Netflix has updated its iOS app today with a couple of new features that are mostly minor, but are said to improve the app’s experience overall. Just as with the web-based version of Netflix and other app versions, the new iOS app now automatically plays the next episode of a TV series after the previous episode ends. The update also includes recommendations that appear after a movie ends.
Both of these features could be a convenient addition to some users, as it encourages binge-watching while you’re away from home. Of course, watching anything more than an episode of a TV show on your iPhone is enough to make your eyes hurt, so we’re guessing that iPad users will most likely get more use of these new features.
The updated app also improves on its second screen options, as well as comes with the usual slew of bug fixes and performance enhancements. These updates were included in the Android app update that was released yesterday. It wasn’t a big update by any means, but iOS users are now getting the bug fixes from yesterday.
The Netflix app is available for free to download, and it’s compatible on pretty much any mobile device. However, you’ll need to pay $8 per month in order to take advantage of the unlimited streaming. The service’s movie options are bit limited, but you can get access to quite a bit of good TV shows and stream them while on the go.
It was announced back in January that Jurassic Park 4 would be released next year on June 13, officially bringing back the aging franchise. However, it turns out that the movie has been put on hold. Universal Studios has confirmed that the movie is delayed indefinitely, which has us wondering if the Jurassic Part reboot will come back at all.
The news was first speculated after several members of the production crew tweeted about the delay of Jurassic Park 4. Those tweets have since been deleted, but Universal Studios says that the movie, indeed, has been delayed and will be released “at a later date.” However, it seems that the movie will still see the light of day eventually.
Then again, we can’t be too surprised by the delay. A June 2014 release date seemed pretty quick, and while the script is reportedly finished, the production team most likely didn’t feel confident that they would be able to deliver a quality movie by the summer of next year, so it may be another year before we see the next installment come to the big screen.
Of course, while the anticipation of a new Jurassic Park film has us slightly excited, we’re still bitter over the second and third installments in the series, and now that little Timothy is all grown up, we can’t imagine there being a better cast than what we saw in the first Jurassic Park. Nonetheless, we’re keeping our optimism. What about you?
It’s finally time to get a good look at the film adaptation of the science fiction novel classic Ender’s Game with the first official full-length trailer for the movie. This trailer is just under two minutes long and has Harrison Ford speaking in what might be the least intense declaration of intent in the history of on-film representations of the military, rivaled only by his admittedly unenthusiastic voice-over for the theater version of Blade Runner. That said, the visuals appear to be bringing a fully prepared vision from director Gavin Hood and producer Bob Orci.
This clip is joined by a Google Hangout that’s taking place starting at 1pm PDT / 4pm EDT and going forward into the afternoon. This Google+ Hangout holds the heads of the film, Hood and Orci, speaking to select members of the public as well as the star of the film Asa Butterfield. This actor portrays Ender in the film which will be released on the 1st of November this year.
Ender’s Game has also seen the start of a viral campaign that will be ushering in information about the plot and the environment which will hold the characters of this science fiction story. This story takes place in the future, a future where a single alien invasion has set our Earth on high alert, allowing a single government system to keep sway over the citizens of our planet while they train children to become future military leaders. These children – Ender included – are part of a future era of humanity in which kids have the potential to become genius-level thinkers in their adolescence.
The film stars Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, and Sir Ben Kingsley amongst many new entrants into the major motion picture world. This film is the first official adaptation of the Orson Scott Card novel Ender’s Game, a book which was born of a short science fiction tale told in the pages of Analog Science Fiction and Fact.
Have a peek at SlashGear’s brief timeline of events that’ve recently lead up to this release and be prepared for a flow of information the likes of which we’ve not seen since Prometheus.
Today is the day the Ender’s Game movie gets its first full-length trailer. But before it’s released, the company behind the production is pushing a full-breadth viral data campaign to support it. Much in the same way Prometheus was supported by the virtual presence of the company Weyland Industries, here Ender’s Game is heralded by the International Fleet. This government group plays a major part in the Ender’s Game story, and here appears with propaganda aplenty for those anticipating the film.
The International Fleet Sentinel is a faux-publication being shown through the micro-blogging website Tumblr. There you’ll find a series of five portals that bring information about the story through blurbs written from the perspective of the space army that is the International Fleet and the world government, graphics included. The first of these is a Mission Statement.
Series: Mission Statement of the International Fleet
It’s here that the International Fleet lets Earth know that it remains at the center of the “single, harmonious government” preparing for a potential second global invasion by aliens that were defeated by Mazer Rackham in the distant past. Readers of the book know that this posturing is done for more than just the benefit of the citizens of the Earth’s confidence in their leadership.
“Lucky for us, every human being has preparation on their mind,” reports I.F. Major Gerald Stacks, special negotiations envoy to the nations of Earth. “The leadership of humanity must prioritize interstellar readiness and, to support that, total global cohesion.”
This theme seems to be getting pushed harder than it is in the original book. Perhaps we’ll see more of a “big government crush” than we do in the original storyline. And hopefully more of Peter and Valentine.
Next Leader Recruitment
The application process for Battle School is not that unlike joining the Navy here in the present, only it’s not the recruit that signs away their future, it’s their parents. Gifted children are what Battle School will be pushing through to end up in I.F. Tactical and the Strategic Training Academy.
“There is no greater pride for parents than to see their children achieve greatness, and there is no greater achievement than to protect the survival of our race. The I.F. Tactical and Strategic Training Academies are training tomorrow’s brightest leaders and greatest public servants. Our world needs heroes. Your children are our brightest hope.
These exclusive academies provide a safe place for gifted children to refine their focus and learn the necessary skills to lead our planet in the impending intergalactic war. Prepare our world for the future and prepare your child for greatness today.
Does your child have what it takes? Could your child be the next Mazer Rackham? Apply to the I.F. through your local recruiting office to discuss your child’s government sponsored education.”
Of course these kids wont remain children as such for long. As the story tells us and as we can expect from the film, Battle School gives no mercy to the future battle-hardened members of the military, not for size, not for ability, not at any level. Through this mercilessness, Ender will become more powerful than the coddled child he was on Earth.
Here you’ll see the first teaser for the film, a seconds-long set of mini-clips also making way for the first full-length trailer coming up later today.
Developing a Strategic Mind
Here you’ll find information about the Battle School, where Ender and other future geniuses are sent to develop and become great leaders. It’s not in every plotline that a group of children are given such regard. Here though, the IF has recognized the power of the children of this future generation and will be making full use of it.
Looking Back at the Great Invasion
Setting the viewer up for an understanding of why everyone is so flustered about aliens in the movie, this bit tells of the former great leader of the military in Mazer Rackham. This fellow is, in the story, a major hero and one looked up to as history’s most prominent savior of the human race. The victory he commanded allowed the “Great Invasion” to be stopped and preparations to begin for the next wave of alien opponents.
Thirds
A plot element used in the Ender’s Game story used to single out Ender and prepare him to be a major military leader for the future of the human race. This Thirds announcement lets the world know that though overpopulation has regulated society at large to have only two children per couple of parents lest a special exception be made. Ender is, of course, part of a very special situation, as we’ll find throughout the story.
As it was with the Acer Enterprise-esque spot that turned out to be a rather strange Windows 8 computer by the name of Aspire R7 last month, so too do the stars of Star Trek appear this week in a video spot for Audi. In their newest crossover appearance, both original Spock and new-age Spock have a bit of a battle on the road, complete with so many Star Trek references your head will spin. This spot is also home to a driverless / self-driven Audi vehicle in addition to the Audi S7, as driven by Zachary Quinto.
What the audience will find in this push for the film is an advertisement for an Audi vehicle stocked with infotainment system, light-up bits and pieces, and a presentation that makes Leonard Nimoy’s ride look like a bit of a joke. Of course that’s the point, as the new age – with Quinto, aka Spock from the newest series of Star Trek movies – makes way as the old – Leonard Nimoy, stays cool.
You’ll find Nimoy making reference after reference not just to Star Trek in more form than one, but to his own professional (read: odd) past as well. For an extended period of his vehicle trip in this video he sings a new rendition of the classic “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins”, a song which he sang for a variety show in 1967 by he name of Malibu U. Because we live in an age where all things digital can be preserved, you’ll be treated to this epic masterpiece as well, right this minute.
Please mind the 60′s pixie women, if you can. Zachary Quinto meanwhile stays par for the course, ready to appear as Spock for the film Star Trek Into Darkness later this month – on the 17th of May, mind you. It’s also rumored that Quinto will be returning to the most terrifying television show of all for another season soon: American Horror Story. Can’t be too silly for that one.
A few days ago, Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, claimed that there was a correlation between the piracy rate in a given region and the availability of Netflix in said region. He says that torrent traffic goes down whenever Netflix comes to town. However, BitTorrent has spoken on the matter and says that Sarandos is woefully ill-informed.
BitTorrent says that two of Sarandos’ statements are not true, the first being that the BitTorrent application is a synonym for internet piracy, and the second being that BitTorrent traffic drops when Netflix arrives in new markets around the world. BitTorrent says that neither of these statements is true.
BitTorrent says that it’s an excusable mistake to connect internet piracy with BitTorrent, but the company claims that it’s addressing the public’s concern with piracy. However, BitTorrent says that many companies use BitTorrent to “preserve terabytes of data,” including Facebook, Twitter, Blizzard, Eve Online, genetic researchers, and even CERN.
As for the piracy correlation that Sarandos mentioned, BitTorrent says that they are not competing with Netflix, and Netflix shouldn’t have to compete with BitTorrent. The company says that they are “actually finding ways to support companies like [Netflix], content creators, studios, and other rights-holders directly.” BitTorrent went as far as saying that they’re “getting ready to roll out an Alpha program” that they believe could drive more traffic to movie streaming services.
Starz Play has had a home on iOS since October, but now it’s made the jump to Android, and it’s brought Encore Play and Movieplex Play along with it. By wielding the apps, users can stream video from the TV network over WiFi and 3G — provided they have a cable subscription with AT&T U-verse, Cox, DirecTV or Verizon. Comcast customers aren’t entirely left out in the cold, however, as they can already catch content licensed from the television channel through the Xfinity website and apps. If you’re ready to get your fill of Starz flicks, hit the bordering source links for the downloads.
This past weekend saw the opening of the third installment in the Iron Man series, and to no one’s real surprise, the movie took off in the US box office, grossing $175.3 million in just a few days, which makes Iron Man 3 the second-highest weekend opening ever, behind The Avengers, which is also a movie produced by Marvel.
The movie eclipses other box office films such as The Dark Knight series, The Hunger Games, and Spider-Man 3. Iron Man 3 beat out its predecessor by almost $50 million during opening weekend, when Iron Man 2 grossed $128.1 million during its opening weekend two years ago, where it ended up grossing $312.4 million altogether in the US.
However, Iron Man 3 is expected to gross a lot more than that. Analysts expect Iron Man 3 to gross a lot more than Iron Man 2, but The Avengers are still expected to keep the lead, where it ranks number three in all-time revenue at $623 million in the US, and comes in at number one in all-time opening weekend revenue at $207 million in the US.
Many would say that Iron Man 2 was quite underwhelming compared to the first film in the series, but with The Avengers being released last year, which featured Robert Downey Jr. playing Tony Stark in the film, The Avengers essentially set up Stark for a threequel that got comic book fans and geeks alike really excited for the next movie in the series.
For those of you waiting for May 7th to see the first look at footage from the upcoming science fiction movie translation of the book Ender’s Game, you’re in for a treat. This week the folks at Summit Entertainment have released a teaser for the full trailer complete with an introduction by Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield, they playing two of the main characters from the story. But beware – if you’re one of the rare people out there halfway through the book right this moment in preparation for the film, you’ll be spoiled heavily.
What you’re going to see here is a major spoiler in the form of a character appearing that, if you’re a fan of the book, you’ll remember isn’t supposed to appear outside of flash-backs and memories. Here he’s shown in the form of Ben Kingsley with a name tag making his role in the movie plain as day. If you’ve never read the book and don’t plan on it, this appearance won’t affect your movie viewing (unless you happen to remember his name when you begin your viewing experience.)
The rest of the trailer is full of quick flashes of major plot devices like the Battle School and the Battle Room it contains. There you’ll see the big screen’s interpretation of “stars” inside the Battle Room, Flash Suits, and even a recreation of one of the most entertaining moments in the book. What we must assume is that this is Bean, a character that shadows Ender throughout the book and here uses a thin cord to out-maneuver the enemy in a game at the school.
“When the gate opened, all they could see was a large brown star only fifteen feet away, completely blocking their view of the enemy’s gate.
Ender didn’t pause. “Bean, give yourself fifty feet of rope and go around the star.” Bean and his four soldiers dropped through the gate and in a moment Bean was launched sideways away from the star. The rope snapped taut, and Bean flew forward. As the rope was stopped by each edge of the star in turn, his arc became tighter and his speed greater, until when he hit the wall only a few feet away from the gate he was barely able to control his rebound to end up behind the star. But he immediately moved all his arms and legs so that those waiting inside the gate would know that the enemy hadn’t flashed him anywhere.” – Hatrack, from Ender’s Game original story from August 1977 issue of Analog
Have a peek at the timeline below to see other recent sneak peaks, leaks, and straight up teasers from Ender’s Game the movie and follow SlashGear’s entertainment portal for more information on this film as it approaches this winter. The movie itself comes out on the first of November, but given the amount of teaser material we’ve seen thus far, there’ll certainly be a massive amount of buildup between here and there.
Media companies have been in a constant battle with piracy for several years now with no end in site. However, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos thinks that the best way to fight piracy isn’t through legislation or trying to catch people and throw them in jail, but rather to offer legal services that are reasonably priced.
Sarandos says that there is a correlation between Netflix launching in a certain country and BitTorrent traffic slowing down in that same region. It’s quite easy to see why, as well. Netflix offers unlimited streaming of a large collection of TV shows and movies for only $7.99 per month. Other streaming services, like Spotify and Rdio for music, also offer similar features for a low monthly cost.
Sarandos says that “people are mostly honest,” and a big reason why users illegally download content is because they can’t get it any other way conveniently and cheaply. For instance, you can buy and rent movies and TV shows from a variety of services, but they’re usually caked with DRM, which is a turn-off to any media junkie.
As for Netflix’s commitment to 4K streaming, there isn’t one just yet. Sarandos says that Netflix will wait until 4K evolves into a format where it can be streamed logically, at which point the company may look into it, but for now they’re only keeping their eye on it to see how 4K unfolds over these next few years.
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