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Posts Tagged ‘Firmware’

Geek Squad eReader Set-Up Service

Blogs like Consumerist and Crunchgear continue to question services they don’t think our clients need. Our recently launched $29.99 eReader set-up service, for example, is under attack because some believe that no one really needs help getting these devices up and running.

Here’s what I see: eReaders are one of the most popular gadgets of the year. Many people are perfectly content activating these devices themselves. That’s great. We love to see well designed devices that people are able to just pick up and use. We’re happy those people can walk out of Best Buy and start reading.

But we have a lot of other customers who want help so they can enjoy the content on their new devices as fast as possible, without having to update firmware. Still others come to us to make sure they’re getting all the functionality from their eReaders. That’s why our eReader set-up service includes things like helping clients connect their eReaders to their smartphones so they can get to the “who done it” faster by reading their favorite mystery novel across both devices.

Geek Squad operates with one mission and one mission only: to help people make the most of their technology by providing a broad array of services and support. Most of our offerings come straight out of consumer demand, such is the case with this eReader service, and we’re proud to deliver on their needs.

Paula Baldwin

Geek Squad Ministry of Propaganda

Is Your Blu-ray Player Ready for Avatar?

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.

Seagate Firmware Bug Bites Barracuda Hard Drives

I experienced one of the worst feelings a computer owner can have last week. I sat down in front of my main computer and powered the system on. Like most people, I never really pay attention to the boot up process and involve myself with other things until I hear those familiar Microsoft Windows startup chimes. Except this time, there were no chimes. And no familiar Windows desktop waiting for me. Instead, I had a screen with white text informing me that my system could not find a startup disk. “Uh-oh,” I thought, “that’s not good.” I discovered that my Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1 terabyte hard drive was no longer being detected by the system.