HBO’s current Sunday night lineup is safe. Boardwalk Empire was picked up for a second season a month ago, and today HBO ordered additional seasons of comedies Bored to Death (starring Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis, and Ted Danson) and Danny McBride’s Eastbound & Down. The former averaged 1 million viewers this past Sunday and the latter 1.44 million. This is great new for fans of funny things.
[Via Deadline]
Yesterday Barnes & Noble unveiled the next version of their Nook e-reader. Nook Color is more than a simple e-reader, proclaims B&N; they call it a “reader’s tablet.” Let’s run through the impressive specs and features, shall we? The new Nook was designed in collaboration with industrial designer Yves Behar and it packs a 7-inch (1024×600) LCD color touch display (from LG) that can show more than 16 million colors and has a wide viewing angle thanks to integrated IPS screen technology. The “VividView” display is covered with a lamination screen film that promises to minimize glare. E-ink is no where to be found here–this is LCD all the way. Liken this to iPad reading, not Kindle reading. It’s light and portable at 8.1” (height) by 5” (width) by 0.48” (depth) and 15.8 ounces. Built-in 802.11 b/g/n WiFi is used to explore, purchase, and share content. A 3G model was not announced. There’s 8GB of internal storage, and that can be expanded up to 32GB thanks to the microSD slot. B&N claims it has an eight hour battery life with WiFi turned off–a steep price to pay for color support (the original Nook boasts a 10-day battery lifespan). Nook Color runs Android all across its 7-inch touchscreen (the original Nook features a large E-ink screen with a small Android-powered touch display below it). Swiping through books and pinch-to-zoom are present and accounted for.
Content and apps time. The NOOKbook Store includes over two million books for Nook owners to preview and purchase. NOOKnewsstand brings a whole slew of newspapers, periodicals, and magazines to Nook; they include The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA TODAY, Rolling Stone, Esquire, US Weekly, National Geographic, Martha Stewart Living, Cosmopolitan, and Elle. Periodicals will be available by subscription and single copy. Reading is optimized for the touchscreen; ArticleView allows you to customize the reading experience to your liking. NOOK kids brings over 130 digital picture books and 12,000 chapter books aimed at children. AliveTouch enables children to interact with words and pictures; it also gives them the option for the device to read a story aloud (death to parenting!). The Read In Store program allows Nook owners to read Nookbooks for free one hour at a time inside B&N stores only. With the LendMe app, owners can lend their friends books and request to borrow books from friends; sharing books is free and books can be lended for up to 14 days. Books can be recommended and shared with friends over Facebook, Twitter, and email; yes, the Nook has gone social. Since Nook Color technically is a tablet too, developers can now create engaging apps for the device. B&N calls them “extras” and those available at launch will include Pandora (for music streaming), Quickoffice (for reading Microsoft Office files, PDFs, JEPGs, and more), and games (crossword puzzles, Sudoku, chess, etc.). Though it runs Android, users will not have access to the Android Market or Market apps. The upswing? A full browser is included to surf the web (Flash is not supported).
Nook Color hits store shevles November 19 for $249. You can preorder today at the B&N website. It will go on sale at Walmart, Best Buy, and Books-a-Million in late November. Full PR after the break.
In addition to announcing Nook Color, B&N took time to share details about a pending software update for the original Nook (WiFi) and Nook (WiFi+3G) models. Expect faster page-turn speed, improved search functionality, customized B&N Library organization, password protection, and continuous reading across all NOOK devices and software. Firmware update 1.5 will be available as a free download via WiFi this November.
After announcing two delays already, Apple has gone ahead and delayed the oft-delayed white iPhone 4 once again. Due to manufacturing problems, the white iPhone 4 has been delayed to spring 2011. I know what you’re thinking–by then a brand new iPhone will have been announced and perhaps even released! Good thinking, because that is highly likely. Hours after Reuters spilled the beans on a third delay, Boy Genius Report has a source that claims the iPhone 4 will never be coated in white and that the color option has been cancelled. No matter the outcome–delay or cancellation–if you’ve been holding out to get the white iPhone it’s time to call it quits and give in to the black model. Don’t worry, it won’t bite.
Office for Mac 2008–be gone! This week Microsoft announced that a refreshed version of its productivity suite is finally available for Mac OS X users. The most significant update? Microsoft has trashed Entourage and replaced it with the real thing–Outlook! That’s right, full Outlook integration the Mac. Oh happy day. In addition, the new Office will play nice with Office Web Apps and other cloud-based applications; also, new co-authoring tools “let users edit the same Word document or PowerPoint presentation simultaneously with other people in different locations who are using Office on a PC or a Mac” and users can “quickly share their presentations with anyone who has browser access by broadcasting their presentation.” Pretty neat, huh? And it doesn’t end there; the new version packs a whole slew of new features–and not to mention welcome aesthetic tweaks. There are two version of Office for Mac 2001 available today: the Home & Student version ($149.99) and the Home & Business version ($179.99). They both pack Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and I think you can guess which one includes Outlook.
[Via OfficeForMac; Engadget]
Having updated Xbox.com for Xbox 360 gamers, Microsoft is readying a relaunch of their Games for Windows Marketplace online portal for PC gamers. The gaming on-demand online distribution site “will offer PC gamers a robust lineup of games they love, easier navigation and purchase, and recurring specials such as Deal of the Week.” The new streamlined experience promises fewer clicks to purchase and download games and better search functionality. The Marketplace will launch with a portfolio of 100 “top-quality titles” including Fable: The Lost Chapters from Microsoft and Grand Theft Auto III from Rockstar. As long as you’ve got a Windows Live ID (that emcompasses Windows Live, Xbox LIVE, Games for Windows – LIVE and Zune accounts) you will have access to the store and all that it offers. Microsoft Points are accepted as currency. Expect the site to undergo core and aesthetic changes November 15. In a recent interview with Kotaku, Microsoft’s Peter Orullian says that the company is “doubling down” on PC gaming”, so you can expect the revamp of the Marketplace the beginning of a chain of events in the PC gaming realm as far as Microsoft is concerned. Better Windows/Xbox 360/Windows Phone 7 integration? Fingers crossed. PR after the break.
[Via Engadget, here & here] Continue reading Microsoft revamps Games for Windows Marketplace next month
Told you the Kanye West news was far from over. In an interview with MTV, Kanye West revealed that the upcoming collab EP with big brother Jay-Z will in fact be a full length album. ‘Ye said, “We did like five [songs] so far, and then a few of them kind of were out there, and I put them on my album. Sorry, Jay!” He’s most definitely talking about G.O.O.D. Friday turned My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy tracks “Monster” (Featuring Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver) and “So Appalled” (Featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & CyHi Da Prynce). West continued, “But we’ve got some more, and we’re going to the south of France at the end of this month just to record our ideas.” See Kanye fans? Fantasy may contain a bunch of songs we’ve already heard, but ‘Ye and Jay-Z have many more tunes up their sleeves. Looking forward to it.
The Peas are pumped to unleash the follow-up to their 2008 hit album The E.N.D. The new record is appropriately titled The Beginning and it drops November 30. Says frontman will.i.am: The Beginning is our departure to the new…always pushing new sounds and technology…I can’t wait till you experience all that we have been cooking up…”
Can’t wait that long for new BEP music, huh? Well here’s a treat! Take a listen to their brand new single called “The Time (The Dirty Bit)”. The song covers the Dirty Dancing hit “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” originally recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes in 1987. And you know its got that signature BEP electro hip-hop headbanger twist to it. Will it resonate with fans, radio listeners, and party-goers as loud as “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling”? I don’t think it’s as catchy as those two, but nothing will keep this new single from quickly becoming a chart-topper. A music video has already been made to accompany the single and it should drop sometime soon.
The not-really banned album cover has made its way into iTunes all pixelated, along with the tracklist for Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and here it is:
1. Dark Fantasy
2. Gorgeous (Featuring Raekwon & Kid Cudi)
3. POWER
4. All Of the Lights
5. Monster (Feauting Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver)
6. So Appalled (Featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, CyHi Da Prynce & Swizz Beatz)
7. Devil In a New Dress
8. Runaway (Featuring Pusha T)
9. Hell Of a Life
10. Blame Game (Featuring John Legend & Pusha T)
11. Lost In the World
12. See Me Now (Bonus Track)
Right off the bat what do you notice? That’s right–we’ve already heard half the album already! “Power” and “Runaway” served as the first two singles, and “Monster”, “So Appalled”, “Devil in a New Dress”, and “See Me Now” were all included in Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Friday collection. Bummer, eh not so much. I was definitely expecting an epic, lengthy album, but you have to take into consideration what Kanye has provided fans for the past few months. The G.O.O.D. Friday collection has us anticipating a new Kanye track every single Friday–and this series will continue past the album’s release until Christmas time. The album may be lacking in new content, but it cetainly contains the best of G.O.O.D. Friday along with hotly anticipated tracks like “All of the Lights” and “Lost in the World.” If you don’t play into the leak game, half of this album will be brand new for you to take in and enjoy. And take note that the contents of the album are subject to change before the release date. Lost tracks like “Mama’s Boyfriend” and “Chain Heavy” might just find their way onto it. For now, preview a bunch of the songs by watching Runaway again and look forward to this week’s G.O.O.D. Friday track. The fifth studio album from Kanye West drops November 22. His collab EP with Jay-Z called Watch the Throne will follow soon after. There really is no end in sight.
Preorder information! The standard version includes all 12 tracks (iTunes) and the deluxe version (iTunes/Amazon) packs all 12 tracks plus the Runaway short film. (FYI — “Monster” has turned up as the third single. Preorder on iTunes today to instantly download it.) You might want to opt for the physical in-store copy; Kanye promises there are five different album covers (including the “banned” one) and they will all ship inside the CD case.
Kanye West travelled to Prague not so long ago to film a 35 minute short film called Runaway. The film, directed by West & written by music video collaborator Hype Williams, plays like an extended and highly perfected music video. Nine songs from West’s upcoming fifth studio album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy are interspersed throughout the film that premiered Saturday night simultaneously on MTV, MTV 2, MTV.com, BET, BET.com, and VH1.com. Watch it uncensored after the break.
The film tells a short story about a beautiful phoenix (played by model Selita Ebanks) falling to Earth and falling in love with a man played by Kanye. It opens up with a short introductory quip by Nicki Minaj (in her overzealous British accent) as she invites the viewer to “gather ’round children, zip it, listen!” Then the first beat drops. As Kanye drives his luxury car through a wooded area populated by grazing deer (who appear to be CGI), ‘Ye raps the title track “Dark Fantasy.” In the distance up in the sky a plume of fire quickly descends to the ground, crashing into Kanye’s car and forcing ‘Ye to come to the rescue. As the track goes “Can we get much higher? Oh, oh, oh oh…” we catch our first glimpse of the Phoenix injured on the pavement. Kanye picks her up and carries her away from the wreck, walking slowly towards the camera as the fire blazes in the background and “Dark Fantasy” winds down. The title card “Runaway” appears, the track ends, and the story resumes at Kanye’s home.
The Phoenix wakes up and finds herself disoriented in our markedly different world. Ebanks does a fantastic job throughout the film portraying this sense of feeling out of place in a foreign land–the ruffling of her feathers, the way she moves her claws and darts her head. All of these small but very distinct qualities add to her stranger in a strange land mentality that brings the film’s overall theme into focus when the conclusion rolls around. She is startled by a breaking news story shouting from the TV; Kanye appears and informs her, “First rule in this world baby: Don’t pay attention to anything you see in the news.” Take note: the film does not contain much dialogue (not including the songs, obviously), so listen carefully to what Kanye and Ebanks’ characters have to say. Kanye’s message is not hiding–it lives in the songs, the visuals, and also in what he (and the Phoenix) have to say.
Next up is “Gorgeous” — Kid Cudi sings the chorus and Kanye raps a verse as we watch the Phoenix interact with nature and animals. While she’s frolicking in the backyard and getting acclimated to our world, Kanye looks on from inside the house. He’s in love with the mysterious bird that fell into his lap. Quite abruptly the track ends and a distinctly new version of “Power” begins. Kanye plays with the beat on his sampler and the Phoenix twitches along with it. A wave of comfortability hits the Phoenix and so she fearlessly begins to seductively dance to the heavily sampled “Power.” Then as abruptly as it started “Power” ends and the signature horns of “All of the Lights” are introduced. Continue reading Review: Kanye West premieres short film ‘Runaway’, previews songs from upcoming album
Cudder’s sophomore slam is nearly here. Want a peek at the 17 song ‘scenelist’ for Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager? Force your eyeballs slightly downwards.
Act 1: The World I Am Ruling
1. Scott Mescudi Vs The World feat. Cee-Lo (Producted by Emile)
2. REVOFEV (Producted by Plain Pat)
ACT 2: A Stronger Trip
3. Don’t Play This Song feat. Mary J. Blige (Producted by Emile)
4. We Aite (Wake Your Mind Up) (Producted by Emile)
5. Marijuana (Producted by Dot Da Genius)
6. Mojo So Dope (Producted by Emile)
Act 3; Party On
7. Ashin’ Kusher (Producted by Chuck English)
8. Erase Me feat. Kanye West (Producted by Jim Jonsin)
9. Wild’n Cuz Im Young (Producted by Plain Pat)
10. The Mood (Producted by Emile)
Act 4: The Transformation
11. MANIAC feat. Cage & St. Vincent (Producted by Anthony Killhoffer)
12. Mr. Rager (Producted by Emile)
13. These Worries feat. Mary J. Blige (Producted by Emile)
14. The End feat. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper & Nicole Wray (Produced by Blended Babies)
Act 5: You Live & You Learn
15. All Along (Producted by Emile)
16. GHOST! (Producted by Emile)
17. Trapped In My Mind (Producted by Dot Da Genius)
As you can see, Cudi organized the tracklist here the same way he did for the original MOTM; it flows more like a “scenelist” where the tracks are bunched into individial scenes and they bleed into each other very much like a movie. Cudi managed to scoop up some impressive featured artists; there’s Cee-Lo, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Cage, St. Vincent, GLC, Chip Tha Ripper, and Nicole Wray. Dot Da Genius, Emile, and Plain Pat return as producers along with new recruits Jim Jonsin, Chuck English, Anthony Killhoffer, and Blended Babies.
You’ve already seen the album cover for the regular and deluxe versions, so how about we detail how they differentiate. The regular version comes complete with all 17 tracks; the final song “Maybe” is an iTunes bonus track (produced by Dot Da Genius and Rami Beatz). The deluxe versions comes with all 17 songs plus the “Erase Me” music video and a 30 minute documentary titled “Journey of Mr. Rager.” If you want that bonus track, preorder MOTM2 in iTunes: standard / deluxe. And if you preorder today, you will instantly receive a copy of single #3 that is “Mr. Rager.” Prefer a physical copy? Amazon’s got you covered: standard / deluxe.
Curious about the movie poster hanging above? Continue reading Kid Cudi drops third single, reveals MOTM2 tracklist + posters
After dropping the single Only Girl (In the World) back in September, Rihanna is nearly ready to release her fifth studio album. Album cover: check (see above). Tracklist: check (see below).
That’s right–RiRi is hooking up with Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Eminem in her latest effort to deliver the pop sound that made her so successful. After watching her new music video for Only Girl, it’s plain to see Rihanna is ready to walk away from the darkness and back to her fun, cut loose dance anthems. Get Loud November 12.
[Via Rap-Up]
Kanye West is working so very hard on finalizing his upcoming album My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasty–no wonder why last week’s G.O.O.D. Friday track landed on the ‘Net during the wee hours of Saturday morning. When he officially tweeted about the track’s release he called it “Don’t Look Down (The Phoenix Story)”, so make a choice when giving it a name in your music library. You know the drill by now: preview and download below! Note: The album art does contain nudity; hop after the break for the uncensored image.
Download: Kanye West – “Don’t Look Down” (Featuring Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco & Big Sean)
[audio: Kanye West – Don’t Look Down.mp3][Via KWBlog] Continue reading G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West — “Don’t Look Down” (Featuring Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco & Big Sean)