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Google Details Daydream View VR Headset, Price Set for $79[teaser]The first Daydream headset has been revealed. [/teaser] Google has unveiled its first Daydream-ready headset and controller, the Daydream View. The device has been designed with comfort in mind, offering a simple and intuitive virtual reality experience. Unlike most VR headsets, the Daydream View is made with flexible and soft breathable fabrics, allowing the device to be 30% lighter than similar products while providing added comfort. Likewise, the headset can also fit over glasses. To use the Daydream View, customers simply need to drop in a Daydream-ready smartphone (like the Google Pixel) and lock it into place. From there, the phone and headset connect wirelessly with an auto alignment system. In addition, the product includes a compact controller packed with sensors, letting customers interact with content through movements and gesture. And when not in use, the controller can slide right inside the headset for easy storage. When it comes to content, the Daydream VR platform will offer a large collection of virtual reality apps from over 50 partners, including support from Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Google Play Movies, Google Photos, Street View, and YouTube -- providing a growing collection of VR experiences, big-screen movies, and 360-degree videos. Likewise, Daydream will offer numerous virtual reality games like Wonderglade, Gunjack 2, LEGO® BrickHeadz, Mekorama, Need for Speed, EarthShape, Danger Goat, Home Run Derby and Hungry Shark World. Google's Daydream View is set to launch in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany this November. Style options will include Slate (available in all countries at launch), and Snow and Crimson (coming to the US, UK, and Australia after). US Pre-orders will begin on October 20 at Verizon and the Google Store for $79. Source: GooglePosted Tue Oct 4, 2016 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Google Announces Pixel Smartphone with HD AMOLED Display & Google Assistant[teaser]The first phone designed by Google inside and out has been detailed. [/teaser] Google has announced its latest mobile product. Pixel brings Google hardware and software design together into one smartphone device. The phone features an HD AMOLED screen with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 on the front display and back glass to complement the unit's aerospace grade aluminum body. Likewise, the phone includes a finger print sensor on the back glass, allowing users to swipe for notifications. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 Quad Core 2x 2.15GHz / 2x 1.6GHz processor and 4GB LPDDR4 RAM running Android 7.1 Nougat. A 12.3MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture, 1.55 micron pixels, and 4K video recording support is integrated as well. In addition, the camera has received a DxOMark Mobile score of 89, making it the highest rated smartphone camera on the market. USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2, and a 3.5mm headphone jack are also included, along with a battery that can charge for up to seven hours in 15 minutes. And for users interested in VR, Pixel is also the first Daydream-ready smartphone. Finally, Pixel is the first smartphone to offer integrated Google Assistant. With Google Assistant, users can find answers and execute tasks through natural conversation. Customers simply need to say "Ok Google" or touch and hold the Home button to ready the Assistant, allowing simple and intuitive voice control. The Google Pixel will be available in 5 inch or 5.5 inch models and three color options: Very Silver, Quite Black, and Really Blue (limited edition for the U.S. only). Prices start out at $649 and pre-orders are now available in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia. Google has partnered exclusively with Verizon in the US but will also offer the Pixel unlocked on the Google Store. Source: GooglePosted Tue Oct 4, 2016 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
Klipsch Offers 'X-Men: Apocalypse' HD Wireless 3.1 Home Theater Sweepstakes![teaser]The winner will receive a free sound system and X-Men Blu-ray collection! [/teaser] Klipsch has announced an exclusive home audio and headphone partnership for the home entertainment release of 'X-Men: Apocalypse' on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on October 4. And to celebrate, the company is running a special "Survive Apocalypse Sweepstakes" with a grand prize consisting of a Klipsch HD Wireless 3.1 system and the new 'X-Men' Blu-ray 6-Disc Box Set (Total MSRP $4,174.99). "The power and diversity of the characters within the X-Men universe, as well as the film’s immersive environment, serve as an ideal fit for what the Klipsch brand offers," said Chad Vogelsong, Senior Director of Channel Marketing at Klipsch. The Klipsch "Survive Apocalypse Sweepstakes" will run now through October 31 on the company's website. Entrants can sign up at https://www.klipsch.com/x-men for the chance to win a grand prize package of a Klipsch HD Wireless 3.1 system and an 'X-Men' Blu-ray 6-Disc Box Set with 'X-men,' 'X2 - X-Men United,' 'X-Men: The Last Stand,' 'X-Men: First Class,' 'X-Men: Days of Future Past,' and 'X-Men: Apocalypse.' Klipsch's HD Wireless 3.1 system includes an HD Wireless Control Center, two RP-440WF powered floorstanding speakers, one RP-440WC powered center channel speaker, one RP-110WSW powered subwoofer, and a remote control (check out our review of the 5.1 configuration here). The speakers use the company's Reference Premiere acoustic platform along with an HD Control Center for lossless, wireless audio transmission using WiSA technology. 'X-Men: Apocalypse' will hit Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on October 4. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Deleted/Extended Scenes with Optional Introductions by Bryan Singer; Gag Reel; Wrap Party Video; Hour long documentary, X-Men: Apocalypse Unearthed; Audio Commentary by Bryan Singer and Simon Kinberg; and Concept Art and Photo Gallery. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will include a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Order the 2D Blu-ray Order the 3D Blu-ray Order the Ultra HD Blu-ray Source: KlipschPosted Mon Oct 3, 2016 at 05:10 PM PDT by: -
Netflix Reveals Trailer for 'Haters Back Off' with Miranda Sings, Streaming Premiere Set for October 14[teaser]The YouTube star is coming to Netflix later this month. [/teaser] Netflix has released a trailer for its latest original series, 'Haters Back Off.' The show stars Colleen Ballinger as her popular internet character Miranda Sings. Based on the character created by Colleen Ballinger, Haters Back Off delves into the oddball family life of Miranda Sings. Sings, an incredibly confident, totally untalented star on the rise, continues to fail upward by the power of her belief that she was born famous, it's just no one knows it yet. The series stars Colleen Ballinger as Miranda Sings, Steve Little ('Eastbound & Down') as Miranda's overly confident and utterly misguided Uncle Jim, Angela Kinsey ('The Office') as Miranda's mom, Bethany, and Erik Stocklin, as Miranda's neighbor and best friend, Patrick. Check out the trailer below! The half hour comedy series comes from Colleen Ballinger and Christopher Ballinger, along with showrunners Perry Rein and Gigi McCreery. Jeff Kwatinetz and Josh Barry also serve as additional executive producers. All episodes are set to premiere on October 14 exclusively through Netflix. Other upcoming Netflix premieres include 'The Ranch' on October 7, 'Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids' on October 12, 'Black Mirror' on October 21, 'The Crown' on November 4, 'Lovesick' on November 17, and 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life' on November 25. Likewise, the streaming platform is also prepping new seasons of 'Chelsea,' 'Lady Dynamite,' and 'Real Rob,' a new sci-fi series called 'Travelers' from writer Brad Wright, the second season of 'Stranger Things' for 2017, the third season of 'Bloodline' for 2017, new episodes of the documentary series 'Making a Murderer,' 'Bill Nye Saves the World' for 2017, Marvel's 'The Punisher,' Spike Lee's 'She's Gotta Have It,' and a feature film adaptation of the manga 'Death Note.' A current Netflix subscription starts at $10 for HD streaming and $12 for Ultra HD streaming. Source: NetflixPosted Mon Oct 3, 2016 at 04:00 PM PDT by: -
BenQ HT6050 Home Theater Projector Receives THX HD Display Certification[teaser]The professional grade home theater projector has earned THX HD Display certification. [/teaser] BenQ has announced that its HT6050 projector has received THX HD Display certification. This makes the HT6050 the first single-chip projector to earnt the designation. THX certification is designed to ensure that displays can provide accurate picture quality in order to reproduce content as the director originally intended. "To receive THX certification on our first high-end projector indicates a step in the right direction as we look to expand our portfolio of home theater projectors available to professional integrators," said J.Y. Hu, vice president, business line management at BenQ America Corp. "This certification is a world-class endorsement of the engineering we packed into the HT6050, and for movie enthusiasts and videophiles alike, it signifies our projector is ready to deliver a true cinematic experience right out of the box." In order to earn THX HD Display certification, the projector endured over 18 months of development with 200 THX laboratory tests of more than 500 data points, ensuring that it could meet requirements for Rec. 709 color accuracy, gamma, color temperature, uniformity and contrast ratio. The device offers 1080p resolution with 2,000 ANSI lumens of brightness and a 5000:1 contrast ratio. Likewise, the model uses the company's CinemaMaster advanced audio and video processing suite along with a 6X speed RGBRGB color wheel to enhance video content and accurately achieve the Rec. 709 color standard for HD video right out of the box. Five optional big zoom lenses from 0.77:1 to 5:1 with -20~60% vertical and ± 5% horizontal lens-shifting are integrated as well. The projector also features dual HDMI connectivity (HDMIx1, HDMI/MHLx1), SmartEco energy-saving technology, and ISFccc Certification with optimized modes for ISF Day and ISF Night calibration. Finally, an optional full HD wireless kit for streaming uncompressed 1080p content (including 3D) is available. The BenQ HT6050 projector is now available through BenQ Integrators' Choice distribution partners for $3,799. Source: BenQPosted Mon Oct 3, 2016 at 12:15 PM PDT by: -
HDD Gear Deals: Up to 25% off Speakers & Soundbars[teaser]Amazon is offering discounts on select audio gear. [/teaser] As part of the online retailer's ongoing deals, Amazon is running a sale on speakers and sound systems from Yamaha, ZVOX, Samsung, and Sony. Yamaha NS-C210BL Center Channel Speaker - Currently $90 (25% off). ZVOX SoundBase 670 36”Sound Bar - Currently $290 (22% off). Samsung HW-K650 3.1 Channel 340 Watt Wireless Audio Soundbar - Currently $398 (20% off). Samsung HW-K950/ZA 5.1.4 Channel Soundbar with Dolby Atmos Technology - Currently $1,298 (13% off). Sony HTXT1 2.1-Channel TV Base Speaker - Currently $180 (10% off). These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!0Posted Fri Sep 30, 2016 at 09:15 AM PDT by: -
Netflix Debuts Trailer for 'True Memoirs of an International Assassin' Starring Kevin James[teaser]The action comedy will hit Netflix in November. [/teaser] Netflix has released a trailer for its latest original film, 'True Memoirs of an International Assassin.' The movie will start streaming through Netflix on November 11. The action comedy stars Kevin James as Sam Larson, a mild-mannered would-be author who gets mistaken for a killer-for-hire when his fictional novel about an international assassin is published as a true story. When the book is a huge success, he is suddenly kidnapped, taken out of the country, and forced into an assassination plot. Check out the official trailer below! 'True Memoirs of an International Assassin' is directed by Jeff Wadlow ('Kick Ass 2') and written by Jeff Morris and Jeff Wadlow. Todd Garner, Mark Fasano, Raja Collins and Justin Begnaud are all on board as Producers, and Kevin Frakes, Ankur Rungta and Guy Riedel are serving as Executive Producers. The film also stars Andy Garcia ('Kill the Messenger'), Zulay Henao ('Meet the Blacks'), Maurice Compte ('Narcos'), Andrew Howard ('Taken 3'), Rob Riggle ('22 Jump Street'), Kelen Coleman ('The McCarthy's'), Leonard Earl Howze ('Memphis Beat'), Yul Vasquez ('The Lottery') and Kim Coates ('Sons of Anarchy'). Additional crew members include director of photography Peter Collister ('Underworld: Awakening'), production designer Toby Corbett ('Pitch Perfect 2'), costume designer Lizz Wolf ('The Expendables 3'), and editor Sean Albertson ('The Expendables 3'). Other upcoming Netflix premieres include 'Luke Cage' on September 30, 'The Ranch' on October 7, 'Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids' on October 12, 'Black Mirror' on October 21, 'The Crown' on November 4, 'Lovesick' on November 17, and 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life' on November 25. A current Netflix subscription starts at $10 for HD streaming and $12 for Ultra HD streaming. Source: NetflixPosted Fri Sep 30, 2016 at 06:30 AM PDT by: -
PlayStation Vue Adds HBO and Cinemax Live Streaming Channels[teaser]Sony's cloud-based TV service now offers HBO and Cinemax. [/teaser] Sony and HBO have announced the arrival of live HBO and Cinemax channels for the PlayStation Vue TV streaming platform. In addition, the standalone HBO Now streaming service has launched on the PS4 and PS3 as well. PlayStation Vue offers live and on demand content from a growing collection of channels. The internet TV platform enables viewers to easily search through available programming with an intuitive interface and convenient personal recommendations. In addition, if customers tag a favorite series they will be given cloud access to episodes of that show for 28 days with no storage restrictions. Likewise, PlayStation Vue offers up to five simultaneous streams across different devices, including up to three mobile devices outside of the home. Live HBO and Cinemax channels are now available for $15 each per month through PlayStation Vue, and Sony has also announced a new "Ultra" plan which includes HBO, Showtime, and all the 100+ channels from the Elite package for $64.99 or $74.99 per month depending on location. Here's a full rundown of currently available PlayStation Vue packages per Sony's blog: Outside of live programming, PlayStation Vue users who subscribe to HBO will also be able to access HBO Now on-demand streaming on all supported devices, including the PS4 and PS3. HBO Now allows users to watch every episode of every season of HBO’s original programming, hit movies, documentaries, sports and exclusive comedy specials separate from a traditional cable or satellite subscription. The service offers more than 2,000 popular series and movies, including 'Game of Thrones,' 'True Detective,' 'Silicon Valley,' 'Girls,' 'Veep,' 'The Wire,' 'Divergent,' 'X-MEN: Days of Future Past,' 'Neighbors,' and 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.' Sony's PlayStation Vue service is available on Roku media players, Roku Stick, Roku TVs, Android devices, Chromecast, Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, iPad, and iPhone. New customers can sign up for a seven-day free trial option through the PlayStation Vue website. Source: SonyPosted Thu Sep 29, 2016 at 03:15 PM PDT by: -
Shout! Factory TV Launches on Apple TV & Amazon Channels[teaser]The streaming service is now available through more platforms. [/teaser] Shout! Factory has announced the arrival of Shout! Factory TV on the Apple TV. The digital entertainment service is a free-to-consumer ad-supported streaming platform that provides a curated library of cult TV shows, movies, comedy, original specials and more. In addition, a new commercial-free subscription plan through Amazon Channels has also been announced. Shout! Factory TV includes over 2,500 hours of content selected from Shout! Factory, Westchester Films, Timeless Media Group, Scream Factory, major studios, independent producers and other sources from around the world. The free ad-supported app is now available through the Apple TV. In addition, a new SVOD subscription plan is now available for Amazon Prime members through Amazon Channels for $2.99 per month. This option offers unlimited access to thousands of hours of film and television content commercial-free. Here's a more detailed rundown of Shout! Factory TV programming per the press release: - Television series including Mystery Science Theater 3000, Father Knows Best, Route 66, Home Movies, Weird Al Show, and Thunderbirds - Movies such as Death of a Salesman, A Night in Casablanca, Stagecoach, Quadrophenia, Kenny Roger’s The Gambler trilogy, Casino Jack, Holy Motors, Day of the Dead, Steven Souza’s Arnold Wrecking Company, Jackie Chan movies, Godzilla films, the Werner Herzog Collection, and Roger Corman’s cult classics - Documentaries including The Decline of Western Civilization and The Night James Brown Saved Boston - Variety shows such as The Dick Cavett Show, Fridays, and The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour - Standup comedy performances from Steve Martin, Kathy Griffin, and Jeff Garlin and more - Live streaming events such as the award-winning MST3K Turkey Day Marathon, Power Morphicon Live, and Super Sentai Marathon - Themed programming stunts such as VHS Vault and Love is in the Scare - Original series such as Backlot and MDA Telethon Presents - Films with director commentary including Kentucky Fried Movie and A Boy and his Dog In addition to the Apple TV and Amazon Channels, Shout! Factory TV is also available through Roku players, Amazon Fire devices, Samsung Smart TVs, and web browsers at ShoutFactoryTV.com. Live streaming is viewable through Pluto TV channel 515 as well. Source: Shout! Factory TVPosted Thu Sep 29, 2016 at 10:45 AM PDT by: -
FOX Sports GO Live Streaming App Arrives on Chromecast & Xbox One[teaser]The sports streaming platform is now available on more media devices. [/teaser] FOX Sports has announced the addition of the FOX Sports GO app to the Microsoft Xbox One and Google Chromecast. The app offers access to FOX Sports' live events and studio programming. "We are excited to provide sports fans with more ways to watch our full lineup of live event and studio programming," said Clark Pierce, FOX Sports Senior Vice President, TV Everywhere. "Adding Chromecast and Xbox One to the list of connected devices that offer FOX Sports GO is another major step as we look to achieve full distribution for the platform." With FOX Sports GO, users who receive FOX Sports TV networks through their pay-TV subscription can now access FOX Sports, FS1, FS2, FOX Sports Regional Networks, FOX College Sports, FOX Deportes, and FOX Soccer Plus programming on their Xbox One or through their Chromecast. In total, users can watch more than 3,000 live events -- including content from the NFL, MLB, UFC, NASCAR, Big 12 and Pac-12 Football, Big East Basketball, FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Champions League soccer -- along with hundreds of hours of studio shows and original content, including signature FS1 shows such as SKIP AND SHANNON: UNDISPUTED, THE HERD WITH COLIN COWHERD, SPEAK FOR YOURSELF, FOX SPORTS LIVE WITH JAY AND DAN, GARBAGE TIME WITH KATIE NOLAN, UFC TONIGHT and THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER. In addition to Xbox One and Google Chromecast support, the FOX Sports GO app also recently launched on Roku media players, Roku TVs, and the Apple TV. Likewise, the app is also available for Fire TV and Android TV platforms as well. Source: FOX SportsPosted Wed Sep 28, 2016 at 04:45 PM PDT by:
