APPLE THROWS THEIR HAT ON THE SIDE OF BLU-RAY BY JOINING THE BLU-RAY ASSOCIATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AND I THOUGHT THAT APPLE COMPUTERS WERE EXPENSIVE NOW. HEWLETTT PACKARD IS ALSO ON THE BOARD.
MOVIE GALLERY (NO.3 VIDEO RENTAL CHAIN IN THE U.S.) OPENED ITS 2,500th STORE IN JACKSONVILLE, TX. ON MARCH 7th.
GEORGE ATKINSON WHO WAS THE RENTAL INDUSTRY'S FOUNDING FATHER DIED.
V3MEDIA, A LAS VEGAS BASED COMPANY, WILL BE ROLLING OUT "MEDIA-RACER." "MEDIA-RACER" IS A KIOSK TELLER THAT ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO BURN MOVIES, MUSIC, VIDEO GAMES, AND EVEN COMPUTER SOFTWARE TO DISK. THE CD/DVD DISCS WILL RANGE IN PRICE STARTING AT $5.00 U.S. AND GO UP FROM THERE BASED ON THE MEDIA THE CONSUMER WANTS. EACH DISC WILL FEATURE COPY PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY AND HAVE A POLYMER COATING THAT IS WATERMARKED. UNDER A BLACK LIGHT THE WATERMARK CHANGES COLOR SO THAT YOU CAN PROVE OR DISPROVE THE SOURCE OF THAT CONTENT. PLANS ARE TO HAVE THESE KIOSKS IN BIG BOX RETAILERS, RESTRAUNTS, MALLS, AND MOVIE THEATERS.