Digital Home

iPod: The once and future stocking stuffer

Apple's iPod is the king of holiday gadgets. But can the company deliver another round of blowout sales in its make-or-break season?

iPod nano. Image: Jon Fortt

It's 7 p.m. at an Apple Store less than six miles from the company's Silicon Valley headquarters, and even in early November, it's already a madhouse. Throughout the upscale mall space, customers are busily poking and prodding the latest iPods and Macs, gushing about how MORE

A digital nanny for all those home PCs

New Home Server aims to bring big-business technology to the home -- but it will be a tough sell HP's MediaSmart Server runs Microsoft's new Windows Home Server operating system. Image from Microsoft.

Yes, it has come to this. Now that consumers have multi-PC homes, wireless networks, and thousands of digital files floating around, they need a computer whose sole purpose is to keep an eye on the other computers.

At least, that's MORE

Sony sees big holiday season for electronics

Sony expects that products like this KDL-46XBR2 TV will be a hit this holiday season. Image: Sony

Never mind the mortgage blues: Sony executives say signs already point to this being one of the best-ever holiday seasons for consumer electronics sales.

During an invitation-only press event Monday night in San Francisco, Sony Electronics President Stan Glasgow said that despite recent doom-and-gloom predictions about fallout from the subprime mortgage mess, he is confident MORE

Lesson of the week: Don't underestimate Dell and Microsoft

Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system is selling better than investors expected – and customers are spending extra for the premium version. Image: Microsoft

Don't look now: Dell and Microsoft investors had a pretty good week.

Lately the market news hadn't been great for these tech stocks. Microsoft (MSFT) couldn't get respect in a world abuzz about Nintendo's Wii, Google's (GOOG) search and Apple's (AAPL) iPhone – that is, until its stock this MORE

Expect Blu-ray/HDTV bundles for the holidays

Samsung P-1400 Blu-ray player. Image: Samsung

It's been quite a busy few days for the high-definition format war between Blu-ray and HD DVD. First, Wal-Mart (WMT) confirmed that it has begun selling the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player in stores for less than $200. The next day Amazon (AMZN) and Circuit City (CC) began offering the player online for a penny less.

Now there are reports that Wal-Mart today will sell the MORE

AMD on the future of the desktop computer

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is having a tough time battling Intel (INTC) for market share and profits in the PC business. While chipmaker AMD has forged relationships with market leaders like Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Dell (DELL), there are plenty of customers who haven't embraced the microchip upstart – most obviously, Apple (AAPL).

Behold Hulu, Hollywood's answer to YouTube

Hulu.com, which launched in private beta today, emulates many features popularized by Google's (GOOG) YouTube. But unlike YouTube, which mostly shows user-generated content, Hulu includes programs from networks, including NBC, Fox, E! Entertainment, FUEL TV, SciFi Network and USA Networks. The site's purpose is to be both a promotional vehicle and a revenue generator; it will make money from ads both on the site and within videos.

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Big retailers launch HD DVD price war

Toshiba HD-A2. Image: Toshiba

A pre-holiday retail skirmish in high-definition DVD players has begun. Just days after Wal-Mart (WMT) slashed its in-store price on the Toshiba HD-A2 to $198, Circuit City (CC) and Amazon (AMZN) followed suit by offering the player online for $197.99.

Consumers seem eager to buy the HD-A2, which had been selling on Amazon for $230 and as much as $280 elsewhere. The Toshiba player, which had been one MORE

HD DVD vs. Blu-ray: Wal-Mart offers Toshiba player for under $200

Toshiba HD-A2. Image: Toshiba

The battle for the future of the high-definition DVD has taken an intriguing turn: For the first time, mega-retailer Wal-Mart (WMT) has begun selling a player for less than $200.

In various online forums, enthusiasts have reported seeing the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player available in stores for $198, significantly less than its common price of $230-$280.

Dell takes a page from Apple in Adobe deal

Dell's XPS 420. Image: Dell

Following Apple's (AAPL) lead, Dell (DELL) is outfitting a new upscale PC with sophisticated software for making videos, managing photos and tweaking audio.

The company announced Tuesday that its new XPS computers will come pre-loaded with versions of Adobe Systems' (ADBE) Photoshop, Premiere and Soundbooth software. It's the first time Dell has offered that kind of a software bundle, and the first time Adobe, a recognized leader MORE