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Cable Companies Join Together to Offer Shared Wi-Fi Hotspots
Mon May 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM ETTags: Comcast, Time Warner (all tags)
The new initiative will give you access to hotspots from cable services you don't subscribe to in addition to the one that you do.
The latest move from some of the biggest cable providers around - Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable – marks a union that will benefit consumers in a very welcome way.
If you subscribe to any of these cable companies, you'll be able to access Wi-Fi hotspots from any of the others. For example, if you're a Comcast subscriber and the only hotspot around is from Time Warner, you'll be able to connect up and access.
The initial rollout is happening in New York City and the surrounding Tri-State area, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, and Philadelphia. Affected hotspots will be branded with the CableWiFi name.
Source: Engadget
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'Quadrophenia' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray
Mon May 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)
Franc Roddam's classic 1979 coming-of-age drama is getting the Blu-ray treatment at the end of August.
In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing 'Quadrophenia' for Blu-ray on August 28.
The Who’s classic rock opera Quadrophenia was the basis for this invigorating coming-of-age movie and depiction of the defiant, drug-fueled London of the early 1960s.
The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 soundtracks, and supplements include: New audio commentary featuring director Franc Roddam and director of photography Brian Tufano; New interview with Bill Curbishley, the film's co-producer and the Who's co-manager; New interview with the Who's sound engineer, Bob Pridden, discussing the new mix, featuring a restoration demonstration; On-set and archival footage; Behind-the-scenes photographs; and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Nick James, a reprinted personal history by original mod Irish Jack, and Pete Townshend's liner notes from the album.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95.
You can find the latest specs for 'Quadrophenia' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 28.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Quadrophenia (Blu-ray)
'Aliens: Colonial Marines' Gets a February 12, 2013 Release Date
Mon May 21, 2012 at 10:30 AM ETTags: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Gearbox (all tags)
We'll have to wait and see if the game will justify a seven year development schedule.
Gearbox Software took the legendary unfinished game 'Duke Nukem Forever' and finished it, but they've had their own 'Duke Nukem' sitting in development for some time now. But there's finally a release date in place and things are looking good.
'Aliens: Colonial Marines,' which was first announced back in 2006, will finally be released on February 12th of 2013. The game's looking slick, and Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford says that the game is true to the original vision and downplays the development time as simply a misunderstanding based on a far-too-early announcement.
He also says that the release date is only for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC – the Wii U version will be announced at a later date.
Source: Gearbox
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Comcast is Testing Tiered Pricing for Data Limits
Mon May 21, 2012 at 10:00 AM ETTags: Comcast, XFINITY, Data Limits (all tags)
Two possible approaches are being put into place, both of which charge extra for more usage.
Comcast has been under fire recently, not just for its bandwidth caps, but for the practice of only tracking data use for non-Comcast Xfinity streaming platforms. Comcast denies the cause and effect relationship, but the company's most recent data cap announcement comes right on the heels of a complaint from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.
Comcast is currently rolling out two different test pricing plans. The first would raise the cap to 300GB and then charge customers $10 for every 50GB they're over. The second would simply create tiers and put customers into those tiers based on usage.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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James Cameron's 'Ghosts of the Abyss - 3D' Announced for Blu-ray 3D
Mon May 21, 2012 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Disney/Buena Vista, Disc Announcements (all tags)
The 2003 documentary comes to Blu-ray 3D with two cuts in September.
In an early announcement to retailers, Disney/Buena Vista has slated 'Ghosts of the Abyss - 3D' for Blu-ray 3D on September 11.
For the first time on Disney Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray 2D, see the real story behind the Titanic and watch this groundbreaking cinematic achievement in a beautiful new digital restoration!
Academy Award®-winning Director and master storyteller, James Cameron journey’s back to the site of his greatest inspiration – the legendary wreck of the Titanic. With a team of the world’s foremost historic and marine experts and friend Bill Paxton, he embarks on an unscripted adventure back to the final grave where nearly 1,500 souls lost their lives almost a century ago. Using state-of-the-art technology developed expressly for this expedition, Cameron and his crew are able to explore virtually all of the wreckage, inside and out, as never-before. With the most advanced 3D photography, moviegoers will experience the ship as if they are part of crew, right inside the dive subs. In this unprecedented motion picture event, made especially for IMAX 3D theatres and specially outfitted 35MM 3D theaters across the country, Cameron and his team bring audiences to sights not seen since the sinking 90 years ago and explore why the landmark vessel – more than any shipwreck – continues to intrigue and fascinate the public.
The Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature both the theatrical (60 minute) and extended (90 minute) cuts in 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include Reflections from the Deep.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray 3D combo pack is $44.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'Ghosts of the Abyss - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 11.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Ghosts of the Abyss - 3D (Blu-ray)
HDD Deal of the Week: 'Rocky: Undisputed Collection' Blu-ray $29.99 at Amazon
Sun May 20, 2012 at 11:38 AM ETTags: Amazon, HD Deals (all tags)
Yo, Adrian! Amazon's Gold Box deal of the week has the eye of the tiger.
The online retailer has just reduced the price of 'Rocky: Undisputed Collection' featuring Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role to just $29.99 (57% off suggested list price).
Click here to add this set to your collection for a fantastic price and don't miss Aaron Peck's "highly recommended" 'review here.'
This offer is valid now through May 27th.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Rocky: The Undisputed Collection (Blu-ray)
Bonus View Digest - May 18, 2012
Fri May 18, 2012 at 02:35 PM ETTags: Bonus View Digest, Aaron Peck, Fun Stuff (all tags)
What? You've been missing out on The Bonus View this week? If you have that means you've been missing our Hitchcock Blogathon that we started in hopes of raising some money for a new musical score and online streaming distribution for 'The White Shadow', an early silent film that young Mr. Hitchcock (then officially a writer and Assistant Director) used as a stepping stone to launch his own directorial career (you can donate here).
Hitchcock Blogathon
We have a ton of entries in the Blogathon, many of which will please even the most avid Hitchcock fans. Guest blogger John Carvill, from the UK-based pop culture web site Oomska.co.uk, wrote a great piece which he described as, "an unscientific analysis of the Blu-ray editions of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The 39 Steps’ & ‘North by Northwest’."
Other Hitchcock entries include a column about 'The Birds' by Steven Cohen, a look back at 'Topaz' by Adam Tyner, a 'Vertigo' walking tour by Josh Zyber, the story behind Hitchcock's blonde bombshells as well as his one-word titles, both by David Krauss, and a special edition of Posterizing by Aaron Peck where he lists his top ten favorite Hitchcock movie posters.
If you're a fan of the immortal director then you'll really want to take a gander at some of these articles. We're really proud here at The Bonus View to be honoring such a cinematic legend. We hope you enjoy.
TV Madness
We've entered the round of the final sixteen characters. The last matchup we did, before the Madness tournament took a little hiatus for Hitchcock Blogathon, was a fight between super-spy Michael Westen and vampire slayer extraordinaire, Buffy. Who do you think would win?
Theatrical News
Luke saw this weekend's movies so you don't have to. In case you wanted to know how bad 'What to Expect When You're Expecting,' and 'Battleship' are, you can read his reviews. He also reviewed 'The Dictator' in case you wanted to know the latest about Sacha Baron Cohen's scripted comedy future.
TV Recaps
We haven't had much time to get to television with our Hitchcock Blogathon taking over, but there was one recap posted this week by Aaron Peck about the latest episode of 'The Killing.' Even if you're not watching the show, keep up with the recaps. They're fun.
Special Features
Tom Landy went off to the Calgary Expo (a.k.a. Geek Paradise in Canada) this past week. He's posted a few Captain's Blog updates of his time at the Expo. Take a look at posts for Day 1 and Day 2 along with a post about Tom's emergency that had him heading to the hospital instead of back to the Expo.
Finally, we have the trusty weekly posts like the Weekend Roundtable where we asked what remake or reimagining should Tim Burton take on next and our Mid-Week Poll that focused on what you may think about gesture-controlled television sets.
That's it for this week. Stay tuned though. As always, we have a bunch of great stuff coming your way next week.
Blu-ray Goes 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen'
Fri May 18, 2012 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Sony, Disc Announcements (all tags)
The film adaption of Paul Torday's acclaimed novel will be swimming upstream on Blu-ray in July.
In an early announcement to retailers, Sony will be releasing 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' on Blu-ray on July 17.
Ewan McGregor ('Beginners') and Emily Blunt ('The Adjustment Bureau') star alongside Oscar-nominee Kristin Scott Thomas ('I've Loved You So Long') and Amr Waked ('Syriana') in this extraordinary, beguiling tale of fly-fishing and political spinning, of unexpected heroism and late-blooming love and of an attempt to prove the impossible, possible. Directed by Oscar-nominee Lasse Hallstrom ('Chocolat') and written by Oscar-winner Simon Beaufoy ('Slumdog Millionaire'), this feature film is based on Paul Torday's acclaimed novel about a scientist who looks to fulfills a sheikh's dream of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to his homeland in Yemen. It is produced by Paul Webster ('The Motorcycle Diaries') and executive produced by Jamie Laurenson, Stephen Garrett, Paula Jalfon, Zygi Kamasa and Guy Avshalom.
The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include Miracles Happen: Making Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and The Fisherman in the Middle East: Novelist Paul Torday.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 17.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (Blu-ray)
'Weekend' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed
Fri May 18, 2012 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, Criterion (all tags)
The Criterion Collection welcomes Andrew Haigh's 2011 feature film to their Blu-ray line-up this August.
In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion says 'Weekend' will hit Blu-ray on August 21.
Rarely has a film been as honest about sexuality—in both depiction and discussion—as this tale of a one-night-stand that develops into a weekend-long idyll for two very different young men (exciting newcomers Tom Cullen and Chris New) in Midlands England.
The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements will include: New program featuring interviews with Haigh, Pontikos, producer Tristan Goligher, and actors Tom Cullen & Chris New; New interview with Haigh on the film's sex scenes; On-set video footage shot by New and others, and two scenes from Cullen's and New's auditions; Video essay on the film's set photographers, Oisín Share and Colin Quinn; Cahuenga Blvd. (2005) and Five Miles Out (2009), two short films by Haigh; Trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Dennis Lim.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95.
You can find the latest specs for 'Weekend' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 21.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Weekend (Blu-ray)
HBO Go Now Available on Devices for Time Warner Customers
Fri May 18, 2012 at 12:00 PM ETTags: HBO Go, Roku, Time Warner, Xbox 360 (all tags)
Xbox 360s, Roku players and Samsung TVs and players can now stream HBO Go.
The implementation of HBO Go has been a surprisingly difficult process. Different cable providers feel differently about allowing customers to watch the programming on their TVs through capable devices and have been blocking the service to prevent it.
Time Warner has finally relented, and is now allowing streaming of HBO's streaming service through Roku players, Samsung TVs, Samsung Blu-ray players and Xbox 360s. There's going to be a period of transition before it's available on all devices, but Roku says it should only be a few hours for their players.
Source: Engadget
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