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Panasonic Preps Ultra HD Blu-ray Player & Ultra HD Premium LED Display for 2016[teaser]The company has announced its latest 4K products. [/teaser] Panasonic has announced plans to release their first Ultra HD Blu-ray player. In addition, the manufacturer is also spotlighting new Ultra HD LED and OLED TVs. During their CES 2016 press conference, Panasonic officially revealed plans to launch an Ultra HD Blu-ray player in the US later this year. Likewise, the company highlighted its TX-65CZ950 OLED Ultra HD TV. First revealed at IFA back in September, the new OLED display features a specially modified version of the powerful professional-level 4K Studio Master Processor, a True Cinema picture preset fine-tuned by leading Hollywood colorist Mike Sowa, THX certification, and HDR support. Finally, Panasonic also announced the brand new TX-65DX900 LED Ultra HD TV -- which the company states is the first 65-inch LCD display to support the new Ultra HD Premium spec. Unfortunately, no details on exact release dates and pricing have been revealed so far, but the Panasonic Ultra HD Blu-ray player is due out in the US this year and the TX-65DX900 is due to be released in Europe in 2016. The TX-65CZ950 OLED Ultra HD TV is currently available in Europe. Source: PanasonicPosted Tue Jan 5, 2016 at 10:45 AM PST by: -
'Confession of a Child of the Century' Blu-ray Set for March[teaser]The drama starring Charlotte Gainsbourg is coming to Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Cohen Media Group is preparing 'Confession of a Child of the Century' for Blu-ray on March 29. Paris 1830. Betrayed by his mistress, Octave falls into despair and debauchery - the disease of the century . The death of his father takes him to the country, where he meets Brigitte, a young widow ten years his elder. Octave falls passionately in love, once more. But will he have the courage to believe in it? Includes Theatrical trailer; Interview with literary scholar Supplements have not been detailed, but the Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Confession of a Child of the Century' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 29. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Jan 5, 2016 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
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LG Partners with Dolby, Netflix, Amazon, and More to Bring 4K HDR Content to LG Displays[teaser]Several HDR services will be supported on LG TVs. [/teaser] LG has announced several partnerships with various content providers, film studios and TV technology companies to deliver HDR content to its displays. The new content and TVs will be demoed at CES this week. LG's new SUPER UHD TV series and new OLED Ultra HD TV series with webOS 3.0 will both include support for the HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR standards. LG has teamed up with Dolby and Netflix to bring a high-quality library of DolbyVision HDR content to its supported displays, including the second season of Marvel's 'Daredevil.' In addition, LG is also working with Amazon to offer Amazon original series like 'The Man in the High Castle' and 'Transparent' in HDR. Likewise, LG will also support HDR content from YouTube which has been mastered to meet Google’s VP9-Profile 2 HDR standards. YouTube plans to add an HDR playback option to its website in 2016. Meanwhile, the company will demo 20th Century Fox’s 'The Martian' on its HDR-enabled OLED TVs as well, using the Vidity video player from Western Digital. Finally, LG receivers based on ATSC 3.0 Candidate Standards will receive 4K Ultra HD HDR content from a Las Vegas broadcast television station during the show, demonstrating several delivery options for HDR content. LG's new lineup of HDR capable OLED and SUPER UHD TVs will be on display at CES in Las Vegas from January 6-9. Source: LGPosted Tue Jan 5, 2016 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
LG Announces New 4K Ultra HD OLED TV Lineup with Dolby Vision HDR Support[teaser]Eight new OLED models have been revealed. [/teaser] LG has announced the latest additions to its OLED Ultra HD TV lineup. The new collection includes the flagship flat-screen 77-inch and 65-inch class G6 and 65-inch and 55-inch class E6. "Our 2016 OLED TV lineup features a long list of innovations, such as Picture-on-Glass design and HDR Pro, which are featured prominently in the G6 and E6 models," said Brian Kwon, President and CEO at LG’s Home Entertainment Company. "By upping our OLED TV game every year, we are driving innovation in the TV space so that more consumers will see and hear about the benefits of owning an OLED TV. We think 2016 will be a game changing year for this category." LG's new OLED TVs all feature Pixel Dimming and HDR Pro technology, offering superior contrast ratio, color range, and perfect blacks. Likewise, the TVs include support for both the HDR10 and Dolby Vision standards. In addition, LG’s OLED line is expected to be among the industry’s first display line to receive the "Ultra HD Premium" designation. The G6 and E6 series both use an ultra-thin 2.57 mm Picture-On-Glass design with a forward-facing sound bar speaker system. Each display also features a 10-bit panel and 10-bit processing power with LG’s Color Prime Pro technology for a wider color gamut (99% DCI). The flagship G6 and E6 series will also be joined by the curved panel C6 and flat-panel B6 series to be available in 65-inch and 55-inch sizes. Pricing has not been announced yet, but LG's new OLED Ultra HD TV lineup is expected to start shipping in the first quarter of 2016. The new models will be on display at LG's booth at CES in Las Vegas from January 6-9. Source: LGPosted Tue Jan 5, 2016 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Shout Factory! Reveals First Ultra HD Blu-ray Titles for Late Spring/Early Summer 2016[teaser]The distributor's first batch of Ultra HD Blu-ray titles includes several IMAX films. [/teaser] Shout Factory! has revealed its initial lineup of Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs due for release in late spring/early summer 2016. The first wave of Shout Factory! Ultra Blu-ray titles will include 'Journey To Space,' 'Humpback Whales,' 'Flight Of The Butterflies,' 'Rocky Mountain Express,' 'Wonders Of The Arctic,' and 'The Last Reef: Cities Beneath The Sea.' "As the Ultra HD devices and entertainment content begin to populate the consumer marketplace this year, we are announcing our commitment to the UHD format joining industry leaders and major consumer electronics companies," stated Melissa Boag, Shout's Senior Vice President of Kids & Family Entertainment. "We look forward to presenting these awe-inspiring movies to a broad audience in the UHD format, around the same timeframe that the traditional Blu-ray™ edition hits national retail." Shout! Factory Ultra HD Blu-ray titles will feature a resolution of 3840x2160 with HDR (high dynamic range), offering four times the resolution of HD along with superior contrast and colors on supported displays. 'Journey to Space' - Produced by K2 Films, Inc. and Giant Screen Films, JOURNEY TO SPACE will both inspire a new generation of young people to dream of new horizons in space, and engender a new appreciation for the accomplishments of the Space Shuttle Program among an older generation who came to take it for granted. NASA’s next era will be its greatest yet. That is the clear “roadmap” painted by JOURNEY TO SPACE. The film absolutely annihilates the perception that the space program died with the end of the Space Shuttle Program by showcasing the exciting plans NASA and the space community are working on, and the challenges they must overcome to carry out audacious missions such as landing astronauts on Mars and capturing asteroids. By using extensive interviews with astronauts Chris Ferguson (Commander of the final shuttle mission) and Serena Aunon (a new astronaut chosen for future flights), as well as a brilliant narration by film and television legend Sir Patrick Stewart, JOURNEY TO SPACE gives a sweeping overview of past space accomplishments, current activities and future plans. JOURNEY TO SPACE puts into historical context the magnificent contributions made by the Space Shuttle program and its intrepid space pioneers. It uses the most spectacular space footage – including unique views of Earth and operations in space – such as deploying and repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. It then goes on to show how the Shuttle launched and assembled the International Space Station (ISS). Together, these programs have taught us how to live, build and conduct science in space. The ISS will continue operating in space until 2024, and the film shows how it is building a foundation for the next giant leaps into space. The film concludes with a fascinating, realistic scenario of how astronauts will actually get to Mars, live there for long duration, and then return home after a two-and-a-half-year mission. JOURNEY TO SPACE is co-produced by K2 Films, Inc. and Giant Screen Films. The film is written and directed by Mark Krenzien, produced by Don Kempf, Mark Kresser and Andy Wood, executive produced by Bob Kresser and edited by Dale Beldin. 'Humpback Whales' - Narrated by two-time Golden Globe® nominee Ewan McGregor, HUMPBACK WHALES is an extraordinary journey into the mysterious world of one of nature’s most awe-inspiring marine mammals. Set in the spectacular waters of Alaska, Hawaii and the remote islands of Tonga, this ocean adventure offers audiences an up-close look at how these whales communicate, sing, feed, play and take care of their young. Captured for the first time with IMAX® 3D cameras, and found in every ocean on earth, humpbacks were nearly driven to extinction 50 years ago, but today are making a slow but remarkable recovery. Join a team of researchers as they unlock the secrets of the humpback and find out why humpbacks are the most acrobatic of all whales, why they sing their haunting songs, and why these intelligent 55-foot, 50-ton animals migrate up to 10,000 miles round-trip every year. A MacGillivray Freeman film presented by Pacific Life, HUMPBACK WHALES is directed by Greg MacGillivray (The Living Sea, Dolphins, Everest) and produced by Shaun MacGillivray (To The Arctic, Grand Canyon Adventure). Filmed with 15perf / 65mm IMAX® cameras, HUMPBACK WHALES is written and edited by Stephen Judson (Everest, To The Arctic) with a musical score by Steve Wood (Journey to the South Pacific, To The Arctic). A One World One Ocean production. 'Flight of the Butterflies' - Produced by SK Films, FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLIES is a unique and memorable cinema experience that follows a tiny creature’s epic story of endurance on one of the most spectacular migrations on earth. On the trail of one of nature’s greatest events, we will witness, as never before, one generation from some 100 million monarch butterflies as they travel across a continent on a perilous journey of 1,000 miles or more ... and not to just anywhere, but to a remote forest on a Mexican mountaintop, a destination that was once an impenetrable mystery. The iconic monarch butterfly is a true marvel of nature. Weighing less than a penny, it makes one of the longest migrations on Earth across a continent, with pinpoint navigational accuracy, to a secluded place it has never been. Follow the monarchs' perilous and extraordinary journey and join hundreds of millions of real butterflies in the remote mountain peaks of Mexico. For the first time ever, witness the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, inside a chrysalis, thanks to advanced MRI and micro CT scans. Be captivated by the true and compelling story of an intrepid scientist's 40-year search to find their secret hideaway, with the help of citizen scientists across North America. The award-winning production team, including Oscar® winner Peter Parks, followed the year-long migration cycle of the monarch butterflies, from Canada, through the United States to remote 10,000-foot-high peaks in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, and back, through generations. Featuring extraordinary cinematography, the film showcases the awe and wonder of the breathtaking butterfly sanctuaries. Supported by the National Science Foundation and a high quality, curriculum-based educational outreach program, the film interweaves spellbinding natural history with an uplifting human story. The film has received consistent rave reviews in independent audience tests across all age groups. Unravel the mysteries and experience the FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLIES! 'Rocky Mountain Express' - Produced by The Stephen Low Company, ROCKY MOUNTAIN EXPRESS is the passionate undertaking of award-winning filmmaker Stephen Low, director of more than fifteen projects for the giant screen, including TITANICA, SUPER SPEEDWAY and ULTIMATE WAVE TAHITI. Kindled in childhood, Low’s love of high-fidelity cinema and his fascination with the steam locomotive have come together in this captivating cinematic experience that brings alive the magic and drama of the steam age for audiences of all ages. Exhibited in IMAX and other giant screen theaters, the award-winning film has developed an unprecedented and devoted world-wide following. ROCKY MOUNTAIN EXPRESS propels audiences on a steam train journey through the breathtaking vistas of the Canadian Rockies and highlights the adventure of building a nearly impossible transcontinental railway in the age of steam. The film weaves together spectacular IMAX aerial cinematography, archival photographs and maps, and the potent energy and rhythms of a live steam locomotive to immerse audiences in this remarkable story. The production was filmed with full 15/70 negative—world’s largest film format, guaranteeing spectacular image fidelity. Sound, too, is a vital part of the experience and the team has carefully and faithfully captured and rendered the remarkable symphony of sonic moods produced by a locomotive, matching this with an original musical score by celebrated composer Michel Cusson. 'Wonders of the Arctic' - Narrated by Victor Garber, WONDERS OF THE ARCTIC centers on our ongoing mission to explore and come to terms with the Arctic. Compelling stories are interwoven to create a unifying message about the state of the Arctic today. Underlying all these tales is the crucial role that ice plays in the lives of the people and animals who have adapted to this land of ice and snow. The Inuit and their predecessors adapted and thrived for thousands of years in what is arguably the harshest environment on earth. Today, the Arctic is the focus of intense research. Instead of seeking to conquer the north, scientists working together with the Inuit are searching for answers to some troubling questions about the impacts of human activities on this fragile and largely uninhabited frontier. WONDERS OF THE ARCTIC is a Science North and Giant Screen Films production. Presented by Giant Screen Films, the film is executive produced by Guy Labine and Brenda Tremblay; producers, Don Kempf and David Lickley; written and directed by David Lickley. 'The Last Reef: Cities Beneath the Sea' - From the creators of WILD OCEAN and PULSE, THE LAST REEF, a new immersive movie that takes you on a breathtaking journey to the heart of a coral reef, as you've never seen it before. From the creators of award-winning film WILD OCEAN, THE LAST REEF: CITIES BENEATH THE SEA is an uplifting, inspirational cinema experience capturing one of nature's more vibrant and diverse wonderlands. Exotic coral reefs, vibrant sea walls in the sub-arctic pulsating with anemones and crustaceans: these biodiversity hot spots are as vital to our lives as the rainforests. Shot on location in Palau, Vancouver Island, French Polynesia, Mexico, and The Bahamas, THE LAST REEF takes us on a global journey to explore our connection with the ocean's complex, parallel worlds. Using groundbreaking underwater cinematography, this film takes us into the heart of the reef, revealing a habitat more diverse and more colorful than you ever imagined... THE LAST REEF: CITIES BENEATH THE SEA is a production of Yes/No Productions, Liquid Pictures and Giant Screen Films. Full specs, exact release dates, and suggested list prices for Shout! Factory's Ultra HD Blu-rays have not been detailed yet. You can find the latest specs for all of the Ultra HD Blu-ray titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under PENDING. Source: Shout! FactoryPosted Tue Jan 5, 2016 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'Slash: Raised on the Sunset Strip' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The rock and roll documentary arrives on Blu-ray on February 5. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Shout Factory will be releasing 'Slash: Raised on the Sunset Strip' on Blu-ray on February 5. One of rock's most iconic figures is profiled like never before in Slash: Raised on the Sunset Strip, a revealing and insightful documentary presented by DirecTV and Guitar Center. Combining new and archival footage with personal anecdotes from the legendary musician himself, as well as many of his influences and colleagues, Slash: Raised on the Sunset Strip paints an intimate portrait of a hard rock hero's past, present… and future. Slash: Raised on the Sunset Strip is a must-see exploration of the life and career of a true guitar god. Specs haven't been revealed yet, but supplements will include interviews from fellow titans of rock, including Dave Grohl, Joe Perry, Alice Cooper, Duff McKagan, Lemmy and Nikki Sixx. You can find the latest specs for 'Slash: Raised on the Sunset Strip' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 5.Posted Tue Jan 5, 2016 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Rock Documentary 'I Am Thor' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The heavy metal star is staging a comeback on Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Dark Sky Films is preparing 'I Am Thor' for Blu-ray on January 19. Jon Mikl Thor was a bodybuilding, steel-bending, brick-smashing rock star in the 70s & 80s whose theatrical band THOR hit the scene alongside Metallica and Kiss, but never achieved the gold record status of its contemporaries.After a brief but memorable film career saw him starring in the cult classics Rock n Roll Nightmare and Zombie Nightmare, Thor all but disappeared from the entertainment map. But ten years into retirement, and incapable of living like a normal mortal human being, Thor attempts a comeback to achieve the level of success that has eluded him his entire career - a comeback that nearly kills him.Tracing the rise, fall, and rebirth of a determined performer over the course of a career that has seen more than its fair share of highs and lows, I AM THOR paints a fascinating and sometimes unbelievable portrait of this larger-than-life icon. Specs and supplements have not been detailed yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'I Am Thor' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 19. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Jan 5, 2016 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Ultra HD Premium Is Revealed as the Full-Featured UHD Standard, Which Includes the UHD Blu-rays That Will Launch This Spring[teaser]A bevvy of UHD standard and Blu-ray information coming out of CES.[/teaser] On the Monday evening of CES 2016, the UHD Alliance gathered together to publically reveal the logo and specs for a new standard, Ultra HD Premium. This new standard and branding includes more than just the 4K/3840x2160 spec, and via licensing and certification, the Ultra HD Premium standard will enable end users to match "full-featured" displays with "full-featured" content. From the UHD Alliance, The UHDA's ULTRA HD PREMIUM logo is reserved for products and services that comply with performance metrics for resolution, high dynamic range (HDR), peak luminance, black levels and wide color gamut among others. The specifications also make recommendations for immersive audio and other features. These advances in resolution, contrast, brightness, color and audio will enable certified displays and content to replicate the richness of life's sights and sounds and allow in-home viewers to more fully and accurately experience the content creator's vision. The UHD Alliance is made-up of 35 member companies including studios, manufacturers, distributors and related technology companies. The UHDA board members alone represent a who's who in the sector. The Ultra HD Premium standard will be crucial for both digital and physical 4K content going forward. Indeed, studio representatives from Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. confirmed that their all of their planned new 4K discs and digital offerings will meet the Ultra HD Premium standard, and that the logo would figure prominently. The certification will be very important for new displays; however, these new discs will still be playable in 4K on many existing 4K TVs, albeit without features like HDR. While the standard is quite detailed in terms of visual specifications, the standard handles peak brightness and black level by way of range yielded through combination. Here is the full rundown on the new standard: Devices The UHD Alliance supports various display technologies and consequently, have defined combinations of parameters to ensure a premium experience across a wide range of devices. In order to receive the UHD Alliance Premium Logo, the device must meet or exceed the following specifications: Image Resolution: 3840x2160 Color Bit Depth: 10-bit signal Color Palette (Wide Color Gamut) Signal Input: BT.2020 color representation Display Reproduction: More than 90% of P3 colors High Dynamic Range SMPTE ST2084 EOTF A combination of peak brightness and black level either: More than 1000 nits peak brightness and less than 0.05 nits black level OR More than 540 nits peak brightness and less than 0.0005 nits black level Distribution Any distribution channel delivering the UHD Alliance content must support Image Resolution: 3840x2160 Color Bit Depth: Minimum 10-bit signal Color: BT.2020 color representation High Dynamic Range: SMPTE ST2084 EOTF Content Master The UHD Alliance Content Master must meet the following requirements: Image Resolution: 3840x2160 Color Bit Depth: Minimum 10-bit signal Color: BT.2020 color representation High Dynamic Range: SMPTE ST2084 EOTF The UHD Alliance recommends the following mastering display specifications: Display Reproduction: Minimum 100% of P3 colors Peak Brightness: More than 1000 nits Black Level: Less than 0.03 nits The UHD Alliance technical specifications prioritize image quality and recommend support for next-generation audio. With the Ultra HD Premium standard now public, LG has announced that their key 2016 4K OLED TVs have already passed the certification testing phase and will not only be certified as Ultra HD Premium, but have even been designed to exceed technical specifications set forth by the UHDA. As for the Ultra HD Premium Blu-rays, Samsung will announce a specific launch date for the UBD-K8500 during their CES press conference. That date will also see the launch of the Ultra HD Premium Blu-rays. At the UHDA Announcement, the timeframe was given as Spring/Summer, with a rough number of the combined studios promising over 100 titles by the end of the year. High-Def Digest has learned that within that Spring/Summer timeframe lays the target month of March, a mere two months or so away. With March being so close, it's no wonder that the UHDA has touted its inter-industry efforts to pull together and get these specs hammered out. The aim in part is to avoid not only the format war that plagued the launch of Blu-ray but also the confusion as well. These Ultra HD Premium Blu-rays will come bundled with a conventional Blu-ray (for both Twentieth Century Fox & Warner Bros.), which should incentivize both early adopters and those who are expecting to eventually take the plunge. Digital copy bundling is also expected, and it's expected to follow the same sporadic support that frequents current Blu-ray and Digital copy bundles. The studios will still offer a conventional Blu-ray sku alongside the Ultra HD Premium Blu-ray and Blu-ray pairings, which suggests a higher echelon in terms of pricing. Twentieth Century Fox will debut its support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with their Ultra HD Premium Blu-rays. There are no current plans to offer those sound formats on any conventional Blu-rays, and that includes the normal Blu-rays that will come bundled with the new format. Given the company's history, Warner Bros. is actively considering a new trade-in program; however, the logistics of disc exchange remain a large obstacle. Another option under consideration is a purchase discount tied with a user's Amazon account history. (And that may extend to past digital purchases as well.) Nothing firm along these lines is expected this year. At the onset, certified displays and Ultra HD Premium Blu-rays will bear the Ultra HD Premium logo, but not the disc players. (Expect that to change for 2017.) Specific digital content that passes the standard will bear the logo, but whether users can expect to see the logo in a video on-demand service like Netlfix remains a question. For example, something like 'Mad Max: Fury Road.' Of course, even in that case, Netflix can pursue certification for its own content. Expect further information on Ultra HD Premium content and devices as CES unfolds. Source: UHDAPosted Tue Jan 5, 2016 at 12:00 AM PST by: -
Onkyo Readies New Digital Audio Player & Network Stereo Receiver for CES[teaser]Two new audio products will be on display at the show. [/teaser] Onkyo has detailed two additions to its home audio lineup. The DP-X1 Digital Audio Player and the TX-8140 Network Stereo Receiver will both be highlighted at CES this week. The DP-X1 Digital Audio Player features dual ESS Technology Sabre ES9018K2M DACs and two SABRE9601K amps with a balanced headphone output. In addition, the player uses two types of balanced drives, ACG and BTL. Likewise, it offers support for the new MQA format which "captures and preserves the original studio recording and delivers it in a package small enough to stream." Storage is expandable to 432GBs and playback is rated for up to 16 hours. Meanwhile, the TX-8140 Network Stereo Receiver features 80 W/Ch of high-current power from a fully discrete low-impedance amplification system. Coaxial/optical inputs, Wi-Fi connectivity, USB, and Bluetooth support are integrated as well. Onkyo's DP-X1 Digital Audio Player ($900) will be available in April, and the TX-8140 Network Stereo Receiver ($400) will be available in early February. Source: OnkyoPosted Mon Jan 4, 2016 at 12:15 PM PST by: -
'Room' Starring Brie Larson Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]Director Lenny Abrahamson's drama will escape to Blu-ray in March.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is preparing 'Room' for Blu-ray on March 1. 'Room' tells the extraordinary story of Jack, a spirited 5-year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted mother. Like any good mother, Ma dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical--they are trapped--confined to a windowless, 10-by-10-foot space that Ma has euphemistically named Room. Ma has created a whole universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment, Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life. But as Jack's curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma's resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world. Specs and supplements have not been detailed yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Room' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 1.Posted Mon Jan 4, 2016 at 12:00 PM PST by:
