Google Music comes out of beta, Music store gets added to Android Market

News, Technology, Video, , , , , , , , ,

On Wednesday Google stripped the “b” word from Music Beta by Google and transitioned Google Music into a one-stop shop for uploading, purchasing, and sharing music. Like Music Beta, Google Music will allow users to upload up to 20,000 songs to the cloud for free. The music.google.com portal still exists and looks nearly identical to its beta version. Users can upload their music to the cloud by clicking the “Upload Music” link in the top right corner; this will prompt you to open the Music Manager software, just like before. What’s new, however, is the link “Shop.” That’s right, Google is ready to go head-to-head with Apple and Amazon by selling songs directly to users. The Android Market has a new section called Music living among Apps, Books, and Movies. At this new Music store users can browse, preview, and purchase individual tracks and albums. Google has worked out deals with three of the four major labels–Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and EMI–and many independent labels to offer over 13 million tracks. Google has yet to partner with Warner Music Group, and the absence of their inclusion stings a bit. To ease the pain, they are offering exclusive content from some of the most popular artists like Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, and Dave Matthews Band. Free tracks and live concert albums are currently in the mix from a handful of artists. When you download music from the Android Market, the tracks automatically fly into the cloud and populate your Google Music library on your computer and mobile devices. If you have an Android device running 2.2 or higher the Music section of the Market is rolling out to you soon and you’ll be able to download tracks on the go. The Google Music app has already received an update and can be downloaded at the Market today. After downloading music from the store, Google lets you share your purchase with your Circles on Google+. When your friends see a track or album shared on their stream, they have the option to listen to your music once in its entirety! Next there’s the Google Music Artist Hub. The kind folks at Google are giving independent artists a means to upload their music to the Android Market. If you have the rights to distribute music, Google has built a simple interface to create your own artist page, upload original tracks, set prices, and sell content directly to customers. Indie artists keep 70 percent of the profits and Google gets the remaining 30. If this tickles your fancy, visit the Artist Hub to get started. Last, the G-Men have released a Google Music app for Google TV. It’ll let you can access your music library right on the TV.

And just like that, Google has set itself up to become a formidable contender in the music space. Video after the break.

[Via Google 1, 2] Continue reading Google Music comes out of beta, Music store gets added to Android Market →

Trailer: Pixar’s ‘Brave’

Movies, Video, ,

Princess Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) stars in this first full-length trailer for Pixar’s upcoming thirteenth animated film, Brave. Though this longer introduction isn’t as breathtaking as the teaser trailer that came before it, the sheer beauty of the animation style still holds up and my anticipation for the June 22, 2012 3D release doesn’t waver. What do you think of this grander look at Pixar’s latest?

3D re-release trailers: ‘Titanic’ & ‘Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace’ [Update: ‘Beauty and the Beast’]

Movies, Video, , , , , , , ,

Two classic movies are being re-released in 3D. First up is James Cameron’s 1997 emotional roller coaster Titanic. The director who imagined Avatar is re-releasing the tragic love story in 3D on April 6, 2012. This date falls right around the 100 year anniversary of the sailing of the ship. Titanic is considered one of the greatest movies of all time, but do you feel comfortable watching all those people lose their lives in eye-popping 3D? Tough call.

Next up is the re-release of The Phantom Menace, the first prequel movie from George Lucas’ famed Star Wars franchise. Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic special FX company is converting all six Star Wars films to play in 3D. Episode 1 comes back to theatres on February 10, 2012, and the remaining five films will follow suit over the course of consecutive years. Watch the new trailer after the break.

Update: Disney has released a trailer promoting their next foray into 3D. After re-releasing The Lion King in 3D into the wild, Disney is reaching its hand into the vault again and this time they’re sharing Beauty and the Beast with the world again. Skip after the break to watch new trailer. The Disney classic returns January 13, 2012. Continue reading 3D re-release trailers: ‘Titanic’ & ‘Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace’ [Update: ‘Beauty and the Beast’] →

‘South Park’ renewed through 2016

News, Television, , , , ,

Less than four months after renewing South Park for two more seasons, Comedy Central is assuring fans of the crude comedy that Kyle, Stan, Cartman, and Kenny will stay put at least until the year 2016. That’s right: today the network renewed South Park for three more seasons! This means that original episodes will continue to be pumped out for years to come and the show will hit a major milestone, 20 seasons on air. Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless said, “The collective genius of Matt and Trey knows no bounds. Week after week and season after season they continue to surprise and delight South Park fans.” The creative minds behind the cultural phenomenon had this to say following the exciting announcement. “Comedy Central has been our home for 15 years and we love working there. South Park is a blast and we can’t wait to make more.” And we can’t wait to see more.

South Park‘s 15th season comes to a conclusion tonight at 10PM on Comedy Central.

[Via EW]

NBC greenlights Bryan Fuller’s ‘Munsters’ remake

News, Television, , , ,

In October of last year, news broke that Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller was interested in developing a modern-day reboot of the classic 1960s sitcom The Munsters. After reading Fuller’s script, today the Peacock network gave The Munsters remake the greenlight. Fuller will shoot a pilot, show it off to the network, and if all goes well it will air on NBC sometime next year. It will be produced by Universal Television, and it’s being described as an “imaginative reinvention of The Munsters as a visually spectacular one hour drama.” I added emphasis to those words; after watching Pushing Daisies come and go far too quickly, we all know that Fuller’s ability to paint a colorful and visually splendid picture is extraordinary. So what do we know about The Munsters circa 2012? So far, not much. Rumor has it that the reboot will be less campy and more frightening and darker than its 1960s counterpart. Also, Fuller has expressed interest in bringing on Kristen Bell to play Marilyn, the “plain” cousin of the wacky Munster clan. Since then, however, Bell has moved on to star in the new Showtime series House of Lies. Who knows if this puts a chink in Fuller’s plans. For now, be ecstatic that The Munsters are coming back with a hugely creative talent backing it up.

[Via TVLine]

NBC announces 2012 midseason schedule

News, Television, , , , ,

This week NBC announced its 2012 midseason schedule. New programs coming to the Peacock network include Smash, Fashion Star, Are You There, Chelsea? (formally titled Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea), and The Firm. Returning shows include The Voice, 30 Rock, Who Do You Think You Are?, and The Celebrity Apprentice. Significant scheduling changes… Sitcoms Whitney and Up All Night are swapping places (the former will air Wednesdays at 8PM and the latter Thursdays at 9:30PM); Harry’s Law moves to Sundays at 8PM; The Firm will replace Prime Suspect in the Thursday 10PM slot; and 30 Rock will assume Community‘s 8PM-8:30PM timeslot. And here’s some troubling news: NBC has pulled Community from the midseason schedule entirely; it’s nowhere to be found. Even if the network is thinking about cancelling the low-rated but critically adored comedy, season 3 will play out since it was granted a full season order already; we just don’t know when the rest of the episodes will air. Perhaps it will reenter the fold in the spring to take the place of a low-rated program, or maybe the network plans to air it in the summer. Fans are being vocal about this, so I’m sure NBC will come out and speak on the news sooner rather than later. Also MIA is Awake, the highly anticipated sci-fi drama starring Jason Isaacs. The plan was for this show to air in midseason, but recently the show halted production to work on the scripts. Is NBC now saving it for the fall 2012 season? At this time we still don’t know.

Jump after the break to view the full schedule, and click here to preview all the new shows. Continue reading NBC announces 2012 midseason schedule →

Donald “Childish Gambino” Glover drops rap album ‘Camp’

Music, News, Video, , , , ,

Community star Donald Glover is a rapper, if you didn’t know. After submitting data into a Wu-Tang Clan name generator, he decided to make the result his alter-ego rap name: Childish Gambino. Glover has been making music since 2008, outputting mixtapes and albums and headlining national tours over the years. Today his latest studio album Camp released and it includes 13 tracks. The lead single “Bonfire” has a music video and it’s embedded above. Before starring in the NBC sitcom and writing for 30 Rock, Glover made viral videos with his troup Derrick Comedy. Dan Eckman, a member of that comedy troup, directed the clip for “Bonfire.” Fair warning: the lyrics contain lots ‘o expletives. For an actor-rapper, the production value hold up pretty well, and Glover is gifted with hustle and flow. The music video includes a story and twist ending that is well worth your time; visually it’s enticing and at the same time it’ll introduce you to Glover’s rap style. Need to hear more before you purchase Camp at iTunes? NPR is currently streaming the album in its entirety.

Trailer: ‘The Hunger Games’

Movies, Video,

For those of you who read the books, this should get you amped. Lionsgate has released the first full-length trailer for The Hunger Games, the first of three movies based on the novel trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Willow Shields, Elizabeth Banks, and Lenny Kravitz  star as Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, Haymitch Abernathy, Primrose Everdeen, Effie Trinket, and Cinna, respectively. Though I haven’t read the books, and the trailer is well made and energetic enough to make me want to visit a theatre and introduce myself to the story. I can only imagine what readers of the franchise feel after watching this; I’ve heard it can induce tears of joy and sheer anticipation. If you’ve read the books share your initial reactions in the comment section below. The Hunger Games releases March 23, 2011.

Dueling Snow White trailers: ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ & ‘Mirror Mirror’

Movies, Video, ,

Universal Pictures is prepping a new movie that warps the classic Disney fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarves into an epic action-adventure starring Kristen Stewart (Twilight) as Snow White, Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen, and Chris Hemsworth (Thor) as a huntsman who teaches Snow White the art of war. The trailer, narrated by Theron in character, is quite epic in scale and has me anticipating the June 1, 2012 release date. However, I am not so sure how it is going to hold up with Stewart in the lead role; her acting turns in Twilight and Adventureland have me a bit worried.

Hop after the break to watch the trailer for another Snow White adaptation, Mirror Mirror. Continue reading Dueling Snow White trailers: ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ & ‘Mirror Mirror’ →

An Indian version of ’24’ is in the works

News, Television, , , ,

The politically charged FOX drama 24 went off the air in May 2010 and with it went one of TV’s most iconic characters, Jack Bauer. Though Kiefer Sutherland is set to reprise the role in a 24 feature film, a new Jack Bauer is prepared to emerge onto the TV landscape…in India. News broke that Anil Kapoor, best known for his role in Slumdog Millionaire, will step into Sutherland’s shoes to play the lead in an Indian version of 24. In addition to starring in it Kapoor will also produce though his Anil Kapoor Films Co. and with 20th Century Fox TV Distribution. According to Deadline, preproduction on the show will begin in India in 2012.

Kapoor, someone who 24 fans should immediately recognize as season 8’s Kamistan President Omar Hassan, had this to say about the development of a new 24. “It will be a great honor for me to play Jack Bauer. Kiefer has created an iconic character which has inspired me to bring the franchise to India. This will be my first foray to Indian television and I look forward to duplicating the standard of excellence Fox has so successfully created.”

Whether or not Kapoor’s 24 finds a way to air in the US, I have no doubt that loyal fans of the show (including myself) will figure out how to preview it here. Man do I miss that ticking clock and the CTU ring.

[Via Deadline]

‘Phineas and Ferb’ renewed for fourth season, movie and possible spin-off on the way

News, Television, , , , , , , , , ,

This month the Disney Channel renewed is highly rated children’s animated series Phineas and Ferb for a fourth season. The pickup guarantees new episodes of the musically-inclined adventure series through the year 2014. I’m a sucker for kid’s programming that likes to acknowledge an older audience, so this is really great news. Though series creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh recently pushed out a made-for-TV Phineas and Ferb movie titled Across the 2nd Dimension, the ingenious duo are ready for an entirely new level of popularity. In August they signed a multi-year, multimillion-dollar deal with Disney Television Animation to develop a feature film based on the show. They are currently writing the script. Rumor has it that the movie will be a mix of live action and the animation viewers are used to. More on this as details surface. In addition to the movie attachment, the Disney deal also has Povenmire and Swampy imagining a new animated show for the Disney Channel, likely a spin-off series based in the Phineas and Ferb universe. According to a NYT article, it will follow the adventures of Isabella and the Fireside Girls. No word on when such a series will make it to air. Expect the movie to hit theatres summer 2013. Celebrate the news with some “Gitchee Gitchee Goo” as perfomed by Phineas and the Ferb-Tones featuring Candace after the break!

[Via Deadline 1, 2] Continue reading ‘Phineas and Ferb’ renewed for fourth season, movie and possible spin-off on the way →

Apple rolls out iTunes Match, makes syncing your music collection to iCloud a reality

News, Technology, , , , , ,

As of yesterday, iTunes Match has been made available for use for iTunes users and iOS device owners. For $24.99 a year, you can sync your entire music collection to Apple’s iCloud. Chances are your music library consists of music purchased from iTunes and music ripped from your personal collection of CDs. Apple will automatically match all your purchased songs from iTunes and they will become immediately available to listen to on a compatible device. As for your ripped music, Apple will also attempt to match them to their music servers and upload them that way. If they can’t, they will still be uploaded and made available for streaming at 256-Kbps AAC DRM-free quality. Apple limits iTunes Match subscribers to 25,000 songs, but keep in mind that music purchased from the iTunes Store does not count towards that ceiling. To get started, make sure you have downloaded the new iTunes 10.5.1 update, the iOS 5 update, and set up iCloud on your iOS device (and Mac and/or PC).

[Via Apple]