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Coming Soon to Streaming: 'The Grand Tour,' 'Godless,' and More[teaser]Orcs, trolls, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and more are all heading to your favorite streaming device.[/teaser] Netflix and Amazon have released new trailers for several of their upcoming shows and movies, including The Grand Tour: Season 2, Spirit Riding Free: Season 3, Godless, Mudbound, Barbra: The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic!, Cuba and the Cameraman, Voyeur, Trollhunters Part 2, Bright, and American Vandal: Season 2. The Grand Tour: Season 2 (Amazon Prime Video, December 8) - Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May return for a new season of the world's greatest show about three middle-aged men rampaging around the world having unusual adventures, driving amazing cars, and engaging in a constant argument about which of them is the biggest idiot. Although it's also the only show that combines these things so the 'greatest' title is pretty much uncontested. Spirit Riding Free: Season 3 (Netflix, November 17) - Inspired by the Oscar nominated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Spirit Riding Free follows the heartfelt journey of a wild mustang who could not be tamed. A whole new generation will experience all the daring adventures when Spirit meets a girl named Lucky whose courage matches his own. Together they push limits, harness the power of friendship and discover what it means to be free. With their best friends by their side, they explore a world filled with endless rides, magnificent horses and never-ending fun. Godless (Netflix, November 22) - A seven-part Netflix limited series from Steven Soderbergh and Scott Frank, written and directed by Scott Frank, starring Jack O’Connell, Michelle Dockery, and Jeff Daniels. Frank Griffin, an outlaw terrorizing the 1880s American West, hunts down Roy Goode, his partner turned enemy. Roy hides out at a ranch as Frank's chase leads him to La Belle, New Mexico - a town mysteriously made up entirely of women. Mudbound (Netflix, November 17) - Set in the post-WWII South, Mudbound is an epic story of two families pitted against a barbaric social hierarchy and an unrelenting landscape as they simultaneously fight the battle at home and the battle abroad. The film is about friendship, unacknowledged heritage and the unending struggle for and against the land. Newly transplanted from the quiet civility of Memphis, the McAllan family is underprepared and overly hopeful for Henry's (Jason Clarke) grandiose farming dreams. Laura (Carey Mulligan) struggles to keep the faith in her husband's losing venture, meanwhile, for Hap (Rob Morgan) and Florence Jackson (Mary J. Blige), whose families have worked the land for generations, every day is a losing venture as they struggle bravely to build some small dream of their own. The war upends both families’ plans as their returning loved ones, Jamie (Garrett Hedlund) and Ronsel (Jason Mitchell) forge a fast, uneasy friendship that challenges them all Barbra: The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic! (Netflix, November 22) - Iconic songstress Barbra Streisand culminates her 13-city tour in Miami with dazzling ballads, Broadway standards and stories from behind the scenes. Cuba and the Cameraman (Netflix, November 24) - For the past 42 years Director Jon Alpert (Alive Day Memories, Baghdad ER) has been following Fidel Castro and three Cuban families affected by his policies. Their lives put us right in the roller coaster of the Cuban Revolution. Because of Alpert's unique access to the island, and the trust and friendships earned over decades, this film is a candid and revealing never-before-seen portrait of Cuba. Voyeur (Netflix, December 1) - Follows Gay Talese -- the 84-year-old giant of modern journalism -- as he reports one of the most controversial stories of his career: a portrait of a Colorado motel owner, Gerald Foos. For decades, Foos secretly watched his guests with the aid of specially designed ceiling vents, peering down from an “observation platform” he built in the motel’s attic. He kept detailed journals of his guests’ most private moments -- from the mundane to the shocking -- but most of all he sought out, spied on, and documented one thing: strangers having sex. Talese’s insatiable curiosity leads him to turn his gaze to a man accustomed to being the watcher, exploring a tangle of ethical questions: What does a journalist owe to his subjects? How can a reporter trust a source who has made a career of deception? Who is really the voyeur? Trollhunters Part 2 (Netflix, December 15) - For centuries, a grand clash between good and evil has been waging between the trolls beneath our feet. Join Jim and friends as they battle the evil Trolls of the Darklands in Trollhunters Part 2 by master storyteller Guillermo del Toro. Bright (Netflix, December 22) - Set in an alternate present-day where humans, orcs, elves and fairies have been coexisting since the beginning of time, this action-thriller directed by David Ayer (Suicide Squad, End of Watch, writer of Training Day) follows two cops from very different backgrounds. Ward, a human (Will Smith), and Jakoby, an orc (Joel Edgerton), embark on a routine night patrol that will alter the future of their world as they know it. Battling both their own personal differences as well as an onslaught of enemies, they must work together to protect a young female elf and a thought-to-be-forgotten relic, which in the wrong hands could destroy everything. American Vandal: Season 2 (Netflix, Coming in 2018) - A new season will arrive in 2018. The first season is now streaming and takes the form of a half-hour true-crime satire that explores the aftermath of a costly high school prank that left twenty-seven faculty cars vandalized with phallic images. Over the course of the eight-episode season, an aspiring sophomore documentarian investigates the controversial and potentially unjust expulsion of troubled senior (and known dick-drawer) Dylan Maxwell. Not unlike its now iconic true-crime predecessors, the addictive American Vandal will leave one question on everyone's minds until the very end: Who drew the dicks? - A current Netflix subscription starts at $11 per month for HD streaming and $14 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), The Grand Tour (YouTube)Posted Fri Nov 3, 2017 at 10:50 PM PDT by: -
Xbox One X vs Xbox One S Hands-On Review: Should You Upgrade?With a launch date of November 7th, the Xbox One X is both the newest game console of note to come to market as well as the latest addition to the Xbox One family. While the original One is no longer available, Microsoft isn't dropping the One S anytime soon, leaving you with [teaser]two good gaming / media center consoles for your 4K HDR TVs and Atmos systems, but which Xbox is right for you and should One S owners immediately run out and upgrade?[/teaser] Read on, friends! GEAR USED For this piece, I am comparing my own Day One Xbox One, Storm Grey Xbox One S, and PS4 Pro against an Xbox One X review kit provided by Microsoft. I used both a Samsung QN65Q7F and LG 65UH7700 for the display, and a Marantz SR6011 for the AVR. BOY, HOW THINGS CHANGE The original Xbox One debuted in 2013 at a time when the general population thought 4K was far too expensive, without benefit, and far too lacking in available content to ever really make waves in the marketplace. Today, 4K TVs are the standard, with HDR their must-have feature. As encapsulated as standard in HDR10, High Dynamic Range means brighter brights and a wider contrast ratio that enables a greater range of color representation. And thus, there exists a gap between the 2013 game consoles and the 4K HDR displays that are becoming ubiquitous for anyone in the market for a new TV. Over the past few years, Microsoft worked to steadily improve the Xbox One through lower prices and an ongoing series of software and hardware upgrades (such as the controller revisions). More dramatically, in 2016, Microsoft revealed two new versions of the Xbox One -- the Xbox One S and the Xbox One X. (Update: The full review of the Xbox One X can be found here.) XBOX ONE S The Xbox One S debuted in August of 2016, bringing with it a stunning new and compact hardware profile, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray support, HDR gaming and even faux 4K (non-native checkerboard rendering) gaming. Although the Xbox One S shares the same 8-core AMD Jaguar 1.75Ghz CPU and 8GB DDR3 memory (plus 32MB ESRAM) as the original Xbox One, various refinements in the design and memory addressing, namely the bump from the 12 GCN 853MHZ GPU to 914 Mhz, give the Xbox One S a performance advantage that is noticeable, especially in more demanding games. That extra edge, when combined with the recent Fall Update, makes the Xbox One S feel like an upgrade over the original no matter what display is in use. The console's small and stylish footprint contains its own power supply, and that all makes for a welcome entertainment center upgrade compared with the original Xbox One. (Finicky external power supply aside, the original Xbox One is an extremely quiet console, an edge it retains over the One S.) When combined with a modern 4K HDR display such as a Samsung QN65Q7F, the Xbox One S boasts impressive Ultra HD Blu-ray playback (see details here), 4K HDR video streaming (Netflix, Amazon, and VUDU), HDR gaming, and faux 4K (non-native checkerboard rendering) gaming. It's also important to note that, with recent updates, the Xbox One family supports direct bitstreaming for Dolby Atmos & DTS:X discs (via the Blu-ray app) and Dolby Atmos for gaming and some video streaming (this is a system-wide setting). Along with the 2017 LG OLEDs, it's one of the few devices currently capable of Dolby Atmos via Netflix. Dolby Atmos for gaming is, like HDR gaming support and faux 4K gaming rendering, supported on a per title basis. Gears of War 4, for example, is one of the few titles to support both HDR and Dolby Atmos. The entire Xbox One family of consoles now not only supports backward compatibility for a long list of Xbox 360 titles, but Microsoft has also recently introduced limited support for original Xbox titles. Whether users own disc copies or choose to buy digital copies, various beloved classics are now playable with a slight enhancement on the Xbox One platform (with more titles to come). XBOX ONE X As stated in the open, the launch date for the Xbox One X hits is November 7th, and it is the newest piece of hardware of significance to hit since the Nintendo Switch last March. When Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One X (then codenamed Project Scorpio) at E3 2016, it was positioned to be a more powerful variant of the Xbox One S and, at the same time, meant to out-muscle and out-sexy the PS4 & PS4 Pro. At that time, the One X almost seemed superfluous or, at least, too much like the Xbox One S to justify the existence and development of both. It looked to be a premium flavor of the Xbox One S with more power, but a big price. Without trying to step too much on my in-progress full review, the Xbox One X is a major upgrade of the Xbox One S as well as a freaking titan when set against anything in the game console space. Simply put, it does everything the very capable Xbox One S can do -- whether that's running software, capturing and streaming gameplay, or playing Ultra HD Blu-rays and stream 4K HDR Atmos video (see John Wick Chapter 2 on VUDU) -- and does it better. Every. Single. Thing. Having run an Xbox One X around the clock for a week, it's staggering how adroit the compact form is, how much more stable the whole thing feels, how whisper-quiet it sounds compared to the One S. With great system stability and speed affecting every single app on the Xbox One platform (and make no mistake, everything from Settings to the Blu-ray player to the Store is an app), and a quiet, cool, and incredibly sleek bit of kit in the entertainment center, the Xbox One X feels like a new console. It handles system-wide Atmos like a champ and even the new experience Hulu, which seems to clog up whatever it touches, runs silky smooth on the One X. And there are the games. Sure it comes with the fleshed-out backend and catalog of an established generation (and more), but the true bellwether feature of the Xbox One X is how it can push games that deliver on 4K HDR displays. Microsoft has managed to line up the system updates, third-party publishers and nomenclature in a way to benefit the Xbox One X experience to a degree not touched upon by the PS4 Pro launch or any important same platform hardware upgrade (like the New 3DS) in recent memory. As the launch approaches, there are still more things (specifically Xbox One X specific game patches) coming online, and thus the full review is still in progress. But while it's been a given that Microsoft would have their big titles ready to rock, (Gears of War 4 - native 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos, 60fps option, Forza Motorsport 7 - native 4K, HDR, 60fps, Halo 5 -native 4K, etc.), Microsoft also has Activision, EA, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. and Bethesda on board with their biggest holiday titles. Even publishers like Disney, Square Enix, Capcom and so on are getting on Xbox One X support. Sitting down to play Gears of War 4 in native 4K with HDR and Atmos, or else firing up Middle-earth: Shadow of War in native 4K with HDR or Assassin's Creed: Origins in dynamic 4K with HDR and Atmos or even Super Lucky's Tale in 4K with Atmos reminds of when I first booted up the PS4 with games like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. It's the feeling of a new console, a new generation, and yet the games are clearly the product of the previous generation (but with the power to reach and maintain a new level of detail). That might sound like a back-handed compliment but it's not. Turning on the svelte Xbox One X and entering a game with native 4K, HDR, and/or Dolby Atmos has the sexiness of pushing a GPU to its limits at my PC, but the Xbox One is living room friendly as well as being a relatively easy push-button affair. The home theater really benefits from having a step ahead thanks to the popularity of HDR and Atmos (not to mention 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray). The Xbox One X boasts of having an 8-core Custom AMD 2.3GHz CPU, 12GB GDDR5, 36 GCN 911Mhz GPU, and these are specs that easily surpass both the Xbox One S and the PS4 Pro. The amount of memory, in particular, is massive and developers should have the access and bandwidth to make the most of it. There is a little more to the hardware, however, with details like partial liquid-cooling and AMD FreeSync compliant HDMI 2.0b out helping to make the Xbox One X distinct over anything else on the market or even on the horizon. X OR S: WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU? It's not hyperbole to say that the Xbox One X is priced roughly double the cost of an Xbox One S. (A 1TB Xbox One X at $500 versus a 500GB Xbox One S with a game at $249.) And the benefits I've outlined above of the Xbox One X over the S, including greater stability, a quieter and sexier machine, and serious select native 4K HDR gaming power are likely to appeal to each user in a different degree. At the same time, a $500 console that can really bring out the best of 2017's Best 4K TVs (which can be found at $2000-$3000 in the 65" range) shouldn't be dismissed by anyone looking for a perfect pairing... Even though neither the Xbox One S nor the Xbox One X offer Dolby Vision HDR (both use HDR10). So, which one is right for you? The Xbox One S is great for its multimedia capabilities and for its gaming catalog. The Xbox One X, however, makes a statement as a premium gaming console with superior performance that we can expect to be supported going forward. Xbox One games marked with either or all three of the "Xbox One X Enhanced," "4K Ultra HD," and "HDR" logos should be the norm from here on, and that will be of special interest for Xbox One X owners. (A running table of Xbox One X Enhanced games can be found here.) Thanks to its power and usability, the Xbox One X is the current living room console champion. Period. Pick up the One X if you have an HDR-capable display and killer surround sound and want to get the most out of your gaming and multimedia experiences. You won't look back. For everyone else, the Xbox One S is still an impressive machine priced to sell. Stick with the One S if you're on a budget, are only a casual gamer, or don't yet have any plans to buy a large 4K HDR TV. Order from Amazon Order from AmazonPosted Thu Nov 2, 2017 at 09:30 PM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Blu-ray: 'The Foreigner,' 'Stronger,' and More[teaser]New films starring Jackie Chan, Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, and more are all coming to Blu-ray.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming Blu-ray releases from 20th Century Fox, Sony, Scorpion Releasing, Well Go USA, Classicflix, Universal, Troma, Lionsgate, and MVD Rewind Collection. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, 20th Century Fox is set to bring Geremy Jasper's Patti Cake$ starring Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Everett, and Siddharth Dhananjay to Blu-ray on November 7. Supplements have not been announced yet. Order the Blu-ray Sony is prepping Dave McCary's Brigsby Bear starring Claire Danes, Mark Hamill, Kyle Mooney, and Greg Kinnear for Blu-ray on November 14. Supplements will include: - Audio Commentary with Kyle Mooney & Dave McCary- Twin Speak: Kyle & Dave- Gag Reel- An Evening with Brigsby Bear Cast Q&A- The Wisdom of Brigsby Bear- Deleted & Extended Scenes- Brigsby Bear: The Lost Episode! Volume 23 Episode 14: The Festival of Kindness In addition, the studio will release Steve Gomer's All Saints starring Cara Buono, John Corbett, and Barry Corbin on December 12. Supplements will include: - Deleted Scenes- "Act of Faith" Featurette- "All Saints: The Cast & Community" Featurette- "All Saints: On Location in Tennessee" Featurette- "All Saints: Ye Win and the Karen" Featurette- "The Pastors of All Saints" Featurette Likewise, Sony will bring Sacha Gervasi's November Criminals starring Ansel Elgort, Chloë Moretz, Catherine Keener, and David Strathairn to Blu-ray on January 9. No other details have been announced at this time. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Scorpion Releasing is preparing Ted Post's Go Tell the Spartans starring Burt Lancaster, Craig Wasson, and Jonathan Goldsmith for Blu-ray on December 5. Supplements will include: - Interview with star Marc Singer- Interview with director Ted Post- Interview actor Joe Unger- Interview with actor David Glennon- Interview with actor Jonathan Goldsmith- Reversible Art- Trailers In addition, the label will bring David Greene's Hard Country starring Jan-Michael Vincent, Kim Basinger, Michael Parks, Daryl Hannah, Cheryl Carter, and Gailard Sartain to Blu-ray on December 12. No other details have been announced. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Classicflix is set to release Stuart Heisler's Along Came Jones starring Gary Cooper, Loretta Young, William Demarest, Dan Duryea, and Frank Sully on December 5. Supplements have not been announced yet. Order the Blu-ray Well Go USA is prepping Jing Wu's Wolf Warrior II starring Jing Wu, Frank Grillo, and Celina Jade for Blu-ray on December 12. Supplements will include: - Behind the Scenes of Wolf Warrior II - Featurettes- Original Trailers Order the Blu-ray Troma is bringing Séamus Hanly's The Middle Finger starring Séamus Hanly, Casey Jones, and Simon Mulholland to Blu-ray on December 12. Supplements will include: - "Making of the Helmet" Featurette- Director's Commentary- Outtakes- Music Videos- Trailers- More Tromatic Extras! Order the Blu-ray As previously reported, Universal is preparing Hallie Meyers-Shyer's Home Again starring Reese Witherspoon, Lake Bell, Michael Sheen, Candice Bergen, and Nat Wolff for Blu-ray, and now the release date has been announced as December 12. Supplements will include: - Feature Commentary with writer/director Hallie Meyers-Shyer and producer Nancy Meyers Likewise, the studio will bring Don Michael Paul's Death Race: Beyond Anarchy starring Zach McGowan, Frederick Koehler, and Christine Marzano to Blu-ray on January 30. Supplements will include: - Inside the Anarchy- Time Served: Lists & Goldberg- On the Streets of Death Race: Beyond Anarchy- Feature Commentary with Director/Co-Writer Don Michael Paul and Star Zach McGowan In addition, pre-orders are now live for several other upcoming Universal titles as well, through supplements and exact release dates have not been revealed at this time. The lineup includes... Martin Campbell's The Foreigner starring Katie Leung, Jackie Chan, and Rufus Jones. Andy Serkis' Breathe starring Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, and Hugh Bonneville. Mitch Davis' The Stray starring Sarah Lancaster, Michael Cassidy, and Connor Corum. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Lionsgate is prepping David Gordon Green's Stronger starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, Clancy Brown, Miranda Richardson, and Frankie Shaw for Blu-ray on December 19. Supplements will include: - "Faith, Hope & Love: Becoming Stronger" Featurette Likewise, the studio is set to release Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo's Leatherface starring Stephen Dorff, Lili Taylor, Finn Jones, and Nicole Andrews on December 19 as well. Supplements will include - Behind the Mask: the Making of LEATHERFACE- Alternate Ending- Six Deleted Scenes In addition, the label will bring Taran Killam's Killing Gunther starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cobie Smulders, Taran Killam, Kumail Nanjiani, and Randall Park to Blu-ray on December 26. Supplements will include: - Blooper Reel- Deleted Scenes Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Finally, MVD Rewind Collection is preparing a Special Collector's Edition of Eric Karson's Black Eagle starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Shô Kosugi, Bruce French, William Bassett, and Kane Kosugi for February 13. The release will include both the Theatrical and Uncut Extended versions of the film. Supplements will include: - NEW/MVD Rewind EXCLUSIVE: Sho Kosugi: Martial Arts Legend (HD, 21:26) (featuring new interviews with Sho Kosugi and Shane Kosugi and more)- NEW/MVD Rewind EXCLUSIVE: The Making of Black Eagle (HD, 35:50)(featuring new interviews with Director / Producer Eric Karson, Screenwriter Michael Gonzalez and stars Sho Kosugi, Doran Clark, Shane Kosugi and Dorota Puzio).- NEW/MVD Rewind EXCLUSIVE: Tales of Jean-Claude Van Damme (HD, 19:20) (Brand new interviews with cast and crew tell stories about working with the legendary action star).- NEW/MVD Rewind EXCLUSIVE: The Script and the Screenwriters (HD, 27:14) (featuring Michael Gonzales, Eric Karson and more).- Deleted Scenes- Original Theatrical Trailer (SD)- Collectible Poster Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Thu Nov 2, 2017 at 09:30 PM PDT by: -
RCA Releases 4K Roku TV Lineup with Prices Starting at $600[teaser]Three new 4K Roku TV models are now available.[/teaser] RCA has announced the launch of its new 4K Roku TV lineup. The collection includes a 65-inch ($1,0990 MSRP), 55-inch ($700 MSRP), and 50-inch ($600 MSRP) model. "This is another step towards establishing our company as a leading provider of a full array of quality products featuring the newest technology at an excellent value," said Aaron Herzog, president of Display-Vu, an affiliate of Curtis International and RCA's official television licensee. "Roku offers our customers an incredible experience through its easy-to-use user interface and huge choice of content. With the holiday season almost upon us, we expect our 4K Roku TVs, at a price that won’t break a family budget, to be a firm favorite." The RCA 4K Roku TVs all feature an Ultra HD resolution of 2160p, but sadly the press release makes no mention of HDR (high dynamic range) or wide color gamut capabilities. For smart TV support, the sets all use the Roku platform with access to more than 5,000 channels and 500,000+ movies and TV episodes, along with Roku's unbiased search feature which can find results across 500+ streaming channels. Likewise, the displays are scheduled to receive the Roku OS 8 update by the end of the year with new features like Smart Guide; easier search and voice control; TV Everywhere (TVE) single sign-on; and an updated 4K Spotlight Channel. "Working with RCA on a 4K Ultra HD RCA Roku TV was a natural progression following the launch of the RCA Roku TV line earlier this year. Consumers will love this affordable but sleek designed 4K UHD TV, with access to thousands of streaming channels," said Chas Smith, general manager of Roku TV & players. "Through the 4K UHD RCA Roku TV, customers can also access the newly redesigned Roku 4K Spotlight Channel, making it easier than ever to find 4K content available on the Roku platform." RCA's new 4K Roku TV collection is now rolling out to Walmart's online and retail stores. The Ultra HD TVs join the company's previously released Roku HDTV lineup. Source: RCAPosted Thu Nov 2, 2017 at 06:50 PM PDT by: -
New Apple TV 4K Update Will Fix Forced HDR Video Output[teaser]The streaming player's most troublesome issue is being corrected.[/teaser] Apple has announced plans to implement a new "Match Content" option for the Apple TV 4K as part of its upcoming tvOS 11.2 update. This new setting will allow the player to automatically switch it's video output to match the source dynamic range and frame rate of the content being played. Currently, the Apple TV 4K forces the player's video output to stay in HDR mode (either HDR10 or Dolby Vision depending on the display model) for all content being played on an HDR TV. This can cause some SDR content to look unnatural with incorrect colors and contrast due to the conversion. Likewise, the player also currently prioritizes 60Hz output even if the content being played uses a different frame rate. Thankfully, the upcoming update will allow users to activate a "Match Content" option which will enable the player to automatically switch the video output mode in order to match the native frame rate and dynamic range of whatever video is being played. This will allow SDR and 24Hz videos to be played as originally intended without any forced conversion. With that said, specific video apps will need to include support for the Match Content option in order for it to work. The Apple TV 4K utilizes the A10X Fusion chip and offers 4K playback capabilities at up to 60 frames per second with support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision content. In addition, the device includes 4K scaling for HD sources, Siri voice search, iCloud support for media sharing, standard AirPlay capabilities, and the ability to serve as a smart home hub for HomeKit accessories with remote access and automated control. AirPlay 2 support will be added later this year as well, enabling the unit to control multiple AirPlay 2-compatible speakers. Apple TV 4K models are now available in 32GB ($179) and 64GB ($199) versions. An exact release date for the tvOS 11.2 update has not been announced. Source: Apple via EngadgetPosted Wed Nov 1, 2017 at 04:15 PM PDT by: -
Amazon Kicks Off 2017 Countdown to Black Friday Deals![teaser]The Amazon Black Friday Deals Store is now live![/teaser] Amazon has announced the launch of its 2017 Black Friday Deals Store. The store will offer new deals on a variety of products from now through Black Friday. "We're excited to officially kickoff another holiday season, bringing customers better deals than ever before on everything they'll need – from electronics and toys to clothing, home essentials and more," said Doug Herrington, Senior Vice President of North American Retail at Amazon. "Customers shop Amazon year-round for our great prices, unbelievable selection, and free shipping on over 100 million products. During the holiday season, customers love to discover great deals and must-have holiday gifts for friends and family. Some of the most popular starting points for holiday shoppers are our Black Friday Deals Store, Amazon’s curated Home and Electronics Gift Guides, the Holiday Toy List, the newly redesigned Gift Finder, our Handmade Gift Shop, and Interesting Finds." The Black Friday deals page is now home to deals across every category, with new discounts and lightning deals set to launch every day. Likewise, customers can also access new specially curated Gift Guides, including the 2017 Amazon Electronics Gift Guide with more than 500 of the year's hottest technology products. In addition, customers can also voice shop for many of the items featured in the Black Friday store and Gift Guides with their Alexa devices, and users can browse and purchase products usng the Amazon app as well. Here's a rundown of some of today's hottest deals: Samsung UN65MU7000 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV (2017 Model) - $990 Samsung UE510 LED DISPLAY Monitor, 28" 4K (Certified Refurbished) - $230 CINEMOOD 3-in-1 Magic Cinema - $299 Klipsch R-10SWi 10" Wireless Subwoofer - $192 TaoTronics Sound Bar - $76 These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more Black Friday Countdown deals! Source: AmazonPosted Wed Nov 1, 2017 at 10:45 AM PDT by: -
This Week in Gear: Expanded Google Home Voice Control Support, New Headphones, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including expanded app support for Google Assistant, new headphones from Klipsch and Pioneer, and more.[/teaser] From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed. For this edition, we're covering the addition of new app support for Google Assistant voice control through the Google Home, the latest headphone model from Klipsch, Pioneer's new earbuds, the integration of DTS Headphone:X tech into the Nubia Z17S smartphone, and the arrival of Spotify Connect support on the KEF LS50W. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: Google Home Voice Control Expands to HBO NOW, CBS All Access, and More Google has announced the addition of Google Assistant voice support for more apps. Users with a Google Home or Google Home Mini smart speaker and a Chromecast streaming dongle can now use the speakers to control playback for apps like HBO NOW, CBS All Access, and The CW through voice commands. Likewise, a compatible Android or iOS smartphone can also be used to cast the content. Customers simply need to link their HBO NOW and/or CBS All Access accounts in the Google Home app. After that, users can say "OK Google" or "Hey Google" and then start speaking commands like "Watch Game of Thrones" or "Play Star Trek: Discovery" to access specific titles, along with voice support for playback controls like pausing and volume adjustments. Likewise CW app support is available without the need for a linked account. The new apps join previously supported services like YouTube, YouTube TV, Google Photos and Netflix. And in addition to Google Assistant support for these apps through the Google Home or Google Home Mini and a Chromecast, support will also soon be available for the Google Home Max when it arrives in November. Source: Google Klipsch Announces Heritage HP-3 Headphone Klipsch has revealed its latest headphone model. The new flagship Heritage HP-3 headphone was inspired by founder Paul W. Klipsch. "After two years behind the curtain, we are finally ready to reveal a headphone worthy of the Heritage name. Acoustically, mechanically, and physically this is the most impressive headphone Klipsch has ever created," said Vlad Grodzinskiy, Sr. Manager of Product Development for Klipsch Group, Inc. The headphones feature a semi-open design along with a recessed pair of free-edge 52mm biodynamic drivers that are designed to mimic the imaging qualities of Klipsch Heritage speakers. Each unit is hand-assembled with solid-wood, triple-vented ear cups, angled sheepskin ear pads, and a genuine hand-stitched cowhide headband. Here's a full rundown of key features per Klipsch: - Free-Edge 52mm Bio Dynamic Drivers- Triple-vented semi-open design- Solid-wood earcups- Genuine cowhide headband- 1.37m and 2.0m removable cables- Custom 1/4” adapter- Custom solid-steel stand- Magnetic removable sheepskin ear cushions The Klipsch Heritage HP-3 headphone is now available at select retailers and Klipsch.com in walnut, ebony, or oak finishes for a suggested retail price of $1,199. The headphone comes with a custom solid-steel rod headphone stand, short (1.37m) and long (2.5m) detachable braided nylon cables, and a custom-fit ¼" adapter. Source: Klipsch KEF Updates LS50W Wireless Music System with Spotify Connect KEF has announced the addition of Spotify Connect support for its LS50W Wireless Music System. To activate the new feature, users simply need to update the device's firmware and the KEF LS50 Wireless Android or iOS app. With Spotify Connect integration, Spotify subscribers who own the LS50W can now stream Spotify's library of over 30 million songs directly to the music system from the cloud. The complete and fully active wireless music system is based on the company's LS50 speakers. The system features a 192kHz/24-bit high-resolution digital signal path and is driven by factory-optimized 230-watt x2 amplification in a bi-amp dual mono configuration. Advanced time-correcting DSP crossover with KEF’s exclusive Uni-Q technology is integrated as well. Connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, an asynchronous USB port, digital (toslink) input, and an RCA analog input. The LS50W Wireless Music System is available now in Titanium Grey/Red, Gloss Black/Blue, and Gloss White/Copper for an MSRP of $2,200. Source: KEF DTS Integrates Headphone:X Tech Into Nubia Z17S Smartphone DTS has announced the integration of its Headphone:X audio technology into the new Nubia Z17S smartphone. "We are thrilled to drive the latest in audio technology in conjunction with the world's most innovative smartphones, including the Nubia Z17S,” said Christopher Lang, general manager, China, at Xperi. “As we continue to integrate DTS Headphone:X technology into a growing number of devices around the world, we are fulfilling our commitment to deliver a premium, immersive sound experience to a wide range of consumers.” DTS Headphone:X simulates the 3D environment of an audio track's original mixing stage, providing an immersive 360-degree surround sound experience with 11.1 support and overhead audio through any pair of headphones or earbuds. The Nubia Z17S smartphone features a 5.7-inch display with a resolution of 2040x1080. Under the hood, the unit is powered by a Xiao Long 835 processor (MSM8998) running Android 7.1. The device is now available in China but plans for a US release have not been announced. Source: DTS, Nubia Pioneer Details SE-CL5BT Wireless Ear Buds Pioneer has launched its new ClipWear Active brand of headphones/earphones with the arrival of the SE-CL5BT Wireless Ear Buds. The wireless in-ear headphones feature Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity with multipoint tech, allowing users to connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, the product uses a special clip design to hold the earbuds in place and act as the device's battery housing. Likewise, the earbuds are sweat and water resistant with an IPX4 rating, and include an inline mic/control unit. Battery life is rated for up to 8 hours of continuous music playback or talk time. Here's a rundown of additional features and specs per Pioneer: - Large diameter 9.2mm driver for high-quality sound reproduction.- Small, medium and large silicon ear tips.- MicroSD charging cable. The Pioneer SE-CL5BT Wireless Ear Buds are available in black, red, blue, mint and white for a suggested retail price of $40. Source: PioneerPosted Tue Oct 31, 2017 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Doug Liman's 'American Made' 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray & Blu-ray Dated and Detailed (UPDATED)[teaser]The Tom Cruise thriller inspired by a true story is now available for pre-order![/teaser] As previously reported, Universal is prepping American Made for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray. The official release date is January 9. Tom Cruise (Top Gun, Mission: Impossible Series, Jerry Maguire) reunites with his Edge of Tomorrow director, Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith), as Barry Seal, an American pilot who became a drug-runner for the CIA in the 1980s. American Made co-stars Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina), Sarah Wright Olsen (Walk of Shame), Jesse Plemons (Black Mass) and Caleb Landry Jones (Antiviral). Each release will feature a DTS:X soundtrack and supplements include: Deleted ScenesAmerican Storytellers – The American Made filmmakers share their thoughts on the appeal of their film as another important American story to be told.Cruise and Liman: A Conversation – Tom Cruise and Doug Liman discuss the making of American Made.In the Wings – Sarah Wright Olsen, Caleb Landry Jones, and Domhnall Gleeson discuss their characters. Shooting American Made – A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film.Flying High – Tom Cruise and Doug Liman discuss the aerial stunts in the movie.The Real Barry Seal – Aaron Seal reflects on his father's life. Suggested retail price for the Ultra HD Blu-ray is $44.98. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.98. You can find the latest specs for American Made linked from our Blu-ray and 4K Release Schedules, where it is indexed under January 9. Order the 4K Blu-ray Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Oct 31, 2017 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Encoding Errors Cause Delay on Two Olive Signature TitlesOlive Films has found digital glitches on the Blu-ray editions of Olive Signature Operation Petticoat and Olive Signature Father Goose. Both titles were originally scheduled for release on November 7, but Olive has delayed the upcoming releases to fix encoding errors on the discs. The new street date is for both titles is November 28. You can find the latest specs for Olive Signature Operation Petticoat and Olive Signature Father Goose linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are now indexed under November 28.Posted Mon Oct 30, 2017 at 07:37 PM PDT by: -
LG Launches Pre-Black Friday Sale on 4K OLED TV Lineup[teaser]The company is offering limited time discounts on select OLED displays.[/teaser] LG has launched a special Home Entertainment Savings promotion on its 4K Ultra HD OLED TV lineup in advance of Black Friday. The deal includes select 2016 and 2017 models. LG's 2017 OLED lineup offers perfect blacks, infinite contrast, expanded color gamuts, and wide viewing angles. Likewise, the sets include Active HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) support. An HDR Effect feature is included as well, allowing the TVs to simulate HDR with SDR content. In addition, the B7 and C7 series feature blade-slim designs, while the E7 series features a Picture-on-Glass design. Here's a full rundown of the discounted models along with links to purchase them through Amazon or Best Buy when available. These sale prices are expected to be active until November 4. LG OLED TV Picture-on-Glass E7 Series - Amazon65-inch class (64.5-inches diagonal) model 65E7, $3,500 55-inch class (54.6-inches diagonal) model 55E7, $2,497 LG OLED TV Picture-on-Glass E7 Series - Best Buy65-inch class (64.5-inches diagonal) model 65E7, $3,500 55-inch class (54.6-inches diagonal) model 55E7, $2,700 LG OLED TV C7 Series - Amazon65-inch class (64.5-inches diagonal) model 65C7, $2,797 55-inch class (54.6-inches diagonal) model 55C7, $1,797 LG OLED TV C7 Series - Best Buy65-inch class (64.5-inches diagonal) model 65C7, $2,800 55-inch class (54.6-inches diagonal) model 55C7, $1,800 LG OLED TV B7 Series - Amazon65-inch class (64.5-inches diagonal) model 65B7, $2,597 55-inch class (54.6-inches diagonal) model 55B7, $1,597 LG OLED TV B7 Series - Best Buy65-inch class (64.5-inches diagonal) model 65B7, $2,600 55-inch class (54.6-inches diagonal) model 55B7, $1,600 LG OLED TV B6 Series (2016 Model) - Amazon65-inch class (64.5-inches diagonal) model 65B7, $2,497 55-inch class (54.6-inches diagonal) model 55B7, $1,497 Source: LGPosted Mon Oct 30, 2017 at 05:45 PM PDT by:
