January, February… March! Let’s take a look at six premieres airing this month. Jump after the break.
Continue reading TV reminder: 6 premieres to look out for in March
Category Archives: Images
TV reminder: 9 premieres to look out for in January
We’ve hit the midseason mark and with it comes a handful of series premieres worth getting excited about, along with the return of some of your favorite shows. Full speed ahead, after the break! Continue reading TV reminder: 9 premieres to look out for in January
TV reminder: ‘Almost Human’ premieres Sunday (11/17) at 8PM on FOX
J.H. Wyman’s next TV show following the phenomenal sci-fi drama Fringe is Almost Human and it premieres across two nights starting this Sunday. Executive produced by J.J. Abrams (yes, it’s from Bad Robot), Almost Human is an “action-packed police procedural set 35 years in the future, when police officers are partnered with highly evolved human-like androids.” The series will follow Detective John Kennex (Karl Urban) and his android partner Dorian (Michael Ealy) as they investigate and attempt to solve crimes against a futuristic landscape. And don’t worry–a larger mythology is also at play here; Kennex survived a near-fatal attack and after waking from an 17-month coma he’s trying to put the pieces together.
Jump after the break to revisit the extended Almost Human trailer; down there you’ll also hear Wyman, Abrams, and the cast’s take on the sci-fi actioner. Look in the gallery below for a couple more cool posters.
With such a high pedigree supporting this series from the producers to the actors, it’s hard to imagine Almost Human not firing on all cylinders from the get-go. It premieres this Sunday, November 17 at 8PM on FOX; episode 2 follows the very next night on Monday the 18th at 8. With Bones relocating to Friday, Almost Human becomes the Monday @ 8PM anchor leading into Sleepy Hollow starting that night. I have a feeling Monday nights are about to get oh-so-sahweet.
Continue reading TV reminder: ‘Almost Human’ premieres Sunday (11/17) at 8PM on FOX
TV reminder: ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ premieres tonight (10/9) at 10PM on FX [Update: record ratings]
The third season of Ryan Murphy’s horror anthology series American Horror Story is upon us. This year is called Coven and it involves witches and voodoo and New Orleans. The cast is largely female this season featuring heavy hitters like series vet Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe, Taissa Farmiga, Angela Bassett, Patti Lupone, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe, Jamie Brewer, Evan Peters, and Denis O’Hare. The show’s official site offers up a brief glimpse of what’s in store:
American Horror Story: Coven tells the secret history of witches and witchcraft in America. Over three hundred years have passed since the turbulent days of Salem and those who managed to escape are now facing extinction. Mysterious attacks have been escalating against their kind and young girls are being sent away to a special school in New Orleans to learn how to protect themselves. Wrapped up in the turmoil is new arrival, Zoe, who is harboring a terrifying secret of her own. Alarmed by the recent aggression, Fiona, the long-absent Supreme, sweeps back into town, determined to protect the Coven and hell-bent on decimating anyone who gets in her way.
I was fortunate enough to screen the premiere titled “Bitchcraft” (heh) early and I can tell you without any qualms that it’s quite fun and still scary. This season Murphy is aiming for a lighter, more palatable ride. Last season’s Asylum was fantastic–don’t get me wrong–but you must admit it was, at times, difficult to watch in terms of its heavy, dark tones and overly disturbing situations. The Coven premiere starts off disturbing enough and yet it doesn’t hold back jolts of humor–a pleasant surprise. If the first ep is any indication, Coven is going to be a wild, scary, sexy, fun time.
Below, check out character portraits and posters in the galleries. (How do you like the provocative key art hanging above, hm?) After the break, watch the one minute main title sequence filled with (to put it mildly) tantalizing imagery and that score you know and love. Click here to watch the many Coven promos.
American Horror Story: Coven premieres tonight, Wednesday, October 9, at 10PM on FX.
Update (10/10): “Bitchcraft” attracted 5.54 million total viewers making it the most-watched episode of the series spanning all three seasons. The Murder House series premiere in 2011 was the previous record-holding episode which garnered 3.85 million total viewers. The Coven premiere also attracted a solid 3.87 million viewers in the coveted 18-49 demo, another new record for the anthology series.
Microsoft intros new Surface tablets
Microsoft is updating its Surface tablets that showcase their redesigned operating system Windows 8. The Surface 2 is the successor to Surface for Windows RT; its 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD display now renders 1080p, it’s powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, and its battery life promises 10 hours for video playback. Its full-size USB port has been upgraded to USB 3.0 and its front and back-facing cameras have been upped to 3.5-megapixel and 5-megapixel, respectively; both can capture 1080p video and feature improved low-light performance. Preloaded with Office Home & Student 2013 RT and Outlook 2013 RT, the Surface 2 starts at $449 and will come in 32GB and 64GB configurations when it goes on sale October 22. Customers can choose from a black or white coat this time.
The Surface Pro 2 is the successor to Surface for Windows Pro; it packs the same 10.6-inch ClearType Full 1080p HD display as the Surface 2 but it’s faster as it’s powered by Intel’s fourth-generation 1.6GHz Core i5 processor. MSFT hypes a 75 percent longer battery life than Surface Pro thanks to the new processor and other internal enhancements. The device houses three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0, a mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, and audio in/out. A two-stage kickstand, also featured on the Surface 2, gives users another angle to position their tablet. The Surface Pro 2 starts at $899 and will come in 64GB and 128GB configurations with 4GB of RAM and 256GB and 512GB configurations with 8GB of RAM when it, too, hits the market October 22.
New Surface owners will get one year of free international calling and Skype hotspot access, along with 200GB of SkyDrive storage that is free for two years.
The new tablets will sell alongside some new accessories. The Touch ($119.99) and Type ($129.99) Covers are getting updated with thinner and light-weight designs. A new Power Cover ($199.99, coming in early 2014), which features a Type Cover experience, will extend your Surface’s battery life by up to 50 percent. A Docking Station for Surface Pro ($199.99, also coming early next year) will allow owners to easily connect desktop peripherals to their tablets, “taking you from laptop to desktop in an instant.” A Music Cover gives amateur DJs a new way to dive into the art of music making and remixing; release date and price is still TBA on this one.
Check out the gallery below for a closer look at the new Surface tablets and accessories.
[Via Microsoft]
Apple announces colorful iPhone 5c, secure iPhone 5s & dates iOS 7
On Tuesday Tim Cook hosted an Apple event in Cupertino that introduced not one but two new iPhones. Also, Apple’s next-gen mobile operating system iOS 7 now has a release date and the company’s productivity suite and creative apps are about to become even more popular. Let’s dive in, shall we? Continue reading Apple announces colorful iPhone 5c, secure iPhone 5s & dates iOS 7
Sony shows off updated PS Vita and new game console/media streamer for Japanese market
Sony Computer Entertainment held a press conference in Japan today and although all the announcements pertain directly to the Japanese market it’s very likely that some of the announced hardware may make their way to the States and other parts of the world.
First up, Sony made it known that the PS4 will release in Japan on February 22, 2014, almost three full months after the console launches in North America. Yeah, that has got to sting, especially since Sony is based in JP. But remember, the PS3 had launched in Japan six days before it did in America…so…yeah.
Next let’s turn to hardware. Sony flashed a new PS Vita (WiFi only) that is 20 percent thinner and 15 percent lighter than the OG Vita and promises six hours of battery life. The design is mostly the same–you’ll noticed a slightly rounder look. Inside the LED screen has been swapped out for an OLED display, there’s now 1GB of onboard storage and a micro-USB has been added for syncing and charging. The new Vita will come in a bunch of colors such as black, white, lime green, light blue, pink and grey. The proprietary memory cards have fallen in price and a 64GB size has been introduced to the fold. The updated PS Vita releases in Japan October 10 for 18,980 yen (or about $190).
And now to the unexpected. Sony outed a new box to put in front of your television and it’s called the PS Vita TV. It looks like a mini console and allows gamers to play Vita titles on their TV. It comes complete with slots to insert Vita cartridges and memory cards and you control gameplay with a DualShock controller, not the Vita. The Vita TV will support 1,300 Vita games; in other words this “console” will launch with an impressive games lineup. Note, however, that it will not support all Vita titles; big ones like Gravity Rush, Wipeout, and Uncharted are not included on the compatible games list for some reason. In addition to playing games, the Vita TV will also act as a media streamer with access to Sony’s Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited services, Hulu, and more. And when the PS4 comes out, a software update will turn the Vita TV into a Remote Play device akin to how the Vita will become one as well. Vita TV comes to the Japanese market on November 14 with a 9,954 yen price tag. That converts to appox. $100. Should it enter the US market at some point it’d fare as a worthy competitor against Apple TV, Roku, and the like.
Pop into the gallery below to check out the updated PS Vita and the new PS Vita TV. Video after the break.
[Via Engadget 1, 2, 3, 4; Joystiq] Continue reading Sony shows off updated PS Vita and new game console/media streamer for Japanese market
Kid Cudi & other artists design unique beer bottle labels for Beck’s
Musician Kid Cudi was approached by Beck’s to design a unique label for their beer bottles. It’s an annual tradition for Beck’s; this year six artists from different disciplines were selected to participate in creating limited edition beer labels. Over 13 million bottles featuring custom labels imagined by Cudi, fashion designer and entrepreneur Marc Ecko, artist and musician Willis Earl Beal, multi-medium artists The Date Farmers, interactive digital duo TM Sisters, and photographer William Hundley will sell for the remainder of the summer. Check out this clip from Beck’s starring Cudder as he details the label design he came up with; the three rings that make up the background of the label represent Cudi’s Man on the Moon albums (yes, a third album to close out the trilogy is in the works).
Eye the new designs in the gallery below, and watch the other artists’ videos at Beck’s YouTube channel.
Verizon intros three new Droids into the fold
Meet the Droid Mini, Droid Ultra, and Droid Maxx.
The Mini, as its name makes obvious, is the smallest of the bunch sporting an edge-to-edge 4.3-inch TFT display with an HD resolution of 1280 x 720. Inside there’s a Motorola X8 Mobile Computing System (that is a 1.7GHz dual-core processor with a 400MHz quad-core GPU, natural language processor, and contextual computing processor), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage, a 10-megapixel camera with 1080p video capture, and a 2000mAh Li–Ion battery for up to 28 hours of usage or up to 14 days of standby time.
Verizon is calling the Ultra “thinnest 4G LTE smartphone available” measuring 7.18mm thin. It rocks a 5-inch Super AMOLED display with an HD rez of 1280 x 720. It packs a Motorola X8 Mobile Computing System inside (that is a 1.7GHz dual-core processor with a 400MHz quad-core GPU, natural language processor, and contextual computing processor). 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard memory is standard here, too, as is a 10MP shooter with HD video capture and the 2130mAh battery (up to 28 hours usage or up to 13 days standby time).
And then there’s the Maxx. Its specs are nearly identical to the Ultra’s expect for its heftier size thanks to an extremely large battery. The non-removable 3500mAh battery promises up to 48 hours of usage (that’s two days!) or 25 days standby. Also, the Maxx has double the internal memory at 32GB. The Maxx also touts built-in wireless charging compatible with a charging pad sold separately.
All the new Droids are made with DuPont Kevlar fiber unibody design and Corning Gorilla Glass. The 4G LTE enabled phones run the latest version of Android, that is 4.2 Jelly Bean, featuring new software enhancements including Droid Command Center (an exclusive homescreen widget for users to easily access notifications for text messages, missed calls, battery level and weather), Droid Zap (a new way to share pictures with nearby Droid users), hands-free voice activation (Droid users can wake up their phones by saying “OK Google Now” and telling it what to do next), and Wireless Display (users can mirror what’s on the screen onto a Miracast-enabled HDTV).
The three Droids by Motorola are up for preorder today. After signing a two-year contract with Verizon Wireless, the Droid Mini can be yours for $99.99, available August 29. The Droid Ultra (made in black and red) and Droid Maxx both go on sale August 20 at $199.99 and $299.99, respectively. Pix in the gallery below. PR after the break.
Continue reading Verizon intros three new Droids into the fold
Comic Con: ‘Breaking Bad’ countdown clip hypes the series’ final run
Breaking Bad made their final stop at Comic Con this summer hyping the AMC series’ final eight episode run that begins August 11. Creator Vince Gilligan and the cast led by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul screen this “countdown mashup” clip that serves as a “best of” video featuring some of Walter White’s best lines and moments from the acclaimed series. Gilligan was very tight-lipped about plot details, but he did say that he and his writing staff and everyone involved really are proud of the final 8 and he thinks fans will be satisfied by the way things end. Also, the rumored Saul Goodman spinoff starring Bob Odenkirk is very much in the works with Gilligan pushing for a green light.
If you happened to be walking the Con floor, chances are you might have bumped into Cranston! He was mingling amongst the crowd disguised as his TV alter ego Walter White wearing a mask and using a high-pitched voice. Check out some pictures from the panel reveal in the gallery below.
[Images via BIA]
TV reminder: ‘The Newsroom’ returns Sunday, July 14 at 10PM on HBO
Will McAvoy and his team of reporters at ACN return to our airwaves this Sunday night at 10PM on HBO in the season 2 premiere of The Newsroom. Together Aaron Sorkin’s creations stand alone in the season 2 key art posted above, and quite literally in the character stills packed in the gallery below. Are you ready for some more fast talking, fast walking, and fast talking and walking? This season will cover major news such as “the Tea Party/American Taliban, the general election including the primaries and conventions, Trayvon Martin, the Affordable Care Act, and drones” and will span August 23, 2011 to Election Day 2012.
E3 2013: Sony and the PS4
Like Microsoft, Sony held a pre-E3 event where they officially announced the next-gen PlayStation, the PS4. Without showing off the actual console, Sony filled in a lot of the blanks by talking up the advanced architecture that powers the machine, introducing the DualShock 4 wireless controller, a new PlayStation Eye camera, the system’s ability to share and stream gaming sessions, and the company even saved time to introduce some next-gen games. At last, Sony revealed the actual box behind it all and previewed many more games coming to PS4 (more than 140 of them are coming this year) at its E3 briefing. For more, jump after the break. Continue reading E3 2013: Sony and the PS4