SlySoft sent us a note that they will be changing their upgrade policy soon. Currently, if you buy any of SlySoft’s products, you’ll get free updates for your lifetime. To be fair for its current and past customers, this policy wont change for existing customers, but soon new customers will get the updates only for one year, a familiar policy with many software products nowadays.
So if you plan to purchase AnyDVD, AnyDVD HD, or any other of their products, now is a pretty good time — and they’re offering 20% discount for all purchases made before December 31st, 2008.
Further details, prices, etc about SlySoft’s products can be found from SlySoft’s website. CloneDVD
Result for: DVD
Microsoft has announced that it has cut the price of its Xbox 360 HD DVD addon by $50 USD. The price cut follows recent decisions by Toshiba to drop prices on their HD DVD players.
The new price cut brings the price of the add-on in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to $129.99 USD. A few months ago Microsoft dropped the price of its add-on and promptly saw a surge in sales.
Earlier today, the huge e-tailer Amazon began selling the add-on for $79.99 USD and sold out within hours.
It is also important to note that every purchase of the add-on includes a free copy of “King Kong” on HD DVD in the box as well as an offer to get five free discs in the mail.
Result for: DVD
The ESA(Entertainment Software Association) had filed a new Special 301 Report with the US Trade Representative which shows the growing struggles for growth in the international video game industry thanks to ever increasing piracy.
The report specifically mentions a few countries where piracy is highest, notably Canada, China, Malaysia, Russia and eastern Europe.
Michael Gallagher, CEO of the ESA, explained, “Countries that support computer and video game piracy discourage publishers from establishing viable and legitimate markets. The Special 301 process sends a strong message to them to clean up their act to avoid damaging trade sanctions.”
The ESA even went on to say that in some of the areas listed, piracy exceeded 80 to 90 percent. These included areas in southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central and South America. The ESA defines “piracy” as any “factory production of optical discs (such as CDs and DVDs); CD-R and DVD-R ‘burning’; cartridge counterfeiting; Internet downloading and file trading; as well as Internet cafe piracy.”
The report acknowledges that there are no short term fixes for the major problem areas but hopes that progress can be made in less problem areas such as Canada.
“This year our Special 301 filing highlights countries that urgently need to begin backing up their commitment to creativity and innovation,” added Gallagher.
“We look forward to working with USTR and other supporting government agencies to achieve tangible results and hopefully succeed in lowering piracy in these key countries.”
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