The first official movie trailer for Avatar, which hits theaters on December 18, has been released. The trailer below isn’t very good quality, but there is a much higher quality French MSN version here.

Although Apple has been hyping the download, and viewing, of the trailer from their site here, and the direct download of the HQ version here, the links are dead right now.

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Netflix has finally ended support for HD DVD. Starting on December 15th, all HD DVDs listed in queues will be replaced by regular DVDs. The company supported the format long after most institutions, so their subscriber base can at least thank them for that. RIP HD DVD.

MGM has announced it will be putting up full-length movies from its archive on to Youtube. First, the company will test the waters by putting up full-length TV shows. Old episodes of American Gladiators will be the first to hit Youtube, followed by a limited collection of movies including "Bulletproof Monk" and "The Magnificent Seven."

MGM will be making money by allowing the full-length features to be ad-supported. In time, MGM plans on releasing most of their archive on the popular video streaming site.

Chinatown bootleggers rejoiced as Swann announced their MovieStick gadget today. The MovieStick is a video camera that can fit inside of a stick of gum. It stores filmed content on a 2GB MicroSD card. It has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. In short, it’s the world’s most perfect device to sneak into a movie theater to carry out nefarious intentions.

Don’t plan on it just yet. The gadget still doesn’t have a release date. Swann says it will cost $119.99 when it is released, however.

Sony is shutting down its video-sharing site Grouper and relaunching it as Crackle. Despite just having bought the old Grouper for $65 mil, it got a lowly 4.3 million viewers a month.

Crackle will be a bit different with contests and the top-rated videos will be given funding, ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, for additional episodes and a chance to pitch feature film ideas to executives at Columbia Pictures, a Sony company. Animators can show off to Sony Pictures Television with a chance to turn their short video into feature-length Sony animated films.