Geeksquad Intelligence » Blu-ray

Tips for Holiday Tech Gifts

Agent Ron G. — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:27:40 +0000

We also know that there’s nothing more disappointing than giving your tech gift, and realizing that the recipient can’t get it to work because of a missing cable, battery or accessory. To help, Geek Squad Agents have created four downloadable holiday tip sheets to accompany this year’s hottest tech gifts. They’re the perfect way to ensure your tech-gifting goes on without a glitch this holiday season.

We’ve included tips for a Blu-ray Player, a 3DTV, an eReader and gaming systems. Click the links below to download the tips to use as the perfect accomaniment for your holiday tech gifts.

Is Your Blu-ray Player Ready for Avatar?

Agent Derek M — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:58:12 +0000

Firmware, if you have not encountered the term before, generally refers to the programs and files used internally in many devices to control that device’s functions. Think of firmware as something similar to the operating system (such as Microsoft Windows) that a PC uses.

Some devices, such as game consoles, MP3 players and Blu-ray players were designed so that their firmware could be updated in order to resolve hardware issues or use new features added to content after the hardware’s manufacture.

There are a few different ways to update the firmware on most Blu-ray players. One method is to visit the manufacturer’s website for your particular model player and download the updated firmware via a home PC. From there, you will use that PC’s CD or DVD burner to write the firmware to a blank disc. Inserting that disc into the Blu-ray player allows the device to read in the new files and update itself appropriately.

If your Blu-ray player is setup to access the Internet, such as through your home’s wireless network, you can download the firmware update directly using the internal tools in the player’s setup menu. This method is the easier of the two, and in some cases, can be configured to automatically happen when new firmwares are released.

Making sure that your Blu-ray player has the latest firmware prior to Avatar’s release on April 22nd will help avoid any playback problems on the day of release. If you have a Blu-ray player that does not have the capability to connect to the Internet, you can bring the device into your local Best Buy. Geek Squad Agents can get your device up to date and ready to go with our in-store firmware update service.

If you have a network-capable player, but don’t have it hooked up to the Internet, we have on-site networking services to add that device to your existing home network, or setup a new one to allow your Blu-ray player and other devices to share access to all the Internet has to offer.

If you have questions, contact your local Geek Squad for answers.

Geek Squad 2MM: How to Connect Your Home Theater to the Internet

Justin B. — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:28:50 +0000

In this Two Minute Miracles video Geek Squad Agents Lee Weisbecker and Mike Nelson explain different ways you can connect your home theater components, such as a Blu-Ray player, to the internet.

Geek Squad 2MM: Common Blu-Ray Questions

Justin B. — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:58:47 +0000

In this Two Minute Miracle video, Steve Preston, a Geek Squad Installer, answers common Blu-Ray and high definition questions from Chris Yerves, a Geek Squad Agent.

Geeks? Ghostbusters!

Agent Derek M — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:49:04 +0000

The release of a Blu-ray 25th anniversary edition of the film last week is like welcoming an old friend back in shiny, new HD duds. As soon as the movie starts up again, I’m instantly transported to the first time I saw this classic as a kid in the theaters, and it is wonderful!

Ghostbusters fans are doubly blessed this year with the release of the Ghostbusters video game for most platforms, including the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii. The game is often referred to as the “3rd movie” as the original actors are reunited to voice their on-screen characters. It’s a must-have for fans that will instantly draw you in the first time Dan Aykroyd as Dr Raymond Stantz casually reminds you that it’s a bad thing to “cross the streams.”

I have to admit, that while I wish I had my own proton pack, driving down the street in my black and white Geekmobile while Ray Parker Jr sings the Ghostbusters theme via my iPod is the next best thing to having my own Ecto-1.

Agent Gregg Walrod and I were also fortunate enough to meet some “local” Ghostbusters at New York Comic-Con last year. Check out the video: