GeekSugar

Blockbuster OnDemand Service Is Coming to the TiVo

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:30:02 -0700

Get ready, get set TiVo owners and subscribers, because BlockBuster OnDemand will be coming to your TiVo later this year.

Similar to the partnership with Blockbuster and 2Wire, TiVo members will soon be able to rent, as well as purchase thousands of Blockbuster movies via their TiVo and instantly watch them on their TV.

No announcement on pricing yet, but the OnDemand functionality will be available to TiVo Series 2, 3, TiVo HD, and TiVo HD XL DVRs.

Blockbuster Announces an On-Demand Movie Service!

GeekSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:01:16 -0800

Starting today, you can get access to over 2,000 movies for rent thanks to Blockbuster's new Blockbuster OnDemand movie service. For a limited time, customers can pick up the tiny MediaPoint player by 2Wire for free with the purchase of 25 advance rentals for $99. With this player, you'll have access to Blockbuster's digital library, and after your 25 rentals are up, you can rent movies for $1.99 each.

The actual box works with a broadband connection (WiFi and Ethernet compatible), and can play high-def videos via HDMI cables. And even if you aren't a Blockbuster member, you can still use the Blockbuster OnDemand service. MediaPoint players can be purchased online or at select Blockbuster stores. Talk about a neat gift idea, just in time for the holidays!

Manage Your Netflix or Blockbuster Queue From Your iPhone

GeekSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:45:09 -0700

I've realized that I'm kind of insatiable when it comes to apps - but that's because for as many as there already are in the App Store, I have unfulfilled needs! I don't need an app to tell me I'm Rich or to simulate pouring a beer, I need an app to manage my Netflix queue!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, here it is: Dashbuster, which is a free app, allows you to manage your Netflix or Blockbuster queue from your iPhone. Right now, it doesn't have the functionality to add new movies, but according to this update, it probably will in the future.

I'm just relieved that I can see what's on my queue and move stuff around from my pocket!

Blockbuster Moves Into the History Books

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:00:09 -0700

When I'm an old lady, I look forward to telling my grandkids stories of what they will surely not be able to wrap their heads around: The time before the Internet. Yes, darlings, I'll tell them, we once had to be at home to place phone calls, you had to break up with your boyfriend face to face, and you were forced to watch commercials. And we - yes, I swear - we had to go into a "video store" and pay to own the movies for a couple days at a time, and get this - return to the store later to give them back. This is the premise for this satiric video from (who else?) The Onion, where a tour group visits a defunct Blockbuster store to experience the rich history of pre-Netflix and iTunes times.

Daily Tech: Hulu to Get Cell Phone Friendly?

GeekSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:13:30 -0700

I knew Hulu was going international, but how great would it be if it made its way to cell phones? - CrunchGear
Blockbuster gets sued for its participation in Facebook's Beacon ad program. - CNET
Many women who are dealing with breakups and divorces are blogging about their experiences and including all the dirty details! - NY Times
AT&T's new media phone, which is said to be launching in May, will be available in three different TV packages. - The Boy Genius Report
Hot! Now you can wrap your iPod in a special High School Musical Zak Efron silicone case. - Shiny Shiny

Which Online Movie Rental Service Do You Use?

GeekSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:00:45 -0700

The New York Times reported that Blockbuster will be lowering its prices to compete with ever-so-popular Netflix. Supposedly they will be offering three movie rentals at a time for $16.99 a month, whereas Netflix charges $17.99 for the same thing. Hmm, I think I'll pay the extra buck and stick with my easy-to-use and reliable Netflix because last time I tried the Blockbuster program I received scratched movies. I know everyone isn't a Netflix addict, so let me know what you use below and if you'd consider switching.

Netflix On TiVo - Almost As Good As It Sounds

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 10:00:47 -0700

You can now view or modify your online movie queue with popular DVD rental programs like Netflix, Blockbuster Online and even Amazon's Unbox by downloading a simple and free TiVo plugin.

This does not mean you can have your Netflix of Blockbuster films on demand on your TiVo or even download them, but it does give you easy access to your movie queue when you're sitting in front of the TV.

You can access, browse for movies by genre/category and keyword and update your Blockbuster or Netlix movie queue with TiVo and your online service. I'm in love with this feature because I only think about my Netflix queue when I receive reminder e-mails or when I am playing with my TiVo wishing I had a great movie to watch because 90 percent of the stuff I TiVoed enviably falls in the "TiNo" category.

As for Amazon Unbox, you can rent or purchase and download videos on your registered TiVo, watch video previews on TiVo ToGo enabled receivers, view or modify video preview queue and do regular searches by genre, category or keyword.

View 6 Photos ›

Get the TiVo plugin for free.

How Many Movies Are in Your Netflix Queue?

GeekSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:01:30 -0700

The other day I was chitchatting about Netflix with my friend when she was all "I have sooo many movies on my Netflix queue," and of course I asked how many, and she said, "Like, 30."

I nearly died! 30! 30?! 30 is nothing, I told her. I felt particularly proud that I pared down my queue the the other day. . . down to 280.

I don't know how it got so high; I just started adding everything I'd ever wanted to see, no matter how weak that whim was (sort of like my credit card situation). I don't get it either - I hate clutter usually, but when it comes to spring-cleaning my queue, I just can't. I know I'll see them all someday! And now that I have a Netflix app for my iPhone, it's all over.

Until then, how many movies are on your Netflix or Blockbuster queue?

Daily Tech: Use Google Maps to Find H1N1 Vaccine Locations

GeekSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:40:58 -0800

Google already has data for locations of H1N1 flu vaccine programs from 20 states and counting - Gizmodo
Apple beefs up their HD movie selection in the iTunes store - TechCrunch
Cute! UK designer Kyle Bean has created this Russian Babushka doll style cell phone set - Popgadget
Staples shows off its extensive Black Friday ad - CrunchGear
Google has developed a new feature called SafeSearch, so you can easily filter out sexually explicit sites from your search results - The Google Blog
Blockbuster plans to start renting movies on SD cards - Gadgetell

James Cameron Gets Creative With Tech to Promote Avatar

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:05:30 -0800

Augmented reality seems to be the next big thing on the tech horizon - already new apps and even umbrellas are using the technology - and it doesn't seem to be in short supply either. Just after we learned that Esquire will be using augmented reality in their upcoming issue, I realized that James Cameron has also harnessed the feature to promote his next big blockbuster. Every time you buy an Avatar product - whether it be an action figure or a branded can of Coke - you can use your webcam to have some fun with 3D right in your home. Just hold the product up to your webcam, and you'll see a interactive 3D character on your screen. Sure, you can't do much with a 3D character, but it might make me pick up a can of soda next time I hit the convenience store!

In addition, the latest three minute Avatar trailer was released over the weekend to the "world's largest trailer-viewing audience", proving that Mr. Cameron is willing to use a pretty big bag of tech tricks to get our butts in the theater next month!