Technology Insight

This won’t surprise many close watchers of the video-game business. Microsoft is lowering the price of the Xbox 360, effective Wednesday, to lure more buyers to its console as the next edition of one of the most popular video games of the last decade — "Madden NFL" — goes on sale next week.

Leaked images from upcoming retail advertisements appeared on video-game enthusiast blogs as early as last month showing the price cuts, which Microsoft confirmed Monday: The low-end or "core" version of the console will cost $280, down $20; the midrange version’s new price is $350, down $50; and, the high-end "elite" system will sell for $450, down $30. Via

As the format battle rages on, today Toshiba announced three new HD DVD players: the HD-A3, the HD-A30, and the HD-A35. Michael Imperioli, star of The Sopranos and recent Toshiba HD DVD commercials, is not included.

Toshiba’s third generation of HD DVD players are all priced lower than the cheapest Blu-ray drives I could manage to find online. Why Toshiba decided to launch three new players at once is unknown, but it’s likely because it’s trying to crowd up store shelves with the lower-priced HD-DVDs in order to draw consumer attention away from Blu-ray Disc

Via