If you’ve managed to binge all the way through House of Cards season 2 this weekend then you were sent off with some exciting news. The second season of another Netflix-exclusive hit series, Orange is the New Black, now has a launch date. A title card at the end of the 13th episode of HOC exposed the date: OITNB returns with 13 new episodes this summer on June 6. Watch a brief teaser above featuring flashes of some of your favorite Litchfield Prison inmates. After her nasty outrage at the end of season one, it looks like Piper Chapman won’t be getting out of there any time soon. Hooray for us.
Category Archives: News
‘Horrible’ update: a sequel is still in the works
Horrible fans, here’s a quick update for you on the status of the return of his Horribleness. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, songwriter Jed Whedon perpetuated the notion that a sequel to the highly lauded Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is still most definitely in the works.
We know we have spoken publicly about a sequel in the near distance and our passion to create it, and I promise we have not been insincere. Horrible is still one of our favorite creations by humans who were also us. We have many songs written and the plot outlined, but needless to say, we’ve been busy. Joss has had a hectic couple of years and is in the middle of the busiest year of his life, as is Zack and as are we. Also the actors have other things they’re acting in, I think. So the future is uncertain, our passion remains. DH2 will exist, in some format or another, at some point in the future. Unfortunately, the when is still unclear.
It simply hasn’t happened yet because all those involved are busy these days: Neil Patrick Harris stars in CBS’s How I Met Your Mother and pops up as hosts of award shows and in the movies quite often these days; Nathan Fillion is enjoying a very popular season of Castle; Felicia Day is running her YouTube channel Geek & Sundry; Jed and his wife Maurissa Tancharoen are showrunning ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Jed’s brother Zack is involved with Sundance’s upcoming drama The Red Road; and the eldest Whedon brother Joss, of course, is steering the Marvel Cinematic Universe and working on the Avengers sequel.
In closing, it’s not a matter of if but when. So keep your head up, Billy buddy.
[Via EW]
Xbox One receives its first major update with another one on the way
If you flipped on your Xbox One over the weekend then you were privy to the console very first significant update. Though the majority of new improvements are under-the-hood (namely stability and bug fixes), users will notice a few changes in appearance and functionality. A tiny yet welcome addition to the home screen is a battery indicator letting you know how much juice is left in your controller; if you don’t see it simply tap the Xbox button on your pad and it’ll reveal itself. Additionally, the My games & apps section has been updated and organized separating installed games and apps into respective folders. You can now “manage” games and apps; you can view how much space they take up and delete them from you console if you so choose. Also, users can see exactly how much space they have remaining on their HDDs. A download queue is also located inside the My games & apps section; you can pick the order in which you want your content to load from there. Lastly, the One now works with any USB keyboard–browsing with Internet Explorer just got a lot easier. Jump after the break for the full update breakdown.
The update rolled out to Xbox One owners over the weekend. If you have the “Instant On” feature enabled then your console will automatically download the update while it’s in sleep mode. If you turned that feature off then you’ll be prompted to download and install the update the next time you boot up.
Microsoft says this is phase one of a two part update coming to Xbox One. The next update will roll out in March and it promises improvements to the multiplayer and party systems. Stick it here to find out when it drops.
[Via Microsoft 1, 2] Continue reading Xbox One receives its first major update with another one on the way
TV reminder: 9 premieres to look out for in February
January has come and gone and as we fold into February it’s time to take a look at nine series/season premieres airing this month. Jump after the break for all the deets. Continue reading TV reminder: 9 premieres to look out for in February
Sonic & friends return in ‘Sonic Boom’ game, TV series & toy line
Sonic the Hedgehog is racing back into the limelight with a new video game, animated TV series, and a fresh toy line. It’s all being introduced under a new Sonic brand called Sonic Boom.
The game is being developed by Big Red Button Entertainment and Sanzaru Games for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, respectively, in collaboration with Team Sonic. According to a blog post, the game will “introduce exploration, combat and a new Enerbeam tether mechanic that will allow the Sonic Boom world to be discovered in totally unique ways.” A launch date for the title has not been announced yet.
The game serves as a prequel to the TV series which is also called Sonic Boom and is being co-produced by SEGA of America Inc. and OuiDO! Productions. The CG show is described as “an ensemble comedy consisting of 52 x 11-minute standalone episodes packed full of high-adrenaline action. Every episode starts from a small character-driven story and explodes into an epic tale of saving the world, robot battles and more.” Sonic Boom is schedule to premiere during the during the 2014/15 season on Cartoon Network.
The Sonic Boom franchise features classic characters like Tails, Knuckles, and Doctor Eggman but with a twist; their physical attributes have been updated–as you can see in the image above Knuckles has bulked up quite a bit and Sonic wears a brown scarf around his neck. Toy partner TOMY “will develop a comprehensive toy range across a broad number of categories including plush, action figures, RC, role play, vehicles and novelty.”
Sega’s John Cheng commented on the latest Sonic revival: “We want to ensure that the Sonic brand continues to evolve and appeal to new generations of Sonic fans and this different look introduces a fresh approach that will be at once both familiar and new to consumers. We are committed to supporting this initiative to provide great entertainment to fans for all aspects of their lives.”
Check out clips from the upcoming game and TV series after the break. The title looks extremely engaging and I’m excited to see how the development teams tap into the unique Wii U GamePad and 3DS’ functionality repertoire to control Sonic and friends. The show looks like a ton of fun. Scroll to the bottom of this page to view concept art from the game and the show.
[Via Sega] Continue reading Sonic & friends return in ‘Sonic Boom’ game, TV series & toy line
Microsoft names new CEO Satya Nadella
Bill Gates. Steve Ballmer. Satya Nadella. On February 4 Microsoft appointed its third CEO in its 40+ year history. Under Ballmer’s management, Microsoft couldn’t compete with the likes of Apple and Google on the mobile front (Windows Phone is in a distant third place in terms of adoption rate behind Android and iOS) and Windows 8 could not surge the waning sales of PCs. Additionally, Microsoft’s tablet entry the Surface didn’t make waves when it hit the market; Apple’s iPad and the many Android powered slates continue to dominate the field. So this past summer the enthusiastic Ballmer announced his retirement from the company after 33 years and over a five-month period Microsoft vetted various industry players to take over the coveted top position and in the end Mr. Nadella was named company Chief Executive Officer.
Nadella is no stranger to Microsoft; in fact he’s been with the company since 1992. As Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group he oversaw the company’s move to the cloud and the development of massive cloud infrastructures supporting Bing, Xbox, Office and other services. Nadella, 46, was born in Hyderabad, India; like Bill Gates he has a background in computer science, and like Ballmer he also has a business background.
“During this time of transformation, there is no better person to lead Microsoft than Satya Nadella,” said Gates in a press statement. “Satya is a proven leader with hard-core engineering skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together. His vision for how technology will be used and experienced around the world is exactly what Microsoft needs as the company enters its next chapter of expanded product innovation and growth.”
“Microsoft is one of those rare companies to have truly revolutionized the world through technology, and I couldn’t be more honored to have been chosen to lead the company,” Nadella said. “The opportunity ahead for Microsoft is vast, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move faster and continue to transform. A big part of my job is to accelerate our ability to bring innovative products to our customers more quickly.”
In addition to naming Nadella CEO, Microsoft also announced that Bill Gates, previously Chairman of the Board of Directors, will assume “a new role on the Board as Founder and Technology Advisor, and will devote more time to the company, supporting Nadella in shaping technology and product direction.”
Jump after the break to watch Gates welcome Nadella as the new CEO and get to know Nadella in a brief interview clip. Click here to learn more about MSFT’s new CEO.
[Via Microsoft] Continue reading Microsoft names new CEO Satya Nadella
Macintosh turns 30
The Macintosh was introduced to the world on January 24, 1984. This year the Mac turns 30 years old and Apple is celebrating this major milestone with a special new portal on their website featuring an interactive, nostalgic and knowledgeable Mac Timeline. You can scrub through every year from 1984 to 2014 and discover how the Mac has made such a significant impact in the world. There’s also a section called My First Mac and you can share your story with the Apple community and learn what people did with their revolutionary computers.
And it wouldn’t be a proper Apple celebration without awe-inspiring video to go along with it. Embedded after the break are three. In “Thirty years of innovation” creative types like Moby and Hans Zimmer wax poetic about the Mac and how it changed their lives and even more so the world. The next video is even more powerful; on January 24, 2014–on the Mac’s 30 year anniversary–Apple sent 15 camera crews armed with iPhone 5s’ all around the world and the end result is pretty incredible. Over 70 hours of footage was edited down to a 1 minute 27 second clip that acknowledges the sheer power and capability of modern technology. Watch it–along with a behind-the-scenes video narrated by director Jake Scott (son of filmmaker Ridley Scott)–after the break.
Truly remarkable stuff. Happy Birthday, Mac. Continue reading Macintosh turns 30
TV teasers: CBS’ ‘Extant’ & FX’s ‘The Strain’
Here are a couple tantalizing teasers to chew on. First up is Extant, a new original series from executive producer Steven Spielberg and starring Halle Berry. Extant is “a futuristic thriller about a female astronaut (Berry) trying to reconnect with her family when she returns after a year in outer space. Her experiences lead to events that ultimately will change the course of human history.” A bit vague, yes, but allow the teaser hanging above get your mind reeling. Extant joins another Spielberg-produced series, Under the Dome, when it debuts this summer on CBS.
Learn about vampire thriller The Strain after the break. Continue reading TV teasers: CBS’ ‘Extant’ & FX’s ‘The Strain’
Snyder’s Superman/Batman casts Lex Luther & Alfred Pennyworth
Zack Snyder’s upcoming Superman sequel will reintroduce the Man of Steel’s arch-nemesis Lex Luther when it hits theatres in 2016. And no, the bald baddie won’t be played by Breaking Bad‘s Bryan Cranston but instead The Social Network‘s Jesse Eisenberg. A casting out of left-field it would seem, but Snyder is confident in the young actor.
“Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940,” Snyder said in a statement. “What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”
In addition to casting Eisenberg as Luther, Jeremy Irons joins the sequel as Bruce Wayne’s butler and mentor Alfred Pennyworth. This role was most recently and memorably filled by Michael Caine in Chris Nolan’s Batman trilogy. This time Alfred will serve a new Caped Crusader played by Ben Affleck. “As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne’s most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman,” Snyder said. “It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne.”
Also in the mix is Gal Gadot who will bring Wonder Woman to the big screen when the still untitled Superman/Batman flick enters theatres May 6, 2016.
‘SNL’ names Seth Meyers Weekend Update successor
Turns out Cecily Strong won’t be manning the Weekend Update desk alone now that Seth Meyers has signed off Saturday Night Live for Late Night pastures. Replacing Meyers and co-anchoring with Strong is Colin Jost (rhymes with most) who is also SNL‘s head writer. He’s one of the masterminds behind popular Update characters like Drunk Uncle, second-hand news correspondent Anthony Crispino, and Strong’s The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party. Jost has big shoes to fill, and it’ll be interesting to see his rapport with Strong in the coming weeks; can they pull off the perfect comedic timing that reigned during Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey’s co-anchoring tenure?
[Via Deadline]
Daft Punk, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis & Lorde rule the Grammys
Daft Punk pretty much swept the Grammys this year, taking home five statues for their latest effort Random Access Memories and its hit single “Get Lucky” featuring Pharrell Williams. The electronic duo nabbed Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Dance/Electronica Album, and Best Engineered Album. Their performance with Nile Rodgers and Stevie Wonder is one for the ages.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis also had a show-stopping performance involving simultaneous marriages in the aisles. They were awarded five Grammys: Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “Thrift Shop,” and Best Rap Album for The Heist.
Also gaining much recognition is up-and-comer Lorde whose mega single “Royals” off her debut album Pure Heroine received Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Click here to view a list of all the winners.
Apple reports 2014 Q1 earnings: $13.1b profit on $57.6b revenue
On January 27 Apple reported its 2014 first quarter financial results. Apple posted a record $13.1 billion profit on $57.6 billion in revenue. Compare this to one year ago, that’s the same $13.1 billion profit and up on $54.5 billion in revenue. Says CEO Tim Cook: “We are really happy with our record iPhone and iPad sales, the strong performance of our Mac products and the continued growth of iTunes, Software and Services. We love having the most satisfied, loyal and engaged customers, and are continuing to invest heavily in our future to make their experiences with our products and services even better.”
Now let’s break it down by product category. Apple sold a record 51 million iPhones in the quarter (compared to 47.8 million in the year-ago quarter); a record 26 million iPads (compared to 22.9 million); and 4.8 million Macs (compared to 4.1 million). iPod sales continue to decline at a steady rate.
Looking ahead to the second fiscal quarter of 2014, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer expects revenue between $42 billion and $44 billion.
[Via Apple]