Redbox Instant targets launch by year-end, blends subscription streaming and DVD rentals with VOD

Redbox Instant targets launch by yearend, blends subscription streaming and DVD rentals with VOD

The last concrete details we'd heard about Redbox Instant was that it was entering internal alpha testing, but now Verizon exec Eric Bruno has revealed more background information. Previous info indicated the service would focus more heavily on movies than the back catalog of TV shows that is a part of Netflix Watch Instantly and Amazon Prime Instant Video, and Bloomberg reports Redbox will break with their models by paying its content providers per subscriber cable TV-style, instead of a flat rate decided up front. What customers will get is a monthly subscription and allotment of disc rentals from Redbox's kiosks, as well as access to VOD movie rentals and downloadable purchases through the service. The alpha test is currently in the hands of about 500 Verizon employees, with plans for a short public test before launching in a late November / mid-December time frame. The main unanswered question however is how much it will all cost, but knowing what we do now -- how much are you willing to pay?

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Redbox Instant targets launch by year-end, blends subscription streaming and DVD rentals with VOD originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 03:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Foldable Mouse Concept Fits in Optical Drive When Flat: Discformer

I think my mouse is portable enough that I’d have no trouble carrying it with me wherever I go. But the farthest I’ve traveled is to our gate. I barely made it back. Anyway designer Taewon Hwang thinks mice could be smaller and thinner. Hwang imagined a mouse…

flat cd mouse by taewon hwang

… that unfolds into a disc:

flat cd mouse by taewon hwang 2

Clever eh? But I’d rather have a mouse that transforms into Optimus Prime. That’s my concept.

flat cd mouse by taewon hwang 3

Besides the fact that some laptops right now don’t come with optical drives, the biggest hurdle to Hwang’s concept is if it can actually be turned into a real product. It would be awesome if we actually had batteries as thin as the one in Hwang’s illustration.

[via Yanko Design via DVICE]


Floating Frisbee Could Fly 100 Feet or More

I’ve never been all that good at throwing a frisbee. On occasion, I’ll get off a good shot, but it usually goes like 15 or 20 feet then peters out or takes a violent turn off course. But if one inventor gets his way, we might soon be throwing around frisbees that could fly 100 feet on a single throw.

floating frisbee

Leonid Zaytsev’s Floating Frisbee concept would have a lightweight fan built into the middle of it, giving the fan extra loft when thrown, thus keeping it in the air longer. The design envisious a circular cutout in the middle, with a fan and a cage around it to protect your fingers when throwing and catching it. I imagine there would be some sort of circuit to kick the fan in when thrown, and it would probably need some sort of stabilization to ensure the fan doesn’t throw it way off course, and the battery would need to be very light in order to not weigh it down too much. Engineering challenges aside, it’s a cool concept, and hopefully one that will eventually make it to market. If you like the idea, head over to Quirky and comment on the Floating Frisbee.


Star Trek: TNG S1 Blu-ray set has an audio flaw, free replacements are available

Soon after the Star Trek: The Next Generation Season One Blu-ray set launched last week reports came in that there was an audio problem with the surround sound, and now CBS and Paramount have responded. According to a statement (included after the break) the problem is isolated to the English 7.1 DTS Master Audio track on some episodes where the front channels are mapped incorrectly. If you own the set, you can email (phe.stng@bydeluxe.com) or call (877-335-8936 between 8AM and 6PM PT) for replacements of Discs 1, 3 and 4, simply have your set nearby and ready to read the code located on the inner ring. You won't need to send in your discs, and the replacements are expected to ship after August 10th and take up to five days to arrive.

Continue reading Star Trek: TNG S1 Blu-ray set has an audio flaw, free replacements are available

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Star Trek: TNG S1 Blu-ray set has an audio flaw, free replacements are available originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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