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Netflix deal with Starz Entertainment announced

Netflix do not to be short of money, they have just announced yet another deal, this time with Starz Entertainment. This new deal will bring a further 2500 movies and TV shows as well as concerts to the rental company. Read more

LG BD300 Blu-Ray Box with Netflix Streaming: more details

We learned earlier this year that Netflix was working with LG Electronics for their first direct-to-TV movie partnership, but it was a little short on details. Now we have some more details on their partnership product.

The LG Blu-Ray Box or LG BD300 Network Blu-ray disc player will allow Netflix members to stream movies to their TV; this will cost well under $500.

The Blu-Ray part won’t be part of the streaming, although Netflix movies will be streamed in standard definition. There is still one problem with this though and that is the 12,000 titles. These are not all movies many of them include TV episodes, out of a library of over 100,000 on DVD for those on the traditional Netflix service.

As a member of Netflix, you are able to use the service’s website in order to add movies and TV episodes to your queues.

This LG Electronics deal is non-exclusive; this means that LG will be able to add more services from Netflix competitors.

Source

Verizon helps showcase Bollywood movies and music

Aspiring dancers can enter Bollypop, an online dance competition sponsored by Verizon to help showcase the growing amount of Bollywood movies and music videos the company offers its FiOS TV and V CAST customers.

The Bollypop (www.verizon.com/bollypop) contest is open to all U.S. residents and is maintained by Saavn, the largest digital distributor of South Asian movies, music videos, audio tracks and ringtones. Contest entrants can be either individuals or dance troupes (maximum of four performers) and must submit a video of any dance moves to one of 11 Bollywood songs Read more

UK missing out on Sony PS3 Movies & TV Shows

Sony was proud to announce it’s new PlayStation Video store for the PSN at E3 2008, and then in the evening they made the service Live on the Playstation 3 with more than 1,200 pieces of TV content and 300 movies.

There was no 2.42 firmware update needed, if you have 2.41 on your PS3 then you will be able to view the store just fine in the United States and this is where many will be unhappy.

The rest of Europe and the UK have still got a limited amount of video content today, while the US PSN has movies from movie studios like Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, MGM, Lionsgate, Disney, 20th Century Fox and obviously Sony Pictures.

There are a lot of people in Europe and it amazes me how they get left out for some time on new launches, is it just me who finds this true?

Some forums have been alive with posts asking where the PS3 movie download store is, the reason for this was the fact that its only a tiny capsule icon in the upper left hand corner next to Games.

Once you click this on the US PSN, you will find a selection that’s broken down to Top Downloads (empty at the moment), Purchase, Rental, and Available in HD, Anime, Television, Movies and New Arrivals.

The service could do with more information like IMDB has, although you do get basic info like release dates, cast info, language, size and length.

The only other problem we can find is with high definition video, it seems that you cannot buy HD content and only rent it. Once you rent a HD video/movie you get 14 days to view it, but be aware that if you start playing the file then you have to watch within 24 hours.

If you live in Europe, are you bothered that you cannot access the new movie download service yet on the PS3?

Xbox 360 and Playstation 3: Streaming movies vs Blu-ray

Its been rumored for a while now that the Xbox 360 may get a Blu-ray drive now that HD-DVD is dead, the short answer from E3 2008 is NO.

Microsoft has confirmed that it has no plan to develop a Blu-ray drive at anytime, that includes an external or internal Blu-ray drive. They have also announced this week that they have a partnership with Netflix for Streaming movies.

The future war for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 now seems to be streaming movies vs. Blu-ray, although Sony is in a position to have the best of both worlds with its movie download service coming this year and also sporting the high definition disc drive.

Netflix will be a major boost to the Xbox 360 and can only be a blow to Blu-ray, but just how much damage can Netflix cause to Blu-ray for those wanting to watch high definition movies?

With Microsoft focusing on digital distribution and Sony pushing Blu-rays, what will end up the favorite for the end user? Do you prefer Blu-ray or streaming movies?

BRAVIA Internet LCD TVs get Hancock movie exclusively before DVD

When we go looking for a nice new television we buy for many different reasons and every brand has its advantages. Now if you bought a nice BRAVIA Internet connected LCD TV you may have bought it for the brand, features Internet abilities but whatever reason you will still get the chance to watch the Hancock movie exclusively before DVD.

This will be “exclusively to all internet connected BRAVIA LCD TVs in the U.S” and is just part of a much bigger plan by Sony to increase sales of their products. Remembering back ten years ago, when I bought my first home audio system it was Sony branded and the reason I did that was because everyone new Sony meant quality.

Today things are very different in the electronics business, you have many other brands that can equal the quality of Sony products and sometimes beat them. Sony now aim to take some of the market share back from brands like Samsung by using it’s muscle from other businesses it owns.

That’s why they also spoke about a video download service for the Sony PS3 today, (see this post). In Sony’s own words “increase network and wireless connectivity across its family of devices and build a service platform to provide a seamless user experience across our key hardware devices and content”. They will get all their products working together, and aim for the consumer to want as many Sony products as possible.

Do you own an Internet connected BRAVIA LCD TV and if so, would you like to download Hancock before its on DVD?

Sega aims at next Marvel-movie tie-in, The Incredible Hulk

The last movie from Marvel that went to the gaming platforms was Iron Man and it did not get amazing results, but now Sega are getting ready for the next Marvel-movie tie-in, The Incredible Hulk.

Sega Nerds point out the aggressive marketing that will be taken to promote The Incredible Hulk video game, they said “Sega is also going to be doing some aggressive marketing for the game (at least in the UK), and will be releasing adverts alongside the movie release in theatres”.

Sega UK’s Product Manager, Ben Payne said “We are replicating our Iron Man cinema activity for The Incredible Hulk. Over the opening two weeks of the film which is released on June 12, we will hit 1.5 million admissions across Carlton Screen and Pearl and Dean advertising”.

The results of how good this game becomes, will come from how catchy the marketing is, the film is one I want to watch but can the game get away from the average feel that the Iron Man had.

The Incredible Hulk will be released (in Europe) for Xbox 360 and DS on June 13, June 20 for PS2 and PS3, PC on June 20 and Wii on July 11.

See the full press release from SEGA of America on Sega Nerds, this shows you more details about the video game release. Will you be watching the new Hulk movie and do you think you will buy the game?

Movies from major film studios now on Apple iTunes Store in Canada

If you use Apple iTunes in Canada, then you will be happy to know that you can now get movies from major film studios. This news broke yesterday, check out the press release below for the full details of what Canada users will get.

CUPERTINO, California—June 4, 2008—Apple® today announced that movies from major film studios including 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Sony Pictures Television International and Lionsgate and Maple Pictures are now available on the iTunes® Store in Canada (www.itunes.ca). Movie purchases and rentals feature iTunes’ legendary ease of use, which makes discovering and enjoying movies as simple and easy as buying music on iTunes has always been. The iTunes Store in Canada features over 1,200 films available for rent or purchase, with titles available for purchase on the same day as their DVD release, including recent blockbusters such as “Juno,” “I Am Legend,” “National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets,” “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “Cloverfield.” iTunes Movie Rentals also features over 200 titles available in stunning high definition, perfect for viewing on a widescreen TV with Apple TV®.

“Canadians have made iTunes the most popular place to find and buy music and TV shows online,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We’re thrilled to give iTunes customers access to over 1,200 movies from major studios to rent or purchase, whether to enjoy at home on their widescreen TV with Apple TV or on-the-go on their iPod.”

The iTunes Store is the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store. With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting directory, iMix playlist sharing, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod®, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac® and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

With iTunes Movie Rentals, once a movie is rented, it starts downloading from the iTunes Store directly to iTunes or Apple TV, and users with a fast Internet connection can start viewing the movie in seconds. Customers have up to 30 days to start watching it, and once a movie has been started customers have 48 hours to finish it—or watch it multiple times.

Hands-on: Roku Netflix Player for Movies on Demand: It may be an Apple TV Rival

Could this Roku’s Netflix Player be an Apple TV rival? We will have to wait and see. The Roku Netflix Player has just had a hands on review by Engadget and they have said some interesting things like the question above for example plus the fact do we need another set top box in our homes?

They say that the Roku’s Netflix Player seems understated like it coming in a plain purple box it shipped in right down to the fact of the nondescript black plastic case and even the stripped-bare user interface. Engadget have said that it is quite easy to fall in love with the Roku Netflix Player which costs $100. Netflix subscribers will get very cheap and easy avenue for additional content to their TV and could be a streaming video box nice enough to rival the Apple TV. The Roku’s Netflix Player is very light and with support for 802.11b/g with WEP, WPA, and WPA2 seems pretty good so far.

It includes composite, component, S-Video, HDMI, and TOSLINK, even activating the box is as simple as hitting netflix.com/activate and entering a short code, they say the remote looks cheap but does feel good, the interface is at its best and looks simple and does not have a lot of options which makes it straight-forward. Please visit the source link below for the full hands on review and see what you think, be sure to come back and comment as much as you like.

Answer this question “Could the Roku Netflix Player rival Apple TV?

Read the full hands on review and image gallery via Engadget

X-OOM Software: Movies on your Apple iPod or iPhone from any location

X-OOM Software, a leading publisher of digital media software for mobile devices, has launched X-OOM Movies on iPod 2. This innovative software enables users to turn their iPod™ and iPhone™ into a mini mobile cinema to watch favourite films on the go.

Ideal for passing the time on long train journeys, commuting and flights, X-OOM Movies on iPod 2 means any non copy-protected films, TV programmes and video clips can be viewed anywhere. The software allows single or multiple files to be converted to an iPod compatible format. The high speed video encoder supports formats such as; DVD, SVCD, VCO, DivX, AVI, WMV, MPEG, and FLV, all which can be quickly converted.

X-OOM Movies on iPod 2 will record and transfer any web-TV shows onto an iPod™ or iPhone™, to avoid missing favourite programmes. The software searches through over 1000 sports, music, comedy and entertainment channels, as well as sites such as YouTube and MySpace, so programmes and clips can be downloaded to an iPod™ or iPhone™ in just a few clicks. There is also the option to regularly subscribe to the 1000 frequently updated video podcasts, to ensure favourite shows aren’t lost.

A new integrated media library provides a helpful solution for collectively viewing all video files stored on a computer. The library includes customisable pre-defined settings, to allow straightforward transfer and modification of video clips. X-OOM Movies on iPod 2 also includes the option to rip just the audio from a video file, so favourite music from films and TV programs can be saved and listened to when on the move.

Features include:
· Conversion of single or multiple files, such as movies, TV programmes and video clips to an iPod™ or iPhone™ specific file format for ease of viewing
· 5 file conversion settings to customise options such as file size, quality and compression, ensuring films can be effortlessly transferred
· High speed encoder to enable quick conversion of movies
· Subtitle support
· Expert mode to quickly and automatically complete video cutting and processing

X-OOM Movies on iPod 2 is priced at £19.99 and is available from X-OOM.com and amazon.

New Ghostbusters: The Video Game explained in detail

About two and a half years ago Terminal Reality went to game developer Sierra to show them a game they had been working on, and although they liked the game as well as the technology used Sierra asked why not do a Ghostbusters game instead as they told them that the Ghostbusters icon is the second most known icon in the world. Terminal Reality then asked Sierra if it was a good property in which they replied it is a great property.

So six month past in which time Terminal Reality were able to come up with a great tech demo to show what they wanted to do with Ghostbusters, this was done by using their infernal engine. They wrote the software for the Sony PS3 first then the Xbox 360 and finally the PC. It was easier to do the programming first on the Sony PlayStation 3 as the same model can then be used on the Xbox 360 and PC. The physics engine used for the games is called velocity, this helps to recreate scenes from the Ghostbusters movie like when slimmer is flying around the hotel which was set up for a party. So when the Ghostbusters go in the room to try and catch him the hotel room gets trashed, so users are able to do this in the game and it really works well.

The physics in the game goes one step further where you are able to smash almost anything as well as put two objects together to solve puzzles in the game.

In the game Egon has built a new proton pack but the boys do not want to be the first to try it out so they pull someone of the street which is you to try it out instead. Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis all lend their voices in the game which makes it more enjoyable. Dan Akroyd has especially worked hard in the game to make sure that they get everything right.

Ghostbusters: The Video game will be available from October 2008 on the Xbox 360, Sony PS3 and the PC, but they are also working on a Nintendo Wii and Ds version as well as on PlayStation2.

Teaser video: Spiderman Web of Shadows action-adventure game

Activision has kept things close to their chest when it comes to the new Spiderman Web of Shadows game. This is an action-adventure game and is set in New York and is free-roaming, as Spiderman you will be doing plenty of web slinging as well as being able to customize your powers. Activision has done something a little special, and that is to release a teaser trailer to the game.

There is not much to tell you about the game however; after watching the teaser trailer to the Spiderman Web of Shadows, it seems as if the world that Spidey has tried to save has actually been destroyed, but please do not ask me how.

As with all Spider-Man games you can expect to be able to fight your enemies with some great combo attacks while on the ground. Activision has said that the new game breaks new grounds where you are able to go into vertical combat, something that Spidey has not been able to do in previous games.
Another first for the game is a choice in how you will play Spiderman, first you can choose to play the hero and try and help people out or you can be the anti-hero and just look out for yourself. This is a great little touch to a game that promises so much.

Iron Man Movie Trailer: Paramount Pictures will adapt to a full film

The fan community as a whole are reported to be not happy with the idea of the Iron Man Movie Trailer being made into a full length feature film, Paramount Pictures are planning to adapt the popular trailer to a full film by expanding the montage of short shots in the trailer to full length distinct scenes.

In-between those scenes they plan on adding other scenes that were not in the trailer, the short trailer tells an amazing story where a billionaire is kidnapped and then turns on his kidnappers by designing an amazing suit of armor which not only lets him escape, but also turns him into a hero to the world. They are bringing Robert Downey Jr back for his role in the full film and may bring others as well.

The video below shows you a news report on the Iron Man Trailer being adapted Into full-length film, it shows a few more details and their opinions on what this could mean for us all. We are also hearing that the Iron Man story will also be adapted into a line of collectible Burger King cups.

One thing is for sure and that is the cool movie trailer from last year will see millions made from its popularity. What’s your opinion, do you think Iron Man can maintain its entertainment value when it gets adapted to a feature-length film?

Apple TV Firmware 2.0.2 just released: But what does it do?

Apple have just recently released the v2.0.2 update for Apple TV which has left us stumped, we want to know what it does, do you know what it does?

What we do know is via our source is that it can take around 9 minutes to download but yet still no one knows what it actually does, what we do know is that is adds a sort of genre button to the movies section and that a Flickr update allows you too see galleries of favourite tagged photos by your friends.

So with Jason O’Grady from The Apple Core sitting their for nine minutes waiting for the completion of the Apple TV Firmware 2.0.2 update this tells us that it is very big in size.

We want to know what the hell the new Apple TV Firmware 2.0.2 just released does.

Source - The Apple Core

Blockbuster has offered to buy Circuit City for a reported $1 billion

Blockbuster has offered to buy Circuit City; they are willing to pay $1 to £1.3 billion. Blockbuster would like to purchase Circuit City in the hope that it would help them, as both companies have been suffering just recently.

Circuit City has reported a loss of $200, and Blockbuster has also been making a bit of a loss on their download service. However Blockbuster reckons that by joining both companies it could make the two of them make at least $18 billion a year, as the two companies working together could save money from several synergies that they could create.

Source – Crave via Slash Gear

Hands-on: CyberLink PowerDVD 8 movie playback software

CyberLink has had one of the most popular movie playback software programs for years, and with PowerDVD 7 having a few incompatibilities with Blu-ray ROM drive discs will make some users look forward to upgrading to the new CyberLink PowerDVD 8. Tweak Town have gave this software a good going over to see how good the new version really is.

They found “Overall, PowerDVD, even with the teething problems in this new build, and the new lack of HD-DVD support, is still the best DVD playback software on the market, at least in my opinion. The new features, especially Movie Live, have yet to truly prove themselves, but the future is potentially quite exciting for this feature. It just needs to get a good community behind it, and then it should thrive. Its core feature; DVD playback, is as good as ever and with the improvements made in Blu-ray playback, PowerDVD is now well placed to become the ultimate Blu-ray playback software, which will ensure the programs relevance for some time to come.

Addendum: Just as the review was about to go live, I receive another e-mail from CyberLink. Not even a week after the release of PowerDVD 8, a new build has been released (version 3730a ), featuring two main features; the addition of BD Profile 2.0, otherwise referred to as BD Live, and fixes to BD Java titles. Unfortunately I don’t have a BD Live title as of yet, but I was eager to check if Across the Universe worked now, and unfortunately it still does not. As CyberLink release updates to PowerDVD 8, I will keep you guys in the loop” Overall they rated it 83%.

Read the full review.

Iron Man Armor Showcase: 360 exclusive armor sucks compared to Sony PS3

Not only has the Iron Man movie showing potential but the game is as well, just take a look at this video of the game, it shows you all the iterations of Iron Man’s armor. Let us hope that Iron Man does what Superman Returns could not, and go from a movie into a great game.

I have to say the best armor has to be the hulkbuster, man it is a beast. There is one problem, the Xbox 360 exclusive armor sucks compared to the Sony PS3.

Matthew McConaughey rumored to star in Magnum P.I. movie?

I know that the rumor of a Magnum P.I. movie has been doing the rounds for almost two years now. Well now there are fresh rumors, one of which is that Matthew McConaughey could end up playing Thomas Magnum an ex-Navy Seal who is now a P.I.

Although the idea of a P.I. walking around Hawaii wearing an Hawaiian shirt did not sound cool, I for one loved it. The best thing was his Ferrari 308 GTS that he drove.

A script is now rumored to be floating around written by Rawson Thurber, you know the guy who gave us Dodgeball. It is thought that at this moment Matthew McConaughey is now reading the script. Don’t expect Tom Selleck to make a cameo in the new Magnum movie, as he has feels that the role should just die out.

Source – Cinematical.com

Vin Diesel damages Honda S2000 filming The Fast and the Furious 4

While on the set of The Fast and the Furious 4, Vin Diesel was filming a scene in the Honda S2000. However things did not go according to plan as he damaged the car, maybe he was trying a bit too hard to get the scene to look cool.

The damage that Vin Diesel caused on the Honda S2000 was a damaged headlight, hood, bumper and fender. Looks like the crew will be working hard to get the car ready for the next scene. Let us hope that this film will be better than the previous two, as the Fast and the Furious movies lost a little something when Vin Diesel moved on to other projects.

Source - bespokeventures.com

Jalsa Movie Reviewed: Pawan Kalyan stars and released today

The Jalsa Movie has been released today (2 April 2008) and stars Pawan Kalyan who does a first rate job in the film, his comedy works very well and will create a lot of laughter for his fans, but the story does not have a lot of logic to it and is a little weak. If you love Pawan Kalyan then your going to like this film, his dance is crisp and the fights have been well choreographed.

Parvati Melton, Ileana, Kamalinee Mukherjee, Suneel and Brahmanandam also star.

Cinematography by K.V. Guhan.
Original Music by Devi Sri Prasad.
Produced by Allu Aravind.

“The movie starts off with the voice over of Mahesh Babu, he calls himself a friend of Sanjay[Pawan Kalyan] PAWAN KALYAN is introduced as an alcoholic and a person obsessed with education. Kamalini Mukherjee is introduced as PAWAN KALYAN’s lover, we are showed a brief scene with Prakash Raj, who is Kamalani Mukherjee’s father.”
Read the full review of Jalsa on Telugupedia.com, leave a comment below if you have seen the film.

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