The owner of Redbox has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, which acquired the movie rental service Redbox in 2022, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Deadline reports. The company recently disclosed net losses of $636.6 million for 2023 in a SEC filing, and Deadline reported just a few days ago that it had suspended medical benefits and missed payroll, leaving employees without their paychecks for a week already. In a message to employees on Saturday, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment said it had applied for a debtor-in-possession loan in an attempt to remedy the situation.

“Upon court approval, we expect payroll to be funded early in the week and funding for this upcoming week’s payroll to also be secured,” the message said, per Deadline. “We also expect to have the funds to reinstate medical benefits back to May 14, 2024 and going forward.” The $375 million deal to acquire Redbox brought with it a ton of debt, and according to The Verge, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment owes money to a slew of retailers, studios, and streaming platforms — including Walmart, Universal and Sony — as well as other creditors.

Its total debts come to about $970 million. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment also owns the streaming service Crackle and a few other film and TV brands, in addition to selling the long-running self-help books it’s best known for.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-owner-of-redbox-has-filed-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-172124081.html?src=rss

The owner of Redbox has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, which acquired the movie rental service Redbox in 2022, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Deadline reports. The company recently disclosed net losses of $636.6 million for 2023 in a SEC filing, and Deadline reported just a few days ago that it had suspended medical benefits and missed payroll, leaving employees without their paychecks for a week already. In a message to employees on Saturday, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment said it had applied for a debtor-in-possession loan in an attempt to remedy the situation.

“Upon court approval, we expect payroll to be funded early in the week and funding for this upcoming week’s payroll to also be secured,” the message said, per Deadline. “We also expect to have the funds to reinstate medical benefits back to May 14, 2024 and going forward.” The $375 million deal to acquire Redbox brought with it a ton of debt, and according to The Verge, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment owes money to a slew of retailers, studios, and streaming platforms — including Walmart, Universal and Sony — as well as other creditors.

Its total debts come to about $970 million. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment also owns the streaming service Crackle and a few other film and TV brands, in addition to selling the long-running self-help books it’s best known for.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-owner-of-redbox-has-filed-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-172124081.html?src=rss

Apple TV+'s Neuromancer Series Takes Another Step Forward

Hollywood has been trying to adapt William Gibson’s groundbreaking 1984 cyberpunk novel Neuromancer for years—and now it really seems the latest attempt, taking the form not of a feature film but a series at sci-fi hub Apple TV+—is truly happening. After a February announcement heralding the show, followed by Callum…

Read more…

Apple TV+'s Neuromancer Series Takes Another Step Forward

Hollywood has been trying to adapt William Gibson’s groundbreaking 1984 cyberpunk novel Neuromancer for years—and now it really seems the latest attempt, taking the form not of a feature film but a series at sci-fi hub Apple TV+—is truly happening. After a February announcement heralding the show, followed by Callum…

Read more…

Disney Made It More Difficult to Ride What You Want, Just in Time for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

If you’re going down the bayou to ride Walt Disney World’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, there’s a few things you need to know to make sure you’ll be able to experience the Magic Kingdom’s newest exciting attraction. It won’t have a traditional “wake up early and rush to the line” queue, but rather an online virtual queue…

Read more…

Motorola RAZR Plus 2024, Larger Cover Display With Software Upgrades, Better Camera, and Moto AI

Today, Motorola unveiled its 2024 Razr flip phone series, which includes the Razr Plus (2024) and the Razr (2024). This launch marks a significant moment for the Chicago-based brand as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of its iconic Razr V3, the ancestor to its current foldable smartphones. In honor of the V3’s release, Moto is reintroducing the popular Hot Pink 3 color, initially launched in December 2005 (the year we officially started Ubergizmo). However, this vibrant hue will be available exclusively for the Razr Plus.  The Razr and the Razr Plus feature the same vegan leather finish but come in different colors.

Razr Plus 2024

What’s New – Razr Plus 2024 vs. the previous 2023 model

Compared to last year’s Razr Plus, the major visible upgrades are the larger 4-inch cover screen and the boxier form factor designed to improve the device’s durability. Thanks to the Gorilla Glass Victus, the external display is better protected against scratches and drops.

The devices come with a broad range of new software features, including Moto AI and Google Gemini, as well as new customization options for the external display; read more in the dedicated paragraph.

laft Razr Plus 2023 – right razr Plus 2024 with thinner hinge and larger cover screen

Motorola also improved the photography experience with a 50 MP primary shooter, a significant change from the previous 12 MP sensor. The secondary camera is now a 50 MP telephoto dedicated to portraits, replacing the previous 13 MP wide-angle macro optic system.

I highly appreciate the introduction of underwater protection with the IPX8 certification. This is an important improvement over the previous IP52, which only protected against limited water spray and dust ingress.

Inside, the Razr Plus gets the latest Qualcomm Soc, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a toned-down version of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, nevertheless a very powerful processor. The previous model featured the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.  On the memory side, the device is equipped with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of storage.

The battery capacity has been increased from 3700 mAh to 4000 mAh, featuring 45W TurboPower, 15 W wireless charging, and 5 W reverse charging. The 2023 model offered only 30 W TurboPower and 5W wireless charging.

Price and availability 

The new Motorola Razr+  2024 will be available for pre-order at T-Mobile, AT&T and at motorola.com, Amazon.com, and Best Buy on July 10 for $999.99. Besides the iconic Hot Pink3, the new Razr Plus comes in Midnight Blue, Spring Green, and Pantone Color of the Year 2024, Peach Fuzz. 

At $699.99, the Razr is more affordable and has a smaller 3.6″ external display. We will soon have more information on the Razr Plus sibling.

From left to right: Pantone Color of the Year 2024, Peach Fuzz,, Hot Pink3, Spring Green, and Midnight Blue,

Design and External Display

The revamped hinge is 30% thinner than the previous model, allowing users to close the smartphone with one hand. All models have a vegan leather finish that feels good in the hand. The 4-inch pOLED panel offers a 1272×1080 resolution with a pixel density of 413 PPI.

Its theoretical peak brightness of 3000 NITS ensures clear visibility even in direct sunlight.

Internal Display

The internal 6.9-inch pOLED display is gorgeous and boasts a resolution of 2640 x 1080. Similarly to the cover screen, the internal display is LPTO with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 165 Hz, providing an excellent gaming experience and smooth user interface while preserving the battery life.

Cameras

Main camera

The dual external camera system includes a 50 MP sensor with an f1/7 aperture and 0.8um pixel size. The 50 MP telephoto lens offers a 2 X optical zoom with an f/2.2 aperture. Motorola ditched the macro camera in favor of a 2X zoom, which is mainly dedicated to portrait mode.

Selfie Camera

The selfie camera at the top of the internal 6.9-inch display features a 32 MP sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS).

Video capture

All cameras can capture up to 4K at 60 or 30 fps. The primary camera also supports slow-motion video at 960, 240, and 120 fps.

New AI and Software Features

Motorola cases for the Razr 2024 series

Motorola Razr users can access Google’s Gemini app directly from their external display. By simply pressing and holding the power button, users can open Gemini to help with tasks such as building a road trip itinerary, creating a personalized workout routine, finding recipes based on available ingredients, and more. Motorola partnered with Google to offer three free months of Gemini, a generative AI application based on Google’s LLM models. Additionally, this offer includes 2 TB of cloud storage and integration of Gemini into Google apps like Gmail and Docs, all part of the Google One AI Premium plan.

The external display features access to Google Photos, allowing users to instantly share, view, delete, and edit images and videos. A dedicated Spotify panel allows users to skip songs, and a Bose panel provides controls for Bose earbuds and headphones.

Motorola is introducing new customization options for the external display, including a range of clock faces and the ability to change the Desk Display to feature rotating text and images, creating a personalized screensaver.

Moto AI includes Style Sync, which creates wallpaper options based on the user’s selected outfit, and Magic Canvas, which generates images from text prompts.

Motorola’s Hello UX software offers a personalized user experience, including Smart Connect for advanced ecosystem connectivity, Family Space for a safe environment for kids, Moto Unplugged for disconnection options, and Moto Secure for advanced security settings. 

Moto AI upcoming generative AI functions will feature the following:

“Catch me up” provides a prioritized summary of personal communications.

“Pay attention” enables instant recording, transcribing, and summarizing of conversations or speakers.

“Remember this” captures live moments or on-screen information with AI-generated details for easy recall later.

Moto AI is accessible across the phone for assistance, quick suggestions, and answers to various questions, including device usage guidance. Gemini from Google Cloud will take care of more complex queries.

Moto Tag

Motorola introduced the Moto Tag, a Bluetooth® LE tracker with Ultra Wideband that works with Google’s Find My Device network. Like the Apple AirTag or the Samsung SmartTag2, the Moto Tag will help users find their valuable objects. It comes in two colors, green and blue, and will be available in the US on Aug. 2 for $30.

 

Motorola RAZR Plus 2024, Larger Cover Display With Software Upgrades, Better Camera, and Moto AI

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Disney Made It More Difficult to Ride What You Want, Just in Time for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

If you’re going down the bayou to ride Walt Disney World’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, there’s a few things you need to know to make sure you’ll be able to experience the Magic Kingdom’s newest exciting attraction. It won’t have a traditional “wake up early and rush to the line” queue, but rather an online virtual queue…

Read more…

Disney Made It More Difficult to Ride What You Want, Just in Time for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

If you’re going down the bayou to ride Walt Disney World’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, there’s a few things you need to know to make sure you’ll be able to experience the Magic Kingdom’s newest exciting attraction. It won’t have a traditional “wake up early and rush to the line” queue, but rather an online virtual queue…

Read more…

FCC chair asks telecoms companies to prove they're actually trying to stop political AI robocalls

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has drafted a series of letters to nine major telecom companies, including AT&T and Comcast, to ask if they’re actually doing anything about AI political robocalls. AI-generated voices are getting pretty good at mimicking humans and we’ve already seen this technology in action, when an audio deepfake urged voters to skip the New Hampshire Democratic primary.

“We know that AI technologies will make it cheap and easy to flood our networks with deepfakes used to mislead and betray trust. It is especially chilling to see AI voice cloning used to impersonate candidates during elections. As AI tools become more accessible to bad actors and scammers, we need to do everything we can to keep this junk off our networks,” wrote Rosenworcel.

It’s worth noting that all AI robocalls were banned back in February, political or not, but the big telecom companies have yet to announce any enforcement plans. The mandate, however, does give State Attorneys General the ability to prosecute those involved in the robocalls.

Rosenworcel has also been trying to force political campaigns to disclose whether or not they used AI in TV or radio ads, as reported by US News & World Report. The proposed plan, however, has faced opposition from the Republican chair of the Federal Election Commission. Chairman Sean Cooksey wrote in a letter to Rosenworcel that the plan would overwrite the authority of the FEC to enforce federal campaign law, prompting a legal challenge.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/fcc-chair-asks-telecoms-companies-to-prove-theyre-actually-trying-to-stop-political-ai-robocalls-184227549.html?src=rss

Motorola RAZR Plus 2024, Larger Cover Display With Software Upgrades, Better Camera, and Moto AI

Today, Motorola unveiled its 2024 Razr flip phone series, which includes the Razr Plus (2024) and the Razr (2024). This launch marks a significant moment for the Chicago-based brand as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of its iconic Razr V3, the ancestor to its current foldable smartphones. In honor of the V3’s release, Moto is reintroducing the popular Hot Pink 3 color, initially launched in December 2005 (the year we officially started Ubergizmo). However, this vibrant hue will be available exclusively for the Razr Plus.  The Razr and the Razr Plus feature the same vegan leather finish but come in different colors.

Razr Plus 2024

What’s New – Razr Plus 2024 vs. the previous 2023 model

Compared to last year’s Razr Plus, the major visible upgrades are the larger 4-inch cover screen and the boxier form factor designed to improve the device’s durability. Thanks to the Gorilla Glass Victus, the external display is better protected against scratches and drops.

The devices come with a broad range of new software features, including Moto AI and Google Gemini, as well as new customization options for the external display; read more in the dedicated paragraph.

laft Razr Plus 2023 – right razr Plus 2024 with thinner hinge and larger cover screen

Motorola also improved the photography experience with a 50 MP primary shooter, a significant change from the previous 12 MP sensor. The secondary camera is now a 50 MP telephoto dedicated to portraits, replacing the previous 13 MP wide-angle macro optic system.

I highly appreciate the introduction of underwater protection with the IPX8 certification. This is an important improvement over the previous IP52, which only protected against limited water spray and dust ingress.

Inside, the Razr Plus gets the latest Qualcomm Soc, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a toned-down version of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, nevertheless a very powerful processor. The previous model featured the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.  On the memory side, the device is equipped with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of storage.

The battery capacity has been increased from 3700 mAh to 4000 mAh, featuring 45W TurboPower, 15 W wireless charging, and 5 W reverse charging. The 2023 model offered only 30 W TurboPower and 5W wireless charging.

Price and availability 

The new Motorola Razr+  2024 will be available for pre-order at T-Mobile, AT&T and at motorola.com, Amazon.com, and Best Buy on July 10 for $999.99. Besides the iconic Hot Pink3, the new Razr Plus comes in Midnight Blue, Spring Green, and Pantone Color of the Year 2024, Peach Fuzz. 

At $699.99, the Razr is more affordable and has a smaller 3.6″ external display. We will soon have more information on the Razr Plus sibling.

From left to right: Pantone Color of the Year 2024, Peach Fuzz,, Hot Pink3, Spring Green, and Midnight Blue,

Design and External Display

The revamped hinge is 30% thinner than the previous model, allowing users to close the smartphone with one hand. All models have a vegan leather finish that feels good in the hand. The 4-inch pOLED panel offers a 1272×1080 resolution with a pixel density of 413 PPI.

Its theoretical peak brightness of 3000 NITS ensures clear visibility even in direct sunlight.

Internal Display

The internal 6.9-inch pOLED display is gorgeous and boasts a resolution of 2640 x 1080. Similarly to the cover screen, the internal display is LPTO with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 165 Hz, providing an excellent gaming experience and smooth user interface while preserving the battery life.

Cameras

Main camera

The dual external camera system includes a 50 MP sensor with an f1/7 aperture and 0.8um pixel size. The 50 MP telephoto lens offers a 2 X optical zoom with an f/2.2 aperture. Motorola ditched the macro camera in favor of a 2X zoom, which is mainly dedicated to portrait mode.

Selfie Camera

The selfie camera at the top of the internal 6.9-inch display features a 32 MP sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS).

Video capture

All cameras can capture up to 4K at 60 or 30 fps. The primary camera also supports slow-motion video at 960, 240, and 120 fps.

New AI and Software Features

Motorola cases for the Razr 2024 series

Motorola Razr users can access Google’s Gemini app directly from their external display. By simply pressing and holding the power button, users can open Gemini to help with tasks such as building a road trip itinerary, creating a personalized workout routine, finding recipes based on available ingredients, and more. Motorola partnered with Google to offer three free months of Gemini, a generative AI application based on Google’s LLM models. Additionally, this offer includes 2 TB of cloud storage and integration of Gemini into Google apps like Gmail and Docs, all part of the Google One AI Premium plan.

The external display features access to Google Photos, allowing users to instantly share, view, delete, and edit images and videos. A dedicated Spotify panel allows users to skip songs, and a Bose panel provides controls for Bose earbuds and headphones.

Motorola is introducing new customization options for the external display, including a range of clock faces and the ability to change the Desk Display to feature rotating text and images, creating a personalized screensaver.

Moto AI includes Style Sync, which creates wallpaper options based on the user’s selected outfit, and Magic Canvas, which generates images from text prompts.

Motorola’s Hello UX software offers a personalized user experience, including Smart Connect for advanced ecosystem connectivity, Family Space for a safe environment for kids, Moto Unplugged for disconnection options, and Moto Secure for advanced security settings. 

Moto AI upcoming generative AI functions will feature the following:

“Catch me up” provides a prioritized summary of personal communications.

“Pay attention” enables instant recording, transcribing, and summarizing of conversations or speakers.

“Remember this” captures live moments or on-screen information with AI-generated details for easy recall later.

Moto AI is accessible across the phone for assistance, quick suggestions, and answers to various questions, including device usage guidance. Gemini from Google Cloud will take care of more complex queries.

Moto Tag

Motorola introduced the Moto Tag, a Bluetooth® LE tracker with Ultra Wideband that works with Google’s Find My Device network. Like the Apple AirTag or the Samsung SmartTag2, the Moto Tag will help users find their valuable objects. It comes in two colors, green and blue, and will be available in the US on Aug. 2 for $30.

 

Motorola RAZR Plus 2024, Larger Cover Display With Software Upgrades, Better Camera, and Moto AI

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.