Hasta La Gadget!

Ready to escape the usual crowd at the movie theater and host your own premieres at home? Prima Cinema has an answer, with the minor requirement of $35,000 (and a few other details) to get your home theater ready for first-run movies. Just as we’d heard when it first popped up a couple of years ago, that large setup fee buys the Cinema Player, a rack-mountable box loaded with a 2TB hard drive and enough DRM to keep the studios happy, plus a wired fingerprint reader used to ensure the owner’s identity. Movies download automatically to its hard drive in the background so they’re already there when the owner chooses to unlock them for viewing. That privilege costs $500 ($600 for 3D), good for one showing within 24 hours. Check after the break for more of our impressions after a quick preview at Prima’s CEDIA 2013 booth, then prep your black card for the pricey purchase.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Prima Cinema

If you didn’t see Cabin In The Woods that was stupid of you. It’s really great. Scary, meta and pretty gutsy. And like all good things, well okay like all things, its brilliance is being exploited for a theme park attraction. But it sounds awesome. Some sort-of-not-really spoilers ahead.

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Once you start accumulating multiple mobile gadgets, it’s probably time to get a decent stand for those times when you don’t want to hold your devices in your hand or on your lap. However, it makes no sense to have a stand for each of your mobile devices. That’s one of the reasons why this stand is really interesting, because it will cut down on the clutter on your desk, and save you the expense of multiple device-specific stands.

The less-is-more Bluelounge Mika keeps just about any device safely propped up while you’re using it. It can hold most every smartphone or tablet, and even can handle some small laptops.

Its aluminum frame has soft rubber edges that hold gadgets securely, and won’t scratch up your beloved devices. Since it’s made out of aluminum means that it will look nice sitting next to a variety of Apple devices and computers.

The Mika Universal stand is available directly from Bluelounge for $39.95(USD).

We’ve known since last year that Jurassic Park would make its return to theaters in 3D this April, but now Universal has also dropped the details about its Blu-ray 3D release, as well as the 2D release of all the flicks individually in March. Just to fill in the timeline: first Jurassic Park 1, 2 and 3 will hit Blu-ray/DVD individually (following the triple pack that shipped in 2011) on March 26th, then Jurassic Park in 3D arrives April 5th in regular and IMAX theaters (no, the now-dated CGI has not been redone, you can get a peek in the trailer embedded after the break) followed finally by the Blu-ray 3D April 26th.

While news that the flick is back on the big screen is exciting, we can’t help but think there’s a few missed opportunities here like the previously mentioned CGI, and lack of any extras detailing the conversion process on the disc. Still, some had complaints about the picture quality of the previous release and it’s possible that remastering done in the name of 3D could see a better version this time around for all viewers. Either way, after Titanic, I, Robot and even Top Gun seeing 3D re-release it appears this is definitely a trend. The individual movies are priced at $24.49 on Amazon, and the 3D combo pack is $34.99.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Jurassic Park 3D, Jurassic Park (2D)

While it seems like every network is rolling out its own personal second screen app for tablets and / or phones, over in the UK zeebox has been trying to corner the experience across channels and providers with its app. Available as an app for iOS and Android and also on the web, it brings a customized TV guide, live chat, social network sharing and remote control features to the TV experience, and now it’s come to the US. Other than the typical second screen experience, its main hook is an “OpenBox” API and tags that allow content providers to customize the experience for their viewers… and then sell them stuff like video on-demand or related merchandise.

On this side of the Atlantic zeebox has secured backing from Comcast / NBC Universal, giving it financial and promotional support as well as covering more than 30 networks right away. It also means it can eventually act as a remote control for Comcast users, which may be an advantage over competition like Miso, GetGlue and IntoNow, and can flex its muscles paired with hundreds of shows like The Voice, Notre Dame football and HBO content like True Blood. Out of the box, the app’s social ties and careful metering may be a programmer’s dream as it monitors who is watching what live, but we’ll have to see more of the second screen content come to life if it’s going to catch on socially. A customizable guide (yes, you can hide or reorder channels at will) is a nice touch and so is being able to see what your friends are viewing with Facebook Open Graph and Twitter hooks — but only if they’re actually using it. If you want to check it out, the free apps are linked below and the full press release follows after the break.

Continue reading Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Software, HD

Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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