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Lenovo Reveals Phab 2 Pro, the World's First Google Tango Smartphone[teaser]The upcoming smartphone is the first to use Google Tango augmented reality technology. [/teaser] Lenovo has announced the latest addition to its smartphone lineup. The Phab 2 Pro is now the first Tango-enabled smartphone, offering augmented reality (AR) gaming and utilities. With Google Tango technology, the Phab 2 Pro uses a set of sensors and software to sense and map its surroundings, enabling an augmented reality experience through motion tracking, depth perception and area learning. In practice, this allows apps and games to overlay digital objects over a user's surroundings when looking through the smartphone's display. For instance, if a customer is shopping for a new bed, Tango AR technology allows them to view their bedroom through their phone while visualizing different options of virtual furniture in the space. Likewise, Tango gaming experience can allow users to play with a set of virtual dominoes on their kitchen table or fight against aliens invading their actual house. In addition, Google hopes that Tango will also help users navigate different real-world locations, like malls and museums through overlayed directions. Check out the video below for an example of the tech in action! Beyond the added benefits of Google Tango, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro features a 6.4" QHD (1440 x 2560) Assertive Display with a 2.5D curved glass and 8.9 mm aluminum unibody design. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Snapdragon 652 processor Tango Edition, 4 GB of RAM, and a 4050 mAh 2.4 x turbo charging battery. A 16 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera are included as well. In addition, the smartphone offers Dolby Audio Capture 5.1 with Dolby Atmos playback capabilities. "Put simply, we wanted to take what was an amazing concept and transform it into a commercially viable mobile device," said Jeff Meredith, vice president and general manager of Android and Chrome Computing, Lenovo. "From the moment we saw Tango, we knew it could become pervasive, just like GPS. However, to truly make the PHAB2 Pro a game-changer, we developed it at an affordable price for mainstream consumers, delivering not just a bleeding-edge phone, but an all-around fantastic phone that’s first to market." Lenovo's Phab 2 Pro is expected to launch globally beginning in September. Prices will start at $499. Sources: Lenovo, GooglePosted Thu Jun 9, 2016 at 02:15 PM PDT by: -
Plex Adds Full Plex Media Server Support to NVIDIA Shield Streaming Player[teaser]The powerful streaming player can now act as a complete Plex solution. [/teaser] Plex has announced full media server support for the NVIDIA Shield. The 500GB model of the media player is now one of the first truly all-in-one Plex boxes on the market. Under the hood, the NVIDIA Shield is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor; 256 core NVIDIA graphics 64-bit CPU; and 3 GB of RAM. The player is also Android TV Google Cast Ready and offers 4K Ultra HD playback at 60 fps. Likewise, the streaming box includes support for 10-bit color and HDR (high dynamic range) content. The base model includes 16 GB of storage; a microSD card slot; Wi-Fi; Gigabit Ethernet; USB 3.0; and a micro-USB SHIELD controller along with support for next-gen Android games. In addition, a larger 500 GB model is also available. Thanks to the player's beefy specs, owners of the NVIDIA Shield are now able to run an entire Plex server directly through their devices. This incorporates support for the Android TV interface and the full media server, including hardware accelerated video transcoding (H.264, MPEG2 and HEVC) with multiple simultaneous streams. Plex is currently finalizing full support for the NVIDIA Shield and plans to include new features in their next firmware update set for later this month. The NVIDIA Shield 16 GB model is now on sale for $180. Meanwhile, the NVIDIA Shield 500 GB model is currently available for $300. Plex also hopes to expand similar features and media server support to more devices in the future as well. And be sure to check out our full review of the Plex Pass Service! Source: Plex via EngadgetPosted Thu Jun 9, 2016 at 01:15 PM PDT by: -
'Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The documentary on the ultimate Indy film is set to be released on Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Drafthouse Films says 'Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made' will hit Blu-ray on August 16. The true, decades-spanning tale of the greatest fan film ever made. After Steven Spielberg's classic Raiders of the Lost Ark was released 35 years ago, three 11-year-old boys from Mississippi set out on what would become a 7-year-long labor of love and tribute to their favorite film: a faithful, shot-for-shot adaptation of the action adventure film. They finished every scene...except one; the film's explosive airplane set piece. Over two decades later, the trio reunited with the original cast members from their childhood in order to complete their masterpiece. Featuring interviews with John Rhys Davies, Eli Roth and more, Raiders! is the story of the project's culmination, chronicling the friends' dedication to their artistic vision--mixed in with some movie magic--to create the greatest fan film ever made. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 16.Posted Thu Jun 9, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Jean-Marc Vallée's 'Demolition' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The dramedy starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts arrives on Blu-ray in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox will be releasing 'Demolition' on Blu-ray on July 19. Davis, a successful investment banker, struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. Despite pressure from his father-in-law, Phil, to pull it together, Davis continues to unravel. What starts as a complaint letter to a vending machine company turns into a series of letters revealing startling personal admissions. Davis' letters catch the attention of customer service rep, Karen, and, amidst emotional and financial burdens of her own, the two form an unlikely connection. With the help of Karen and her son Chris, Davis starts to rebuild, beginning with the demolition of the life he once knew. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Demolition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 19. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Jun 9, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Leads 'The Pack' in July[teaser]The 2016 horror flick will hunt Blu-ray this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory says 'The Pack' will hit Blu-ray on July 5. In The Pack, man’s best friend becomes his worst nightmare when a horde of bloodthirsty wild dogs descends upon a family’s farmhouse. In a remote stretch of the Australian Outback, a sheep rancher (Jack Campbell), his veterinarian wife (Anna Lise Phillips), and their two teenage children live in bucolic isolation — until a horrifying night when a pack of fang-baring, four-legged, rabid beasts besiege their home. With no one around to help them, the family must band together to survive — or else become canine kibble. Generating a steadily mounting sense of dread, The Pack cleverly toys with genre conventions before it goes in for the kill. Specs have yet to be revealed, but the Blu-ray will include a featurette and trailer. You can find the latest specs for 'The Pack' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 5. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Jun 9, 2016 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Arrow Video Announces August Blu-ray Titles[teaser]The distributor has revealed its upcoming slate of August releases. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Arrow Video is preparing 'Microwave Massacre,' 'Battles Without Honor and Humanity,' 'Hiroshima Death Match,' 'Proxy War,' 'Police Tactics,' 'Final Episode' and 'The Bloodstained Butterfly' for Blu-ray throughout the month of August. 'Battles Without Honor and Humanity' (August 9) - When Battles Without Honor and Humanity first hit Japanese screens in January 1973, partially inspired by the success of The Godfather, it blasted out a new Ground Zero for crime cinema not only in Japan, but in the rest of the world, and spawned a legendary series that would lead to additional episodes, spin-offs, and countless imitations. 1947. Ex-soldier Shozo Hirono (Bunta Sugawara), after proving his ability with a gun, emerges from the teeming black markets of postwar Kure City into the professional world of the yakuza. Shozo makes his way from prison to boss in the newly-formed Yamamori family via gang feuds, assassinations and the shifting allegiances of his fellow mobsters, despite his own growing disillusionment with the men he is supposed to respect. Based on the true account of a Hiroshima mob boss and supplemented by meticulous research by screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara, this ferocious, violent saga was directed in a dynamic, newsreel-like style by Kinji Fukasaku, and stunned cinemagoers in Japan upon its release. Like a head-spinning mixture of Martin Scorsese and Paul Greengrass, the film s frenetic cinematography, colourful characters, and iconic score by Toshiaki Tsushima will leave you thrilled and exhausted, as you embark on one of the world s greatest gangster film series. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed Japanese mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Brand new audio commentary by critic and author Stuart Galbraith IV; Yakuza Graveyard a new interview with Takashi Miike about Kinji Fukasaku and the yakuza film genre; Original trailers for all five films; and Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Reinhard Kleist. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.95. Order the Blu-ray 'Hiroshima Death Match' (August 9) - The celebrated Battles Without Honor and Humanity series continues with its second episode, Hiroshima Death Match, setting aside part one protagonist Shozo Hirono (Bunta Sugawara) to follow a side story showcasing genre icons Sonny Chiba (The Street Fighter) and Meiko Kaji (Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion). Hiroshima, 1950. Demobilized kamikaze pilot Shoji Yamanaka (Kinya Kitaoji) is released from prison and finds himself hungry and broke. Following a bust up with a local gang, he earns the psychotic wrath of local underboss Otomo (Chiba), but Yamanaka s suicidal impulses are soon put to good use as a hitman for another gang, befriending series hero Shozo Hirono in the process. Despite a budding but forbidden romance with the boss s niece (Kaji), Yamanaka s instability and recklessness soon begin to make him a dangerous liability. Taking an even more fatalistic turn than the series original entry, Hiroshima Death Match tells the story of the ultimate loser, based on a true story uncovered by screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara while interviewing real-life Hiroshima yakuza for part one. A prosperous era may be dawning for the protagonists, but one with new characters and new grudges to draw them more deeply into its world of blood and betrayal. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed Japanese mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Man of Action a new interview with series fight choreographer Ryuzo Ueno; Original trailer; Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Reinhard Kleist. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.95. Order the Blu-ray 'Proxy War' (August 9) - Moving beyond the true stories dramatized in the first two episodes of the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series, director Kinji Fukasaku and screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara embark on their most complex narrative yet in Proxy War, a multi-character web of alliances and betrayals set against the economic growth of Japan as it prepares to host the 1964 Olympic games. 1960. A power vacuum is formed within the Muraoka family when underboss Uchimoto (Takeshi Kato) refuses to avenge the assassination of a superior. With the help of series hero Shozo Hirono (Bunta Sugawara), Uchimoto pledges loyalty to the powerful Akashi gang, but is soon expelled from the Muraoka for the act. Meanwhile, Akashi rivals the Shinwa Group form their own pact with Muraoka, and the enmity between the two gangs threatens to erupt into bloody violence across all of western Japan. The labyrinthine plotline of Proxy War which continues in episode four, Police Tactics approaches pure Jacobean drama as power players, kingmakers, and petty soldiers clash weapons and words in a stylized ritual of alliances and betrayals. Considered by many critics to be the best episode of the series, Proxy War is complex crime drama of the highest order. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed Japanese mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Secrets of the Piranha Army a new documentary about the troupe of supporting actors who appeared throughout the series, featuring interviews with original Piranha members Masaru Shiga and Takashi Noguchi, plus second-generation Piranha, Takashi Nishina and Akira Murota; Tales of a Bit Player a new interview with supporting actor and stuntman Seizo Fukumoto; Original trailer; Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Reinhard Kleist. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.95. Order the Blu-ray 'Police Tactics' (August 9) - Continuing the storyline begun in episode three of the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series, Police Tactics sees director Kinji Fukasaku and screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara further depicting the life-and-death struggle of the gangsters of Hiroshima and Kure, even as the rest of Japan is beginning to tire of their old-fashioned codes. 1963. Shozo Hirono (Bunta Sugawara), expelled from the Yamamori gang, has allied himself with the cowardly Uchimoto (Takeshi Kato) and the Akashi family, who are engaged in a power struggle with the Shinwa Group, allied with the Yamamori. But mainstream society, enjoying unprecedented economic prosperity, will no longer tolerate their violent criminal activities. The police begin a major crackdown, putting the gangs on the defensive. But rogue soldiers on both sides still refuse to keep the peace, earning the wrath of both their bosses and the forces of law and order. The last film of the series written by Kasahara, Police Tactics was intended to be the final episode, until its phenomenal success led to one additional entry. A fîn de siècle mood permeates throughout, with characters fully aware of their impending obsolescence, yet striving for a return to the less prosperous, but simpler post-war glory days. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed Japanese mono track, and supplements will include: Remembering Kinji a new featurette about director Kinji Fukasaku and his work, featuring interviews with Kenta Fukasaku and film critic and Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane; Fukasaku Family a new interview with Proxy War and Police Tactics assistant director Toru Dobashi; Original trailer; and Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Reinhard Kleist. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.95. Order the Blu-ray 'Final Episode' (August 9) - The Final Episode of the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series brought a new, more contemporary mood to the film and its characters. The yakuza may be starting to resemble a legitimate business, but director Kinji Fukasaku, working with new screenwriter Koji Takada, never lets the audience forget their violent origins, and their tried-and-true methods of accomplishing their business. 1966. After a police crackdown, the gangs of Hiroshima and Kure have formed a massive, multi-family political and economic coalition called the Tensei Group, seeking a way forward into the 1970 s as part of Japan s economic bubble. Shozo Hirono (Bunta Sugawara) finds himself increasingly alienated from this semi-legitimate form of corruption, particularly as acting Tensei Group chairman Matsumura (Kinya Kitaoji) tries to put the gangs on a new, more business-like path. But old habits die hard, and when rivalries surface once again, they bring with them the promise of more bloodshed. The long-awaited conclusion to the epic series is an elegy for the bad guy, with the harsh realization that Japan s economic growth came about only through the sacrifice of the blood of its young men, victims of twenty long years of Battles Without Honor and Humanity. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed Japanese mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Last Days of the Boss a new interview with Final Episode screenwriter Koji Takada; Original poster gallery for the series; Original trailer; Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Reinhard Kleist. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.95. Order the Blu-ray 'Microwave Massacre' (August 16) - THEY CAME FOR DINNER...TO FIND THEY WERE IT!! Microwave Massacre stars legendary stand-up comedian and actor Jackie Vernon (the voice of Frosty The Snowman from the beloved animated Rankin / Bass classic animated holiday special) as Donald, a disgruntled construction worker whose wife s predilection for haute cuisine drives him to cannibalism. Donald unwittingly stumbles upon a solution to his two major problems in his life his nagging wife and his lack of tasty meals when, one night, he bludgeons his better half to death with a pepper grinder in a drunken rage. Thinking on his feet, Donald dismembers the body and sets about microwaving the remains, which turn out to be rather delicious. Trouble is, now he s got a taste for human flesh that needs satisfying... Eschewing all notions of good taste, Wayne Berwick s Microwave Massacre is a deliciously depraved exercise in political incorrectness that has gone on to gain a cult following thanks to a characteristically deadpan performance from lead Vernon, who delivers such choice lines as I m so hungry I could eat a whore . Vegetarians need not apply! The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an English uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Brand new audio commentary with writer-producer Craig Muckler moderated by Mike Tristano; Brand new making-of featurette including interviews with Muckler, director Wayne Berwick and actor Loren Schein; and a Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork to be revealed. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.95. Order the Blu-ray 'The Bloodstained Butterfly' (August 23) - Directed by Duccio Tessari (Death Occurred Last Night, A Pistol for Ringo), The Bloodstained Butterfly melds the lurid giallo traditions popularized by Dario Argento and Mario Bava with courtroom drama, resulting in a film that is as concerned with forensic detail and legal process as it is with grisly murders and audacious set-pieces. When a young female student is savagely killed in a park during a thunderstorm, the culprit seems obvious: her lover, TV sports personality Alessandro Marchi (Giancarlo Sbragia, Death Rage), seen fleeing the scene of the crime by numerous eyewitnesses. The evidence against him is damning... but is it all too convenient? And when the killer strikes again while Marchi is in custody, it quickly becomes apparent that there s more to the case than meets the eye... Starring 70s heartthrob Helmut Berger (Dorian Gray, The Godfather: Part III) alongside genre mainstays Evelyn Stewart (The Psychic, The Case of the Scorpion s Tail) and Carole André (Colt 38 Special Squad), and featuring a score by Gianni Ferrio (Death Walks at Midnight), The Bloodstained Butterfly is presented uncut and in a sumptuous new 4K restoration that allows this unique and haunting thriller to shine like never before! The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an Italian and English DTS-HD MA mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: New audio commentary with critics Alan Jones and Kim Newman; Murder in B-Flat Minor, a new visual essay on the film, its cast and crew by author Troy Howarth; New career retrospective on director Duccio Tessari; Original Italian and English theatrical trailers; Gallery of original promotional images; Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin; and a Limited edition 36-page booklet illustrated by Tonci Zonjic, containing writing by James Blackford, Howard Hughes and Leonard Jacobs. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed throughout August.Posted Thu Jun 9, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Optoma Showcases 4K UHD DLP Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector[teaser]The new Ultra HD projector is the first of its kind. [/teaser] During the 2016 InfoComm tradeshow, Optoma revealed its latest projectors. The new models include an industry first 4K UHD DLP Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector and the new ZU510T WUGXA DLP Laser Projector. "Optoma is the second largest selling projector brand in the U.S. according to PMA, and the company has had a reputation for quality and reliability in the channels we have focused on," said Robert Sterzing, president, Optoma Technology. "As a brand, we're relatively new to the ProAV channel, but it became a top priority in 2015 and today we’re a top five seller in the channel. By focusing on quality and reliability – along with innovation and flexibility – we're listening to the market and manufacturing projectors that meet the needs of ProAV customers." The 4K UHD DLP Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector is capable of displaying a 100 inch image from just two inches away. The projector offers 4K resolution with over 8 million pixels, 3,300 lumens of brightness, H.265 multimedia playback, and support for the Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system. Meanwhile, the ZU510T WUGXA DLP Laser Projector is a WUXGA projector with 5,500 lumens. Likewise, the projector offers a fixed lens with horizontal and vertical lens shift, providing a 1.2:1 - 2.16:1 throw ratio and a digital zoom of 1.8x. 10W speakers and a variety of inputs are integrated as well, including two HDMI connections and HDBaseT. Exact release dates have not been announced yet, but the 4K UHD DLP Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector is expected to arrive in Q1 2017. Meanwhile, the ZU510T WUGXA DLP Laser Projector is set to arrive later this year for an estimated price of $4,500 to $5,500. Source: OptomaPosted Wed Jun 8, 2016 at 09:15 PM PDT by: -
'Star Trek 50th Anniversary TV and Movie Collection' Beaming to Blu-ray[teaser]Celebrate 50 years of Star Trek with an all-new Blu-ray Collector's Set that includes the Animated Series and much more! [/teaser] Embark on a mission to the final frontier with the biggest, most comprehensive Star Trek collection ever offered when the 'Star Trek 50th Anniversary TV and Movie Collection' is transported to Earth on September 6, 2016. Just in time to commemorate the September 8, 1966 airing of the very first "Star Trek" episode, this epic limited edition gift set includes 30 Blu-ray Discs featuring all new disc art and every feature film and television show made with the original crew, plus a brand new, multi-part documentary with nearly 2 hours of new footage chronicling the franchise's amazing 50-year journey. Enclosed in collectible packaging, the set includes the Animated Series remastered on Blu-ray for the first time ever, the newly released Director's Cut of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, an exclusive Starfleet pin commemorating the 50th anniversary and new mini-posters for the first six feature films designed by acclaimed artist Juan Ortiz. Over 20 hours of previously released bonus content is also included in this comprehensive collection. You can find the latest specs for 'Star Trek 50th Anniversary TV and Movie Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 6.Posted Wed Jun 8, 2016 at 03:00 PM PDT by: -
The Suspense is Infectious When 'Cabin Fever' Returns to Blu-ray[teaser]The 2016 remake of Eli Roth's horror-comedy will infect Blu-ray in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory will be releasing 'Cabin Fever' on Blu-ray on July 5. It will make your flesh crawl … Executive Producer Eli Roth presents Cabin Fever, a reboot of his instant classic gorefest. This story is familiar: Just out of college, a group of five friends retreat to a remote cabin in the woods for one last week of partying – only to become snacks for a gruesome, flesh-eating virus. This fresh spin on a horror-comedy milestone stars Gage Golightly (Exeter, Teen Wolf), Nadine Crocker (Deadgirl), Samuel Davis (Machete Kills, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) and Dustin Ingram (Paranormal Activity 3). Specs have yet to be revealed, but the Blu-ray will include a featurette and trailer. You can find the latest specs for 'Cabin Fever' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 5. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Jun 8, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Brian DeCubellis' 'Manhattan Night' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The thriller starring Adrien Brody and Yvonne Strahovski is headed for Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is working on 'Manhattan Night' for Blu-ray on August 2. Porter Wren is a Manhattan tabloid writer with an appetite for scandal. On the beat he sells murder, tragedy, and anything that passes for the truth. At home, he is a dedicated husband and father. But when Caroline, a seductive stranger asks him to dig into the unsolved murder of her filmmaker husband Simon, he is drawn into a very nasty case of sexual obsession and blackmail--one that threatens his job, his marriage, and his life. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Audio Commentary with Director/Producer/Screenwriter Brian DeCubellis, Actor/Co-Producer Campbell Scott, and Cinematographer David Tumblety; Behind the Scenes with Cast & Crew; "The Watcher" Featurette; Deleted/Extended Scenes; and Director's Notebook and Storyboards. You can find the latest specs for 'The last supper' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 2. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Jun 8, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by:
