If having YouTube and the other recently-released video content apps isn’t quite enough to satisfy all of your video streaming desires, Microsoft has added two more apps, Crackle and CinemaNow, to Xbox Live.

Crackle, for the unitiated, is a video streaming service with movies and television shows that is absolutely free of charge. Crackle’s selection is admittedly not the best, but the service does have a few goodies available for your viewing pleasure and, again, it’s free.

Provided that you’re willing to cough up some money, Best Buy’s “CinemaNow” app offers a wider selection of content, including a respectable amount of new releases. It isn’t known at the moment just how much it will cost you to do your streaming through CinemaNow, nor is Microsoft saying when the two apps will be made available.

Crackle and CinemaNow are the latest in a wave of video content apps that Microsoft began launching back in December. Microsoft says that even more video content providers are on the way, so stay tuned for more information on that.

Source: MTV Multiplayer

Xbox Live getting Crackle, CinemaNow apps is a post from: The Inquisitr

When you buy a new gadget, like an iPad 2 for example, you take it home with the expectation that, at the least, the product you wanted will be inside. For several Canadians who shopped at Best Buy and Future Shop, that wasn’t the case–instead, they received fake iPad 2s.

Not just any fake iPad 2, either. The “product” as many as 24 customers received, according to a report by CTV, was modeling clay. Both companies were skeptical at first, and ran under the assumption that it was the victims themselves that were trying to scam them. After CTV broadcasted a story about the scam, Best Buy and Future Shop changed their tune.

“It was all sealed properly and everything,” Dayna Chabot, a victim of the scam, told CTV. “It was the shape of an iPad. They even had a piece of clay where the charger went and everything. Like, they knew what they were doing.”

Unsurprisingly, this little goof has prompted the two companies to launch a major fraud investigation to track down the source.

“Customers don’t expect to receive this kind of product from Future Shop, so it’s a very serious matter and something we are addressing right away for anyone who has been impacted,” Future Shop spokesman Elliott Chun told CTV, adding that saddens his company that some people “stoop to be this opportunistic and make money in this kind of organised way”.

via Silicon Republic

Fake iPad 2s mistakenly sold at Canadian Best Buy, Future Shop stores is a post from: The Inquisitr

Best Buy caused quite a stir over the weekend after an image surfaced of an in-store ad that pegged Diablo III‘s release date as being February 1. Unfortunately, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Blizzard shot down the news, confirming the listing is false.

Micah Whipple, community manager over at Blizzard, broke the bad news on his Twitter account on Sunday, pointing out that Blizzard has not yet given Diablo III a release date, and that any store, or person, saying otherwise was guessing.

“We can’t really keep every individual retail shop from making up a date,” he said in response to questions from the community. “Retailers will not know a date until it’s officially announced through a press release.”

It’s not at all uncommon for retailers to make up release dates for titles, especially for games in which the publisher has gone radio silent on, so that Best Buy made up their Diablo III release date isn’t all that surprising. Doesn’t make it any less disappointing, though.

Welp, back to waiting for Diablo III‘s final, real release date.

Diablo III not coming in February, Blizzard says is a post from: The Inquisitr

A couple of days ago, Blizzard launched a website celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Diablo series, and with it came a quote from Blizzard’s Jay Wilson, who said that the developer was “almost done” with Diablo III.

According to Best Buy, “almost done” apparently means “the game will launch on February 1″. Joystiq picked up a photo of an in-store ad for Diablo III at a Best Buy in Rochester, Minnesota with a countdown for the title, which pegs it for a February 1 release date.

Joystiq reached out to the Best Buy and confirmed that the endcap display was, in fact, actually there, and it was indeed counting down to a February 1 release date, at which point there will be a midnight launch.

To make matters even more interesting, GameStop UK is showing that Diablo III is due for release in that region on February 3. Blizzard has previously made clear that it’s aiming for a simultaneous worldwide launch for the title, so it’s unclear what that would mean, assuming either retailer is correct.

Blizzard has yet to confirm what Best Buy apparently believes to be Diablo 3‘s release date, so sit tight and wait for Blizzard’s response before you go and start taking any days off in February. We’ll let you know if and when Blizzard has something to say.

In the meantime, you can see the in-store ad for yourself below, courtesy of Joystiq.

via Joystiq

Diablo III coming February 1, according to Best Buy ad is a post from: The Inquisitr

Expecting a new gadget from Best Buy? You might want to make other plans. Best Buy announced last night that it wouldn’t be able to fill all of its online orders due to overwhelming demand.

Best Buy said in a statement:

“Due to overwhelming demand of hot product offerings on BestBuy.com during the November and December time period, we have encountered a situation that has affected redemption of some of our customers’ online orders. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this has caused and we have notified the affected customers.”

Best Buy did not say how many orders would be cancelled. The Street reports that several customers have received emails over the last week saying that their order had been cancelled. Some had placed their orders close to a month ago on Black Friday.

One user wrote on Twitter:

“Never shop at Best Buy. Ordered TV on BlackFriday & they cancelled my order today, not in stock. Said not their problem. No present 4me!”

And customers aren’t the only ones who are disappointed. Industry experts say that this could be devastating for Best Buy.

Brennan, co-director of the Institute for Retailing Excellence, told Mercury News:

“Personal disappointment will go along with this, and it will be remembered. From a publicity standpoint, this is devastating. You have to ask yourself, ‘Are people likely to go back to the same source or go to other sources the next time?’”

Did you order anything from Best Buy? Did it come on time? Or are you going to have an empty stocking this year?

Best Buy Cancels Orders, Overwhelmed by Holiday Demand is a post from: The Inquisitr

Motorola is gearing up to roll out a new, cheaper, kid-friendly version of the Motorola Xoom tablet, dubbed, what else, the Motorola Xoom Family Edition.

Priced a little over $100 less than your standard Motorola Xoom tablet at $379, the Xoom Family Edition is more or less exactly the same tablet as the Motorola Xoom, just apparently easier to use. It has the same 1 ghz dual-core processor, the same 10.1 inch display, and a 720p-enabled 5-megapixel camera.

Just about the only difference is the built-in hard drive – rather than the standard Motorola Xoom’s 32GB drive, the Family Edition includes a smaller, still agreeable 16GB drive.

After the kids are done with it, the press release notes, you’ll be able to get back to your work, shooting off emails and editing your documents with included apps – and, of course, you’ll be able to surf the web with it (Wi-FI only).

Speaking of apps, your new Motorola Xoom Family Edition will come packaged with $40 worth of apps at no cost to you. Naturally, the Family Edition will include a few games, including SimCity Deluxe, and Quickoffice Pro HD for the adults, just to name a couple.

The Motorola Xoom Family Edition will be made available exclusively at Best Buy (both in stores and online) starting tomorrow, October 16.

Motorola Xoom ‘Family Edition’ announced, available tomorrow at Best Buy is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rhapsody on Monday announced that they have purchased the Napster music platform from current owner Best Buy. The company also announced that Best Buy will retain a small minority stake in the company.

The acquisition is expected to close on November 30 and financial terms for the deal have not yet been disclosed.

Rhapsody Acquires Napster From Best Buy is a post from: The Inquisitr

Best Buy and Zynga have teamed up to take the popular electronics store to Zynga’s gaming masses. Under their newly formed partnership CityVille players will be able to open their very own Best Buy stores and collected limited edition decorations to go with those locations.

The new partnership starts immediately and runs through September 6 and under the system customers will be able to collect a smartphone, DSLR camera, refrigerator, TV and a Deal of the Day badge to complete the Best Buy Collection.

By clicking on user created Best Buy stores gamers will even see Geek Squad cars driving around their city, helping citizens with all of their computing needs.

According to Ryan Linton, Senior Director of Business Development at Zynga:

“We’re always looking for ways to make our games more realistic and personal for our players,” while he added, “This integration with Best Buy, coupled with roaming Geek Squad vehicles, creates a refreshing surprise for CityVille players.”

Users who fail to unlock all of the games items by Sept. 6 will lose the ability to unlock the mystery item.

If you miss this first event another is expected to launch on Nov. 6 and with the Holiday shopping season heating up at that time it might be an even more exciting partnership between Zynga and Best Buy.

What do you think about real world Best Buy stores coming to the virtual world of CityVille?

Zynga And Best Buy Team Up, Gamers Can Now Open Best Buy Stores In Their City is a post from: The Inquisitr

After announcing that they will no longer sell the discontinued HP TouchPad Best Buy has resumed sales of the device while warning customers that the tablet will not be supported or warrantied by the company.

The move comes after HP pushed the cost of the 16GB version down to just $99 and the 32 GB version to $149, price cuts of $300 or more depending on the unit chosen.

Reversing their sales decision Best Buy said on Sunday:

“Due to HP’s decision to discontinue its TouchPad product, Best Buy® will now provide clearance pricing for all TouchPad 16GB and 32GB models (SKUs 2842056, 2842092) regardless of previously advertised prices or promotions.”

Not wanting customers who purchased the devices months ago to feel slighted Best Buy says they will refund the devices in full or offer checks for the difference in pricing those customers paid compared to the new clearance pricing.

At this time it’s still unclear if new apps will be released for WebOS or if HP will offer proper support for the units, that’s why Best Buy has laid out the following purchaser conditions:

• Best Buy will not accept customer returns or exchanges on clearance-priced TouchPads bought through any Best Buy channel.
• Customers purchasing a TouchPad at clearance pricing will have a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty, fulfilled directly through HP, not Best Buy.
• Customers who purchased the 16GB or 32GB TouchPad after June 19 may come into the store to get either a full refund or a refund of the difference between the price they paid and the clearance price.
• Quantities are strictly limited. Limit 1 per customer. Best Buy cannot guarantee availability of inventory at this pricing at any particular Best Buy location or channel.

Are you willing to pick up an HP TouchPad when the devices future is so uncertain?

Best Buy Once Again Selling HP TouchPad, Buyers Beware is a post from: The Inquisitr

There is no denying the fact that when it comes to tablets Apple’s iPad is the reigning king of the hill but it was a reign that HP was really hoping that they could make a serious dent in with their webOS powered TouchPad.

When first launched there was a lot of buzz around it and the reaction was, for the most part, pretty favorable. It was good enough at the time that Best Buy decided to jump on the TouchPad bandwagon and ordered up 270,000 of HP’s tablet.

Now months later it turns out that where it matters most – in the consumers hands – the TouchPad was far from a success as Best Buy apparently has only sold 25,000 of the them; and this is even after a $100 price cut.

Things are so bad that Best Buy is telling HP that it wants to return all of their unsold stock of the TouchPad.

According to the same source, Best Buy took 270,000 TouchPads into inventory, and so far has managed to move less than ten percent of them—and that figure may not even take returned units into account. Best Buy reportedly no longer wants unsold TouchPads taking up space in its stores and warehouses, and is requesting that HP take the stock back.

Best Buy and Woot are not alone in their inability to move TouchPads, analyst Rich Doherty of the Envisioneering Group told AllThingsD; WalMart, Microcenter, and Fry’s have all struck out.

via Ars Technica

This is happening at the same time that HP is trying to position its webOS as a natural fit for things other than just the TouchPad.

SlashGear has a post up about how HP is also exploring the option of putting the webOS software into things like cars and home appliances based on an enormous amount of interest from manufacturers.

Given the rip-roaring success of the TouchPad I wish HP all the luck in the work in cracking an even harder market, after all they do have to find some way to recoup the fortune they paid for Palm and webOS.

About those TouchPads – “We don’t want them anymore” says Best Buy is a post from: The Inquisitr

There’s not a lot of time left but if you head over to your local Best Buy before close today you could grab a free Samsung Nexus S smartphone.

The free promotion is available for Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T customers and requires a two year contract that includes data.

The device is also being sold via Google.com where you can follow the Samsung Nexus link and order your device without leaving your home.

It should also be noted that Sprint Wireless customers can get the Nexus S from Sprint stores (but not as part of this deal), however T-Mobile and AT&T customers can only purchase the smartphone from Best Buy locations and not retail storefronts.

The Samsung Nexus S is one of the first devices to feature Google Wallet NFC compatibility which explains why Google is making such a large push to get the device into customers hands as the battle for NFC supremacy continues to heat up.

Samsung Nexus S Free Today At Best Buy, Google Also Taking Orders is a post from: The Inquisitr

Battlefield 3 is just a couple of months away now, and so retailers are finally starting to share details on the pre-order bonuses available at each of the major outlets.

Those who pre-order over on Amazon will score themselves some exclusive dog tag designs – which is essentially Battlefield 3‘s version of a calling card, showing up each time you take out an enemy.

Pre-ordering at Best Buy will get you a set of 8 multiplayer skins, dubbed SPECACT. It isn’t known if the skins will be available to everyone on down the line, so if you want your virtual soldier to look slick and unique on the battlefield, your safest bet is to go ahead and pre-order from Best Buy.

Last but not least, GameStop is offering the Physical Warfare pack which, as you may recall, got fans in an uproar when it was announced. The Physical Warfare pack includes two unique guns, a weapon accessory and an exclusive ammo type, Flechette.

All pre-orders will get you the previously-announced Back to Karkand map pack, free of charge. In case this is the first you’re hearing of said map pack, it’s set to include several remakes of classic Battlefield maps, including my own personal favorite, Strike at Karkand.

Battlefield 3 is due out on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on October 25 in North America, October 28 in Europe.

Thanks, BF3Blog

Battlefield 3′s retailer-exclusive pre-order bonuses detailed is a post from: The Inquisitr

It seems that Best Buy and GameStop have gotten a bit ahead of Warner Bros. Interactive‘s press cycle by shamelessly displaying Batman: Arkham City‘s as-of-yet-officially-announced collector’s edition over on their respective websites.

According to Best Buy’s listing, the Batman: Arkham City collector’s edition comes packaged in with a premium statue produced by Kotobukiya, an illustrated art book, early access to DLC, and some form of Batman-related “animated material”.

Comic Con is just around the corner, so expect more ‘official’ news to come out around July 21-24.

Batman: Arkham City is due out on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on October 18 in North America, October 21 in Europe.

Thanks, Joystiq

Best Buy outs Batman: Arkham City collector’s edition is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s official, Best Buy customers can now purchase a special option at the time of gadget purchase which will allow them to resell their technology to Best Buy at a later time.

The company rolled out their newest offering during the Super Bowl in a commercial that featured both Ozzy Osbourne and Justin Bieber. Reportedly the teen superstar received a million dollars for very little involvement in the 30 second Super Bowl ad spot.

The new program may entice some buyers to purchase the buy back option, however the aggressive depreciation values being offered by Best Buy on a year to year basis means customers can probably get a better deal selling their wares on eBay or Craigslist, paying far less in fees while receiving higher returns on their devices.

As a special offer the buy back program is free through February 12th so you have some time to try out the program without paying a dime.

In the meantime, just in case you missed the Super Bowl commercial, here it is:

Best Buy Launches Gadget Repurchase Program With Justin Bieber Super Bowl Commercial is a post from: The Inquisitr

Best Buy May Give Away Free iPhone 3GS Units On December 10 is a post from: The Inquisitr

In all the brouhaha over TSA searches, people haven’t talked much about another unreasonable search many Americans are subject to daily- the big box retailer receipt check.

Receipt checking shouldn’t really be an issue- you purchase an item, and it belongs to you. No corporate entity has the right to detain you without cause for refusing to queue a second time to leave their store. But most people, not wishing to risk confrontation, wearily line their cart behind everyone else to prove that yes, they did in fact pay in full for their tampons, 6-pack of socks and razors. Unless you are a member of a discount club (such as Costco), no such restrictions can legally be imposed upon you.

So what happens if you refuse the entirely voluntary receipt gestapo as you leave the store? One Best Buy shopper found out when he was chased to his car by a police officer who was apparently stationed at Best Buy in order to protect and serve their corporate profits. A man only identified as “Mark” writes to Consumerist:

After I exited the store and was in the parking lot, walking towards my car, I heard someone start yelling, in a stern and urgent voice “SIR! SIR!” I heard quick footsteps behind me and turned around. It was a (sheriff’s deputy). He told me that Best Buy employees needed to see my receipt. I responded that I’d left the store, my business with them was concluded, and that they had no right to demand to see my receipt. The officer said that it was store policy. Regardless of store policy, I said, they still had no right to take or search my possessions. He asked me why I was being difficult. I pointed out that it was an imposition upon me to be chased down and detained in the parking lot and made to hand my property over to a third party, something which they had no authority to demand. The officer said that while they didn’t have the authority, *he* did have the authority. He continued, threatening me with arrest, “Go back and show them the receipt, or go to jail. Those are your options.”

Eep. The officer didn’t seem unaware of Mark’s fourth amendment rights, as Mark explained- merely uninterested in them. Mark continues:

I asked him why he didn’t just take the receipt from me, if they had the right to see the receipt. “I’m not going to touch your property,” he replied. I told him that I ultimately didn’t care about the receipt itself — it wasn’t important to me — but that I objected to their demand that they detain me and inspect it. The officer suggested that he take the receipt back to them so that they could “mark it.” I didn’t resist (I was there with my wife and infant son — I would have been in the dog house if I got arrested), so he took the receipt out of my hand, and walked back across the parking lot to the store. He returned a minute later, and silently handed me the receipt. I asked for his card. He turned around and walked away, replying “I don’t have to give you my card” while walking away.

Frustratingly, the officer in question didn’t even check Mark’s items against the receipt when Mark ultimately relented. He simply confiscated the receipt and marked it. Consumerist also points out that these receipt checks are entirely voluntary, and no one has the right to rifle through your possessions or detain you without your consent.

Do you submit to receipt checks just to avoid trouble? Do you find them to be intrusive and unwarranted?

Cop at Best Buy threatens to arrest man for refusing voluntary receipt check is a post from: The Inquisitr

I despise Best Buy’s business tactics, they take very simple to perform tasks, even things that are free and easy, such as the most recent PS3 Firmware update and they market the upgrade in a way that can make novices believe it’s a big deal.

That’s exactly what a Staten Island, NY store has done with the PS3, offering the 120GB PS32 Slim units for $329.98, $30 higher than the MSRP, but with a firmware update, which also happens to be free.

To put that $30 charge into perspective, the firmware update takes exactly three button presses to complete. Actually it’s even easier than that, try to play online or go to the PlayStation Store and the system does all your dirty work for you.

If there’s one way to take away the credibility of a tech firm, it’s to allow for practices to occur in which users are taken advantage of, it only takes a few hundred customers who realized they were ripped off to tarnish the image of the tech teams at Best Buy stores. Leave customers with enough distrust and they start thinking every bit of money they charge you is a scam.

Good going Geek Squad.

[Image Credit: Engadget]

Best Buy Geek Squad Charging $30 For Free PS3 Firmware Update is a post from: The Inquisitr

The kid friendly Toshiba L635 tablet is designed for kids. The tablet features a keyboard that can be wiped down repeatedly, is light weight, making it simple for kids to carry around and can run games and movies with no issues.

The unit features a 13.3-inch display, 2GB of RAM and a dual-core Intel Celeron P4600 processor. Kids will also have a 250GB hard drive to store all the multimedia and game files they choose, while a DVD drive is also provided, perfect for watching movies in the car during long road trips.

The unit can also help put parents minds at ease with Net Nanny pre-installed and the KidZui web browser also included and ready to go.

Your kids will also love the two unnamed Disney movies that come with the system and the LEGO Batman computer game that’s also part of the pre-packaged system.

For $499 it’s a decent price and you can pick up your system at Best Buy starting on September 26th [via Electronista ]

Toshiba L635 Kids’ PC Arrives AT Best Buy September 26th is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you’re planning on picking up Madden NFL 11 next Tuesday, you can take advantage of some nice-looking deals at Target and Best Buy.

Target is offering a free $10 gift card with every copy of Madden 11 sold, as well as two bags of Doritos, so you can start getting Dorito dust fingerprints all over your controllers from the moment you get home. Certain Doritos bags will also contain exclusive Adrian Peterson downloadable content.

Over at Best Buy, meanwhile, you can snap up 500 Reward Zone points just for pre-ordering Madden 11, and an exclusive free code that lets you download the arcade version of the game.

But I’ve saved the best for last, because Best Buy is offering a selection of PS3 and Xbox 360 games (see the list of included games below) with 50% off for Madden buyers. Alpha Protocol is still $27 too much, mind:

$29.99
Alpha Protocol
God of War 3
Just Cause 2
Split/Second
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
UFC 2010

$19.99
Alan Wake
Assassin’s Creed 2
BioShock 2
Halo 3: ODST
Lost Planet 2
Mass Effect 2

$14.99
Dragon Age: Origins
Left 4 Dead 2

$9.99
Brütal Legend
Fight Night Round 4

[Via Destructoid and Joystiq]

Target and Best Buy offering sweet deals on Madden NFL 11 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Best Buy announced today that the Motorola Devour will arrives on store shelves starting February 25th, with pre-orders already underway from the companies website.

The original ship date for Best Buy’s Verizon Wireless customers was March 2010 and the companies pre-order policy for the sale requires users to buy a $50 Best Buy gift card in order to secure their place in line.

The Motorola Devour is Verizon’s third Android phone and features MOTOBLUR which provides quick and simple social networking access for all your feeds from a single screen. The device is also slated to include a Happenings Widget and a Universal Inbox which places the users status messages, photo and wall updates, social networking updates and emails all in one spot.

Spec wise the phone is mid-range with a 3.1 inch touchscreen, 3MP camera and an optical trackpad and a sliding QWERTY keyboard. The device also offers 3G, GPS and WiFi with 8GB microSDHC memory card included in the box.

No pricing at this time, although expectations are set to place the device at significantly less than $200. [Electronista]

Motorola Devour Arriving At Best Buy On February 25th is a post from: The Inquisitr