Category Archives: News

2012 Golden Globe nods are in!

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The Golden Globe Awards celebrates the best in television and film, and this year’s nominees have been announced. We start with the television categories, as is tradition. The five best drama nominees are American Horror Story, Boardwalk Empire, Boss, Game of Thrones, and Homeland. Jessica Lange (American Horror Story), Steve Buschemi and Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire), Kelsey Grammer (Boss), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Claire Danes and Damien Lewis (Homeland) were all recognized for their performances in those aforementioned best drama series. The five best comedy nominees are Enlightened, Episodes, Glee, Modern Family, and New Girl. Laura Dern (Enlightened), Matt LeBlanc (Episodes) Sofia Vergara and Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), and Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) were recognized for their performances in those best comedy series. Snubs? Parks and Recreation, Community, Raising Hope, Happy Endings, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Louie in the comedy categories (though Amy Poehler was nominated for best actress) and The Walking Dead, Dexter, and Fringe in the drama categories (will the HFPA ever show love for TV’s finest John Noble?).

And then there’s the film categories. The five best motion picture drama contenders are The Descendants, The Help, Hugo, The Ides of March, Moneyball, and War Horse. George Clooney and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants), Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer (The Help), Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March), Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill (Moneyball) were all recognized for their performances in those aforementioned best drama films. Also The Descendants (Alexander Payne), Hugo (Martin Scorcese), and The Ides of March (George Clooney) snagged best director nominations. The Descendants, The Ides of March, and Moneyball received best screenplay nods. Hugo and War Horse are up for best original score, along with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). The five best motion picture comedy contenders are 50/50, The Artist, Bridesmaids, Midnight in Paris, and My Week with Marilyn. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (50/50), Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo (The Artist), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), Owen Wilson (Midnight in Paris), Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn) were recognized for their performances in those best comedy films. Also The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius) and Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen) snagged best director and best screenplay nominations. The Artist, which topped the nominations list with a total of six nods, was also recognized for its original score. Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s The Adventures of Tintin is pitted against Arthur Christmas, Cars 2, Puss in Boots, and Rango for best animated feature film. Snubs? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (though Rooney Mara was nominated for best actress), Shame and Michael Fassbender, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Gary Oldman and Melissa McCarthy’s performance in Bridesmaids.

Comedian Ricky Gervais hosts for a third time in a row when the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards airs live Sunday January 15, 2012 at 8PM on NBC. Jump after the break to see all the nominees. Continue reading 2012 Golden Globe nods are in! →

Facebook Timeline now available worldwide

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Mark Zuckerberg announced his social network’s redesigned profile page dubbed Timeline back in September at F8, Facebook’s developer conference. Just shy of three months later and Timeline is out of beta and now available worldwide for Facebook users to see and interact with. The new look is fully detailed at this previous post, and there are a few new things you should know about concerning the rollout of Timeline. Facebook is giving users a 7-day review period once Timeline is activated on an account. This means that you’ll have seven days to review everything that appears on your timeline before anyone else can see it. During this time you can feature and hide stories from your past and get your profile page looking just the way you want it before all your friends view it. Once your Timeline is ready, you can terminate the review period and publish your profile page manually; or you can simply let the week pass and it’ll automatically publish. Timeline is currently rolling out to all Facebook users. If you haven’t received the update yet and want it now, head over to Facebook’s “Introducing Timeline” site and click the Get Timeline button. The redesign is also available to view at m.facebook.com and on the Facebook app for Android. There is no ETA for when the update will reach iOS devices.

Update: That was quick. Facebook just rolled out a new version of the Facebook app for iOS devices (v4.1) and it brings the Timeline experience to iPhones and iPod touches. Timeline support for iPads is still listed as “coming soon.” Note that you will only see Timelines on your mobile device(s) if the feature has already been enabled on the desktop browser-based Facebook. The update also brings access to subscribers and subscriptions and performance improvements.

[Via Facebook]

Samsung Galaxy Nexus now available on Verizon Wireless at $299.99

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The very first phone running Android 4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich is now available on Verizon Wireless. The 4G LTE compatible Galaxy Nexus by Samsung packs a 1.2GHz processor, a big 4.65″ HD Super AMOLED display, 5 megapixel rear-facing and 1.3 megapixel front-facing cameras, 1GB RAM, and 32GB on-board memory. Android ICS brings with it a whole slew of new features including Face Unlock, Android Beam, an enhanced Camera app, a new People app, and of course an entirely redesigned user interface. Get all the juicy details here. As of December 15 the newest Nexus was made available on VZW and can be yours for a cool $299.99 with a two-year contract. Pics below, PR and video after the break.

[Via VZW] Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Nexus now available on Verizon Wireless at $299.99 →

Windows Phone-powered Nokia Lumia 710 comes to T-Mobile January 7 for $49.99

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In October Nokia unveiled its Lumia range of Windows Phone-powered smartphones, the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710. This week T-Mobile became the official carrier of the budget-friendly Lumia 710 and announced that’ll be available next month. The 710, which features a 3.7-inch ClearBlack WVGA scratch-resistant display, a Qualcomm 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor, a 5 megapixel camera, and HSPA+ 14.4Mbps “4G” speed, is being touted by T-Mo as “the perfect first-time smartphone” at the low price of $49.99 after a two-year contract is signed. Also shipping with software like Nokia’s Drive and ESPN apps as well as T-Mobile TV and Netflix, the 710 comes to market in the US on January 11 in black and white variants.

It’s a shame Nokia isn’t promoting the fiercer Lumia 800 before its low-budget brother, let alone alongside it. In my humble opinion, Nokia is making a mistake by allowing customers to think that Windows Phones manufactured by Nokia are “cheap” or lacking competitive features. It would have been smarter to team the 800 with T-Mobile first so that the public could understand that the Finnish company is ready to battle the likes of Apple, Samsung, Motorola, and LG in the States, rather than push out an entry level smartphone for techies to scoff at. Nokia is a deserving phone maker, so here’s to hoping that they get their act together and release the Lumia 800 in the States sooner than later.

[Via T-Mobile] Continue reading Windows Phone-powered Nokia Lumia 710 comes to T-Mobile January 7 for $49.99 →

Second batch of free Virtual Console games available now for Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors

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If you’ve got a 3DS and entered yourself into the Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors club in August, there are ten additional free games waiting for you in the eShop today! They are Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare Inc. Mega Microgames, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Wario Land 4, Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, and F-Zero: Maximum Velocity. This batch of free Virtual Console games from the Game Boy Advance vault follows the first wave of free NES games that were offered in early September. Access the eShop to download the games; for step-by-step instructions click here. Ninty hopes this serves as a peace offering between the company and early adopters of the 3DS that were tied down and forced to witness a significant hardware price drop over the summer.

[Via Joystiq]

Nintendo outs the Circle Pad Pro 3DS accessory, coming February 7 for $19.99

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In a game-centric press release (in full after the break), Nintendo managed to squeeze in a single paragraph officially announcing a new accessory for the 3DS. The Circle Pad Pro, which launched on December 10 in Japan, serves as a cradle enclosure for the handheld device and adds a second analog stick to the right side and three shoulder buttons (L2, R1 and R2). Though it certainly makes your 3DS thicker and heftier, sources claim that the optional accessory adds a whopping 480 hours of battery life working off one AAA battery. In order for games to “see” the cradle and utilize the second analog stick and additional shoulder buttons developers will have to code their software appropriately. Nintendo says that upcoming releases Resident Evil Revelations and METAL GEAR SOLID 3D Snake Eater will in fact be compatible with the Circle Pad Pro. Want one? It will be sold exclusively through Gamestop starting February 7 and will sell for $19.99.

[Via Nintendo] Continue reading Nintendo outs the Circle Pad Pro 3DS accessory, coming February 7 for $19.99 →

Apple says 100 million apps downloaded from Mac App Store

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Apple just loves to brag about their milestones, don’t they? This week the computer company announced that over 100 million apps have been downloaded from the Mac App Store in less than one year. Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller commented on the impressive feat. “In just three years the App Store changed how people get mobile apps, and now the Mac App Store is changing the traditional PC software industry. With more than 100 million downloads in less than a year, the Mac App Store is the largest and fastest growing PC software store in the world.” The celebration continues over the break with the full press release.

[Via Apple] Continue reading Apple says 100 million apps downloaded from Mac App Store →

2011 Video Game Awards winners and exclusive trailers

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This past weekend Spike TV played host to the ninth annual Video Game Awards. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim took home the Vector Monkey trophy for Game of the Year, besting Portal 2, Batman Arkham City, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Throughout the night, host Zachary Levi (Chuck) interacted with neat in-show augmented reality animations from the aforementioned nominees. Skyrim also won Best RPG and helped Bethesda get crowned Studio of the Year. Portal 2 was recognized multiple times throughout the night; it won Best PC Game, Best Multiplayer Game, Best Performance by Male and Female, and Best DLC. Arkham City also won multiple awards for Character of the Year (The Joker), Best Xbox 360 Game, Best Action Adventure Game, and Best Adapted Video Game. This year the Gamer God Award went to Blizzard Entertainment, and Shigeru Miyamoto was on hand to accept the first ever Video Game Hall of Fame Award for The Legend of Zelda. After the break you’ll find a list of all the night’s winners and losers.

Though the awards play a big part of the VGAs every year, it’s the world premiere footage from upcoming games that really gets gamers amped. Among the most celebrated were Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us, Command and Conquer: Generals 2 from Bioware, Alan Wake’s American Nightmare, Fortnite from Epic Games (introduced by Cliffy B. himself), Irrational Games’ Bioshock Infinite, and Blizzard’s introductory cinematic for Diablo III. And then were was the VGAs epic finale. Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima stepped on stage to unveil the latest pulse-pounding trailer for Metal Gear Rising. This one took my breath away; it’s a must-see. Jump after the break to watch all of the world premiere trailers screened at the VGAs.

[Via Spike 1, 2] Continue reading 2011 Video Game Awards winners and exclusive trailers →

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ prologue hits theatres December 16 (new movie poster enclosed)

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Though the summer 2012 release of The Dark Knight Rises seems like it’s ages away, director Christopher Nolan wants to satiate eager fans now by releasing a 6-minute prologue into theatres later this month. The prologue, which will introduce Batman’s latest villain Bane (played by Tom Hardy) to moviegoers, will play in front of select IMAX screenings of Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol starting Friday December 16. Remember when Warner Bros. showed off the opening bank heist sequence from The Dark Knight in front of the Will Smith-starrer I Am Legend back in 2008? The studio is doing it again with Nolan’s final Batman movie in the Christian Bale-starring trilogy. This is being done for two reasons: one, it’s a great way to publicize the upcoming movie and get people talking about it; and two, the thrill and immersion of the early IMAX experience will make audiences opt for the pricier ticket when the film releases in full next year.

In an interview with EW, Nolan talked about how much his next film was actually shot in 70mm for IMAX. “We shot about twice what we did last time [on The Dark Knight], at least. Last time we were about 25 minutes [in IMAX]. Obviously, I haven’t cut [the rest of The Dark Knight Rises] yet, so I don’t know the exact running time, but I think we’ll be in the 45 to 50 minute range. Basically all the actions sequences, and some of the more large-scale other bits of the film that aren’t necessarily action. We even shot some dialogue scenes and some quite intimate dramatic scenes, which we haven’t done before. And so some of that will make its way into the film.”

I will reiterate that the prologue will only play in front of Mission: Impossible in select IMAX theatres. Look after the break for a listing of the theatres (provided by Deadline) and confirm with theatres that they’re playing it before making a purchase.

Bonus! Check out the brand spankin’ new poster for The Dark Knight Rises above. It features the villainous Bane who seems to have “broken the Bat” just like he does in the comics. The tagline “The Legend Ends” serves as an antithesis to the movie’s title The Dark Knight Rises and so it breathes an air of mystery. Will Batman survive Nolan’s threequel? We shall find out on July 20, 2012. (Download the full-size poster here.) Continue reading ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ prologue hits theatres December 16 (new movie poster enclosed) →

Adele tops iTunes’ best-selling albums and songs lists of 2011

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Apple has released lists of its music store’s best-selling albums and songs of 2011. 23-year-old singer songwriter Adele has comes out as the clear winner, topping both the best-selling album and song charts with her sophomore release 21 and the track “Rolling in the Deep,” respectively. Following 21 is Mumford & Sons’ Sigh No More, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV, Kanye West and Jay-Z’s collaborative effort Watch the Throne, and Coldplay’s latest Mylo Xyloto. Drake’s Take Care impressively took the #8 spot on the list, having only been released last month. Moving over to the best-selling songs, LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” landed at the #2 spot, followed by Katy Perry’s “Firework”, Bruno Mars’ “Grenade”, and Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You.” This year Apple went so far as to award artists individual distinctions, too. For obvious reasons Adele was named Artist of the Year; Wasting Light by The Foo Fighters got Album of the Year, even though it didn’t land the in the best-selling top ten list; Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” is Song of the Year (#9 on the top ten list); and Breakthrough Artist of the Year is Nicki Minaj whose song “Super Bass” rests at #10 on the best-selling songs list. Jump after the break to see who else rounded out iTunes’ best-selling albums and songs of the year. Open iTunes to view their Rewind 2011 section for more year-end chart toppers.

[Via THR] Continue reading Adele tops iTunes’ best-selling albums and songs lists of 2011 →

Kid Cudi reveals WZRD album cover

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Kid Cudi can’t keep out of the news. After releasing two tracks from his upcoming collabo album with producer Dot Da Genius, Cudder jumped back onto Twitter to share with his followers the “official logo” for his band WZRD. He confirmed that the image embedded above will in fact serve as the album cover when the still yet-to-be-titled album drops January 30. Though now all signs point to it being self titled as WZRD. Cudi went on to describe the album art as “simple, classic, iconic.”

Bonus! The same day he posted the WZRD image to Twitter, he also shared a link to Dia Frampton’s YouTube channel. Embedded after the break you’ll find an amazing cover of Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness” by The Voice runner-up. The two recently collaborated on Frampton’s new single “Don’t Kick the Chair.”

[Via @wizardcud] Continue reading Kid Cudi reveals WZRD album cover →

Twitter gets a new look, again

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On Thursday Twitter announced that it’s rolling out another new look for its homepage. This time around, the desktop and mobile experiences are getting simpler and streamlined. (New) New Twitter is organized into four sections: Home, Connect, Discover, and Me. Let’s take a brief tour…

Home is home to your personal collection of tweets. The desktop version is organized into two columns. To the left there’s your personal info including your name, profile picture, your number of tweets, who you’re following, and your followers; there’s also a link to your profile page and a way to quickly compose and send out a tweet. Underneath that you’ll find follower suggestions and the trending topics list. To the right there’s the familiar list of incoming tweets from the people you follow. The new interface allows tweets that are attached with images and videos to expand so you can easily explore embedded media. Replying, retweeting, and favoriting tweets are all just one hover and click away.

Connect acts as a hub very much like the Activity Feed of the old Twitter. It’s the place where you’ll see who has followed or mentioned you, retweeted or favorited one of your tweets. Tweets are organized by Interactions and Mentions. A search bar sits at the top and you can use it to find and discover people by entering their @username or full name.

Discover highlights trending topics and stories that are being talked about on the social network. This section is organized like this: Stories, Activity, Who to follow, Find friends, and Browse categories. Stories that are shown to you are based on recent popularity as well as your connections, location and language. Activity shows everything your connections do related to the accounts that they follow. See who else your connections follow, their lists and what Tweets they favorite, retweet or reply to most. In Discover the search bar at the top allows you to enter a hashtag or keyword to further explore a topic of your choice.

Me servers as your profile page and it can be fully customized from here. A gallery of your recently tweeted photos and videos are stored here, as are your Direct Messages.

The new Twitter design is the network’s most simplistic to date, and best of all it transfers over to the mobile space too. Whether you’re accessing Twitter from a desktop or your cell phone the experience will be nearly identical. How do you enable the new look? Easy! Download and login to the latest versions of Twitter on your iPhone or Android device and then you should be able to access the new desktop version. Twitter says they’re working on rolling it out to all users “over the next few weeks.”

[Via Twitter 1, 2]