of a $30,000 car is “free,” but the companies behind Blu-ray have definitely cooked up a sale to move players off shelves. In separate Sunday circular ads, Sony and Best Buy advertised rebates of up to $500 when an eligible Blu-ray player and display are purchased together, effectively negating the cost of the player.

In Sony’s case, a $400 rebate can be had when a Sony Blu-ray player (only the $400 BDP-S300 would be completely “free” with the rebate) is purchased with one of three qualifying TVs starting at $2,300 MSRP. The offer from Best Buy is good on most Sharp displays over 42 inches with purchase of the Aquos BD-HP20U player, the cost of which is covered by a $500 rebate.

While many commentators chalked up a victory for Blu-ray following Warner Bros. announcement of exclusive support for the format in the future, Toshiba stabbed back last week with its own announcement, slashing prices on HD-DVD players to as low as $150. Given this latest move from the Blu-ray camp, Toshiba’s efforts may have actually worked, forcing Sony and company to offer their own incentives.

Editors' Recommendations

Nick Mokey
As Digital Trends’ Managing Editor, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team delivering definitive reviews, enlightening…
Where to rent DVDs and Blu-rays as Netflix ends disc rentals
Redbox DVD rentals.

After a formidable 25-year run, Netflix has announced that it will shutter its DVD-to-mail rental service, DVD Netflix, aka DVD.com. Citing the shrinking DVD business, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told shareholders on April 18 that the rental service would be shipping its last DVD on September 29, 2023.
And while most of the 230 million Netflix subscribers won’t miss the service -- or perhaps even knew it still existed in the first place -- DVDs and Blu-rays are still a preferred method for watching movies and TV series if you really care about quality or just don't have broadband internet.
But now that DVD Netflix is out of the game, where can people turn to rent DVDs and Blu-rays?
Well, as the news hit Twitter, two of the best alternatives chimed in, reminding their followers that they, too, still existed. GameFly -- which primarily rents video games, but also has a selection of movies for rent -- tweeted at popular kiosk-rental company Redbox with a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid gif and the text “Out here with @redbox like … .” The two services exchanged clever gifs and tweets (Redbox and Blockbuster even exchanged jabs) about being the last ones standing, but it still might be unclear to many DVD Netflix renters where they can go to fill the void.
That’s where we come in with this rundown of where you can rent DVDs and Blu-rays now that Netflix is shutting down its DVD rental service. Oh, and if you need a Blu-ray player, check out our roundup of the best ones to buy.

Redbox

Read more
Astell&Kern gives its new entry-level digital audio player some premium features
Astell&Kern SR35 digital audio player with earbuds.

Starting in the $700-range, Astell&Kern's (A&K) most affordable portable digital audio players have never been easy on the wallet, but they have always been packed with top-quality components and features. With its latest entry-level model, the $799 A&norma SR35, that tradition continues with impressive upgrades, some of which have been lifted directly from the company's ultra-premium models. You'll be able to buy it at A&K dealers in May.

On the outside, not much has changed from the $749 SR25 II (which is still available while supplies last). A&K has kept the same chunky case, oversized volume knob, distinctive bevel edges, and quirky angled display. The player retains its internal 64GB of storage (expandable up to 1TB via microSD cards) as well as the ability to act as both a Bluetooth receiver and transmitter with LDAC and aptX HD codec support. And you can still use the AK File Drop function to load the player with your favorite songs wirelessly -- no USB cable required. That wireless connectivity has been improved, however, with support for both 2.4 and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands.

Read more
Google gives LG TV owners three free months of Stadia Pro
Google Stadia on an LG TV.

Google and LG today announced that they're giving three months of access to Stadia Pro to new and existing owners of LG TVs.

Stadia is Google's cloud-based gaming service that works with various devices such as LG televisions, Chromecast with Google, and other supported hardware. There's nothing to plug in — you just pair a controller and get things going with the Stadia app on your phone, and you're good to go.

Read more