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Netflix Begins Testing New "Ultra" Subscription Plan Option[teaser]The potential new membership plan could lead to higher prices for HDR content.[/teaser] According to a report by TuttoAndroid, Netflix has begun testing a new "Ultra" subscription plan in Europe. The new tier is currently being offered to some users in Italy and Germany for 16.99 or 19.99 euros, which translates to about $19.88 or $23.38. The proposed Ultra plan would join the existing Premium, Standard, and Basic plans as the most expensive tier of the bunch. And though specific differences between the plans vary during the trial depending on what device customers sign up with, the main distinction between the current Premium plan and the new Ultra plan appears to be HDR support -- something that was actually already included in the original Premium tier but now seems to be removed. Likewise, some users who have access to the new plan have also seen a reduction in the number of simultaneous screens they can stream to on the Standard plan from 2 to 1 and the Premium plan from 4 to 2. This means that the Ultra plan is basically just a price increase for HDR and 4 screen streaming without offering any new features of its own. Here's a breakdown of the new test plan and how it affects the other options per CordCutting.com: Speaking to CNET, a Netflix representative confirmed the test run and said in a statement that "In this case, we are testing slightly different price points and features to better understand how consumers value Netflix." Still, the spokesperson went on to clarify that "Not all Netflix subscribers will see the test and the company may not ever offer the specific price points or features being tested." For now, Netflix continues to offer three plans in the US: Basic for $7.99, Standard for $10.99, and Premium for $13.99. Sources: TuttoAndroid, CNET, Engadget, CordCuttingPosted Thu Jul 5, 2018 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Blu-ray: 'Star Wars: Rebels,' 'Adrift,' and More[teaser]The newest season of Star Wars: Rebels leads this crop of upcoming Blu-ray releases.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several Blu-rays from Disney, Universal, MVD Visual, ClassicFlix, Sony, Cinema Guild, Flicker Alley, and Unearthed Films set for release in the coming months. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, Disney is bringing Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season Four starring Taylor Gray, Vanessa Marshall, and Freddie Prinze, Jr. to Blu-ray on July 31. Supplements will include: - Six Audio Commentaries- Ghosts of Legend- Force of Rebellion- Kevin Kiner: The Rebel Symphony- Rebels Recon Order the Blu-ray Universal is prepping Coralie Fargeat's Revenge starring Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Kevin Janssens, and Vincent Colombe for Blu-ray on August 7. Supplements will include: - Original Trailer Meanwhile, the studio is set to release Peter Segal's Nutty Professor II: The Klumps starring Eddie Murphy on August 14. Supplements have not been announced yet. Likewise, Mel Smith's Bean starring Rowan Atkinson, Peter MacNicol, Burt Reynolds, and Pamela Reed is also due to arrive on August 14. No other details have been revealed at this time. In addition, Wilford Leach's The Pirates of Penzance starring Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, Linda Ronstadt, and George Rose is scheduled to hit Blu-ray on August 14 as well. No other information is currently listed for the release. And rounding out Universal's upcoming slate will be Baltasar Kormákur's Adrift starring Shailene Woodley, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Thomas, and Elizabeth Hawthorne on September 4. Supplements will include: - Deleted Scenes- Survival at Sea- Braving the Elements- Journey- Trailer #1- Trailer #2- Feature Commentary with Director Baltasar Kormakur and Shailene Woodley Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray MVD Visual is prepping Glenn Aveni's documentary The US Festival 1982: The US Generation starring Stewart Copeland, Mick Fleetwood, and Micky Hart for Blu-ray on August 10. Supplements have not been announced at this time. Meanwhile, the label is bringing Eric Karson's Angel Town starring Olivier Gruner, Mark Dacascos, and Peter Kwong to Blu-ray on September 25. Supplements will include: - Archival Audio Commentary from Director / Producer Eric Karson- NEW 2018 Interview with Director / Producer Eric Karson- NEW 2018 Interview with Frank Aragon (''Martin'')- NEW 2018 Interview with Cinematographer John LeBlanc- Archival ''Making of'' Featurette- Archival Interview with Director Eric Karson- Archival Interview with Director Olivier Gruner- Original Theatrical Trailer (SD)- Collectible Mini-Poster In addition, John Woo's Windtalkers: Special Edition starring Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Christian Slater, Peter Stormare, and Noah Emmerich is set to arrive on October 9. Supplements have not been detailed yet. Likewise, Carl Franklin's Out of Time: Special Edition starring Denzel Washington, Eva Mendes, Sanaa Lathan, Dean Cain, and John Billingsley will also hit Blu-ray on October 9. No other details have been announced so far. And rounding out the label's upcoming lineup will be Terry Zwigoff's Art School Confidential starring Max Minghella, Sophia Myles, John Malkovich, Ethan Suplee, and Matt Keeslar on October 9. Supplements will include: - Making of Art School Confidential- Deleted Scenes- Blooper Reel- Sundance Featurette- Original Theatrical Trailer Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray ClassicFlix is preparing Norman Z. McLeod's Merrily We Live starring Constance Bennett, Brian Aherne, and Alan Mowbray on August 14. Supplements have not been announced yet, but the disc will feature a new restoration of the film. Order the Blu-ray Sony has announced plans to bring Dean Devlin's Bad Samaritan starring David Tennant, Kerry Condon, Robert Sheehan, Jacqueline Byers, and Hannah Barefoot to Blu-ray on August 14. Supplements will include: - Deleted Scenes Order the Blu-ray Cinema Guild is set to release Valeska Grisebach's Western starring Meinhard Neumann, Reinhardt Wetrek, and Syuleyman Alilov Letifov on August 28. Supplements will include: - An Interview with director Valeska Grisebach- Theatrical Trailer- Booklet featuring essay by Dennis Lim Order the Blu-ray Flicker Alley is preparing Felix E. Feist's The Man Who Cheated Himself starring Lee J. Cobb, Jane Wyatt, John Dall, and Lisa Howard for Blu-ray on September 25. The disc will feature a brand new 4K restoration of the film, and supplements will include: - "The Man Who Cheated Himself Revisited": Produced by Steven Smith and the Film Noir Foundation, this mini-documentary offers a behind-the-scenes examination of the film's original production.- "The Man Who Cheated Himself Locations Then and Now": City Sleuth (aka Brian Hollins) leads a virtual tour around San Francisco hunting down the many locations used during the production of The Man Who Cheated Himself.- Restored Theatrical Trailer: Brand-new restoration of the original theatrical trailer- Souvenir Booklet: Featuring rare photographs, poster art, original lobby cards, and an essay by the "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller. Order the Blu-ray Unearthed Films is bringing Jean-Paul Ouellette's The Unnamable starring Mark Kinsey Stephenson, Charles Klausmeyer, and Eben Ham to Blu-ray on October 9. The disc will be sourced from a 4K Scan with color correction and restoration from the original negative. Supplements will include: - Audio Commentary with Charles Klausmeyer, Mark Stephenson, Laura Albert, Eben Ham, Camille Calvet, R. Christopher Biggs- Video Interviews with R. Christopher Biggs special makeup effects artist & make up artist Camille Calvet- Video Interview with Mark Parra, Video Interview with actors Charles Klausmeyer & Mark Kinsey Stephenson- Video Interview with actor Eben Ham, Video Interview with actress Laura Albert Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Wed Jul 4, 2018 at 09:55 AM PDT by: -
TCL & Mohu Launch Cut the Cord Day GiveawayUPDATE: Along with the giveaway discussed below, TCL has just announced a 10% off sale at all major retailers for tomorrow, July 7, 2018. This is a one-day-only sale, but might be the perfect time to pick up the awesome 6-Series Roku 4K TV with Dolby Vision. ~~~ [teaser]The companies are giving away 4K TVs and digital antennas.[/teaser] July 7 is National Cut the Cord Day and to help celebrate the event, TCL and Mohu have announced a special Cord Cutting Bundle Giveaway. As part of the promotion, customers can now enter for a chance to win a TCL 4K Roku TV and a Mohu Blade HDTV Antenna. "Every year the number of cord-cutters continues to rise and since we believe that trend will only keep growing, TCL's mission is to provide consumers with a premium home entertainment experience that offers all their favorite shows through free over the air programming and the most streaming content available on any Smart TV," said Chris Larson, Senior Vice President, TCL. "With National Cut the Cord Day upon us, TCL is furthering its commitment to deliver the cost savings and viewing flexibility that cord cutters desire and that consumers have come to expect from our brand. Our award-winning TCL Roku TVs include a tuner as a vital supplement to streaming and are a great way to access popular network TV and live sports in high definition over the air at no additional cost." According to the press release, on average the American household spends about $103 on cable every month. With that in mind, the giveaway will offer consumers a chance to win 1 of 103 cord cutting bundles with a 55-inch 4K TCL 4-Series Roku TV and a Mohu Blade HDTV antenna -- allowing users to cut the traditional pay-TV cord. Interested parties can now enter at https://www.tclusa.com/cut-the-cord-giveaway. Winners will be announced on Monday, July 9. "Mohu's priority is to make cord cutting easier with innovative products like our new Blade HDTV Antenna. And with TCL's exceptional line of smart TVs, we are excited to offer consumers the ultimate cord cutting solution," said John Crabill, Chief Marketing Officer, Mohu. "National Cut the Cord Day is the perfect time for us to collaborate as we both share the common goal to offer critical yet affordable home entertainment devices that consumers need in order to cut the cord." Source: TCLPosted Tue Jul 3, 2018 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
Amazon Prime Day 2018 Set to Kick Off on July 16[teaser]The annual sales event will return on July 16 - July 17 and Countdown Deals start today![/teaser] Amazon has announced a start date for its yearly Prime Day shopping promotion. The 36-hour sale will begin on July 16 at 12pm PT/3pm ET and will run through July 17, offering more than one million exclusive deals for Prime members "Prime members will enjoy a day (and a half) of our best deals, with 36 hours to shop more than one million deals worldwide," said Jeff Wilke, Amazon CEO Worldwide Consumer. "New this year, members can shop exclusive Prime Day Launches from hundreds of brands worldwide, enjoy exclusive savings at Whole Foods Market and experience surprise entertainment events unboxed from giant Smile boxes in major cities. More than 100 million paid Prime members around the world will find our best Prime Day celebration yet." Prime Day 2018 will offer 50 percent more Spotlight Deals compared to last year's event on a variety of products across numerous categories, including TVs, smart home, kitchen, grocery, toys, fashion, furniture, appliances, and back-to-school supplies. Deals will be active for Prime Members in the US, UK, Spain, Mexico, Japan, India, Italy, Germany, France, China, Canada, Belgium, Austria, Australia, Singapore, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This year's event will also include the company's biggest sale yet on Alexa-enabled devices. Likewise, various brands will provide special Prime Day Launches as well with exclusive new items, content and special-edition products. In addition, Prime Day will also extend its savings to Whole Foods with an additional 10 percent off select sale items. Customers simply need to download the Whole Foods Market app and scan the Prime Code. Meanwhile, the company is also shipping giant Smile boxes to major cities around the world, including New York City, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, and Milan. The boxes will then open in the days leading up to Prime Day to reveal various special events inspired by Prime membership benefits like music, video, gaming, and more. For more information be sure to check out amazon.com/unboxingprimeday. And to ensure users don't miss any of the upcoming deals, Amazon has put together some handy tips to help customers keep track of all the discounts and maximize their savings. Here's a rundown of tips per Amazon: - Watch A Deal: The Amazon App ensures you never miss a deal. This is the easiest way to preview, track and shop those limited time Lightning Deals while at home or on-the-go with deal alerts on the Amazon App. Learn more at amazon.com/watched. - Prime Day Sneak Peek on the Amazon App: Tap the Prime Day banner within the Amazon App from July 9 – 15 for a sneak peek of select products that will have Prime Day deals.Explore Deals By Popular Interests – Find deals organized by more than 40 of the most-shopped-for interests. From style and fashion to electronics, cooking, travel and more – discover deals that you’ll love faster. - Alexa Shopping: Alexa makes it easy to find the best Prime Day deals. Just ask, “Alexa, what are my Prime Day deals?” Track your Prime Day orders with Alexa. Just ask “Alexa, where’s my stuff?” or set up Alexa delivery notifications in the Alexa app. - Amazon Prime Credit Cards: Cardmembers can enjoy 5% back on all their Prime Day purchases when shopping with the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card or the Amazon Prime Store Card. And though the main event won't begin until July 16, Amazon will be offering Countdown Deals everyday leading up to the sale, starting today! Some current gear highlights include: Echo Show - Currently $130 ($100 off MSRP) TEWELL 37-inch Bluetooth Sound Bar - Currently $110 Likewise, Prime Member can also now take advantage of these special promotions on various services: - Amazon Music: Prime members who haven’t yet tried Amazon Music Unlimited can get four months of the premium, on-demand service with access to tens of millions of songs and hands-free listening, for just $0.99. - Twitch Prime: Members can enjoy hundreds of hours of free gameplay as Twitch Prime gives away a free PC game every day through July 18, including titles like Pillars of Eternity and Brutal Legend. Members will also receive exclusive in-game loot for Warframe and PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS. - Kindle Unlimited and eBooks: Prime members who haven't yet tried Kindle Unlimited will have access to three months of unlimited reading for just $0.99. Buy your first Kindle book and get a $10 Prime Day credit valid towards eBooks, print books and Audible. - Audible: Eligible Prime members can get their first three months at more than 65% off for $4.95 a month. An Amazon Prime membership currently costs $119 per year or $13 per month. Make sure to check back with High-Def Digest over the next couple of weeks for more Amazon Prime Day Countdown Deals! Source: AmazonPosted Tue Jul 3, 2018 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Chris Pine Unravels a Dark Mystery in First Trailer for Patty Jenkins' 'I Am the Night'[teaser]The new miniseries is set to hit TNT in January.[/teaser] TNT has released the first trailer for I Am the Night. The upcoming limited series comes from director and executive producer Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) and stars Chris Pine. I Am the Night tells the incredible story of Fauna Hodel, who was given away by her teenage birth mother to a black restroom attendant in a Nevada casino in 1949. As Fauna begins to investigate the secrets to her past, she follows a sinister trail that swirls ever closer to an infamous Hollywood gynecologist, Dr. George Hodel, a man involved in the darkest Hollywood debauchery and a suspect in the infamous "Black Dahlia" murder of Elizabeth Short in Los Angeles in 1947. Check out the trailer below! The six-episode limited series stars Chris Pine as Jay Singletary and India Eisley as Fauna Hodel, along with an ensemble that includes Jefferson Mays, Leland Orser, Yul Vazquez, Dylan Smith, Golden Brooks, Justin Cornwell, Jay Paulson, and Connie Nielsen. Patty Jenkins is listed as director for three episodes and is also on board as an executive producer along with Chris Pine. The series reunites Jenkins and Pine, who previously worked together on Wonder Woman and are currently filming the sequel Wonder Woman 1984. Author Sam Sheridan serves as the show's main writer adapting a story inspired by real events. An exact release date has not been announced yet, but I Am the Night is set to premiere on TNT in January, 2019. Beyond the upcoming show and Wonder Woman 1984, Chris Pine can also be seen next in David Mackenzie's Outlaw King. Likewise, the actor is attached to star in at least one untitled Star Trek sequel currently in development. Other TNT original series include Animal Kingdom, Claws, Good Behavior, and The Last Ship. Source: TNT (YouTube), DeadlinePosted Mon Jul 2, 2018 at 09:00 PM PDT by: -
Where Do You Buy Movies? Grading the Major Retailers on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SupportEditor's Note: Please welcome today's guest columnist, Dennis LaFontaine, a longtime HDD reader & Forum moderator, where you might know him as Krawk. [Teaser]Is there a "best" place to purchase 4K Blu-rays?[/Teaser] We recently wondered if the studio releasing a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray had any impact on user experience, which resulted in Grading the Major Hollywood Studios in the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Era. Along these lines, we wanted to apply a similar experiment with the 4K Blu-ray buying experience itself. Obviously, where one buys a movie doesn't affect picture or audio quality (unless you purchase used RedBox rental discs), but title availability, pricing, customer service, box art, and exclusive special features might be deciding factors in where you buy and your overall satisfaction. To keep our ranking as objective as possible, we're applying a grading system for each of the following criteria -- Pre-Orders -- Can you order an upcoming release and get it on release date?New Release / Exclusive Availability -- How easy is it to purchase a movie upon release or shortly thereafter, and does this retailer offer any exclusives (SteelBoooks, etc)?Catalog Availability -- Are older 4K movies in stock upon release and after?Pricing / Price-Matching -- Can you get the best out-the-door pricing, and is it easy to do this?Customer Service / Return Policy -- If you need customer support after the purchase, how does the merchant perform? 5 points per category -- with 5 representing perfection and 0 indicating abject failure -- for a total score out of 25. Also, to keep things as specific as possible, we've included both physical brick-n-mortar retailers as well as their online counterparts because, outside of store policies, the customer experience at each can be surprisingly different. Here's what we found, ranking the retailers from worst to first: Target -- 11/25 Pre-Orders -- 0/5New Release / Exclusive Availability -- 2.5/5Catalog Availability -- 1/5Pricing / Price-Matching -- 3.5/5Customer Service / Return Policy -- 4/5 Target currently offers no in-store pre-ordering and, with a lot of space still dedicated to DVD, they are very hit and miss with 4K. New releases are usually in stock and have their own three-foot section, while finding older movies sometimes requires a search of several shelves and end-caps. Catalog title availability, even new ones, is quite limited -- if you're looking for something other than Die Hard, Men in Black, or the Jurassic Park Collection, you will likely be looking elsewhere. In terms of exclusives, thus far Target has only shown us the TV series Stranger Things, which was a frustrating double-dip. Pricing is usually within a dollar or two of the competition, and they offer price-matching against local competition and select online retailers. Even better? Target allows up to 14-days past the purchase to make said match, and you can save an additional 5% by using the Target Red Card. Target's customer service center is called Guest Services and is usually sufficiently staffed to get you in and out in a short amount of time. It is their goal to ensure you are satisfied, so no reasonable issue is denied. Standard return policy on media appears to be 30 days for unopened items, or 60 days if you used your Red Card to purchase. Target.com -- 13.5/25 Pre-Orders -- 2/5New Release / Exclusive Availability -- 4/5Catalog Availability -- 2.5/5Pricing / Price-Matching -- 3/5Customer Service / Return Policy -- 2/5 Target.com offers a more robust variety of 4K movies as well as pre-order capability, but the search engine is a bit quirky. Much more damning, Target doesn't reliably ship discs out for release date (unlike other online retailers). As an example, my 4K copies of Gladiator and Braveheart recently arrived over three weeks late. Catalog title selection seems very limited outside of major releases; smaller releases will sometimes remain listed as Pre-Order weeks after release. On the upside, Target.com does well in terms of pricing and price-matching, but you need to call their 1-800 number to get your match. Just like the stores, the Red Card includes benefits like 5% off your purchase and free shipping on all orders (otherwise, you have to spend $35). Customer service is limited to the aforementioned 1-800 number and for returns, you can print labels for free shipping or opt to return items to a physical Target location. The return policy is the same. Best Buy -- 14.5/25 Pre-Orders -- 0.5/5New Release / Exclusive Availability -- 4/5Catalog Availability -- 3.5/5Pricing / Price-Matching -- 4/5Customer Service / Return Policy -- 2.5/5 Best Buy is probably the, ahem, best place to go if you want a 4K movie right-now-today. They carry all new releases, a wide variety of catalog titles, and have offered some excellent SteelBook exclusives and/or 4K/3D combo packs. That said, you have to act fast -- popular/new catalog titles tend to sell out by the weekend after release and limited edition SteelBooks often sell out in a day or two. Best Buy also doesn't offer in-store pre-ordering, but it's easy to do so at BestBuy.com (see our next section). Interestingly enough, Best Buy seems to be pushing 4K above all other video formats. Best Buy sticker pricing is high (though not quite MSRP high), but they frequently have sales (especially the first week) and will match prices against their main competitors (including Amazon). This process is a little slow, as it requires a trip to Customer Service or a supervisor to visit a cashier, but it's rarely a big deal. Best Buy's return policy for unopened media is 15 days, which is a bit short, but if you find damaged media and want to exchange it, they've been flexible in our experience. One other thing we enjoy about Best Buy is their Rewards Card program, which builds up to cash discounts over time. Our tip? Set the certificate threshold to $20 rather than the standard $5. It takes longer to earn, of course, but you can always redeem a lower amount once you've passed $5, but doing so will prevent an auto-issued $5 certificate from expiring unused if you don't need anything when it arrives. Also, if you purchase enough at Best Buy annually, you'll qualify for Elite or Elite Plus status, which ups your return window to 30 days and 45 days, respectively. Walmart -- 16/25 Pre-Orders -- 1/5New Release / Exclusive Availability -- 4.5/5Catalog Availability -- 2/5Pricing / Price-Matching -- 4.5/5Customer Service / Return Policy -- 4.5/5 Much like Best Buy, Walmart also offers .com pre-ordering for in-store pickup, but they also occasionally sell digital cards for movies that give you instant access to the streaming Digital Copy on Vudu.com ahead of the physical media release. Walmart typically stocks all new releases, although we have seen some availability issues recently, including The Shape of Water and Black Panther. Catalog titles are available too -- our local Walmart offers four whole feet of exclusive 4K shelving -- but often require you to shop quickly. Walmart exclusives aren't usually separate releases like Best Buy's SteelBooks, but rather standard release plus some sort of trinket or toy. Overall, Walmart pricing seems to be lower than most merchants, but their price-match policy is limited to their own website (I usually check the Walmart app while shopping). Walmart's return policy is a generous 90-days for unopened media and we've never had problems with returns or exchanges. Another savings tip: as part of the Walmart App, there's an option called Savings Catcher. Savings Catcher has you scan the QR code on your receipt and it will automatically check local competition for better prices. If it finds a better price, it will refund the difference onto a gift card which can be redeemed via Walmart Pay. However, only do this after redeeming your 4K Digital Copy (if included), as you could get locked into an HDX copy of the movie on your Vudu account. BestBuy.com -- 17.5/25 Pre-Orders -- 3.5/5New Release / Exclusive Availability -- 4/5Catalog Availability -- 4/5Pricing / Price-Matching -- 4/5Customer Service / Return Policy -- 2/5 BestBuy.com's strengths and weaknesses mostly match its brick & mortar brethren, but there are a couple of advantages to using the site even if you plan on in-store pickup. In general, pre-orders are listed on Bestbuy.com before Amazon or even before the studio sends out press releases to sites like High-Def Digest. That said, pre-order pricing if often high and Best Buy tends to change skuid info, rendering early pre-order pages obsolete. Then again, pricing usually drops by release date and you get other benefits like selecting in-store pickup or to-you-home shipping. BestBuy.com also tends to ship very early; I've gotten several new movies prior to release date. Catalog titles can be a bit hit or miss as in-store vs online sales and availability don't line up and smaller titles can disappear from the site for weeks. BestBuy.com carries over its Reward Card program, return policy, and price-matching policy from the physical stores, but their 888-number and online chat options are a bit cumbersome compared to other retailers. Free shipping is available on all orders over $35, but the site also offers in-store pickups to save customers a few bucks, here and there. However, it's worth noting that Best Buy doesn't offer free return-shipping and you have to be careful because they don't use rigid mailers for shipping. In other words, if you send something back and it's damaged, it's on you. Speaking of which, I wouldn't suggest shipping SteelBooks to your home, there's a significant chance they'll be dented or damaged in some way. Walmart.com -- 19/25 Pre-Orders -- 4/5New Release / Exclusive Availability -- 4.5/5Catalog Availability -- 3.5/5Pricing / Price-Matching -- 3/5Customer Service / Return Policy -- 4/5 Walmart.com offers almost every new release for pre-order, while new release and catalog titles seem to be stocked even when your local Walmart is out of a specific title. That said, Walmart's search engine is a bit quirky, offering up irrelevant results, and pricing can be inconsistent (some prices are lower than in-store while others are noticeably higher). Free 2-day shipping to your home is included on orders over $35, or you can opt to ship to a store for free. Walmart.com's 90-day return policy matches the store and you can return items to the stores or by printing a return label and shipping the item(s) back. Customer service comes in the form of a 1-800 number or online chat. Also worth noting: when you buy a movie at Walmart.com, when it ships, they will automatically give you a digital HDX copy to your Vudu account (not a 4K copy). See Walmart B&M Savings Catcher for details. Amazon.com -- 20.5/25 Pre-Orders: 4/5New Release / Exclusive Availability: 4/5Catalog Availability: 4.5/5Pricing / Price-Matching: 3.5/5Customer Service / Return Policy: 4.5/5 If Best Buy is the place to get a 4K movie right-now-today, Amazon.com boasts the largest selection of pre-orders, new releases, catalog titles, and even some rare/international releases... with one notable exception. Amazon often negotiates with studios by refusing to offer pre-orders on that studios' movies. For the last year or so, this means you can't pre-order new Disney releases (Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, etc.) and have them delivered to your door on release date. We've also noticed some instances where 4K catalog titles are occasionally on back order. In terms of pricing, Amazon.com used to lead the pack, but that's not always the case and they don't offer a price-match service against the competition. That said, their prices are very competitive, they did hold a long-term 3-for-$50 4K movie sale, and they do offer a pre-order price guarantee that will drop your price down to whatever Amazon's charging on release date. Another consideration is Amazon Prime, which includes free shipping (and same-day delivery for certain times) as well as access to Amazon video and music services. Prime currently costs $119/year, which is a lot if you don't order often. FYI, you can also get free shipping on all orders over $35, but you might not get release date delivery if you're not a Prime member. Amazon.com's customer service is excellent -- you can email them, chat online, or have them "Call Me" all within a few moments. (One word of caution: don't search online for Amazon contact numbers; Google has managed to rank several scam numbers claiming to be Amazon.) Returns are easy and often automated, given you the option to print a label and drop off the package at an approved location or to have a service like UPS show up at your door with a pre-printed label for you. Amazon's 30-day return policy is on the shorter side, but I have managed to push this timing a bit, personally, and Amazon often processes your refund as soon as the tracking number is scanned by the shipper. Final Thoughts In my experience, Walmart.com and Amazon.com are in a statistical dead heat, but Amazon edges out Walmart.com just ever so slightly. In fact, were it not for the Disney issue and Best Buy's SteelBook exclusive, Amazon would have a much larger lead. It's hard to beat a system that has (almost) every title at an aggressive price and will ship it to your house without having to take any time to actually go someplace. That said, my guess is that everyone's preferences will come down to convenience, pricing, and availability. If the cheapest option is the Walmart on your way home from work, great. If you like to pre-order SteelBooks and grab them at 10am on Tuesday morning, BestBuy.com/Best Buy probably work best for you. What about you, dear readers? Do you have a favorite 4K movie retailer, or do you jump around based on pricing, availability, and packaging? Let us know in the comments below or in the forum thread HERE. Cheers!Posted Mon Jul 2, 2018 at 11:12 AM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: 'Disenchantment,' 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before,' and More[teaser]A new YA novel adaptation and the latest animated series from Simpsons creator Matt Groening are among this week's collection of streaming trailers.[/teaser] Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu have released new previews and info for several of their upcoming programs and films. Here's a full rundown of titles scheduled to arrive on each service: The Comedy Lineup: Stand-up Special (Netflix, July 3) - Quick wit takes on a whole new meaning when a group of fiercely funny, emerging comics take the mic for a series of 15-minute stand-up sets, filmed live in front of an intimate crowd at Atlanta's historic Terminal West. The eclectic mix of comedians bring fresh takes on life's issues, big and small, in a series of solo sets. The Comedy Lineup: Part 1 includes Michelle Buteau, Phil Wang, Taylor Tomlinson, Ian Karmel, Jak Knight, Sam Jay, Sabrina Jalees, and Tim Dillon. The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter (Netflix, July 6) - Buck Ferguson (Josh Brolin), famous for hunting whitetail deer, plans a special episode of his hunting show around a bonding weekend with his estranged son, Jaden (Montana Jordan). With trusted - but hapless - cameraman and friend Don (Danny McBride) in tow, Buck sets out for what soon becomes an unexpectedly epic adventure of father-son reconnection in the great outdoors. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Netflix, July 6) - Jerry Seinfeld's roving talk show combines coffee, laughs, and vintage cars into quirky, caffeine-filled adventures with the sharpest minds in comedy. Somebody Feed Phil: Season 2 (Netflix, July 6) - The original documentary series from the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, Phil Rosenthal takes viewers on a goodwill eating tour of the world. Along for the ride are Phil's friends, family and his trademark sense of humor. New Episodes of Somebody Feed Phil will follow Phil as he travels to Venice, Dublin, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Capetown and New York. Samantha! (Netflix, July 6) - In the '80s, Samantha! was the most beloved child in Brazil. 30 years later, people barely remember her. With the help from her manager Marcinho, her kids Cindy and Brandon, and even from her former husband and former soccer player Dodoi, she'll do anything to get back into the spotlight. Father of the Year (Netflix, July 20) - When a drunken debate between two recent college graduates about whose father would win in a fight is taken seriously by their idiot dads, jobs are lost, relationships ruined, futures destroyed, and best friends come of age as they come to grips with who their fathers really are. Starring David Spade, Nat Faxon, Joey Bragg, Matt Shively, and Bridgit Mendler. Last Chance U: Season 3 (Netflix, July 20) - This year, it's a whole new field -- as the series moves to Independence, Kansas! After years of losing seasons, Coach Jason Brown and the Independence Pirates vie for a spot amongst the best in the Junior College Football ranks. Like Father (Netflix, August 3) - When a workaholic young executive (Kristen Bell), is left at the altar, she ends up on her Caribbean honeymoon cruise with the last person she ever expected: her estranged and equally workaholic father (Kelsey Grammer). The two depart as strangers, but over the course of a few hilarious adventures, a couple of umbrella-clad cocktails and a whole lot of soul-searching, they return with a renewed appreciation for family and life. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Netflix, August 10) - Directed by Mike Newell and based on the best-selling and much loved novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY sees Lily James play free-spirited writer Juliet Ashton, who forms a life-changing bond with the delightful and eccentric Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, when she decides to write about the book club they formed during the occupation of Guernsey in WWII. Disenchantment (Netflix, August 17) - From the mind of Matt Groening, comes the 10-episode adult animated comedy fantasy series, Disenchantment. In Disenchantment, viewers will be whisked away to the crumbling medieval kingdom of Dreamland, where they will follow the misadventures of hard-drinking young princess Bean, her feisty elf companion Elfo, and her personal demon Luci. Along the way, the oddball trio will encounter ogres, sprites, harpies, imps, trolls, walruses, and lots of human fools. To All The Boys I've Loved Before (Netflix, August 17) - What if all the crushes you ever had, found out how you felt about them…all at once? Lara Jean Song Covey's love life goes from imaginary to out of control when the love letters for every boy she’s ever loved - five in all - are mysteriously mailed out. From New York Times Bestselling Author, Jenny Han, the film adaption of the popular YA novel stars actress Lana Condor (Alita: Battle Angel, X-Men: Apocalypse) and Noah Centineo (Sierra Burgess Is A Loser, The Fosters). Zoe (Amazon Prime Video, July 20) - Two colleagues at a revolutionary research lab design technology to improve and perfect romantic relationships. As their work progresses, their discoveries become more profound. Starring Ewan McGregor, Léa Seydoux, and Rashida Jones. Harlots: Season 2 (Hulu, July 11) - Margaret Wells struggles to reconcile her roles as brothel owner and mother to daughters Charlotte and Lucy. When her business comes under attack from Lydia Quigley, a rival madam with a ruthless streak, Margaret must fight back even if it means losing her family and possibly her life. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $11 per month for HD streaming and $14 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $119 per year or $13 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $8 per month with commercials. In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Amazon (YouTube), Hulu (YouTube)Posted Fri Jun 29, 2018 at 08:00 PM PDT by: -
This Week in Gear: Oculus Launches Virtual TV App, Sony Preps New 4K HDR Smartphone, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including the new Oculus TV app, Sony's upcoming 4K smartphone, and more.[/teaser] From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed. For this edition, we're covering the launch of the Oculus TV app, details on Sony's new 4K HDR smartphone, and the addition of mobile streaming support for CBS NFL games. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: Oculus TV App Launches on Oculus Go Oculus has announced the launch of Oculus TV for Oculus Go VR Headsets. The new app is designed to serve as a hub for various streaming content, allowing users to watch shows and movies on a virtual big-screen TV. Oculus TV offers access to a variety of live and on-demand content from free and subscription based sources, including Hulu, SHOWTIME, MLB Live games via Facebook Watch, Red Bull TV, Pluto TV, Flicks of Fury, Horror 24/7, Neverthink, Newsy, and more -- all on a giant 180-inch virtual TV screen in a sleek, modern, and immersive virtual viewing area. Likewise, Oculus TV also lets users launch other dedicated VR apps like Netflix, Hulu, SHOWTIME, and SHOWTIME ANYTIME. The Oculus TV app is now available for The Oculus Go Standalone VR Headset ($199) via the Oculus Store. Meanwhile, Oculus has also announced an update to its minimum recommended PC specs for the Oculus Rift. While Windows 7 and 8.1 platforms will still be able to support current Rift features, new and upcoming features and apps may only be supported by the Windows 10 OS. Here's a full rundown of current minimum and recommended Rift specs per Oculus: Rec Spec - Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 480 or greater- Alternative Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or greater- CPU: Intel i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater- Memory: 8GB+ RAM- Video Output: Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output- USB Ports: 3x USB 3.0 ports plus 1x USB 2.0 port- OS: Windows 10 operating system Min Spec - Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti / AMD Radeon RX 470 or greater- Alternative Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 960 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or greater- CPU: Intel i3-6100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200, FX4350 or greater- Memory: 8GB+ RAM- Video Output: Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output- USB Ports: 1x USB 3.0 port, plus 2x USB 2.0 ports- OS: Windows 10 operating system Sources: Oculus Blog 1, Oculus Blog 2 Sony Sets July 30 Release Date for Xperia XZ2 Premium Smartphone Sony has announced a US launch date for its latest premium mobile device. The Xperia XZ2 Premium is set to go on sale via Amazon and Best Buy on July 30 for an MSRP of $1,000. The device features a 5.8-inch 4K HDR display with a resolution of 2160 x 3840, TRILUMINOS tech, and X-Reality for mobile HDR up-conversion. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform CPU, 6GB RAM, and a long lasting 3540mAh battery. A rear Motion Eye 19MP and Black & White 12MP dual camera is integrated as well, along with a 13MP front camera. In addition, the device offers support for 4K HDR video recording, 960 fps Super slow motion FHD video recording, Low-light ISO 51200 photo capture, and Low-light ISO 12800 video capture. Finally, High-Resolution Audio and LDAC support are included as well with S-Force Front Surround stereo speakers. Sony's Xperia XZ2 Premium will be available in Chrome Black and Silver color options. Pre-orders are set to go live on July 9. Sources: Engadget, Sony CBS All Access Expands NFL Streaming Support to Mobile Devices CBS has announced an extended deal with the NFL, allowing the network to stream all NFL on CBS games via the CBS All Access platform through the 2022 season. In addition, CBS All Access and CBS TV Everywhere will now expand NFL streaming support to mobile devices. "We're very pleased to extend and expand our partnership with the NFL and give our viewers and CBS All Access subscribers the ability to stream NFL ON CBS games on mobile phones in addition to all other platforms for years to come," said Marc DeBevoise, President & Chief Operating Officer, CBS Interactive. "This deal enables us to deliver even more value to NFL fans, our subscribers and our distribution partners." CBS All Access will stream all live NFL on CBS games, including Super Bowl LIII, on all supported platforms and mobile devices. Likewise, NFL on CBS authenticated streaming rights will also extend to mobile for cable, satellite, telco, and vMVPD partners. "We are excited to extend our partnership with CBS as it aligns perfectly with our goal of providing NFL fans with greater opportunities to watch NFL games across digital devices," said Hans Schroeder, Chief Operating Officer of NFL Media and Business. "The 2018 season will mark a new era for NFL fans with unprecedented access to NFL games across digital platforms." Beyond NFL games, CBS All Access offers next day streaming for new episodes of many popular shows and a library of over 10,000 on demand episodes, including content from current programs and classic series. In addition, the service is home to several exclusive streaming shows like Star Trek: Discovery and The Good Fight. Likewise, customers in more than 150 markets across the US -- including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia -- can watch live local CBS broadcasts through the app. The service is available in two subscription plans: reduced commercials for $5.99 per month or commercial-free for $9.99 per month. The commercial free option offers ad-free playback of on demand content and original shows. With that said, live streaming still includes the same commercials found on standard over-the-air broadcasts. Source: CBSPosted Fri Jun 29, 2018 at 05:45 PM PDT by: -
Everything Coming to iTunes & the Apple TV App in July 2018[teaser]Check out all the new digital titles coming to the iTunes library and Apple TV App in July.[/teaser] Apple has revealed the July lineup of movies and TV shows set to hit iTunes. The collection includes films like Ready Player One, You Were Never Really Here, Truth or Dare, Tully, and Overboard, along with series like Westworld: Season 2 and more. And beyond iTunes, Apple has also compiled a list of July streaming titles set to be available via the Apple TV App on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices. The Apple TV App allows users to browse through content from over 60 video services without switching from one app to the next, including titles from Amazon Prime Video, HBO Now, Showtime, CBS All Access, Hulu, and many other pay-TV subscriptions. Here's a full rundown of July iTunes titles per Apple: Movies 7/3 - Ready Player One 7/3 - I Feel Pretty 7/3 - Chappaquiddick 7/3 - Billionaire Boys Club 7/3 - Lean on Pete 7/3 - You Were Never Really Here 7/3 - Finding Your Feet 7/3 - Where is Kyra? 7/3 - The Cured 7/3 - Submission 7/3 - Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare 7/10 - Disobedience 7/10 - Sweet Country 7/10 - Traffik 7/13 - Shock and Awe (same day as theaters) 7/17 - Tully 7/17 - Life of the Party 7/17 - Overboard 7/24 - Hot Summer Nights (same day as theaters) 7/27 - Damascus Cover (same day as theaters) 7/31 - LEGO DC Super Heroes: Aquaman 7/31 - On Chesil Beach 7/31- Racer and The Jailbird TV 7/9 Sweetbitter Season 1 7/9 Vida Season 1 7/23 Westworld Season 2 And here's a rundown of July streaming titles set to arrive on various digital services through the Apple TV App: 7/1 Power Season 5 (Starz) 7/7 Bill Maher: Live from Oklahoma (HBO NOW) 7/8 Sharp Objects (HBO NOW) 7/8 Mary Kills People Season 2 (Hulu) 7/9 Very Cavallari (E!) 7/10 Floribama Shore Season 2 (MTV) 7/11 Harlots Season 2 (Hulu) 7/11 The Challenge: Final Reckoning (MTV) 7/12 TKO with Kevin Hart (CBS) 7/16 Hilary (PBS) 7/17 The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 13 (Bravo) 7/17 Southern Charm Savannah Season 2 (Bravo) 7/19 Suits Season 8 (USA) 7/20 Snowfall Season 2 (FX) 7/20 Trial & Error Season 2 (NBC) 7/21 Killjoys Season 4 (Syfy) 7/21 Wynonna Earp Season 3 (Syfy) 7/21 Adventure Time x Minecraft: Diamonds and Lemons (Cartoon Network) 7/22 Shark Week (Discovery) 7/25 Castle Rock (Hulu) - 3 episodes 7/25 Miz & Mrs (USA) 7/26 Alone Together Season 2 (Freeform) 7/26 The Split (Sundance Now) 7/31 Casual Season 4 (Hulu) Source: iTunesPosted Fri Jun 29, 2018 at 01:50 PM PDT by: -
'Sicario: Day of the Soldado' Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Pre-orders Live[teaser]The crime-thriller starring Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin is already up for pre-order at Amazon. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is preparing 'Sicario: Day of the Soldado' for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray later this year. The drug war on the US-Mexico border has escalated as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border. To fight the war, federal agent Matt Graver re-teams with the mercurial Alejandro. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for Sicario: Day of the Soldado linked from our Blu-ray and 4K Release Schedules, where it is indexed under PENDING. Order the Blu-ray Order the 4K Blu-rayPosted Fri Jun 29, 2018 at 08:47 AM PDT by:
