HD DVD Players Dive to $99

By Nick Mokey November 2, 2007

If you’re sick of the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray format wars and really just want one to win out so you can invest in it, just remember that the constant battles between the two do occasionally result in some superb deals. Case and point: today’s Friday-only sale on the Toshiba HD-A2, available for $98.87 at Wal-Mart.

It was only a week ago that the same player made waves in the home theater world by reaching the sub-$200 point at $198. Now that price has been halved for one day only, most likely so Wal-Mart can clear its existing stock of the HD-A2 and make room for the HD-A3.

Wal-Mart’s “Secret Sale” – which will only last through Friday – also includes a $348 Acer laptop and $998 Sanyo 50-inch plasma TV. The event will supplement, not replace, the retailer’s traditional Black Friday sale.

Reports also have U.S. retailer Best Buy liquidating its stock of Toshiba HD-A2 units at prices matching Wal-Mart’s, but only through retail outlets with stock on hand.

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What is 4K? Everything you need to know about 4K Ultra HD

A Roku 75-inch Class Plus Series QLED 4K Smart Roku TV hanging on the wall.

High-definition content has been a TV mainstay for more than two decades now. From broadcasted cable stations to streamable movies and shows from streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+, 1080p HD is no longer the golden standard for modern TV models. It kind of feels like a no-brainer at this point, but what you want to invest in these days is a 4K TV, as most of the best TVs available are.

4K media is also not as rare as it once was either. In fact, most new films, shows, and even video games are now engineered from the ground up with a 4K screen in mind. And not to worry if you don’t currently watch any 4K content, because most 4K TV sets do an excellent job at upscaling lower-res sources. So is it worth it to step away from your HD past in favor of a higher pixel count present and future? Let’s explore the world of 4K a little further to find the answers we seek.
What is 4K Ultra HD?
In a nutshell, 4K Ultra HD is the name assigned to a screen with a resolution that's four times that of a Full HD (1080p) TV. That translates to 8 million pixels being crammed into the same space in which a Full HD TV fits just 2 million -- achieved by making each pixel four times smaller. The result for the average viewer? A clearer image, more accurate color, and with most new TV sets, High Dynamic Range, or HDR (more on that in a bit).

Deals

This HD projector is $75 in Walmart’s anti-Prime Day sale

Today's Best HD Projector Prime Day Deal

A home theater setup.

Choosing a home theater projector can seem like a tricky proposition, especially if you want to get one while it's on sale. If you're bummed you missed out on July's Prime Day deals, there is no need to worry. Walmart is competing with Amazon's recently announced Prime Early Access Sale by having its own Walmart Rollback Sale. This Onn HD projector Prime Day deal is a particularly juicy bargain, with a $64 discount knocking the price down to just $75. If that price doesn't convince you, maybe we can. Read on to see why you should consider scoring this HD projector Prime Day deal before it's gone.

Why you should buy the Onn 720p Home Theater Projector
Prime Day may officially be an Amazon thing, but plenty of other retailers are getting into the action, and there are some pretty great Walmart Prime Day deals on all sorts of electronics. That, of course, includes plenty of home theater equipment, but if you don't want to shell out the cash for a TV, then this HD projector Prime Day deal is another option. The Onn 720p projector transforms practically any room into a theater. It can throw an image as large as 150 inches at a distance of up to 16.5 feet, making it suitable for parties, family movie nights, or just a cozy viewing session at the end of a long day.

Audio / Video

Google’s new Chromecast is cheaper, tops out at HD resolution

Chromecast with Google TV.

Google, as had been rumored, today announced a newer, cheaper Chromecast with Google TV, and one that tops out at HD resolution and does not support better 4K UHD resolution.

The new $30 dongle looks and acts just like the $50 model, only this one is limited to 1080p and 60 frames per second. It still supports HDR, however, that's limited to HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, and it lacks Dolby Vision.