Week in review: All about Netflix

Netflix launched its first international service on Wednesday (Sept. 22), offering streaming-only video subscriptions in Canada.
The company’s stock hit a new high on Friday, a day after rival Blockbuster announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The following is a roundup of my recent stories from Investor’s Business Daily at Investors.com and Click, IBD’s Tech Blog.

Netflix faces challenges in expanding beyond the U.S. Its launch in Canada will test streaming-only service. (Sept. 24, 2010)

Cisco Systems accessorizes its Flip Video camcorder line. (Sept. 24, 2010)

Blockbuster files for bankruptcy protection and consumers say good riddance. (Sept. 23, 2010)

Adobe crumbles on weak Q4 guidance. Stock down 16% afterhours. (Sept. 21, 2010)

Netflix reigns supreme on the IBD 100 list of top-performing companies this week. (Sept. 20, 2010)

Week in review: ‘Halo’ prequel blasts off

Microsoft’s science-fiction video game franchise “Halo” continues to generate big bucks for the company.
The latest game title, “Halo: Reach,” generated $200 million in sales in its first day of release on Sept. 14. It’s an exclusive title for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console.
The following is a roundup of my recent stories from Investor’s Business Daily at Investors.com and Click, IBD’s Tech Blog.

Video game companies hope to get sales moving again by getting players moving their bodies. Sony’s PlayStation Move and Microsoft’s Kinect aim to outdo Nintendo’s Wii. (Sept. 17, 2010)

Best Buy rings up big Q2 profit boost thanks to smart phone sales. (Sept. 14, 2010)

Best Buy slashing retail space for CDs and DVDs to get more room to show off new video game systems. (Sept. 14, 2010)

13% in U.S. expect to dump their pay TV within a year. (Sept. 13, 2010)

How is Microsoft’s “Halo: Reach” video game like “Star Wars: Episode 1”? (Sept. 13, 2010)

E-reader price war, led by Amazon’s Kindle, is already seen thinning the herd in the fast-emerging category. (Sept. 13, 2010)

Photo: Screenshot from "Halo: Reach" 

Week in review: National 3D Demo Days

This weekend, electronics retailers across the country sponsored National 3D Demo Days to demonstrate the benefits of 3-D television in the home.
Sports programming in 3-D this weekend included college football and US Open tennis. Sadly, favorite Caroline Wozniacki (pictured) of Denmark lost her match on Friday on the first day of National 3D Demo Days.
The following is a roundup of my recent stories from Investor’s Business Daily at Investors.com and Click, IBD’s Tech Blog.

Apple to iPhone 4 buyers: No more free bumpers. (Sept. 10, 2010)

Adobe Systems is an early winner in Apple’s decision to relax iOS app development restrictions in response to Android competition and federal antitrust concerns. (Sept. 10, 2010)

Retailers demo 3-D TV this weekend with sports programming, including college football and US Open tennis. (Sept. 10, 2010)

EA scores with “Madden NFL 11,” but overall new video game sales down for fifth straight month year over year. (Sept. 9, 2010)

Profile of Ralph Baer, the father of home video games. (Sept. 7, 2010)

Week in review: Over-the-top TV in the news with Apple TV, Netflix streaming

Over-the-top TV made headlines recently when subscribers to pay TV services fell for the first time ever.
Some blamed the economy, while others blamed over-the-top TV services. OTT TV is video programming delivered over broadband Internet connections and bypassing traditional pay TV services. Over-the-top TV services include Netflix streaming video and Apple TV.
The following is a roundup of my recent stories from Investor’s Business Daily at Investors.com and Click, IBD’s Tech Blog.

Netflix quietly ends its social-networking initiative. The failure of Netflix Community puts a cloud on Apple’s Ping. (Sept. 3, 2010)

Dell could end up a winner after losing 3Par bidding war with HP. (Sept. 2, 2010)

Apple seeks its first Apple TV success with new $99 device, 99-cent video rentals. Apple also adds Netflix streaming. (Sept. 1, 2010)

Winners and losers from Apple’s TV and iPod announcements. (Sept. 1, 2010)

Chris Evert concentrated on hitting tennis’ top. (Aug. 30, 2010)

People seek entertainment in tough times, which helps explain why Netflix, Discovery, others doing well. (Aug. 27, 2010)

Apple poised to announce new iPod Touch and iPod Nano media players at fall event. Revamped Apple TV device also is a possibility. (Aug. 24, 2010)

The number of subscribers to cable, satellite and telco TV services in the U.S. fell for the first time ever in Q2. See chart above.(Aug. 23, 2010)

How Steve Jobs and Apple fumbled the PR on iPhone 4’s antenna glitch. (Aug. 22, 2010)

Lots of challenges ahead for Dell, so very solid Q2 results are very little comfort for investors. (Aug. 20, 2010)