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Samsung Updates Internet for Gear VR with New Immersive Features[teaser]The company's virtual reality internet browser now offers several new features.[/teaser] Samsung has announced an update for its "Samsung Internet for Gear VR" app. Version 4.2 of the VR optimized browser offers background customization, WebVR v1.0 support, a file explorer option, and more. The Samsung Internet for Gear VR app lets users browse the internet and view videos and photos on a large, virtual screen while maintaining seamless integration with the standard Samsung Internet for Android app on Galaxy smartphones through synchronized data (bookmarks, video history lists, etc.). The new version adds a Change Background feature, allowing users to customize the background of their VR space with premium images from cloud graphics company OTOY, creating a deep and vivid browsing experience. Likewise, the updated app also includes WebVR v1.0 support for viewing streaming VR videos and 3D images on websites from various angles. In addition, the browser features a File Explorer option as well, providing easy access to images and videos stored on a user's mobile device, or on USB storage through the USB OTG (on-the-go) support feature. Finally, the app also maintains its voice recognition support, on-screen keyboard, and compatibility with Bluetooth devices such as keyboards, mice and gamepads for a fully immersive experience. The new Samsung Internet for Gear VR app is available for download from the Oculus Store and is designed for use with the Samsung Gear VR headset. The new Samsung Gear VR ($100) includes USB Type-C and Micro USB connectors along with an improved 101° Field of View and a more comfortable design. Supported smartphones include the Galaxy S7, S7 edge, Note5, S6, S6 edge, and S6 edge+. Source: SamsungPosted Tue Dec 27, 2016 at 02:00 PM PST by: -
LG Reveals PJ9 Levitating Portable Speaker[teaser]The new hovering speaker will make its debut at CES 2017.[/teaser] LG has unveiled its latest audio innovation, the PJ9 Levitating Portable Speaker. The futuristic speaker is designed to hover in place over its accompanying Levitation Station, offering high quality audio with a striking visual effect. "The PJ9 wireless speaker is an exciting combination of audio design and innovation, offering the perfect balance between performance, beauty and versatility," said Tim Alessi, head of product marketing at LG Electronics USA. "This latest addition to our growing lineup of premium wireless audio devices will not only turn heads, but it makes the bold statement that LG is committed to exploring new concepts and pioneering innovative audio designs for consumers around the world." Through the use of powerful electromagnets housed within the Levitation Station, the PJ9 is able to float in mid-air. The speaker provides 360 degree omnidirectional sound with a turbine blade-inspired design and Dual Passive Radiator technology to produce flush mid-range tones and clean highs. Likewise, the system is capable of deep bass thanks to the subwoofer integrated within the included Levitation Station. In addition, the portable speaker is IPX7 compliant, allowing it to withstand adverse weather conditions so users can enjoy listening to music indoors or outdoors. Multipoint technology is featured as well, letting customers connect the speaker to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Battery life is rated for 10 hours, and when the PJ9 starts to run low on power, the smart portable speaker automatically descends to its Levitation Station where it charges wirelessly without interrupting music playback. Pricing and availability have not been announced yet, but the LG PJ9 Levitating Portable Speaker will be on display at CES 2017 from January 5-8 in Las Vegas. Source: LGPosted Tue Dec 27, 2016 at 11:45 AM PST by: -
NBA Offers New Real-Time Mobile Basketball App That Syncs With Live Games[teaser]Mobile users can now compete for prizes in the NBA's new second screen app.[/teaser] The NBA has announced the release of NBA InPlay for Android and iOS mobile platforms. The real-time fantasy competition app syncs with live cable and satellite basketball games being played on a user's TV, offering them the chance to earn points and win prizes. Here's a full rundown of how the app works per NBA.com and the Google Play Store: - NBA InPlay automatically recognizes the audio of any NBA game on cable or satellite. If there's an NBA game on TNT, NBA TV, ESPN or ABC, you can turbo boost your experience with this app. - Choose a game and team to play. Select one player per quarter and get points from their performance. Who do you pick? Whatever player you predict is going to put up numbers! - The better your player performs, the more points you earn. - Activate turbo mode to get points from all team members, plus even higher points from your player. - Compete against your friends or other NBA fans. - Rise up the leaderboard and win official NBA prizes. For a full schedule of upcoming games compatible with NBA InPlay, click here! NBA InPlay is now available for iOS and Android devices through the iPhone App Store and Google Play Store. Beyond their new mobile second screen app, the NBA also recently broadcast its first live 4K basketball game in the US. The Ultra HD broadcast featured the Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz and was presented through DirecTV on December 3. DirecTV plans to announce additional 4K Ultra HD NBA broadcasts in the future. Sources: NBA, Google, EngadgetPosted Mon Dec 26, 2016 at 09:30 PM PST by: -
Amazon Preps 'Just Add Magic' Season Two for January 13 Premiere[teaser]The kids series will return for a second season next month.[/teaser] Amazon has announced a release date for 'Just Add Magic' season two. New episodes of the original kids show will start streaming on Prime Video in the US and UK on January 13. "Kids and families have embraced Kelly, Darbie and Hannah and we're excited to debut another season next month," said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. "There's more suspense and magic in the new season as the girls' mastery of magic will be called upon to protect their bond. The first season led our customers to extend beyond the show with family cooking time and hope the new season will continue that tradition." In season two, the girls' Last-Ditch Layer Cake breaks every spell in town which miraculously brings Grandma Quinn (Dee Wallace, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial) back to her normal self, however it also brings back an old enemy…Chuck Hankins. Chuck disappeared when he was a teenager, but when he returns 50 years later, he hasn't aged a day. When Chuck begins to meddle with the girls' lives, they must put aside their summer of fun in order to save the magic from falling into the wrong hands. As the girls begin to investigate, they learn that Chuck isn't just an ordinary troublemaker. In fact, he's capable of much more than they could ever imagine. Chuck is creating his own magic cookbook and may be seeking revenge on the people who spelled him years ago. His master plan will eventually put one of the trio in grave danger unless Kelly, Hannah and Darbie can find a way to defeat Chuck once and for all. Other upcoming Amazon premieres include the documentary film 'Gleason' on December 29 and the original series 'Z: The Beginning of Everything' on January 27. In addition, Amazon also recently renewed 'Bosch' for a fourth season, greenlit full season orders for its 2016 Comedy Pilot Lineup, announced a new series titled 'Britannia' for 2017, started development on 'Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,' ordered a 13 episode documentary series called 'American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story,' announced an additional docuseries titled 'Novak' about tennis player Novak Djokovic, revealed plans to develop a series inspired by 'The Departed,' renewed 'Catastrophe' for a third and fourth season scheduled for 2017 and 2018 respectively, renewed 'One Mississippi' for a second season, and ordered new shows from Matthew Weiner and David O. Russell. A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. Source: AmazonPosted Mon Dec 26, 2016 at 03:00 PM PST by: -
BenQ Replaces W1070 Projector with New $699 Full HD HT1070 Model[teaser]The updated projector model is now available for purchase.[/teaser] BenQ has announced the release of its latest projector, the HT1070. The Full HD Colorific projector serves as a replacement for the company's award-winning W1070. "BenQ is built on a promise of delivering innovation and value," said J.Y. Hu, vice president, business line management at BenQ America Corp. "With the HT1070, we've taken our most popular projector and made it even better. It's packed with all of the advanced features to provide that larger-than-life experience that fits today's entertainment needs." The HT1070 is a full HD 1080p DLP projector with a six-segment color wheel (RGBRGB), a 10000:1 contrast ratio, and 2,000 lumens of brightness. In addition, the device is capable of projecting images up to 100 inches at just eight feet away from the screen. Likewise, the projector uses BenQ's BrilliantColor tech for realistic color depth and range without the rainbow effect, and offers a dedicated sports mode "which blends precision color tuning with digital enhancements for ultra-realistic skin tones and stunning color vibrancy." A built-in 10W Speaker with CinemaMaster Audio Enhancer is included as well, along with dual HDMI inputs. The HT1070 is also ISFccc-certified by the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) with ISF Day and ISF Night modes. Finally, the projector features BenQ's industry leading energy saving SmartEco technology for longer lamp life. SmartEco tech automatically adjusts lamp power to use as little light as necessary. This ensures the best contrast and brightness performance while maximizing power savings. BenQ's new HT1070 1080p Home Theater projector is now available for a suggested retail price of $699. An optional full HD wireless kit WDP01 ($299) is also available for transmitting wireless uncompressed Full HD video and audio. Source: BenQPosted Fri Dec 23, 2016 at 08:30 AM PST by: -
Hulu Releases Trailer for 'The Path' Season 2, Streaming Premiere Set for January 25[teaser]The streaming series starring Aaron Paul will return for a second season in January.[/teaser] Hulu has revealed a trailer for 'The Path' season two. The show's first season previously concluded on May 25. 'The Path' follows a family at the center of a controversial cult movement as they struggle with relationships, faith and power. Each episode takes an in-depth look at the gravitational pull of belief and what it means to choose between the life we live and the life we want. The series blends elements of mystery-thriller, romance and the supernatural. The show was created by Jessica Goldberg who also serves as a writer and executive-producer, along with Jason Katims and Michelle Lee of True Jack Productions. Series stars include Aaron Paul, Michelle Monaghan, and Hugh Dancy. All ten episodes of 'The Path' season one are now available to stream through Hulu. Season two is set to include thirteen installments. Check out the official trailer below! Beyond new episodes of 'The Path,' other upcoming Hulu series include the first season of 'National Treasure' on March 1, a reimagining of 'Foxy Brown' starring Meagan Good, 'The Handmaid's Tale' based on the novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, and 'Future Man' from executive producers Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Matt Tolmach, and James Weaver. In addition, the streaming platform recently launched support for user profiles and Ultra HD streaming. With the new profile feature, each Hulu account can now add up to six specific profiles, offering a personalized experience for different members of the household. Meanwhile, Hulu's initial lineup of 4K streaming titles includes original series like 'Shut Eye,' 'Chance,' 'The Path,' and '11.22.63,' along with more than 20 James Bond movies, including 'Spectre,' 'Die Another Day,' and 'Golden Eye.' Hulu 4K streaming is currently supported through the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One S. More Ultra HD content and support for more devices will be added throughout 2017. A current Hulu subscription starts at $8 per month with commercials or $12 per month for ad-free playback. A Hulu live streaming platform is also planned to launch in early 2017 with content expected from Turner Networks, Fox, ABC, ESPN, FX, and the Disney Channel. Source: Hulu (YouTube)Posted Fri Dec 23, 2016 at 07:30 AM PST by: -
Amazon Sets January 13 Premiere Date for 'Sneaky Pete' Starring Giovanni Ribisi[teaser]The new series from executive producer Graham Yost will start streaming next month.[/teaser] Amazon has announced a release date for its latest original show, 'Sneaky Pete.' The series is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in the US, UK, Germany, and Austria on January 13. From the creator of 'Justified' and Executive Producer Bryan Cranston comes an exciting new series about a con-man, Marius (Giovanni Ribisi), on the run from a vicious gangster. Marius hides by assuming the identity of his prison cellmate, Pete, and takes cover with Pete's estranged family – a colorful group (headed by Margo Martindale) with well-guarded and dangerous secrets of their own. Check out the official trailer below! "We're excited that 2017 will be starting with Sneaky Pete, an inside look at the world of con artists," said Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy and Drama, Amazon Studios. "The remarkable cast, led by Giovanni Ribisi, and innovative producers Bryan Cranston and Graham Yost have made a fantastic series that we're excited to bring to customers." Other upcoming Amazon premieres include the documentary film 'Gleason' on December 29 and the original series 'Z: The Beginning of Everything' on January 27. In addition, Amazon also recently renewed 'Bosch' for a fourth season, greenlit full season orders for its 2016 Comedy Pilot Lineup, announced a new series titled 'Britannia' for 2017, started development on 'Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,' ordered a 13 episode documentary series called 'American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story,' announced an additional docuseries titled 'Novak' about tennis player Novak Djokovic, revealed plans to develop a series inspired by 'The Departed,' renewed 'Catastrophe' for a third and fourth season scheduled for 2017 and 2018 respectively, renewed 'One Mississippi' for a second season, and ordered new shows from Matthew Weiner and David O. Russell. A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. Source: AmazonPosted Fri Dec 23, 2016 at 06:30 AM PST by: -
LG Readies New Mid-Range Smartphone Lineup for CES 2017 Debut[teaser]Five new smartphone models will be revealed at CES.[/teaser] LG has announced plans to debut four new K Series smartphones at CES 2017. In addition, the company will unveil its new Stylo 3 at the show as well. The upcoming mid-range products are designed to offer many of the same premium technologies found on LG's higher end smartphone models. "Our 2017 mass-tier, mid-range smartphones focus on giving our customers a wide variety of options and choices for their smartphone lifestyles," said Juno Cho, president of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "What's consistent in all our K Series and Stylus 3 devices is that they look and feel premium, offer replaceable batteries and all come with expandable memory slots – what customers consider key factors when buying smartphones in this category." The new K Series will feature four models -- the K3, K4, K8, and K10 -- providing different options to match different customer's needs. Screen sizes range from 4.5-inches to 5.3-inches with resolutions ranging from 854 x 480 to 1280 x 720. Meanwhile, the LG Stylo 3 features a 5.7-inch 720p screen and is designed to provide a great note taking experience by simulating the feel of an actual pen with the device's new 1.8mm diameter fiber-tip stylus. Here's a full rundown of specs for each model per the press release... K10 Key Specifications: Chipset: MT6750 1.5 GHz Octa-CoreDisplay: 5.3-inch HD In-cell Touch (1280 x 720 / 277ppi)Memory: 2GB LPDDR3 RAM / 16 or 32GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)Camera: Front 5MP (Wide) / Rear 13MP (Standard)Battery: 2,800mAh (removable)Operating System: Android 7.0 NougatSize: 148.7 x 75.3 x 7.9mmWeight: 142gNetwork: LTE / 3G / 2GConnectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.2 / USB 2.0 / NFCColor: Black / Titan / GoldOther: Fingerprint Scanner K8 Key Specifications: Chipset: MSM8917 1.4 Quad-CoreDisplay: 5.0-inch HD In-cell Touch (1280 x 720 / 294ppi)Memory: 1.5GB LPDDR3 RAM / 16GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 32GB)Camera: Front 5MP / Rear 13MPBattery: 2,500mAh (removable)Operating System: Android 7.0 NougatSize: 144.8 x 72.1 x 8.09mmWeight: 142gNetwork: LTE / 3G / 2GConnectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.2 / USB 2.0 / NFCColor: Silver / Titan / Dark Blue / Gold K4 Key Specifications: Chipset: MSM8909 1.1GHz Quad-CoreDisplay: 5.0-inch FWVGA In-cell Touch (854 x 480 / 196ppi)Memory: 1GB LPDDR3 RAM / 8GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 32GB)Camera: Front 5MP / Rear 5MPBattery: 2,500mAh (removable)Operating System: Android 6.0.1 MarshmallowSize: 144.76 x 72.6 x 7.9mmWeight: 135gNetwork: LTE / 3G / 2GConnectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.1 / USB 2.0Color: Titan / Black K3 Key Specifications: Chipset: MSM8909 1.1GHz Quad-CoreDisplay: 4.5-inch FWVGA On-cell Touch (854 x 480 / 218ppi)Memory: 1GB LPDDR3 RAM / 8GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 32GB)Camera: Front 2MP / Rear 5MPBattery: 2,100mAh (removable)Operating System: Android 6.0.1 MarshmallowSize: 133.9 x 69.75 x 9.44mmWeight: 132gNetwork: LTE / 3G / 2GConnectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.1 / USB 2.0Color: Black Stylo 3 Key Specifications: Chipset: MT6750 1.5GHz Octa-CoreDisplay: 5.7-inch HD In-cell Touch (1280 x 720 / 258ppi)Memory: 3GB LPDDR3 RAM / 16GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)Camera: Front 8MP / Rear 13MPBattery: 3,200mAh (removable)Operating System: Android 7.0 NougatSize: 155.6 x 79.8 x 7.4mmWeight: 149gNetwork: LTE / 3G / 2GConnectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.2 / USB 2.0Color: Metallic Titan / Pink GoldOther: Stylus Pen / FM Radio / Fingerprint Scanner Pricing and availability will be announced in the coming weeks. All five smartphones will be on display at CES 2017 from January 5-8 in Las Vegas. Source: LGPosted Thu Dec 22, 2016 at 04:00 PM PST by: -
Clay Tweel's Documentary Film 'Gleason' Heads to Amazon Prime Video on December 29[teaser]The Amazon Original Movie will hit Prime Video next week.[/teaser] Amazon has announced a streaming release date for its original documentary, 'Gleason.' The film will be available through Prime Video at no additional cost to members on December 29. "We are incredibly excited for our customers to experience Gleason's inspiring story of strength, grace, love and family on Prime Video," said Jason Ropell, Worldwide Head of Motion Pictures, Amazon Studios. Shortly after former New Orleans Saints star defensive back Steve Gleason is diagnosed with ALS at the age of 34, he learns that his wife Michel is pregnant with their first child. Determined to live his remaining years to their fullest, Steve goes on an expedition to Alaska, creates a foundation to help others with ALS patients, rebuilds a rocky relationship with his father and embraces new technologies to help compensate for his deteriorating physical abilities—all with Michel’s unwavering support. Brimming with humor and heart, this inspirational documentary follows a man who battles overwhelming adversity to find his true purpose in life. Check out the official trailer below! 'Gleason' previously made its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically on July 29, 2016. Other upcoming Amazon premieres include 'Z: The Beginning of Everything' on January 27. In addition, Amazon also recently renewed 'Bosch' for a fourth season, greenlit full season orders for its 2016 Comedy Pilot Lineup, announced a new series titled 'Britannia' for 2017, started development on 'Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,' ordered a 13 episode documentary series called 'American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story,' announced an additional docuseries titled 'Novak' about tennis player Novak Djokovic, revealed plans to develop a series inspired by 'The Departed,' renewed 'Catastrophe' for a third and fourth season scheduled for 2017 and 2018 respectively, renewed 'One Mississippi' for a second season, and ordered new shows from Matthew Weiner and David O. Russell. A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. Source: AmazonPosted Thu Dec 22, 2016 at 01:45 PM PST by:
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DTS Highlights Headphone:X Immersive Audio Technology with New 'Sound of Sport' Video Series[teaser]Experience DTS Headphone:X for yourself in this new video clip![/teaser] DTS and Red Bull have released a new motorsports video clip designed to show off DTS Headphone:X immersive audio technology. The clip, featuring Red Bull motorcyle stunt rider Aaron Colton, is the first of a new video series called 'Sound of Sport.' DTS Headphone:X technology simulates the 3D environment of an audio track's original mixing stage, providing an immersive 360 degree surround sound experience through any pair of headphones or earbuds on any device. Designed to highlight the format, the new 'Sound of Sport' series uses "top-tier sound technology to bring viewers into the world of sport in a way never before seen (or heard)." The first clip features Red Bull stunt rider Aaron Colton as he travels across Donner Pass performing various tricks and stunts on his motorcycle. To experience DTS Headphone:X for yourself, put on any pair of headphones or earbuds and check out the video clip through this link! "Watching anything motorsports without good sound is like watching a foreign movie without subtitles," said Red Bull stunt rider Aaron Colton. "You may be able to piece the story together, but it still won't add up. I watch so many motorsports videos where sound is nothing more than an afterthought. That's just not okay. We've all been let down by our feature film 'cool guy' fake motorcycle sounds too many times. The minute clicks and buzzes of a motorcycle are aspects of the sport typically reserved for those on the machine. But through the state-of-the-art DTS Headphone:X immersive audio technology, the sound of sport can be realized with any pair of headphones." Beyond the new 'Sound of Sport' series, DTS previously showcased their Headphone:X tech with a demo clip titled 'Avant Card.' Likewise, DTS Headphone:X audio tracks are also available on titles from several other content providers, including select Blu-ray home entertainment releases from Paramount and Lionsgate. Headphone:X serves as a complement to the company's DTS:X object based surround sound format for home theaters. Source: Red BullPosted Wed Dec 21, 2016 at 04:00 PM PST by:
