Built in Blu-Ray

Sharp debuting an LCD high definition television with a Blu-ray burner all in one handy dandy device.  While it may not appeal to all users, it would be ideal for those looking for a clean install, like on a wall.  At the time, it was available in Japan only so those stateside were not included.

Now, some further details are emerging.  Indeed it will come in both 32 and 42 inch sizes, with the larger one a full 1080p resolution (theoretically the 32" model should be 720p but this is unconfirmed).  The expected price on the larger set will be $2000, and no price yet on is baby brother.  Apparently the LCD sets with built in Blu-ray are already sold in Japan in sizes up to 52", and there are also plans to bring these sets into some European markets next year as well.

Best Buy holds two-day 30% off PS3, Blu-Ray sale

Best Buy Co. Inc. stores on Fri. began offering a two-day sale that discounts game titles for Sony Corp.'s Playstation 3 and Blu-ray disc titles by 30 percent.

PS3 titles discounted to $37.99 include Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero: World Tour, Far Cry 2, Madden NFL 09, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Grand Theft Auto IV, NBA 2K9 and FIFA Soccer 09.

Discounted Blu-ray disc titles include The Ultimate Matrix Trilogy at $69.99, Planet Earth at $55.99, The Ocean's Trilogy at $48.99, Get Smart at $20.99 and Speed Racer at $20.99.

Retailers have began offering aggressive price cuts to high-definition products to spur adoption.  Best Buy Co. Inc. stores in Dec. began offering a discounted PS3, HDTV bundle to customers.  Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Black Friday price cut a Magnavox Blu-ray player to $128 in a doorbuster deal. Amazon.com is offering 20 percent off Sony Blu-ray movies with the purchase of an eligible PS3 title.  It is also offering a new $12.99 and up Blu-ray sale.  Finally, it is offering a free Blu-ray disc player by Sharp Corp. with the purchase of a select Sharp Aquos HDTV.

Sony in Nov. released the 160GB PS3 SKU. The bundle includes a new 160GB PS3, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, PAIN downloadable game voucher, and a Dualshock 3 controller for $499. Additionally, it sells an 80GB model for $399.99.

Blu-ray Adoption Less than VHS in Japan

You might think that the only two viable formats in the hotbed of technology that is Japan when it comes to entertainment are DVD and Blu-ray. VHS is a dead format in the US, but according to new statistics Japanese movie fans still like old-fashioned VHS tapes.

The most popular home entertainment format according to a recent study was VHS according to 68% of those surveyed. DVD was very close with 66.4% of the vote.

By comparison, a mere 6.3% of those polled said they had a Blu-Ray Player including those who owned a PS3 console. 45% of those polled also said they had a hard drive recorder.

Blu-ray price cuts hurt OEM manufacturers

According to industry sources in Taiwan, OEM Blu-Ray manufacturers have been hit with "seriously stagnant sales" due to Sony, Samsung and Sharp's decision to drop prices of standalone Blu-ray players to under $200 USD. 

The manufacturers began shipping players out in October and November aimed "at the $199 to $299 price range" which became nearly impossible to sell at profit after the bigger brand name companies began selling the players at under $200. 

The companies should be okay now however, as brand name Blu-ray player prices have crept up to their average prices before the special holiday cuts. 

Digitimes noted that U.S. buyers bought almost exclusively from big name companies such as Samsung and Sony during the holiday season, leaving less reputable OEM brands out to dry. 

GotBlu? Top 5 Blu-Ray Movies of 2008

1. The Dark Knight - All Hail the Dark Knight! This action packed flick never lets down and saw amazing sales numbers on release day and continues to see great success.  Easily our number one pick of 2008

2. Ironman - 2008 The year of superhero shows us that people still love comic book super heros.

3. Band of Brothers - This epic HBO series captured the hearts of America in its original run on HBO.  Now we can enjoy it in all of its high definition glory!  They really did a great job in the re-release of this box set, and I can say I'm now the proud owner of both the DVD and Blu-Ray versions.

4. Planet Earth  - What more can be said.  This movie is one of the most beautiful videos in history.  The amazing film work by the crew to capture some of the greatest wild life moments ever caught on film.  On top of that it looks amazing in high def.

5. Wall-E - CG films always look great in High Definition and to go along with a great story Wall-E's 3 disc collectors edition rounds out our top 5 Blu-Ray movies of 2008.

Coming Soon: January 6, 2009

Dexter: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)   Paramount Pictures | 2006 | 576 mins | Not rated | Jan 06, 2009 Dexter is a crime drama about Dexter Morgan, a man who leads a double life as an incredibly likeable forensics expert for the Miami Police Department and as an emotionless vigilante serial killer. Taught by his foster father to...

Disaster Movie (Blu-ray)   Lionsgate Films | 2008 | 90 mins | Unrated | Jan 06, 2009 In 'Disaster Movie', the filmmaking team behind the hits 'Scary Movie', 'Date Movie', 'Epic Movie' and 'Meet The Spartans' puts this time its unique, inimitable stamp on one of the biggest and most bloated movie genres of all..

Eden Lake (Blu-ray)   Weinstein Company | 2008 | 91 mins | Not rated | Jan 06, 2009 A couple on a weekend away are terrorized by a gang of feral kids.

Friday Night Lights (Blu-ray)   Universal Studios | 2004 | 118 mins | Rated PG-13 | Jan 06, 2009 As darkness descends over the flatlands of West Texas, every Friday evening, from September through December, a dazzling, disorienting glow, visible on the stark horizon for miles around, ignites the blackened sky. Looming...

The Hitcher (Import) (Blu-ray)   101 DISTRIBUTION | 2007 | 84 mins | Rated R | Jan 06, 2009 Grace Andrews and Jim Halsey are a collegiate couple who are tormented by the mysterious hitchhiker John Ryder, a.k.a. The Hitcher. The young couple hit the road in a 1970 Oldsmobile 442, en route to spring break. But their...

The Last Emperor - Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)   Criterion | 1987 | 165 mins | Rated PG-13 | Jan 06, 2009 Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor won nine Academy Awards, unexpectedly sweeping every category in which it was nominated. The power and scope of the film was, and remains, undeniable—the life of Emperor Pu Yi, who took...

The Last Legion (Import) (Blu-ray)   101 DISTRIBUTION | 2007 | 102 mins | Rated PG-13 | Jan 06, 2009 Rome, 476 AD. The Roman Empire, a mighty force for almost 500 years, is being threatened. On the eve of twelve-year-old Romulus Augustus' crowning ceremony to become the new emperor, Barbarian general Odoacer arrives in Rome to...

Life Gamble (Sheng si dou) (Blu-ray)   Navarre Corporation | 1979 | 96 mins | Not rated | Jan 06, 2009 No synopsis for this title.

Miss Potter (Import) (Blu-ray)   101 DISTRIBUTION | 2006 | 92 mins | Rated PG | Jan 06, 2009 Inspired by a true story set in Victorian England, a tale charting the life of Beatrix Potter--a literary phenomenon of the early 20th century. At a time when most young women of her class aimed only to make a good marriage,...

Opium & The Kung Fu Master (Hung kuen dai see) (Blu-ray)   Navarre Corporation | 1984 | 90 mins | Not rated | Jan 06, 2009 No synopsis for this title.

Pineapple Express (Blu-ray)   Sony Pictures | 2008 | 111 mins | Unrated | Jan 06, 2009 A new comedy from the creative genius of Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Talladega Nights) follows a pair of druggie losers as they reach the top of the hit-list when one witnesses a mob murder and drags his buddy...

Ping Pong Playa (Blu-ray)   Image Entertainment | 2007 | 96 mins | Rated PG-13 | Jan 06, 2009 Christopher "C-dub" Wang is a Chinese-American gangsta-rapper wannabe with outrageous, and unlikely, dreams of becoming a pro basketball star. When his ping pong champion brother gets hurt, it's up to C-dub to pick up the paddle...

Righteous Kill (Blu-ray)   Starz / Anchor Bay | 2008 | 103 mins | Rated R | Jan 06, 2009 A pair of veteran New York City police detectives are on the trail of a vigilante serial killer. After 30 years as partners in the pressure cooker environment of the NYPD, highly decorated Detectives David Fisk and Thomas...

The Wackness (Blu-ray)   Sony Pictures | 2007 | 99 mins | Rated R | Jan 06, 2009 New York, summer 1994, the greatest year in hip-hop, a troubled teenage drug dealer trades pot for therapy sessions with a drug-addled psychiatrist intent on living his life to the fullest. The two form an unlikely...

Coming Soon: January 5, 2009

The Flock(Import) A hyper vigilant federal agent, while training his young female replacement, must track down a missing girl who he is convinced is connected to a paroled sex offender he is investigating.