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Apple Reveals iPad Air and New iPad Mini[teaser]Apple's latest tablets include a thinner, lighter iPad and an updated iPad mini with Retina display. [/teaser] Apple has finally unveiled full details for its latest iPad products, the iPad Air and a new iPad mini. The iPad Air features an updated lightweight design and a 9.7-inch Retina display. Meanwhile, the iPad mini comes with a 7.9-inch Retina display. Both screens feature a resolution of 2048x1536. The iPad Air weighs just 1 pound and is 20 percent thinner and 28 percent lighter than the company's fourth generation iPad model. "iPad created an entirely new mobile computing experience, and the new iPad Air is another big leap ahead. It is so thin, light and powerful, once you hold one in your hand you will understand what a tremendous advancement this is," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. Both the iPad Air and the iPad mini are powered by an "A7 chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture, ultrafast wireless with faster built-in Wi-Fi and expanded LTE cellular connectivity, and the newly-designed iOS 7 featuring hundreds of great new features." The devices also use the M7 motion coprocessor for improved power efficiency. A new FaceTime HD camera and a 5MP iSight camera are also included. The iPad Air will be available on November 1st at a suggested retail price of $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, $699 for the 64GB model, and $799 for the 128GB model. The iPad mini will be available later in November at a suggested retail price of $399 for the 16GB model, $499 for the 32GB model, $599 for the 64GB model, and $699 for the 128GB model. Source: ApplePosted Wed Oct 23, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection: Ultimate Collector's Edition' Blu-ray $26.99 at Amazon[teaser]Save big on a bundle of Peanuts holiday specials on Blu-ray at Amazon! [/Teaser] The online retailer is now offering 'Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection: Ultimate Collector's Edition' for $26.99 (61% off suggested price). The set includes:'It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown' Deluxe Edition, 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' Deluxe Edition, 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' Deluxe Edition, 'It's Christmastime Again Charlie Brown, 'It's Magic Charlie Brown,' The Mayflower Voyagers, A Christmas Miracle: The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Making of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie Brown. Click here to bring Charlie Brown and his friends home today!Posted Wed Oct 23, 2013 at 10:59 AM PDT by: -
'The Long Day Closes' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]Terence Davies' acclaimed film is Blu-ray bound in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection will proudly present 'The Long Day Closes' on Blu-ray on January 28. 'The Long Day Closes' is the most gloriously cinematic expression of the unique sensibility of Terence Davies, widely celebrated as Britain's greatest living filmmaker. Bursting with both enchantment and melancholy, this autobiographical film takes on the perspective of a quiet boy growing up lonely in Liverpool in the 1950s. But rather than employ a straightforward narrative, Davies jumps in and out of time, swoops into fantasies and fears, summons memories and dreams. A singular filmic tapestry, The Long Day Closes is an evocative, movie- and music–besotted portrait of the artist as a young man. The Blu-ray will feature a new 1080p digital transfer, an uncompressed stereo soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio commentary by director Terence Davies and director of photography Michael Coulter; Episode from 1992 of the British television series The South Bank Show with Davies, featuring on-set footage from The Long Day Closes and interviews with cast and crew; New interviews with executive producer Colin MacCabe and production designer Christopher Hobbs; Trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Koresky. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Long Day Closes' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under January 28.Posted Wed Oct 23, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Sony and VUDU Introduce VUDU Extras+[teaser]The new interactive experience brings Blu-ray-like special features to the video streaming service. [/teaser] Sony and VUDU have announced the launch of VUDU Extras+. The new service will be available on select Sony titles in the VUDU library, granting users access to bonus extras and interactive features. VUDU Extras+ includes features like Enhanced Scene Search and Clip & Share which will give viewers the option to jump to their favorite scenes and share them through social media. In addition, the enhanced service will also provide traditional bonus supplements like deleted scenes, featurettes, and movie trivia. David Bishop, SPHE President said, "Sony Pictures has always been at the forefront of creating innovative technologies to enhance the consumer home entertainment experience both in the physical as well as the digital spaces. VUDU Extras+ will bring the extras experience which consumers have come to expect from discs to digital retailers more consistently and with increased interactivity. Strategically, VUDU Extras+ will enhance the value proposition of digital ownership which is so key to the future success and strength of the home entertainment industry. Our intention is that it will evolve it into an industry standard for use across multiple studios and services." VUDU Extras+ is now available with 'District 9' on the cloud with UltraViolet on PCs and Macs. Support for more devices and titles, including 'This is the End,' 'After Earth,' 'White House Down,' 'Grown Ups 2,' 'Mortal Instruments,' 'Smurfs 2' and 'One Direction – This is Us' will follow later this year. Consumers can preview VUDU Extras+ before they buy a movie and can then gain access to the full experience when they purchase a title or redeem their UltraViolet code on VUDU. Source: PR NewswirePosted Wed Oct 23, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Beast Within' will Emerge on Blu-ray[teaser]A teenager will undergo some truly monstrous growing pains on Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] As previously reported, Scream Factory is preparing 'The Beast Within' for Blu-ray on December 17. 18-year-old Michael MacCleary – the progeny of an unholy union between his mother and a swamp beast – is on the verge of becoming a man. And as the inherited evil in his blood gnaws at his soul, Michael must return to the swamp to uncover the terrifying identity of his father – before his nasty natural tendencies force him to feed on the locals! Starring Ronny Cox ('Robocop'), Bibi Besch ('Tremors'), Paul Clemens ('Communion') L.Q. Jones ('The Wild Bunch') and R.G. Armstrong ('Race With The Devil'). The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and a DTS-HD MA Stereo soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio Commentary by director Philippe Mora and actor Paul Clemens; Audio Commentary by writer Tom Holland;and Theatrical Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.97. You can find the latest specs for 'The Beast Within' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 17.Posted Wed Oct 23, 2013 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Poll: Do You "Blind Buy" Movies on Blu-ray?In this week's poll topic, we want to know whether you "blind buy" movies on Blu-ray that you've never actually watched before? Is this a regular habit for you, or do you save your dollars only for movies that you've already seen? Tell us about your buying habits in our blog poll.Posted Wed Oct 23, 2013 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'Jayne Mansfield's Car' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The comedy drama starring Billy Bob Thornton, Robert Duvall, and John Hurt is coming to Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay is preparing 'Jayne Mansfield's Car' for Blu-ray on December 10. In what critics are calling his best work as writer/director since Sling Blade, Academy Award®-winner Billy Bob Thornton stars along with Oscar winner Robert Duvall, two time Oscar®-nominee John Hurt and Golden Globe®-winner Kevin Bacon, in this story of fathers and sons, wars and peace, and the turbulent time that changed America forever. It's 1969 in a small Alabama town, and the death of a quirky clan's long estranged wife and mother bring together two very different families for the funeral. But do the scars of the past hide differences that will tear them apart or expose truths that could lead to the most unexpected collisions of all? Robert Patrick ('Walk The Line'), Ray Stevenson ('Dexter'), Katherine LaNasa ('Deception') and Frances O’Connor ('The Hunter') co-star in the acclaimed comedy/drama where "the performances are first-rate" (NY Daily News). Specs have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include Jayne Mansfield’s Car: Behind the Scenes featurette. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Jayne Mansfield's Car' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 10.Posted Wed Oct 23, 2013 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Disney Offers 'The Little Mermaid' Exchange Program[teaser]Disney wants to make right a very minor audio glitch on the Diamond Edition Blu-ray. [/teaser] According to the studio, 'The Little Mermaid' Blu-ray has a minor audio sync error resulting from a pair of switched shots during Ariel's "Part of your World." To begin the exchange process, call Walt Disney Studios Entertainment Guest Relations at 1-800-723-4763 (888-877-2843 in Canada) or submit a message online here. The disc exchange is free and Disney requires disc specific details as well as a mailing address to issue a prepaid return label to send in the defective disc. The entire exchange process is estimated to take between 4-8 weeks.Posted Tue Oct 22, 2013 at 05:55 PM PDT by: -
'Mickey's Christmas Carol: 30th Anniversary Special Edition' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]Disney's 1983 take on the Dickens' classic heads to Blu-ray this holiday season. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disney/Buena Vista will be releasing 'Mickey's Christmas Carol: 30th Anniversary Special Edition' on Blu-ray on November 5. Ring in the holidays with a new 30th Anniversary Special Edition of 'Mickey’s Christmas Carol.' Disney’s timeless tale sparkles like never before on Blu-ray and Digital Copy, with fully-restored classic holiday shorts, plus all-new bonus features. Make the season merry as Mickey, Goofy, Donald and all their pals star in a heartwarming retelling of Dickens’ unforgettable holiday tale. Ebenezer Scrooge (Scrooge McDuck) is far too greedy to understand that Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity. But with the guidance of some wise ghosts (Goofy and Jiminy Cricket) and a bunch of newfound friends, Scrooge learns to embrace the spirit of the season. Share this wonderful holiday treat with the whole family. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $36.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Mickey's Christmas Carol: 30th Anniversary Special Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 5.Posted Tue Oct 22, 2013 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Nokia Lumia 1520 Offers RAW Support on a Smartphone[teaser]The new HD phablet is the first smartphone to include support for RAW photographs. [/teaser] Nokia has detailed its latest large-screen smartphone, the Lumia 1520. The mobile device features a 6-inch 1080p LCD screen and runs Windows Phone 8. In addition, the Lumia 1520 has the distinction of being the first smartphone to support capturing photos in the RAW format. The Lumia 1520 is powered by a 2.2GHz Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 with 2GB of RAM and a 3400 mAh integrated battery. 32GB of internal storage is also included along with microSD support for up to 64GB and 7 GB of SkyDrive cloud storage. The phone includes built-in Microsoft Office software and Nokia Storyteller and Nokia Beamer apps as well. The smartphone also includes a 20MP rear camera with ZEISS optics and a 1.2MP front camera, and promises to support RAW pictures using Adobe Systems' DNG format. Though the format uses more space, pictures taken in RAW feature minimal processing and offer higher image quality and editing options. Nokia will bring similar RAW support to its 41MP Lumia 1020 next year as well. The Nokia Lumia 1520 is expected to launch in Q4 2013 in a variety of colors for a suggested retail price of $749. Sources: Nokia, CNETPosted Tue Oct 22, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by:
