Movie poster: The Dark Knight Rises [Update: teaser trailer inside]

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Ahh yes. From the man behind Inception comes this poster for the third and final movie in Christopher Nolan’s imaging of the Batman universe, The Dark Knight Rises. Download the full-res image at the official website. Rumor has it that the first theatrical teaser trailer will play in front of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 this Friday, so stay tuned!

Update: Warner Bros. has uploaded the teaser trailer to the movie’s official Facebook page. Click the link to watch it in HD.

Update 2: Now it’s embedded below. You’re welcome.

Trailer: Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

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We all knew a Sherlock Holmes sequel had to be coming, and here it is. Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law reprise their roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, respectively, and Guy Richie and back at the helm. Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) is the female lead, and Jared Harris (he played the memorable Fringe baddie David Robert Jones) is the antagonist. Stephen Fry rounds out the cast as Sherlock’s brother Mycroft Holmes. After an initial viewing of the trailer embedded above, it looks like the sequel’s going to be just as fun, amusing, and adventurous as the original. A juicy plot synopsis lies after the break. Continue reading Trailer: Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows →

Warner Bros. preps ‘Fringe’ swag for Comic Con

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Considering myself a rabid follower of the FOX sci-fi show Fringe, it didn’t take much deliberation for me to clobber together this brief post. Next week Comic Con comes to San Diego, and within the convention walls Warner Bros. will be handing out these Fringe themed bags-that-convert-into-backpacks. What’s more, TVLine reports, is that an extremely limited number of alternate universe themed swag bags will also be in circulation. I’ve got to get my hands on one of those…

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #2

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Here’s another fascinating look behind the scenes of Peter Jackson’s upcoming prequel The Hobbit. In it the famed director talks to the actors and production crew behind the making of the expansive project, and you get a feel for just how far they’ve come since they broke ground in the first production video. Things seem to be going splendidly in New Zealand. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey releases December 14, 2012; part two–There and Back Again–follows exactly one year later.

Trailer 2: The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

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Here’s a new trailer from the upcoming Steven Spielberg animated flick The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. Though the first trailer impressed visually, it failed to mark its territory along the uncanny valley since none of the footage showed the characters talking. Thankfully this one includes that, and I’m happy to report that it steers clear of the creepy animation danger zone. Producer Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital effects are superb and I don’t think moviegoers will find it hard to invest in these realistic but cartoonish group of characters.

Here’s a suucient plot summary, provided by Wikipedia: The film depicts Tintin’s (Jamie Bell) first encounter with Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) and the discovery of a clue to the treasure of his ancestor Sir Francis Haddock. They set out to find it with protection from a prison escapee who tried to get the treasure as well as Detectives Thompson and Thomson (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost).

The Secret of the Unicorn, the first of three Tintin films Spielberg hopes, is due out December 23, 2011.

TV trailer: ‘The X Factor’

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Here’s the first look at US version of The X Factor. Former American Idol judge Simon Cowell transports the talent competition from the UK to the States, and you can bet he’s bring his extremely critical attitude with him. Though it wouldn’t seem that way at first in the trailer embedded above. A  photo including fellow judges Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger (of the Pussycat Dolls), and L.A. Reid (former Def Jam CEO) is pasted after the break.

Continue reading TV trailer: ‘The X Factor’ →

Netflix reveals new pricing scheme (spoiler: it’s a price hike)

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Netflix’s new pricing scheme–effective today for new customers, and on September 1 for current subscribers–separates its unlimited streaming and unlimited DVD plans. In other words, Netflix will no longer be offering unlimited plans that include both streaming and DVDs by mail. The unlimited streaming plan remains at a low $7.99 per month, but if you want to tack on the unlimited DVDs by mail plan you’ll have to cough up an additional $7.99/month (that’s a grand total of $15.98 a month for unlimited streaming and DVDs, one DVD out at a time). Two DVDs out at a time jumps to a total of $19.98 (this plan costs $11.99 sans streaming).

It used to cost a mere $9.99/month for unlimited streaming 1 DVD out; this is a 60% price hike we’re talking about here! Here’s how Netflix’s Andy Rendich explains it: “Netflix members love watching instantly, but we’ve come to recognize there is still a very large continuing demand for DVDs by mail. By better reflecting the underlying costs and offering our lowest prices ever for unlimited DVD, we hope to provide a great value to our current and future DVD-by-mail members.” Surely we must understand that in order for Netflix to flourish into the proper Blockbuster successor it’s always been destined to become that was to come a time when the company would start demanding more money from its subscribers. Well, that time is now and yeah it stings. But if Netflix continually beefs up its streamable content and Blu-ray library, I’m happy to follow them into the future.

[Via Engadget; Deadline] Continue reading Netflix reveals new pricing scheme (spoiler: it’s a price hike) →

Verizon debuts Droid 3 by Motorola, tiered data plans

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This summer Verizon and Motorola decided to put another notch in Droid’s ever-expanding belt by introducing the latest and greatest Droid 3. The specifications go like this: dual-core 1GHz processor, 4-inch qHD display, 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture, front-facing cam for still shots and video chat, 5-row QWERTY keyboard, 3G Mobile Hotspot capabilities (can connect up to five WiFi-enabled devices), HDMI output (mirror mode beams photos, videos, and movies onto an HDTV), global ready, runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. If you’re hunting for a new smartphone that sports a roomy physical keyboard, the Droid 3 is arguably VZW’s best smartphone choice at the moment. The Droid 3 is worth $199.99 and a new 2-year contract. Images below, full PR after the break.

If you’re a new Verizon Wireless customer itching to get your paws on the Droid 3 or any VZW smartphone for that matter, know that the company’s data plans have become tiered. This means, simply, that you must pay for every byte you use whilst scouring the Internet on your device. Gone is the worry-free $30 unlimited data plan, in are the following: $30 for 2GB of data per month, $50 for 5GB, and $80 for 10GB. Big Red will charge $10 per GB of data if you exceed the monthly allotment you choose. The new plans went into effect July 7. A few stipulations: if you were already a VZW customers before the 7th and had the unlimited data plan you have been grandfathered and remain safe; but be warned–if you ever decide to change to a new data plan you will lose the unlimited offer and never get it back. Sad times, indeed.

[Via Engadget; BGR] Continue reading Verizon debuts Droid 3 by Motorola, tiered data plans →

Apple hits new milestone: 15 billion App Store downloads

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Apple recently announced that over 15 billion apps have been downloaded from its App Store by the more than 200 million iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users worldwide. Wowzers is the reaction you’re looking for. Apple’s tallied ’em up, and currently the App Store is now home to over 425,000 apps; additionally 100,000 native iPad apps exist. Thanks to Apple’s generosity the people who make the apps are getting paid, too; Apple has paid developers over $2.5 billion to date (there’s a 70/30 split, the devs receive the smaller sampling, naturally).

Says Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing: “In just three years, the revolutionary App Store has grown to become the most exciting and successful software marketplace the world has ever seen. Thank you to all of our amazing developers who have filled it with over 425,000 of the coolest apps and to our over 200 million iOS users for surpassing 15 billion downloads.”

Jump after the break to read the official PR which contains more quotes from excitable Apple employees.

[Via Apple] Continue reading Apple hits new milestone: 15 billion App Store downloads →

Google gets a makeover

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You can call it Exteme Makeover: Google Edition. Over the past few weeks Google has been rolling out a new look across many of their services, including the Google homepage, Gmail, Google Calendar, and YouTube. “The way people use and experience the web is evolving, and our goal is to give you a more seamless and consistent online experience—one that works no matter which Google product you’re using or what device you’re using it on,” explains Google. In a word they’re simply streamlining all their intertwined experiences, and the changes are ” founded on three key design principles: focus, elasticity and effortlessness.”

At Google‘s homepage you’ll surely notice the new black strip located across the top; the colorful logo is smaller and centered, the Search and Lucky buttons have a new hue, and the About, Privacy, and Advertising links have been moved to the bottom left-hand corner of the page. In Gmail and Calendar everything is bolder and more roomier to match the new homepage aesthetic. Design cues were certainly carried over from Google+. Google’s also experimenting with YouTube’s look; Cosmic Panda is the codename for the video player’s new sheen. YouTube is positively sleek in its new coat of paint.

Google’s homepage and Calendar changes have been rolling out to users automatically. To experience Gmail and YouTube’s new flairs you must enable it manually. In Gmail, select “Preview” and “Preview (Dense)” themes in the Themes tab in Gmail Settings; to play around with Cosmic Panda head over to this YouTube portal and click “Try it out.” Since Google’s still testing it out and awaiting customer feedback, you can revert back to the classic look at any time.

It will take time for every Google service to fall in line aesthetically with the new homepage, but there’s no denying that Google’s first wave of cosmetic changes is simply delightful and, well, downright sexy.

Facebook integrates video calling powered by Skype

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Today Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a new feature for the ubiquitous social network that now reaches 750 million people around the world: video chat. Facebook engineers have been working with popular VoIP client Skype over the last few months to integrate video chat into Facebook’s chat service. Facebook says that the new feature will gradually roll out to everyone in over 70 different languages over the next few weeks. Itching to try it out today? Keep reading.

Setting up and initiating video chat is simple, really. Head over to this Facebook page and click Get Started. You will be prompted to download and install the Facebook Video Chat Plugin. Once that’s complete, you’re all set. There are two ways to initiate a video chat: go to a friend’s profile page and click the Call button (it’s located at the top right in between Message and Poke) or open up a chat window and click the new video camera icon. When you ring a friend they will be alerted to answer or ignore it. If you ring a friend who doesn’t have the plugin installed yet, they will be notified that you’re attempting a video call and will be provided the link to install the plugin. (But remember, in a few weeks time the update will be applied automatically.) The call window, which exists in its own window, shows you a large image of the friend you’re talking to and a tiny window of yourself sits in the top left corner. Since it’s its own window you are free to move it around and resize it, though note that you can only make it larger and enter full-screen mode; attempting to make it smaller is futile. After a playing around with it briefly, I am happy to report that video quality is crisp, bright, and clear, though these factors do depend on your Internet connection. One more thing: when you call a friend and he or she isn’t there to answer (or ignore) it you can leave a video message for them to view later.

Zuckerberg and Skype CEO Tony Bates were also on hand to announce Facebook services getting baked into the Skype desktop client. With Skype version 5.3 (beta for Windows only) you can log into your Facebook account in Skype and view your newsfeed, update your status, and initiate video calls right from within Skype. In so many words, the new collaborative initiative goes both ways. Other updates announced include… Once the video chat plugin is installed you should notice the new chat design in the bottom right hand corner. The sidebar now lists the people you message most, making it “easier to find your friends and start a conversation.” Also, “the sidebar adjusts with the size of your browser window, and it automatically appears when the window is wide enough.” Last is Group Chat. Launching a multi-person chat session is easy; after you begin a conversation with a friend, click the new Add Friends to Chat icon to, um, add more people to the conversation.

For those of you closely following the tech industry, it is interesting to note the sides that are being taken here. Last week Google announced their Facebook rival Google+, a currently invite-only social service that boasts Hangouts–a place where up to ten people can participate in video chat. On the heels of this announcement Zuckerberg came out and announced a partnership with Google rival Microsoft (the creator of search site Bing and recent buyer of Skype) to bring video chat functionality to Facebook. To paint a clearer picture, this is Google versus Facebook and Microsoft. It’s going to be very interesting to watch how all this plays out. But as things stand now, Facebook has the advantage thanks to its absurdly massive user base. Google, your move.

[Via Facebook; Skype]

James Spader joins ‘The Office’ as new Sabre CEO

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Following his short but oh-so-sweet cameo on The Office season seven finale this past May, James Spader (Boston Legal) will return next season as a regular. He will replace Kathy Bates’ Jo Bennett as he quickly rises in the ranks to become the Sabre CEO. Office executive producer and series regular Paul Lieberstein (Toby) explains: “James will reprise his role as Robert California, this uber-salesman that has a power to convince and manipulate, like a high-class weirdo Jedi warrior. He’ll have been hired over the summer as the new manager, but within hours, got himself promoted. Within days, he took over the company. James has an energy that is completely his own, and ‘The Office’ has no tools for dealing with this guy. We’re thrilled he’s joining our cast.”

If you need a refresh on the character hop over to Hulu to watch Spader’s phenomenally entrancing performance as Robert California, a very smart man who firmly believes “there is no such thing as a product…there is only sex.”

[Via Deadline]