Category Archives: News

Actor Bryan Greenberg’s album releases next week, ‘How To Make It In America’ season 2 in production [Update: Stream single here]

January 10, 2011Audio, Download link, Music, News, Television, Videoalbum, album release, Bryan Greenberg, HBO, How To Make It in America, Kid Cudi, lead single, SingleScott Meisner

Bryan Greenberg, the star of HBO’s How To Make It In America, is about to drop his debut album. It’s called We Don’t Have To Wait Forever and it releases January 18. It’s being described as “a fresh collection of introspective narratives and soulful ballads” and it features a track called “You Can Run” that features Kid Cudi. Back in June Cudder dropped by a live Greenberg performance and laid down a freestyle and joined in on the chorus. In an interview with Complex Magazine Greenberg shares the story:

“I did have one [song] in mind for him and he did it live. He came to my show like a year ago in New York, when I was on tour. He jumped on stage for a little freestyle. When he heard the song he was like, “I really like it and that’s why I’m going to do it.” I was really honored by that. I thought he was going to rap, but he sang. It was cool. He’s really a true artist.”

Looking forward to the second season of HTMIIA? In that same interview Greenberg talked about what’s in store for Ben and Cam. “[The show] hasn’t reached the tipping point at all. I’m going back to L.A. next week and we’re going to do read-throughs of the first four episodes. I’m super excited. It’s going forward a couple of months and the business is growing…it’s like, how does this guy become Ralph Lauren? How does it happen? We take if from the street, like early, early sh– to like…that’s the goal, you know? It’s going to take years to develop.”

Preview the album’s lead single “Walk Away” in the video embedded above. How to Make It In America season 2 is currently in production and is expected to air this summer.

Update: The acoustic-based single “You Can Run” featuring Kid Cudi’s singing voice is now available to stream! Listen to it below and download it here.

Download: Bryan Greenberg – “You Can Run” (Featuring Kid Cudi)

[audio: Bryan Greenberg – You Can Run (Featuring Kid Cudi).mp3]

Fun fact. The inspiration for the song actually stems from Greenberg’s character Ben from HTMIIA. “I was kind of writing from the point of view of Ben and being scorned by Rachel and that just being a reason to succeed in life,” he says. “I did notice that a lot of successful people in this world, they always say that it’s about the art or it’s about the work. But when it comes down to it, [what drives them is that] they were made fun of in high school. Or there was a girl that dumped them and they’re trying to get back at them. I was coming from that mentality.”

[Via DatNewCudi; Complex; EW; HipHopUpdate]

ABC grants early renewals to six series

January 10, 2011News, TelevisionABC, Castle, Cougar Town, early renewal, Grey's Anatomy, Modern Family, renewal, renewals, The MiddleScott Meisner

At this week’s Television Critics Association press tour ABC officially renewed six series and they include comedies Modern Family, The Middle, and Cougar Town, drama Grey’s Anatomy and crime dramedy Castle. Sunday nighters Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters are noticeably absent from the early renewal lineup; the former is expected to be picked up later this spring while the latter remains on the bubble.

New ABC president Paul Lee shared his thoughts on the network’s current lineup. On Cougar Town: The comedy “has found its voice.” On Detroit 1-8-7 (which has yet to be picked up for a second season): It’s “a gritty, brilliantly written show which we’re very proud of”, a “very, very high-quality show” that “gets better.” On freshman comedy Better with You: It’s “a really funny show.” On V: The network is “very pleased” with the season 2 premiere ratings. “We made sure it was ten episodes so we could quality control those episodes. And we also brought a whole load of new ideas into it, so we’ve tried to really amp up the level of adrenaline in that show.”

And lastly, Lee talked about how he hopes to pave a successful future for ABC by granting showrunners additional freedom: “My real ambition is to make ABC Studios and ABC a real showrunner culture. From my perspective, the ability to allow showrunners to take risks, and for us to give them the air support that they can do that, is one of the most important parts of my job… So from my perspective, that combination between a potent brand and empowered showrunners can really give us a chance to succeed going forward into the future.”

We can expect to receive renewal/cancellation news about the freshman slate of ABC programming, including No Ordinary Family, within the next two to three months, according to Lee.

[Via Deadline]

Motorola invites Bionic into the Droid family

January 9, 2011Images, News, Technology, Video4G, 4G LTE, Android, Android phone, cell phones, CES, CES 2011, Consumer Electronics Show, Consumer Electronics Show 2011, Droid, Droid Bionic, Droid Bionic by Motorola, dual-core smartphone, EA, Electronic Arts, Motorola, Motorola Droid Bionic, Rock Band, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, VZWScott Meisner

The Droid Bionic from Motorola is one helluva smartphone. It’s super fast, both in processing and network speeds. It’s one of the first mobile phones to pack a dual-core processor, with each core running at 1GHz, delivering up to 2GHz of processing power, and it’s Moto’s very first 4G LTE enabled phone. More specs: 4.3-inch qHD display, 512 MB of RAM, rear-facing 8-megapixel camera, front-facing VGA camera, HDMI out. It will ship with Android 2.2 (Froyo) on board. Moto’s also pushing Mirror Mode, a function that enables simultaneous streaming of video to the TV and on the device. All in all, this is a pretty solid device. 2011 is going to see a big push towards faster phones with larger, higher quality displays and right now the Bionic is the clear leader of the pack. Precise price point and release date have not been specified yet, but you can expect it the Bionic to land on Verizon Wireless in Q2 2011.

At CES 2011 Verizon kept reiterating the blazing speeds of 4G LTE. They claim the next-gen cell service is up to 10 times faster than current 3G speeds and they used a fun example on stage at their press event to show how these incredible speeds can be utilized. They invited Electronic Arts to show off Rock Band Mobile‘s multiplayer capabilities. Owners of select 4G LTE devices will be able to “jam together” with up to four friends over the network. Verizon is hopeful Android apps will take advantage of 4G LTE’s fast speeds with wireless connectivity functionality as featured in the upcoming Rock Band game. Look after the break for the PR which lists the 20 songs in the game; there you’ll also find a video demonstration. If you didn’t know, Verizon plans to expand its 4G network to blanket its entire 3G coverage area within the next three years.

[Via Engadget, here & here]

Continue reading Motorola invites Bionic into the Droid family →

Motorola Xoom & T-Mobile G-Slate will run Android Honeycomb

January 9, 2011Images, News, Technology, VideoAndroid, Android 3.0, CES, CES 2011, G-Slate, Google, hardware, Honeycomb, LG, Motorola, Motorola Xoom, specifications, specs, T-Mobile, T-Mobile G-Slate, tablet, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, VZW, XoomScott Meisner

Motorola and T-Mobile were downright giddy to announce their upcoming tablet devices at CES 2011. That’s because they are excited to bring Honeycomb, Google’s latest iteration of Android built entirely for tablets, to salivating consumers. Since I already detailed Honeycomb, I think it’d be best to simply jump into specs talk. Let’s start with the Motorola Xoom since there’s far more information about this product out there. The Xoom features a 10.1 inch (1280×800) screen and packs NVIDIA’s latest Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of DDR2 RAM. There’s a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with dual LED flash and a 2 megapixel front-facing camera; support for 720p video recording and 1080p video playback; 32GB of onboard storage that’s expandable with SD card support; 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth; and ports include HDMI out, micro USB 2.0, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s also a built-in gyroscope, barometer, e-compass, accelerometer and adaptive lighting. It will ship with 3G support and eventually gain 4G LTE support on Verizon’s network. As far as battery life is concerned, Moto’s only saying that it supports up to 10 hours of video playback. Note that the Xoom does not pack physical buttons. With Honeycomb, Google no longer requires hardware manufacturers to include buttons along the rim of their devices. What used to be buttons are now illuminated icons that can be made visible on the device in landscape or portrait modes. Motorola says they’ll ship the sexy Xoom tablet as a 3G/Wi-Fi-enabled device in Q1 2011 (we’re in that quarter now, so soon!) and they promise these devices will be upgradeable 4G LTE in Q2. Also in Q2 Moto will introduce an all-out 4G LTE/Wi-Fi- enabled Xoom. According to recent reports, a strictly WiFi-enabled version will also debut in the Spring. The Xoom looks like it’s going to be a hot item when it ships; a speedy Tegra 2 processor and the tablet-optimized Honeycomb OS marriage will surely make for an enjoyable mobile experience.

An honorable mention goes to the T-Mobile G-Slate because it is just one of the few tablets announced at CES 2011 that promises to run Honeycomb when it releases. T-Mobile has partnered with LG to make the hardware. Aside for it being the “first 4G Android 3.0 powered tablet” from T-Mobile, we know nothing else about it really. At the press event T-Mobile and LG execs held up the mystery tablet, and it look like standard fare–a black slate. We’ll have to wait for a more detailed announcement in the coming weeks.

Look in the gallery below for close-ups of the Motorola Xoom, and hop after the break to read some PR and watch a couple introductory product videos.

[Via Engadget, here & here]

Continue reading Motorola Xoom & T-Mobile G-Slate will run Android Honeycomb →

Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series hides a full keyboard under a tablet

January 9, 2011Image cache, News, Technology, VideoCES, CES 2011, computers, Consumer Electronics Show, Consumer Electronics Show 2011, hybrid, hybrid laptop, laptop, notebook, Samsung, Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series, sliding tablet, tablet, transforming tablet, Windows 7 tabletScott Meisner

CES 2011 was host to a myriad of upcoming tablets running Android, Windows 7, custom skins, you name it. Samsung’s Sliding PC 7 Series is certainly one of the most innovative and is a stand-out winner in my humble opinion. At first you might look at the slate and think it’s just a thicker iPad. But that thickness is apparent for a reason; hiding underneath the tablet is a slide-out chiclet keyboard with a trackpad. This hybrid machine doubles as a 10.1 inch tablet and a small notebook PC. I’m really impressed with the design factor here, but specs are important too: 1366×768 multitouch display, Intel’s 1.66GHz (Oak Trail) processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of storage, 4-in-1 memory card reader, webcam, 802.11n WiFi, 3G/WiMax & DLNA support, built-in accelerometer, USB, HDMI out, will last up to nine hours on a single charge. Samsung’s Fast Start feature will boot up the machine in as little as 15 seconds, or restore it from Hibernate and Sleep modes in 3 seconds. The hybrid will ship with Windows 7 Home Premium and Samsung’s custom skin called Touch Launch that “comes with preloaded applications that are optimized for the touch screen display.” To launch Sammy’s skin you simply and elegantly swipe a blue strip located on the screen bezel. The Sliding PC 7 Series will drop in March at $699.

I’m really digging the choice hardware manufacturers are giving consumers when it comes to tablet design. Companies like Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung are creating such inventive, sleek hardware designs that give users the option to use a simplified OS in a tablet form factor and a more robust Windows experience with a touchpad/keyboard present. I like the idea of having a tablet that can easily be converted into a more full-fledged computing device when a full-sized keyboard is needed. At just 2.2 pounds, Samsung’s slider isn’t that hefty and I think I can sacrifice a couple pounds in weight and some inches in thickness to know that a reliable physical keyboard is just a hand gesture away from accessibility.

Jump after the break to see the notebook do its transformation thing. Official PR’s there too.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series hides a full keyboard under a tablet →

The Mac App Store is now open for business

January 9, 2011News, TechnologyApple, apps, desktop apps, Mac App StoreScott Meisner

This week Apple opened up the Mac App Store, so now you can peruse the various categories and download what you like. The Mac App Store is essentially the App Store (for iPhone & iPad, as found within iTunes), the only difference being this new store is a separate application outside iTunes and the available apps within it are made specifically for the desktop. It’s set up similarly to the App Store; the new store offers apps in Education, Games, Graphics & Design, Lifestyle, Productivity, Utilities and other categories and you can browse the top free, paid, and grossing apps. User ratings and reviews are also there to help you make purchases. Currently there are over 1,000 first and third party apps to choose from. Apple is offering the iLife suite in individual chunks; iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand apps cost $14.99 each. The same applies to iWork; Pages, Keynote, and Numbers apps can be downloaded locally for $19.99 each. Also Aperture 3 is there if you need it for $79.99. Third party app developers are jumping on the Mac App Store bandwagon too; Twitter for Mac is free and for $4.99 you can kiss your workload goodbye and play a full-screen, high-res version of the highly addicting #1 game Angry Birds.

To access the Mac App Store you must download it; it comes bundled in the 10.6.6 software update, so Snow Leopard is required. When you download an app it goes straight to your Applications folder and you can manage its location from there. App purchases get charged to the credit card attached to your iTunes account. When an app is due for an update you will be alerted and you can apply updates to your entire app collection with one click. Again, to reiterate the point made earlier, the Mac App Store bares little difference from the App Store found in iTunes; you’ll feel right at home.

For now the app selection isn’t wildly abundant. In due time, developers will flock to it and before you know it apps for OS X will explode just like they did on Apple’s mobile iOS devices. Why I am so confident about this? Well that’s because news recently came out of Cupertino boasting that over one million apps have been downloaded from the Mac App Store in the first day of its existence. Mac users have flocked to it, so developers will too. Get ready for the next app revolution. Full PR after the break.

[Via Apple] Continue reading The Mac App Store is now open for business →

AT&T now offers iPhone 3GS for only $49.99 [Update: Apple, too]

January 9, 2011News, Technology3GS, Apple, Apple iPhone 3GS, AT&T, cell phones, iPhone 3GS, price, price decrease, price dropScott Meisner

The post title pretty much says it all. AT&T, including brick and mortar stores and online, is now selling the iPhone 3GS for $49.99. This offer applies to both new and upgrade-eligible existing AT&T customers. Don’t have the cash to plunk down $199.99 for a beefier iPhone 4? Now you totally have a viable way into the cellular-enabled iOS universe. Full PR after the break.

Update: Apple’s gone ahead and matched AT&T’s low, low price of $49.99 for the 8GB iPhone 3GS. I smell a new product release…is that you, Verizon iPhone?

[Via Engadget] Continue reading AT&T now offers iPhone 3GS for only $49.99 [Update: Apple, too] →

Avatar Kinect gives you more control over your Xbox doppelganger

January 9, 2011News, Technology, Videoavatar, Avatar Kinect, facial expressions, Hulu, Hulu Plus, Kinect, Kinect for Xbox 360, Kinect update, Microsoft, Netflix, sales figures, units sold, update, Video games, Xbox 360, Xbox avatarScott Meisner

Microsoft has announced a new Kinect-specific update for Xbox 360 owners. Here’s out the makers explain it: “With Avatar Kinect, you can control your avatar’s facial expression, head, and arm movements. As you talk, frown, smile, or scowl, your voice and facial expressions are enacted by your avatar, bringing your avatar to life!” In other words, the update will give you a more detailed level of control over your avatar. Right now the Kinect captures basic movements, such as arm flails, moving side-to-side, jumping, and ducking. With Avatar Kinect, the sensor will be able to recognize a new slate of physical actions. Microsoft is highlighting a virtual hangout where you can meet up with up to seven friends and converse with them using your avatars. You’ll be able to select from 15 virtual environments. Think of it as Wii’s Mii Plaza, except this space will allow for broader interaction (detailed avatar movements performed by you, voice support). Avatar Kinect will hit Xbox 360s later this spring. Look after the break to see it in action.

In related Kinect news… At CES 2011 Microsoft announced that they sold 8 million Kinect sensors worldwide during its first 60 days on the market; they sold 3 million more devices than they had predicted they would during that launch window. More news… In a spring update, Hulu Plus will be joining Netflix, expanding users’ options when it comes to TV and movie content. In addition, the two services will be Kinect-compatible.

[Via Xbox] Continue reading Avatar Kinect gives you more control over your Xbox doppelganger →

Star Wars saga coming to Blu-ray in September with over 30 hours of bonus content

January 6, 2011Movies, NewsBlu-Ray, Blu-ray release, film distribution, Star WarsScott Meisner

George Lucas announced that the entire Star Wars saga was coming to Blu-ray in fall 2011, and this week he made good on that promise. On September 30, 2011 you’ll be able to purchase the Blu-ray collection in one of three ways: (1) The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) for $139.99; (2) The Original Trilogy for $69.99; (3) The Prequel Trilogy for $69.99. The Complete Saga set will come bundled with “more than 30 hours of extensive special features including never-before-seen deleted and alternate scenes, an exploration of the exclusive Star Wars archives, and much more.” Full PR after the break.

The three sets are available to preorder at Amazon today at prices lower than the specified MSRP: Complete Saga ($89.99); Original Trilogy ($44.99); Prequel Trilogy ($44.99). See what I did there?

[Via Gizmodo] Continue reading Star Wars saga coming to Blu-ray in September with over 30 hours of bonus content →

It’s official: Robert Knepper will reprise T-Bag in A&E’s ‘Breakout Kings’, bringing Lost’s Jacob with him

January 6, 2011News, TelevisionA&E, Breakout Kings, cast, guest role, Mark Pellegrino, Robert Knepper, TV cast, TV notesScott Meisner

Good news all around! Back in early October Prison Break producers Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora shared their interest in reviving Prison‘s ultimate villain Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell for their new fugitive-themed drama Breakout Kings. And guess what? Since 20th Century Fox approved the character crossover, actor Robert Knepper has agreed to bring him back. Not only has he agreed, he’s overly excited to do so. In an interview with Give Me My Remote, he shared his elation about working with Olmstead and Santora again. It’s going to be a pretty wild ride. It’s a very trusting thing I have with these guys,” said Knepper. “We spent four years together. All the writers and I, we always wrote back and called each other and said really positive things to each other in those four years. I have tremendous faith in them and I’m not worried at all about what they’re going to do.” He continued, “It may be career suicide, but I loved playing T-Bag. This is a very, very funny, deep, complex character who really scared the sh– out of people and yet people loved him.” If you’re a Prison Break fan, you should read the entire interview; Knepper goes down memory lane reminiscing about how much he loved playing T-Bag, especially in season one which he describes as “sheer gold.” He also says that he might land a part in J.J. Abrams’ upcoming series Alcatraz–now wouldn’t that be something! He says that T-Bag is locked into at least one episode, but if all goes well I’m hoping that the guest role becomes something more substantial.

Lost fan are you now? According to TV Line, the man who played Island protector Jacob–Mark Pellegrino–has been cast as a “trained assassin” and will appear in episode ten of the series. Pellegrino is Virgil Downing, “a notorious international contract killer who always gets the job done…Although he’s suspected in at least-three dozen other killings, his only conviction was for murdering a police commissioner — six years prior to breaking out of his maximum-security cell.”

Breakout Kings is “a new action-packed ensemble drama following an unconventional partnership between the U.S. Marshals’ office and a group of convicts as they work to catch fugitives on the run.” Originally pitched to FOX but later picked up by A&E, the series is set to premiere on Sunday, March 14 at 10PM.

[Via GiveMeMyRemote; TVLine]

J.J. Abrams is pitching another show, this one’s called ‘Pulp’

January 6, 2011News, TelevisionBad Robot, J.J. Abrams, network shopping, pitch, Pulp, series pitchScott Meisner

The man who built Bad Robots Productions has another drama up his sleeve. J.J. Abrams is prepared to pitch Pulp, described by TV Line’s Michael Ausiello as “an hour-long crime drama set in a slightly heightened reality,” to the networks as early as next week. In pure Abrams fashion, he’s working with longtime collaborators including Monica Breen and Alison Schapker (Alias, Lost, Fringe) who wrote the script and will serve as executive producers if the show gets picked up. Ear is to the ground with this one.

If you need a quick refresher, Abrams has three other series in the works: FOX’s Alcatraz, NBC’s Odd Jobs, and a CBS crime thriller called Persons Unknown. Next fall can’t come soon enough.

[Via TVLine]

Last night’s Mega Millions winning lotto combination contained 4 of the 6 mysterious LOST numbers

January 5, 2011News, TelevisionLost, Lost numbers, lottery, lotto numbers, Mega Millions, mysterious, mystery, The NumbersScott Meisner

Talk about mysteriously wicked news! The January 4 Mega Millions drew the following numbers: 4, 8, 15, 25, 47, and 42 (the Mega Ball #). Compare that to the mysterious Lost numbers: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. Crazy I know! Last night 41,763 people chose the four Lost numbers and they were awarded $150 each for their participation. The generation-defining show has been off the air since May, but its closure will never stop fans from picking those numbers when they purchase lotto tickets. The $380 million jackpot was reportedly split as follows: 323 people correctly guessed four balls plus the Mega Ball and won$10,000; 67 people matched the first four balls and won $250,000; and just two tickets, purchased in Idaho and Washington, matched all six numbers to split the massive jackpot. As of today those winners have yet to claim their prize, but maybe that’s because they know how unlucky the numbers are. Nobody wants to find one Tricia Tanaka dead tomorrow morning, now do we?

Lost producers Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse responded to the lotto Lost tie-in, and even actor Jorge Garcia (who originally picked the numbers as Hugo Reyes) humorously commented on it on his personal blog.