TV, Movies & Home Theatre News - Page 83

The latest and most important TV, Movies & Home Theatre news - Page 83.

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Google to add Google TV to Chromecast, says employee

Charles Gantt | Jul 26, 2013 12:03 PM CDT

Chromecast may just be the kick in the pants that Google TV needs. According to one employee, Google will be providing Google TV support for Chromecast. With all the talk of a new Google TV set-top box being readied for launch, this could mean that you would be able to plug your Chromecast into this new box, or it could mean that Google is bringing a Google TV app to Chromecast.

Warren Rehman, an employee of Google said that "Google TV isn't dead" and went on to confirm that Google will be integrating Chromecast into Google TV in some form. Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that earlier this year at CES, they got a closed doors, private demo of Google's upcoming set-top box. The new Google TV box is said to feature a built-in camera, motion sensor, and have support for Google Hangouts.

Continue reading: Google to add Google TV to Chromecast, says employee (full post)

What if Superman punched you? Other than it destroying you, you'd be surprised at the science behind it

Anthony Garreffa | Jul 26, 2013 7:30 AM CDT

There has been a lot of discussion about the destruction of Metropolis in Zack Snyder's reboot of Superman, Man of Steel. Sure, there's insane amounts of destruction, but when two God-like (fictional) beings fight each other in an otherwise realistic portrayal of a city, what do you think would happen? Other than it causing an estimated $700 billion worth of damage, it would be an intense few nanoseconds.

The video above goes into the science of what would happen if Superman punched you, and has so many numbers and facts that it'll make you laugh out loud at how ridiculous it would be if Superman really did punch someone in real life. The punch itself would be so quick, you wouldn't even see it for one. Secondly, it would have so much force it would create a 1km deep crater in the ground.

It would take just a few nanoseconds for it to happen, before a blast radius of several kilometers engulfed into fury and flames. So, what we see in Man of Steel is more 'realistic', but it could've been so much worse. I loved the destruction in Man of Steel, and thought it was one of the more realistic superhero movies to depict God-like beings fighting in a city.

Continue reading: What if Superman punched you? Other than it destroying you, you'd be surprised at the science behind it (full post)

The FCC Shows us what is inside Google's Chromecast dongle

Charles Gantt | Jul 25, 2013 9:45 PM CDT

Ever since Google's Chromecast media streaming dongle was announced yesterday, I have been curious as to what hardware lies inside. I am after all, one of the type of people who enjoy taking things apart to see how it ticks. Thanks to the FCC and Anandtech I do not have to wait for my Chromecast to arrive. The FCC Chromecast documents have been released and they contain images of the naked Chromecast PCB.

Powering the device is a Marvell DE3005 chip while AzurWare silicon handles the Wi-Fi duties. For those interested, you can view the full FCC documentation along with the photos and even the devices user manual by visiting Source #3 below. I placed an order for a Chromecast unit shortly after the announcement yesterday. No shipping info has been provided yet, but we are hoping to have our unity by Monday or Tuesday and will have a full review up shortly thereafter.

Continue reading: The FCC Shows us what is inside Google's Chromecast dongle (full post)

Google announces Chromecast, a $35 media streaming dongle for your TV

Charles Gantt | Jul 24, 2013 1:52 PM CDT

This morning Google announced the release of a new media streaming dongle dubbed Chromecast. The small $35 HDMI dongle mirrors content that is being played on a nearby smartphone, computer or tablet. Coming in at just 2-inches long, the device plugs directly into your HDTVs spare HDMI port.

The device is able to run certain apps and if you are an early adopter, you will get a free three month Netflix subscription. Google says that Chromecast runs a simplified version of Google's Chrome OS and unfortunately, it will require a separate USB power source. The device features 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and comes with an HDMI extender, a USB cable and a USB power source.

Chrome apps that work with Chromecast will feature a "cast" button that will push the video feed to your Chromecast connected television. "Once Chromecast is plugged in, you just go to YouTube on your smartphone," Google reps said. "You'll see the cast button in your UI and you press it -- Chromecast will pull the info you requested from the cloud and play it on your TV." Google demoed the device at this morning's breakfast event and showed how Chromecast could display a YouTube video from your tablet onto your TV, and still allow you to use other apps on your tablet at the same time.

Continue reading: Google announces Chromecast, a $35 media streaming dongle for your TV (full post)

Zack Snyder confirms Superman/Batman movie for 2015

Anthony Garreffa | Jul 21, 2013 7:34 AM CDT

I'm still adjusting to the awesomeness that was Man of Steel, but while I was over in Melbourne for PAX Australia 2013, I read that the director of Man of Steel, Zack Snyder, confirmed a Superman/Batman movie for 2015.

At the end of the DC panel at Comic-Con 2013, Zack Snyder tool the stage, gesturing that moderator Chris Hardwick should move out of the way where he said "I'm gonna take the lectern from you, because some sh*t's going to happen up here. It's official that we are going to make another Superman movie. And you say, Zack, what is the movie about? But you don't want me to tell you that. You want to go and see the movie. But I can say that maybe there's a single element that will be in the film that I could... help you out with. I was thinking about how to do that. I pored through the DC Universe to look for a way to tell this thing. We're writing the thing now, but I came across a thing I found that'll help you understand it."

While this is exciting news, it doesn't confirm a sequel to Man of Steel, which is weird. Harry Lennix, who starred in Man of Steel, read a line from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns: "I want you to remember, Clark, in all the years to come, in all your most private moments, I want you to remember my hand at your throat. I want you to remember the one man who beat you."

Continue reading: Zack Snyder confirms Superman/Batman movie for 2015 (full post)

Intel's so-called "cable killing" set-top box in alpha testing phase with employees

Charles Gantt | Jun 25, 2013 3:32 PM CDT

Intel is working very hard on a top-secret project that has the potential to greatly shake up the pay-TV market. Known as "Project Black Box," the set-top box and associated television service are poised to take advertisers by storm by paying as much as 75 percent more than traditional content providers.

Intel is able to do this because the box is said to utilize a built-in camera that will collect data on viewers' habits. Yes, you read that correctly, Intel's set-top box will record everything you do in front of your TV, and then feed that information back to its advertisers to help better target you with ads.

CNET reported today that more than 2,000 Intel employees in the Northern California, Arizona, and Oregon areas are currently testing the new pay-TV service. It is unknown when the set-top box and service will launch, but Intel does say that there will be substantial changes made to the final version such as how users navigate the system and how content is served.

Continue reading: Intel's so-called "cable killing" set-top box in alpha testing phase with employees (full post)

The latest Man of Steel 'Fate of Your Planet' trailer is filled with beautiful action

Anthony Garreffa | May 22, 2013 2:32 AM CDT

We've had a handful of trailers to Zack Snyder's reboot of Superman, Man of Steel, but this new 'Fate of Your Planet' trailer is filled to the brim with action. Check it out below, and then we'll go through what we can see in the trailer.

The beginning starts of with Zod's message to Earth, then the fun really begins. We get a better look at Laurence Fishburne's Perry White, Amy Adams' Lois Lane, Michael Shannon's General Zod, and of course, UK born Henry Cavill's Superman. The trailer has General Zod threatening Earth for harboring Kal-El, where he states that "the fate of your planet rests in your hands" unless they give Kal-El up.

Zod says that Kal-El has 24 hours to surrender, "or watch this world suffer the consequences". Things ramp up a bit, and we have a death stare from Zod, a huge punch to Zod by Superman, Faora threatening someone (Superman, or the military), Superman receiving a huge smackdown by some robot or person in a suit, a fighter jet crashing into buildings in Metropolis, Superman being dragged into countless skulls, Lois going into some form of a suit, more of Superman flying, Zod hitting Superman with a steel girder (girly scream from me), Superman screaming, some utterly awesome heat vision being shot from Superman's eyes, and bam - the El symbol, end.

Continue reading: The latest Man of Steel 'Fate of Your Planet' trailer is filled with beautiful action (full post)

Rovio partners with Sony Pictures for distribution of Angry Birds movie coming in 2016

Trace Hagan | May 15, 2013 10:02 PM CDT

Rovio announced that they have partnered with Sony Pictures for their upcoming Angry Birds movie. We've previously covered details of the Angry Birds movie that was originally announced back in December 2012. At that time, I asked what the movie would consist of. That question still needs to be answered.

The Angry Birds movie will be a 3-D animated comedy coming out sometime in 2016. It will be produced by John Cohen, the producer for Despicable Me. The partnership between Rovio and Sony Pictures was announced via tweet earlier today. Rovio CEO Mikael Hed said the following in a press release:

Sony impressed us with their great attitude, determination, and professionalism. They convinced us that we have found the right partners and team to help us market and distribute our first motion picture.

Continue reading: Rovio partners with Sony Pictures for distribution of Angry Birds movie coming in 2016 (full post)

ReportTT: Google to announce music-streaming service at this year's I/O event

Trace Hagan | May 14, 2013 11:31 PM CDT

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Google will unveil a music-streaming service at this year's Google I/O. The event, which kicks off tomorrow, will reportedly focus on services instead of hardware, which would tie in nicely with a new music-streaming service.

Google already offers a music product, but it requires users upload their own music to stream or buy new songs. This new service would be more like Spotify's offering. According to people familiar with the matter, Google has already signed deals with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. These deals will allow unlimited streaming of certain libraries for a fee.

It's not clear what the fee would be, though it would have to be competitive with current offerings. This means we could expect the fee to be less than $10 for unlimited streaming on any device.

Continue reading: ReportTT: Google to announce music-streaming service at this year's I/O event (full post)

US ambassador to Australia asks Australians to stop pirating Game of Thrones

Anthony Garreffa | Apr 26, 2013 3:30 AM CDT

US ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, has reached out to his official Facebook page telling Australians to stop pirating popular HBO show, Game of Thrones. He wrote:

As the ambassador here in Australia, it was especially troubling to find out that Australian fans were some of the worst offenders with among the highest piracy rates of Game of Thrones in the world.

The comments came on April 23, marking the 17th annual UN World Book and Copyright Day. He added:

Continue reading: US ambassador to Australia asks Australians to stop pirating Game of Thrones (full post)