blu-ray

In his youth, Steve Jobs, Apple's iconic leader, drew inspiration from Sony, a company that dominated the consumer electronics game for years. But now that Apple is the new Sony, where does that leave Sony?

Brand loyalty: It's why we buy a lot of what we buy, and any company that sells anything is striving to induce that feeling in its potential customers. Last week, research consultancy Brand Keys revealed which American companies do it best.

Don't be surprised if Netflix subscribers are on cinematic binges right now. Many of the most popular movies available via its streaming service will be going away on Thursday when its deal with Starz expires and roughly 1,000 movies go offline.

DVDs -- and even their more modern Blu-ray siblings -- are gradually fading to black, as VHS and LaserDisc did before them. Movie studios have seen this coming for some time. Problem is, it's part of a bigger trend they may not be able to overcome.

'Tis the season to buy tech products -- almost. If you're looking to upgrade, it's probably best to wait till Black Friday. Computers, high-end smartphones, HDTVs and tablets will see sharp discounts for the holidays.

Noticed that your local movie theater is a little quieter than usual lately? Don't go thinking that moviegoers have just gotten more considerate. The reason phones aren't ringing, babies aren't wailing, and know-it-alls aren't giving away plot twists before they happen is simple: People just aren't there.

The Netflix Goliath was seriously weakened this week when Starz said it will pull its content from the company's streaming feed in February: Is it time for the industry Davids such as Redbox, Blockbuster and Amazon to pull out their slingshots?

When it comes to providing bewitchment for the buck, Harry Potter has notched some mesmerizing numbers. Fans who bought all the hardcover books, the DVDs, and attended the movies in first run, paid an average total of $401.08 -- not counting the $20 to $30 they'll pay for the DVD or Blu-Ray of "Deathly Hallows: Part 2."

In a further sign of how far the convergence of PCs and TVs has truly gone, Intel is acquiring Texas Instruments' cable modem business, the chip maker announced Monday.

Used predominantly as a marketing technique, free products and services come at a cost to the company offering them. Here are eight valuable freebies, what it costs companies to offer the deal and how much the customer actually receives in terms of value.