PlayStation Plus subscribers can save games in the cloud

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The ability to save game progress and content in the cloud is here; it’s exclusively for PlayStation Plus subscribers, though. For those who dish out $50/month for the premium service, listen here. After downloading the latest PS3 software update (v3.60, it came out today), you’ll be able to store up to 150MB of PS3 game save data in the cloud. Here’s the kicker: users who save their files to the cloud can access their data on any PS3, using their PSN sign-in ID. Secured game data backed up to the cloud and accessible anywhere–sounds like an extremely compelling hook to sign up for PS Plus.

Look after the break for the official PR that explains the process of backing up game saves.

[Via PlayStationBlog] Continue reading PlayStation Plus subscribers can save games in the cloud →

iOS 4.3 out now; Apple TV receives new content and enhancements

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Today Apple released the latest version of their mobile operating system–that is, iOS 4.3–one day earlier than expected. Just about coinciding with the launch of iPad 2, iOS 4.3 brings with it all kinds of goodies including significantly increased Safari performance, iTunes Home Sharing, AirPlay improvements, iPad side switch behaviors, and personal hotspot functionality for iPhone 4; it’s all detailed right here. Bug fixes and the like are bundled in too; hop after the break to find a rundown of what’s included. iOS 4.3 is a free download for all GSM iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and third and fourth-gen iPod touch owners. Connect your iOS device to a computer, fire up iTunes, and you’ll be notified to download and install the update.

In related Apple news, their hobby puck has also received a welcome system update. ATV owners will now be able to stream baseball and basketball games through the ether straight to their TVs thanks to MLB.tv and a NBA League Pass Broadband support. These services require pay subscriptions. In addition, Netflix has received 5.1 audio support. Cheers to that!

[Via Engadget 1, 2] Continue reading iOS 4.3 out now; Apple TV receives new content and enhancements →

Terry O’Quinn lands villainous role in ABC pilot ‘Hallelujah’

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The man known ’round the world for his phenomenal performance as John Locke in Lost is returning to ABC this fall in a drama from Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives) called Hallelujah. Described as “a drama with musical elements,” the show is set in the town of Hallelujah, Tenn., which is being torn apart by the forces of good and evil and whose fortunes change when a stranger comes to town, bringing justice, peace and possibly restoring faith.” The stranger is played by Law & Order’s Jesse L. Martin and O’Quinn is Del, a charming yet wholly corrupt local millionaire who virtually owns the town.

O’Quinn joins Lost partners-in-crime Jorge Garcia and Michael Emerson in the fall pilot pool. Garcia and Emerson was recently cast in projects attached to Lost creator J.J. Abrams–Alcatraz and Person of Interest, respectively. Odd Jobs, the Abrams-backed project that was planning to bring O’Quinn and Emerson back together as suburban hit men, will simply have to wait.

[Via Deadline; TVLine]

Classic 90s Nick programming coming to TeenNick this fall

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Nickelodeon is ready to bring back the goods, finally. And when I say “goods” I am obviously referring to the kid network’s classic 90s programming. You know–Rugrats, Kenan & Kel, Pete & Pete, The Amanda Show, All That, Clarissa, and so and so forth. According to EW, all these retro shows will be airing in a new midnight-to-2 a.m. programming block appropirately branded “The ’90s Are All That” starting in the fall. The decision to add this new block came about after Nick execs caught wind of the massive amount of followers and continued support for Nickelodeon shows from that unforgettable decade. Says Keith Dawkins, senior VP and general manager of TeenNick: “At the time, we were completely devoted to that audience ages 9, 10, and 11. It was ground-breaking and for the young viewers, a powerful and pivotal time in their lives. Those kids who are now 22, 23 and 24 want to bring that back.” With open arms Mr. Dawkins, with open arms.

[Via EW]

NBC reveals season finale dates for its programming slate

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Somewhere on or between Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, May 24 your favorite NBC programming will conclude in hopefully satisfying fashion. Notable finales include half of the Thursday night comedy lineup–The Office, Community, and Parks and Recreation will wrap up their respective seasons with extended one hour episodes. Look after the break to see all of the finale dates listed in chronological order. Don’t see The Cape listed there? Here’s why.

[Via TVLine] Continue reading NBC reveals season finale dates for its programming slate →

TV Reminder: ‘The Event’ returns tonight on NBC [Update: Low ratings]

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After an extended three month hiatus, NBC’s sci-fi drama The Event returns to the airwaves tonight. After a promising start (remember–what happened to that plane?!), the mysteries started piling on top of each other with no cohesive plot thread tying them together and this resulted in contrived, lackluster plotlines that failed to challenge the viewer intellectually (or in any way for that matter). Save for the handful of character-driven episodes the first half of the season was dominated by run-of-the-mill action sequences, cheesy dialogue, and lots of running (Sean and Leila need more to do!). As the show’s creativity lost its touch early on, viewers dropped in significant numbers. The long hiatus provided the show’s creators plenty of time to retool things; I have faith that the show can transform itself from a rollercoaster of good-decent-filler episodes into a reliable mystery drama that’ll make me want to tune in every week. But first things first–they’ve got to tell us what the event IS! Perhaps episode 15 will provide some answers.

The Event returns tonight at 9PM on NBC. It’s a 2 hour, erm, event, so set your DVRs accordingly. Check out photos from “And Then There Were More” and “Inostranka” in the gallery below. Beware of minor spoilers. Need a refresher? Jump after the break to watch a brief recap.

Update: To the surprise of no one The Event returned not with a bang but as a bust. Though the two-hour return was (for the most part) fast-paced with some fun action segments, the writing is still poor and the story is, well, uneventful. The ratings agree: the show drew a 1.4/4 in the 18-49 demo and 5.2 million total viewers. That’s down 26% from its last original airing back on November 29. If these numbers don’t start to steadily increase and stabilize between now and April, you can kiss this thrill-less sci-fi thriller goodbye.

[Images via IGN; Deadline]

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Continue reading TV Reminder: ‘The Event’ returns tonight on NBC [Update: Low ratings] →

Reminder: ‘Breakout Kings’ premieres tonight on A&E [Update: Strong ratings!]

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I consider the 2005-2009 FOX series Prison Break to be one of the most thrilling and entertaining serialized programs produced for television. The Break writer/producer team Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora is ready for a second outing in a familiar setting. Tonight is the series premiere of Breakout Kings, an ensemble drama following an unconventional partnership between the U.S. Marshals’ office and a group of convicts as they work to catch fugitives on the run. “It takes a con to catch a con” is the show’s slogan–sounds like a fun concept. If you’re a loyal Break fan then obviously you know what to expect from Olmstead and Santora; namely edge-of-your-seat action sequences and smart, witty dialogue. Though Kings will play out more like a procedural (the show will focus on a new criminal each week), it is being described as a character-based show so the relationships and personalities that form amongst the ensemble cast of cops and convicts will play an integral part in the show’s development. If you need a solid reason to tune in each week here it is: Break’s Robert Knepper will be reprising the brilliantly sinister Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell later this season in a four episode arc!

Breakout Kings begins its 13-episode season tonight at 10PM on A&E. Check out stills from the pilot below, and click here to read more about show.

Bonus! Click here to watch the producers discuss the round table writing process.

Update: The Breakout Kings premiere received the highest demo numbers for an A&E drama series–1.5 million adults 18-49 and 1.6 million adults 25-54. That’s up 25% and 14%, respectively, from the network’s previous ratings record holder The Glades (which premiered in July 2010). In terms of total viewership, Kings‘ 2.9 million viewers did not beat out The Glades‘ undisputed record of 3.6 million. Says Bob DeBitetto, President and general manager of A&E and BIO: “Breakout Kingsis a smart, action-packed drama with great storytelling and authentic well-drawn characters. Clearly the series has struck a chord with the younger viewers.” Yes, yes it has.

[Images via IGN; Deadline]

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iPad 2 coming March 11: faster, lighter, thinner w/ iOS 4.3 & cameras

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On Wednesday Apple revealed the next generation iPad. The iPad 2 is very much an evolutionary iterative device. It is faster, lighter, and thinner than its predecessor, packs back and front-facing cameras, and comes preloaded with a new version of iOS. Take my hand and let’s discover everything that makes iPad 2 the next extraordinary tablet, or as Steve Jobs calls it the “third blockbuster post-PC product” joining the iPod and iPhone.

Specs are important to you, hm? Then let’s start there. iPad 2 is faster. It features Apple’s new 1GHz dual-core A5 processor that is up to 2X faster than the A4; it boasts up to 9X faster graphics and somehow still maintains the same low power as the A4. Battery life remains the same at 10 hours with over a month of standby. iPad 2 is lighter and thinner. It is a mere 8.8mm thick, that’s 33% thinner than the original iPad (13.4mm). In fact, it is even thinner than iPhone 4 (9.3mm). It also lost some weight dropping from 1.5 to 1.3 pounds. On the front you’ll find a VGA camera that takes pictures and records video at 30fps; the camera around back shoots video in 720p HD also at 30fps and can do 5x digital zoom. The built-in gyroscope will assist the device in locating itself in space and orientation; higher precision in gaming will result. Last, Apple has hooked up with AT&T and Verizon to bring 3G data to the tablet.

iPad 2 is coming sooner than you think. It will be made available for purchasing March 11 in two color options: black and white (thankfully the latter ships “from day one”, teehee). Pricing remains the same, too; iPad 2 will come in various capacities (16, 32, 64GB) and models (WiFi, WiFi + 3G) starting at $499. After releasing on the 11th in the U.S., the new iPad will make its way to an additional 26 countries (including Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and the UK) on March 25.

Learn all about iPad 2’s accessories, iOS 4.3, and new apps after the break. Continue reading iPad 2 coming March 11: faster, lighter, thinner w/ iOS 4.3 & cameras →

Nintendo 3DS will support Netflix, and other news to know

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This week at Game Developer Conference 2011 in San Fransisco Nintendo held a brief press conference detailing their latest handheld sensation the Nintendo 3DS. Though it’s already been sold in Japan and the U.S. release is right around the corner (March 27) the company is already detailing the system’s first major software upgrade. First up, Netflix is coming to the 3DS this summer. Users will be able to access their Netflix movies and TV shows on the device and have the option to pause said content and resume it on the big screen via the Wii’s Netflix portal.

In addition, the 3DS will gain a new 3D video channel that will act as a gateway to 3D produced content like movie trailers, music videos, and comedy shorts. The channel will be automatically updated with new 3D content over a wireless connection. Ninty also hinted that 3DS owners will eventually be able to record their own videos in 3D using the devices dual rear-facing cameras.

The house that built Mario went on to further detail the Nintendo eShop, a place where 3DS users can browse and download all kinds of content including DSiWare games, Game Boy and Game Boy Color classics remastered in 3D, and a Virtual Console which will include titles from Sega’s Game Gear and TurboGrafx-16. All of this plus a web browser is expected to make its way to the 3DS via a software update in late May.

Speaking of Mario, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata teased a Super Mario 3DS title by showing a logo for the game; a small grey raccoon tail juts out of “o” in Mario likely hinting at what’s to come (perhaps a long overdue sequel to Super Mario Bros. 3?).

And finally, Nintendo announced a partnership with AT&T that will give 3DS owners free access to 10,000 WiFi hotspots. SpotPass, a 3DS software feature that automatically receives new game content and system updates even while the device in sleep mode or charging, will take advantage of the WiFi access points to do its thing.

The Nintendo 3DS releases March 27 for $249.99. Preorder yours today.

[Via Engadget; Joystiq]

Trailer: ‘Super’

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From writer/director James Gunn (Slither) comes Super, a story that centers on an everyday guy (The Office‘s Rainn Wilson) who transforms himself into a superhero named the Crimson Bolt after his wife (Liv Tyler) falls under the influence of a ruthless drug dealer (Kevin Bacon). Ellen Page (who acted alongside Wilson in Juno) plays his sidekick Boltie and together they fight against local crime. Nathan Fillion also plays a masked crusader. Instead of me trying to force a plot synopsis on you, simply mash play and fall in love with the trailer above. Super performed well when it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year (IFC Films picked it up for distribution), and anticipation is ramping up for its U.S. theatrical release that is April 1.

‘Star Wars: Episode I’ in 3D coming to theatres February 10, 2012

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This week Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox announced when the Star Wars re-release in 3D is going to begin. Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace will be the first in the franchise to receive the 3D conversion treatment, landing in theatres February 10, 2012. The remaining five films will follow suit over the course of consecutive years. Reads the press release:

Set against the thrilling and exotic backdrop of a “galaxy far, far away,” Star Wars is perfectly suited to the immersive 3D theatrical experience, and Episode I delivers some of the Saga’s most stunning and spectacular sequences – from the Naboo invasion to the Tatooine Podraces to the climactic lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and the Jedi. Supervised by Industrial Light & Magic, the meticulous conversion is being done with utmost respect for the source material, and with a keen eye for both technological considerations and artistic intentions.

Do we really have to experience Jar Jar Binks in three dimensions? I might skip out on this one and wait for the original trilogy to come back; I advise you to do the same. And for all you couch potatoes out there, don’t forget that the franchise is coming to Blu-ray in September.

[Via Deadline]

Jorge Garcia to guest star on ‘Fringe’

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Hurley is coming to Fringe! Jorge Garcia is Island-hopping from Lost to Alcatraz, and somewhere in-between he has managed to find time to land a guest role in an upcoming episode of Fringe. (These are all shows from mastermind J.J. Abrams, mind you.) According to EW, he will play a Massive Dynamic employee. Beyond that, you’ll have to watch next week’s episode “Os” to find out how he fits into the puzzle. But just look at the still sitting above–Hurley and Walter deep in conversation!  Who knew such worlds would one day collide?

Frothing at the mouth for more? Again, that’s it for the Hurley scoop; but jump after the break to watch a brand new promo spot produced by FOX for the greatest sci-fi show out there. It succinctly tells the tale of the parallel universes and subtly hints at the impending war that’s coming.

Fringe airs Fridays at 9PM on FOX.

[Via EW] Continue reading Jorge Garcia to guest star on ‘Fringe’ →