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Sharper Image Files For Chapter 11

WILMINGTON, DEL. — Specialty retailer Sharper Image has filed for Chapter 11 protection at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, here. The company, known for its proprietary electronics devices, said it is in a "severe liquidity crises" and will shutter 90 of its 184 stores and sell off unprofitable inventory in an effort to conserve cash.

• U.S. PIRG Report Calls Retailers 'Misleading'
• DTV Coupons Mailed
• Centris Study Finds DTV Reception Gaps
• Alpine, Microsoft Enter Agreement

Harmonic Distortion — Stewart Wolpin

Dumb And Dumber — And Dumbest

It's now T-minus one year to the analog TV turnoff. And the national media has finally woken up to the post-Katrina FEMA-like boondoggle the turnoff is likely to become.

Over the weekend, USA Today posted a story called "Campaign tries to clear up digital TV signal confusion," citing "reports of massive consumer confusion." The reporter names just one such report — a December survey conducted by Consumer Union that other outlets had reported on when the survey results were announced more than two weeks ago.

TWICE On Gaming — Peter Suciu

Must Play 2008: With No Halo, What's Next?

Last fall saw the debut of Halo 3, an event that former Microsoft Game Studio VP Peter Moore labeled the biggest day in entertainment history, and even called the franchise "this generation's 'Star Wars'." For the release of the game in Sept. 2007, Microsoft pulled out all the stops with major events in New York, Miami, Seattle and Los Angeles, while more than 10,000 retailers opened their doors at midnight.

In response to: Toshiba Pulls Plug On HD DVD:

Jay Rudko, Florida, retail sales: "This was inevitable. It's better that Toshiba bite the bullet and end it now, rather than take even more losses over a format that, although it was good, just wasn't able to slay the Blu-ray dragon."

Wayne Smedile, Mira Loma, Calif., electronic sales: "Who wants another disc anyway? Really, by the time the format war is settled, won't we be downloading or streaming the HD content anyway? I still have 500 CDs that collect dust now that I have an iPod. Isn't the fate of DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc the same? This whole format war seems reminds me of the whole Napster/MP3/download debate or DVD-Audio disaster."

Paul Harvey: "Now consumers will not be confused and start adopting a high-def disc format ... thank God this is over!!"