Teaser 2: The Woman in Black

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Here’s a new look at The Woman in Black, a supernatural thriller starring Daniel Radcliffe in his first theatrical release post-Potter. He plays a young lawyer who travels to a mysterious house to settle the affairs of the spooky mansion’s owner. This trailer is chilling; creepy dolls, an ominous narrator voiced by a young girl, and a lurking ghost known to a small town as The Woman in Black are abound. The film, from director James Watkins (Eden Lake), was adapted from Susan Hill’s 1982 novel of the same name by Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class scribe Jane Goldman.

The Woman in Black hits theatres February 3, 2012. It’s going to be a spooky good time.

‘Watch The Throne’ debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, 436,000 copies sold in first week

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Jay-Z and Kanye West, arguably the two greatest rappers alive, hung out and created an album together. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that first weeks sales for the collaborative effort Watch The Throne are nothing short of impressive. According to Nielsen SoundScan, 436,000 copies of the album were sold as it debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. This marks the second-largest sales week of the year for an album; Watch The Throne simply couldn’t come close to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way which sold 1.1 million copies when it released in May. Throne accumulated 321,000 legal downloads, marking the second-largest digital week ever; again it trails behind Born This Way (662,000 downloads). In addition, according to various sources Throne managed to break the iTunes first-week sales record by surpassing Coldplay’s 2008 release Viva La Vida (282,000) with a staggering 290,000 downloads.

Now you might be looking at that 436,000 number and think it’s rather low for such an anticipated album release. It all ties back to the way in which Jay & ‘Ye trickled the album to the masses. Throne was made exclusively available through iTunes from Monday August 8 to the 11th, and then it released wide to all digital and physical retailers. If the duo had dropped the album traditionally (by allowing all retailers to sell it on the 8/8 release day) analysts are certain that they would have moved over 500,000 copies. I will keep track of second-week sales and we’ll see if the numbers prove that theory. For an album that wasn’t promoted all that much by the artists and their record labels, Watch The Throne and all its “luxury rap” proved to be a hot commodity this summer.

And if that wasn’t enough, Throne becomes the latest major achievement for the rappers that put it together. The album is Jay-Z’s 12th No. 1 and Kanye’s 5th. Jay-Z maintains the record for the most No. 1 albums in history as a solo act.

[Via Billboard]

Music video: Lady Gaga – “Yoü and I”

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Woah, there is so much going on in Gaga’s latest music video. When she posted the link to the video earlier today Mother Monster tweeted, “You must love all + every part of me, as must I, for this complex + incomprehensible force to be true.” In the clip she jumps into a myriad of guises; one moment she’s a cyborg walking along Nebraskan cornfields and the next she’s trapped in a bathtub as a mermaid. There are flashes of her being experimented on, and in a rockin’ dance sequence she’s got an electric blue wig on her crown. The strangest part, though, has to be the scene where a makeup-less Gaga is playing the piano and her male alter ego Jo Calderone grooves to the beat beside her. Yep, that’s Lady Gaga underneath the greasy dangling hair, white tee, and smoking cigarette. And when they embrace, well, that sent a bizarre shiver down my spine.

So what does it all mean? Gaga told a radio station, “The idea that when you’re away from someone you love, it’s torture. I knew I wanted the video to be about me sprinting back and walking hundreds of thousands of miles to get him back.” But that doesn’t explain all the different egos in play here. It’s up to us for interpretation, I reckon. Anyhow, “Yoü and I” is definitely one of the best songs off Born This Way, and the video made for it strikes a fine chord. It’s beautifully shot, and the lyrics hold value. Flick on HD and mash play above.

Childrens Hospital renewed for fourth season

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With the healing power of laughter, anything can happen. Childrens Hospital, the web series-turned-TV show from Rob Corddry, Jonathan Stern, and David Wain, has been renewed for a fourth season. The new season will be comprised of 14 episodes; production begins later this year and it’ll premiere in 2012.

Corddry said this in a press release: “I’m very pleased and honored by this announcement. I’m also very surprised, given that I write this show when I’m very, very drunk. Season 4 promises to be a cry for help.” Stern added, “And people wonder why our economy is a mess.”

The brilliant ensemble cast is expected to return. That includes Corddry, Malin Akerman, Lake Bell, Erinn Hayes, Rob Huebel, Ken Marino, Megan Mullally and Henry Winkler.

Childrens Hospital airs Thursday nights at midnight on Adult Swim.

[Via IGN]

Fusion Garage tries again with Grid tablet, smartphone & OS

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Chandra Rathakrishnan, CEO of Fusion Garage, hosted an intimate event yesterday afternoon to introduce a new tablet experience unto the world. The creator of the failed JooJoo tablet (2009) is back and hopes to regain consumer faith with his second attempt at creating a new kind of post-PC device. Rathakrishnan ran a lengthy and expensive viral marketing campaign leading up to yesterday’s unveiling; he invented the faux company TabCo (short for Tablet Company) and posted viral videos at the site WhoIsTabCo.com. The campaign had the public at large buzzing about who might be behind TabCo. Now that we know it’s Fusion Garage, journey downward to learn more about the forthcoming products and decide if the hype was worth it. Continue reading Fusion Garage tries again with Grid tablet, smartphone & OS →

Google buys Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion

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In an interesting move, superpower Google bought the consumer-oriented arm of Motorola known as Motorola Mobility for a cool $12.5 billion (at a price of $40 per share) on Monday. In a press release the pending acquisition is explained:

The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.

Google CEO Larry Page says, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

This is a huge move made by Google. Like Microsoft and Nokia, Google and Motorola are going to take advantage of their partnership by harnessing the power of Android software and the might of Moto’s hardware to create amazing products for consumers. Keep in mind that the Mobility division goes beyond smartphones and also includes other consumer devices like set top boxes; no doubt Google will work with Motorola to ensure the growth of products like Google TV. And on the business end of things, the acquisition “will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies,” says Page.

As the acquisition takes hold, a few questions remain. What will happen to Moto’s custom Android skin called MotoBlur? Will all future handsets built by Moto come loaded with the latest version of plain vanilla Android? Will the next Nexus phone come from Goog’s new partner? Time will tell.

One thing’s for certain: even though Google and Moto are tied to one another, the Android platform remains open for all hardware manufacturers to utilize; healthy competition is here to stay. Full PR after the break.

[Via GoogleBlog] Continue reading Google buys Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion →

PlayStation 3 hits new low price point: $249; matte PSP model coming to Europe

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Today at Gamescom Sony announced new low price points for the PlayStation 3. The two standalone models currently in the marketplace are receiving $50 price cuts effectively immediately. The 160GB PS3 now costs $249 and the 320GB model costs $299. All of the current console + game bundles (Call of Duty: Black Ops, Killzone 3, inFamous 2 (new)) remain at the $299 price point. The Sports Champion Move bundle is the priciest at $349.

In related PS news, Sony has introduced a new PSP model into the European market. The PSP E-1000 features a sleek new matte design and ditches WiFi functionality. The new low price is €99.00 and will hit European PAL territories this fall. See images at the second source link. No word on whether or not it’ll make its way into the States. But no matter; Vita is coming.

[Via PlayStationBlog 1, 2]

Glossy Xbox 360 to be discontinued

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According to Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson, all shiny Xbox 360 consoles are being phased out. Here’s the news straight from the horse’s mouth:

We are actively transitioning all our Xbox 360 S consoles to a matte finish.  The consoles will start to arrive in stores over the coming weeks, so if you really love the idea of a glossy console don’t wait much longer.

And there you have it. ‘Tis a sad day for fans of the glossy sheen. Major Nelson goes on to assure gamers, however, that future Limited Edition consoles such as the upcoming Gears of War 3-themed console might just bring back the glossy look from time to time. But if you’re in the market for a standard shiny black Xbox 360, today’s the day to order up.

[Via MajorNelson]

Inside the NYC ‘Watch the Throne’ pop up store (+ album unwrapping)

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This weekend I visited the Watch the Throne Retail Experience in the trendy section of Manhattan known as SoHo. To celebrate the release of their collaborative album, Jay-Z and Kanye West decorated Openhouse Gallery (201 Mulberry Street) with all sorts of Throne memorabilia. The outside of the store is dressed in the Riccardo Tisci-designed gold album art; it really pops. Friendly security holds the door open for you and keeps count of the number of people inside the store. When you walk inside the store is organized in two sections: the Maybach and the album listening experience. Jay and ‘Ye thought it’d be neat to show off the über-expensive Maybach they stripped, chopped up, and drove in the laid back “Otis” music video. The luxury car, which will be auctioned with the proceeds going to the East African drought disaster, looks really awesome up close. The doors are torn off, the trunk is home to the grill that’s normally installed on the front of the car, suicide doors stick out in the back and give the car wings, the seats have monitors inside of them, the engine looks mean, and there’s sticker on the bumper that reads “What Would Hova Do.” When I was there the security man allowed salivating attendees to snap as many pictures they could within a six second time frame. What I was able to capture sits in the gallery below.

Beyond the Maybach section of the store and down a very short flight of stairs the “Otis” music video plays on a giant wall in silence; a sound system loops the album throughout the store at a comfortable level. The listening experience section is very big; just a handful of people and I stood in the center of the large space and watched “Otis” on a loop. All around the space hefty projectors beam images from the album on the surrounding walls; the album art, the “Otis” American flag artwork, and other imagery that’s stuffed inside the deluxe version of the album are displayed. To the right an attractive woman sells the deluxe copies at $15 a pop. The small retail section consists of a table with the Riccardo Tisci artwork folded open to reveal the aforementioned album imagery. There is also a listing of the album’s tracks and production credits for attendees to glance at. On my way out I noticed DJ equipment set up in the left corner. This must have been used opening night when the pop up store was packed with celebrities like Swizz Beatz, Memphis Bleek, Beyonce, and Jay-Z himself. The store is scheduled to close its doors today at 6PM. I highly recommend you check it out before the limited run is over. On a more general note, I have to say that I love the idea of a pop up store. Openhouse Gallery is a great space in a prime location; hopefully more artists and companies choose to use it when they plan to release anticipated products.

Underneath the pop up store gallery you’ll find a collection of pictures I took while unwrapping the Watch the Throne deluxe album. The duo did a great job putting it together, and it’s no secret that Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy had a big hand in the creative direction. The packaging folds open in a cross-like shape; four of the five panels feature the same embossed pattern and the center one is unique. On the reverse side there are five unique images on each panel: the American flag image of the “Otis” single artwork, dark images of Jay and Kanye with giant fangs, an image of a winged angel with a star pasted on her face, and in the center (the sleeve that holds the CD) is a shiny visual that evokes a slab of wood. The CD is a special edition black colored disc and its face matches the wooden pattern that it’s stored within. Under the angelic imagery lives an 18-panel poster; on one side is colorful artwork that takes design cues from the H.A.M single artwork, and the reverse side spells out the production credits and lyrics for every track. What’s neat is that the lyrics specify when Jay-Z and Kanye rap in each song with the markings JZ and KW. Overall, the packaging manages to elicit what Jay and ‘Ye were originally going for with Watch the Throne: grandiose rap. Tisci successfully channel his aesthetic touch that consists of symmetry, lightness, darkness, sharpness, and 3D. If you’re going to buy a physical copy of the album (and you should!) it’s definitely worth the extra pennies to go deluxe.

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Music video: Kid Cudi – “No One Believes Me”

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Cudder fans, here’s a nice treat.

On June 1 Kid Cudi dropped the debut single from his Dot Da Genius-assisted rock band 2 Be Continuum, “Perfect Is The Word.” Since then, Cudder’s been spending his summer on the Cud Life Tour and shooting episodes for the HBO series How To Make It In America. Somewhere in between all this he was able to finalize the track “No One Believes Me,” a song featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming vampire flick Fright Night. Instead of just releasing the song to fans, Cud went the extra mile and teamed with Fright Night helmer Craig Gillespie to make a spook-tacular music video that perfectly embodies the ominous track. Witness a paranoiac and fanged Kid Cudi haunt a quaint suburban town in the clip embedded above; I bet you won’t see the surprise ending coming.

Fright Night, starring Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, hits theatres August 19; “No One Believes Me” will play during the end credits. The soundtrack releases days before on August 16.

Update: Kid Cudi talks to MTV about his inspiration behind the video after the break.

Update 2: The song is now available on iTunes.

Continue reading Music video: Kid Cudi — “No One Believes Me” →

Mike Myers is back for ‘Austin Powers 4’

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Yeah, baby. According to HitFix, it’s official: Mike Myers is returning to the big screen as raunchy British secret agent Austin Powers. Since Goldmember in 2002, Myers hasn’t had much luck in finding another role that suits him so well. Besides various Shrek sequels and the bomb that was The Love Guru Myers hasn’t struck a chord at the box office. (Though he role as General Fenech in Inglorious Basterds is commendable.) Personally I’ve been waiting for this announcement for quite some time. Shortly after Goldmember came out there were whispers that Myers was dreaming up a Dr. Evil spin-off movie that would transpose the story’s perspective to that of Austin Powers’ twin brother and his maniacal Mini-Me. Quickly the whispers faded into history and nothing was born out of them. Until now, that is. Besides confirming that Myers is “signed, sealed, [and] delivered” for a fourth installment, HitFix has no other details surrounding the project. We can surmise, however, that Jay Roach will return to direct and Michael McCullers will help Myers pen the script since these people have occupied those positions for all three previous movies. As time progresses I’m sure more details will begin to crop up.

It’s been nine years since the last Austin Powers movie released. And so the question is, does Austin Powers still have his mojo? As of right now “Austin Powers 4” is the #2 trending topic worldwide; people are talking about it. I know this might be a bit premature to say but I don’t care: He’s back, baby, yeah!

[Via HitFix]