Recently in Movies, Music & Media Category
Two years after the release of Grand Theft Auto IV, PS3 users are getting a bit of closure.
Sony and Rockstar Games have announced that Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City will soon be coming to frothing PlayStation 3 gamers everywhere. The last two chapters will come on one disc, or you can download them individually from the PlayStation Network. Those episodes are titled, "The Lost And Damned" and "The Ballad of Gay Tony." Expect plenty of cars, weapons and music included in each.
Expect Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City to be screeching into stores on March 30, 2010. It will retail for $39.99. The downloads will be available the same day in the PlayStation Store for $19.99 a pop.
Well, you may have to wait a bit, but you don't have to wonder. Disney just announced its first 3D Blu-ray release. Despite the studio's many 3D theatrical releases, Engadget says they are launching the good stuff with A Christmas Carol -- the Jim Carrey version.
Whether or not you're excited, you still have to wait; it won't come until towards the end of 2010.
We can't wait to see what this will go for on eBay. Kingston Digital just announced plans to distribute Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT on a USB Flash drive.
Like all things related to MJ (post-demise, that is), this will be a limited-edition product. It will be timed with the Blu-ray and DVD release, but will come on a special Kingston DataTraveler USB Flash drive.
The product will be compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Once you've got it, you can back the film up to three PCs.
Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT will be released on January 26, 2010.
Next time an athlete high-fives, you don't want to leave them hanging -- well, if you have ESPN 3D. The sports empire just announced plans for a network, which will showcase at least 85 live events each year.
The network plans to kick off on June 11, with the 2010 FIFA World Cup match, featuring South Africa versus Mexico.
You're in town for CES... wanna date? Well, Intelius is offering up one that you won't have to pay for.
The company says it will host a Dating Game-styled contest right on the showfloor. The melee will be a promotion to pump up the company's Date Check, a mobile application that allows users to instantly scan for skeevy critters posing as a potential mate.
For the Dream Date contest, Intelius is looking for nine bachelors to vie for one of three dates with a lucky bachelorette (aka a hired booth babe). You'll get a background check via Date Check and get to participate in the contest live on stage. Winners get lunch with the babe, as well as a pair of Vegas show tickets. It's just what your boss sent you there for!
If you're at the show in January, look for the contest in the Living in Digital Times exhibitor area located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Paul McCartney is ready to rock your living room. Of course, don't start making Bundt cake; the former Beatle isn't out making personal appearances. Still, this news is the closest you'll get to your own concert. Harmonix and MTV Games just announced that three tracks from McCartney's latest live album will be coming to Rock Band.
The tracks can be downloaded from the Rock Band Music Store and LEGO Rock Band Music Store. They will be available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and the Wii. The three songs are live versions of "Band on the Run," "Jet" and "Sing the Changes."
Each of the songs are being lifted from McCartney's Good Evening New York City. The release is available in two formats: a three-disc standard edition (two CDs and one DVD) and a four-disc deluxe version (two CDs and two DVDs).
Xbox and Wii Rock Band users can download the New York City Pack 01 starting January 5. Single tracks are $1.99 for the Xbox and $2 for the Wii. Xbox users can get all three for $5.49.
There's no word on any prices for PS3 users, who have to keep frothing until the songs are available on January 7.
Not content with just streaming Netflix, Samsung is tapping into Blockbuster for additional digital content.
Twice says that the two have just sealed a deal that will see the rental chain providing downloads to select HDTVs, home-theater systems and Blu-ray players. Users will be able to search for movie titles on-screen as well as check out ratings, trailers and other info.
Also expect to see some of the compatible Blu-ray players on sale at your local Blockbuster, as well as on the Blockbuster.com.
Blockbuster should be coming to Samsung devices near you starting this fall. -- Rachel Cericola
[Photo courtesy of Flickr user oooh.oooh. Used via Creative Commons.]
Not everyone is listening to Howard Stern on Sirius.
Sirius XM made the announcement that its new iPhone application has already been downloaded one million times since its debut. The app first hit the iTunes store two weeks ago.
Twice says that the app streams 120 of the satellite service's channels -- however, none of those include radio personality Howard Stern. Other big names, such as Oprah, Martha Stewart, NFL and NASCAR are available, though.
Once you download the app, users are treated to a 7-day trial period. After that, you'll have to pay $3 a month. The service also allows iPhone users to buy songs on the fly or tag music to purchase later. -- Rachel Cericola
Fans frothing for more of the original Star Trek are in luck.
CBS and Paramount just announced that they will soon offer additional content to those that shelled out the money for Star Trek: The Original Series Season One on Blu-ray. The content will come via BD Live.
Big Picture Big Sound has a list of what you can download. Both companies say you can also get a gander at what will be coming on the season two set if you pop in your discs and check back in the coming weeks. -- Rachel Cericola
Somewhere over the rainbow lies a 4-disc set of The Wizard of Oz. Warner Bros. just announced that they plan to celebrate the classic's 70th birthday with a Blu-ray blowout -- releasing the movie for the first time in high-def.
The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition will include 16 hours of extras, including some never-before-seen stuff. Where have they been hiding that??
The release will be remastered, using 8K resolution. It's also getting the Dolby TrueHD audio treatment. Expect the set to come with a few collectibles, including a copy of the original 1939 campaign book, a 70th anniversary Oz wristwatch, a 52-page commemorative book, and a copy of the 1939 film budget. Big Picture Big Sound has other specs and a listing of disc features.
The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition will hit shelves on September 29. -- Rachel Cericola
If your band isn't on Rock Band, you must be really lame... because now the game is rockin' the REO Speedwagon.
Harmonix and MTV Games just announced (via IGN) that they will be adding 18 new tracks for Wii Rock Band users. Now those 18 aren't just the super sounds of REO; they will be throwing in some Styx to feed that crappy '70s/'80s classic rock addiction.
Actually, I could see myself rocking out to "Too Much Time on My Hands." If you can't, they are adding other track as well from All That Remains, The Clash, Devo, Hautewerk, The Ramones, and System of a Down. All of the tracks are available for $2 each (200 Wii Points) at the Rock Band Music Store.
However, they are really highlighting Styx and REO, probably because the two groups have paired up for "Can't Stop Rockin'," a crap-o-riffic collaboration that will kick off their upcoming Can't Stop Rockin' tour, which starts May 13. -- Rachel Cericola
In case you still have a few HD DVDs lying around, stop resting your drinks on them and get them to Warner Bros.
The studio just announced that it will take back any Warner HD DVDs and swap them for the Blu-ray version. Just go to the RED2BLU site, choose your titles, and pop the original cover art into the mail with shipping/handling costs. It will cost you around $5 per disc. Big Picture Big Sound says that multi-disc sets will be a bit higher. Still, that's cheaper than you'll find them new anywhere else.
Warner is limiting the trade to one per title, with a max of 25 per household. Once everything ships, you can expect the new discs to arrive within four to five weeks. -- Rachel Cericola
Is there anything this iPhone can't do? As far as a I know, there is no Ginsu knife app to make fries just yet. For now, you will have to fill up your time (and belly) via content from your HP MediaServer.
HP added a nifty firmware update, which converts all of your video. Add in the soon-to-be-released iStream app and you've got yourself some endless entertainment.
Sadly, DVICE says that the update and iStream app won't be available until later this month.
Maybe those few weeks will give you the time to save up for the MediaServer; the 750GB model runs $599, with the 1.5-TV model coming in at $749. -- Rachel Cericola
[Photo courtesy of Flickr user Ben Dodson. Used via Creative Commons.]
Aside from 15 years in the making, the "new" Guns N' Roses album came and went with little fanfare. Harmonix and MTV Games are hoping music lovers will be a bit more pumped up about the album's Rock Band edition.
According to Reuters, Chinese Democracy premiered at number 3 on the Billboard charts in November 2008. The track "Shackler's Revenge" is available as a download now, with the entire album coming to the Rock Band Music Store on April 14.
One frightening tidbit: The above image is not from the game.
Something else you might want to know: If you have a Wii, you'll need to buy tracks individually; Xbox 360 and PS3 users can purchase tracks or the entire album. -- Rachel Cericola
It was fun while it lasted. Now Netflix wants to increase prices for Blu-ray rentals.
For a while, you could get the high-def difference for an extra buck per month. Those days are gone -- or will be very soon. Starting April 27, Netflix says that they will raises all subscription prices 20 percent for Blu-ray renters.
Reuters says that 10 percent of Netflix's 10 million subscribers are getting Blu-ray rentals. They currently stock over 1,300 high-def titles. In case you stink at math, here's the new pricing structure:
1 DVD out at-a-time (2 DVDs a month): Monthly plan cost: $4.99; additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $1; monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $5.99
1 DVD out at-a-time (Unlimited): Monthly plan cost: $8.99; additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $2; monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $10.99
2 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited): Monthly plan cost: $13.99; additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $3; monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $16.99
3 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited):
Monthly plan cost: $16.99; additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $4; monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $20.994 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited): Monthly plan cost: $23.99; additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $5; monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $28.99
5 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited): Monthly plan cost: $29.99; additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $6; monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $35.99
6 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited): Monthly plan cost: $35.99; additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $7; monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $42.99
7 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited): Monthly plan cost: $41.99; additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $8; monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $49.99
8 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited): Monthly plan cost: $47.99; additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $9; monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $56.99
If you rent standard-def discs, don't worry. For now, there are no plans to raise those fees. -- Rachel Cericola
Too nerdy to function? CBS and Paramount want to stuff your social calendar with seven discs of Star Trek goodness.
Star Trek: The Original Series was first released on HD DVD in late 2007. Now, perhaps to get you even more pumped up about the upcoming JJ Abrams incarnation, the two companies are putting out the original on Blu-ray.
The 7-disc set will include all 29 episodes from the show's first season, as well as a ton of special features. One nifty option is the ability to watch original broadcast episodes (versus remastered ones), and tune into mono sound. Big Picture Big Sound has a complete listing of all of the set's episodes and extras.
Star Trek: The Original Series should start selling for $118 on April 28. Order your copy on Amazon now for $77.99. -- Rachel Cericola
You say Netflix, I say Blockbuster. Tomato, tomahto.
With so many boxes adding Netflix access, TiVo wanted to give a little love to Blockbuster's OnDemand service. The company that's synonymous with DVR has announced that they will add Blockbuster's content to its Series 2, Series 3, TiVo HD and TiVo HD XL products later this year.
TiVo currently streams Netflix content to some of its boxes. However, Blockbuster is offering something a little extra in return -- shelf space. Once the deal goes down, you should be able to walk into a Blockbuster store (assuming that you ever do that), and find TiVo DVRs.
Appropriate TiVo users will be able to buy and rent titles from Blockbuster's offering. There's no word on exactly when the partnership will kick in, but TiVo says the service should start sometime in the second half of 2009. -- Rachel Cericola
You still shouldn't squeeze the Charmin. However, you also don't have to squeeze your bladder when it comes to seeking out a semi-clean potty.
Charmin just announced SitOrSquat, a website and app that will help you locate some of the cleanest bathrooms in the world. Aside from searching the web, the application is available to iPhone and Blackberry users.
We're not entirely sure what the screening process is, but the site relies on users to give feedback. It's sort of like TripAdvisor for toilets.
The site just launched, so you won't find every available toilet or ratings on every one that is featured. However, we're guessing that none of them stock Charmin.
To date, Charmin says the site has 52,000 toilets in 10 countries. -- Rachel Cericola
Just when you thought that you knew the nerdiest nerds that ever nerded... London is hosting a two-night extravaganza known as "Star Wars: A Musical Journey."
Before you point out the obvious, I know this technically has nothing to do with technology, but I can never pass up good nerd news when I see it. If I lived slightly closer, I don't think I could pass this up as well.
Produced by Another Planet Touring in conjunction with Lucasfilm, the event will be held at The O2 in London. Expect plenty of John Williams music on hand, as they cover a nice selection from all six of the Star Wars movies in a mere two hours. There should also be scenes from the movies, the 86-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and choir, and at least 17 event-goers dressed as Boba Fett.
Tickets are on sale now. If you can't make it, the show will supposedly tour the rest of Europe shortly after. -- Rachel Cericola
There are plenty of ways to stream your Netflix account. The Wii, however, ain't one of them -- at least not yet.
Joystiq is showing off a survey asking consumers whether or not they'd be interested in that type of offering. If they have Netflix and the Wii, the answer is both obvious and drool-inducing.
If the match-up does happen, you'll need a "Netflix Instant Streaming Disc," which sounds like someone's attempt at added revenue. We bought into the Wii Fit though, and sitting on our asses to watch movies sounds like a much better investment.
Of course, it's just a survey at this point, and we're not even sure who was doing the asking. Get excited at your own risk. -- Rachel Cericola