-
Sonus faber Announces New Minima Amator II Bookshelf Speakers[teaser] The second Heritage Collection speaker model has been detailed.[/teaser] Sonus faber has revealed its latest audio product, the Minima Amator II. The premium bookshelf speakers now join the previously released Heritage Collection Electa Amator III. Blending a premium lifestyle aesthetic with high-end music performance, the Minima Amator II 2-way bookshelf loudspeaker features a compact, solid walnut wood cabinet with a thin brass insert at the base. Meanwhile, the front baffle is covered in leather and forms the iconic Voice of Sonus faber shape. Likewise, the rear panel is also covered in leather, and includes brass binding posts. Though designed to serve as bookshelf speakers, the units can also be paired with the Carrara Stand or with the Unicum stand. When it comes to driver specs, the speaker incorporates a 28 mm silk dome Tweeter with DAD (Damped Apex Dome) technology and a tripod design reminiscent of the company's first models. A 6-inch midwoofer with a cellulose pulp and natural fibers cone on a die-cast aluminum basket is implemented as well. Finally, the device uses a "Paracross topology" crossover design with Clarity Cap ESA capacitors. Here's a full rundown of key specs per Sonus faber: System: 2-way bookshelf vented loudspeaker system. Cabinet: High rigidity spread resonance spectrum system obtained through 20 sheets of Solid walnut (each 25mm thick). Leather covered baffle and back panel. Tweeter: H28 XTR2-04 Sonus faber design silk dome 28 mm (1,1 in) “Arrow Point” DAD tweeter. Midwoofer: MW15 XT 04, Sonus faber design custom diaphragm made with cellulose pulp and other natural fibers,150 mm (6 in). Crossover: Anti-resonant design, optimized amplitude and phase responses for optimal space/time performance. Paracross topology. Crossover point: 2.500 Hz @-6dB. Frequency Response: 50 Hz – 35.000 Hz. Sensitivity: 87 dB SPL. Nominal Impedance: 4 ohm. Suggested amplifier power output: 35-150W, without clipping. Long-Term Max Input Voltage (IEC 268-5): 20 Vrms. Dimensions HxWxD: 325 x 200 x 274.5 mm / 12.8 x 7.8 x 10.8 in. Weight: 7.1 Kg / 15.7 lb. The Minima Amator II will launch Europe in June and in North America and Asia in July for an MSRP of 4.000€ (around $4493) per pair. Source: Sonus faberPosted Thu May 9, 2019 at 08:20 AM PDT by: -
Google Unveils New Pixel 3a Smartphone and Nest Hub Max Smart Screen[teaser]The company's latest gadgets have been detailed.[/teaser] Google has revealed its newest smartphone and smart screen models. The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are designed to serve as more affordable mid-range versions of the company's high-end Pixel 3. Meanwhile, the Nest Hub Max is set to become the company's flagship smart screen device, bringing the previously named Home Hub lineup under the Nest brand. The Google Pixel 3a features a 5.6-inch FHD+ (2220 x 1080) OLED display with 441 ppi and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Meanwhile, the Pixel 3a XL features a larger 6-inch FHD+ (2160 x 1080) OLED display with 402 ppi and an 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, both devices are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 2.0GHz + 1.7GHz, 64Bit Octa-Core CPU and 4GB LPDDR4x RAM running Android 9.0 Pie. A rear 12.2MP dual-pixel camera with support for 4K 30fps video recording, HDR+ technology, Portrait Mode, Super Res Zoom, and Night Sight is integrated as well. Likewise, a front 8MP camera is also included. The Pixel 3a is now available for a starting price of $399 and the Pixel 3a XL is now available for a starting price of $479. Color options include Just Black, Clearly White, and Purple-ish. Building upon the previously released Home Hub, the new Nest Hub Max smart screen device features a 10-inch HD (1280x800) touch display with rounded corners and a fabric textured stand. A 6.5MP camera is integrated as well which can serve as a Nest Cam to keep an eye on a user's home while they are away. Likewise, the camera can be used for video calls and Quick Gesture controls. Google Assistant functionality and far-field microphones are integrated as well, offering hands-free voice control for a variety of functions and tasks, including searches, YouTube, Google Photos, calendar, music, recipes, maps, and more. Likewise, the unit includes stereo speakers for audio and an Ambient EQ light sensor to automatically adjust screen brightness to match the lighting in a user's room. The Google Nest Hub Max is set to launch later this summer for an MSRP of $229. Sources: Google 1, Google 2Posted Tue May 7, 2019 at 02:45 PM PDT by: -
Epson Details Pro Cinema 6050UB 4K PRO-UHD Projector[teaser]The new model serves as the company's most advanced 4K home theater projector so far.[/teaser] Epson has unveiled the latest addition to its Pro Cinema projector lineup, the 6050UB 4K PRO-UHD. The new projector is now available through CEDIA and specialty dealers for an MSRP $3,999. "Setting the bar with color precision and delivery of immersive 4K content, the Epson Pro Cinema 6050UB offers a level of performance that challenges comparable projectors currently available on the market," said Rodrigo Catalan, senior product manager, Projectors, Epson America. "Equipped with proprietary processors for resolution enhancement, HDR, and image processing, the Pro Cinema 6050UB delivers life-like detail in every scene for an unforgettable home theater viewing experience." The 6050UB features 3LCD and S2 Pixel-Shift Processor tech to shift each of its pixels diagonally to double Full HD resolution (resolution remains Full HD in 3D Mode). Brightness is rated for 2,600 lumens of equal color/white brightness and the unit is capable of a dynamic contrast ratio up to 1,200,000:1 with Epson UltraBlack tech. Likewise, the device supports HDR10 playback at 60Hz, along with 10-bit color output and full coverage of the DCI-P3 wide color gamut (in Digital Cinema Mode). Realtime HDR curve adjustment is offered as well with 16-steps of control to customize HDR performance. Meanwhile, when it comes to optics, the projector incorporates Epson's proprietary 15-element glass projection lens designed for zero-light-leakage. Likewise, the 3-Axis Motorized Lens allows users to shift the lens up to 96 percent up or down on the vertical axis and up to 47 percent left or right on the horizontal axis. Beyond the new 6050UB 4K PRO-UHD, Epson also recently launched the 5050UB ($2,999) and 5050UBe ($3,299). Source: EpsonPosted Tue May 7, 2019 at 01:05 PM PDT by: -
Everything Coming to Netflix in May 2019[teaser]Check out all the new streaming titles coming to Netflix throughout May.[/teaser] Netflix has revealed its May 2019 lineup of movies, series, and specials. Highlights include original shows like When They See Us, Lucifer, She's Gotta Have It: Season 2, and The Rain: Season 2, along with new original films like Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, Good Sam, See You Yesterday, Wine Country, Knock Down The House, and more. Likewise, the lineup also features a nice assortment of catalog movies like The Da Vinci Code, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, The Matrix, Dumb and Dumber, Gremlins, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Snowpiercer, Wedding Crashers, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Zombieland, and more. Here's a full rundown of Netflix's schedule for May 2019 per Netflix: May 1 Knock Down The House (Netflix Film) Munafik 2 (Netflix Film) Angels & Demons Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Casper Chasing Liberty Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion Part 1 & 2 Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat Dumb and Dumber Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Gosford Park Gremlins Hairspray (1988) Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Her Only Choice Hoosiers Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer: Season 2 John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky Just Friends Revolutionary Road Roswell, New Mexico: Season 1 Scarface Scream Snowpiercer (2013) Taking Lives The Da Vinci Code The Dark Crystal (1982) The Matrix The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions To Rome With Love Wedding Crashers Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Zombieland May 2 Colony: Season 3 Olympus Has Fallen May 3 A Pesar De Todo (Netflix Film) All In My Family (Netflix Original) Alles ist gut (Netflix Film) Cupcake & Dino - General Services: Season 2 (Netflix Original) Dead to Me (Netflix Original) Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (Netflix Film) A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy from the perspective of Liz, his longtime girlfriend, who refused to believe the truth about him for years. Flinch (Netflix Original) Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage (Netflix Film) The Last Summer (Netflix Film) Mr. Mom Supernatural: Season 14 Tuca & Bertie (Netflix Original) Undercover (Netflix Original) May 4 Like Arrows May 6 Abyss (Netflix Original) May 7 The Heat: A Kitchen (R)evolution Queen of the South: Season 3 May 8 Lucifer: Season 4 (Netflix Original) May 9 Bathtubs Over Broadway Insidious May 10 Dry Martina (Netflix Film) Easy: Season 3 (Netflix Original) Gente que viene y bah (Netflix Film) Harvey Girls Forever!: Season 2 (Netflix Original) Jailbirds (Netflix Original) Pose: Season 1 ReMastered: The Lion's Share (Netflix Original) Sheherazade (Netflix Film) The Society (Netflix Original) Wine Country (Netflix Film) May 12 Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 3 (Netflix Original) May 13 Malibu Rescue (Netflix Original) May 14 revisions (Netflix Anime) Still LAUGH-IN: The Stars Celebrate (Netflix Original) Weed the People May 15 Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! May 16 Good Sam (Netflix Film) Take Me Home Tonight May 17 1994: Limited Series (Netflix Original) Chip & Potato (Netflix Original) It's Bruno (Netflix Original) Maria (Netflix Film) Morir para contar (Netflix Film) Nailed It!: Season 3 (Netflix Original) See You Yesterday (Netflix Film) The Rain: Season 2 (Netflix Original) Well Intended Love (Netflix Original) White Gold: Season 2 (Netflix Original) May 18 The Blackcoat's Daughter May 20 Prince of Peoria: Part 2 (Netflix Original) Rosario Tijeras (Mexico Version): Season 2 May 21 Arrow: Season 7 Moonlight Wanda Sykes: Not Normal (Netflix Original) May 22 A Tale of Two Kitchens (Netflix Original) One Night in Spring (Netflix Original) The Flash: Season 5 May 23 Riverdale: Season 3 Slasher: Solstice (Netflix Original) May 24 After Maria (Netflix Original) Alta Mar (Netflix Original) Joy (Netflix Film) Rim of the World (Netflix Film) She's Gotta Have It: Season 2 (Netflix Original) The Perfection (Netflix Film) WHAT / IF (Netflix Original) May 27 Historical Roasts(Netflix Original) Outlander: Seasons 1-2 May 28 Disney's The Nutcracker and the Four Realms May 30 Chopsticks (Netflix Film) My Week with Marilyn Svaha: The Sixth Finger (Netflix Film) The One I Love May 31 Always Be My Maybe (Netflix Film) Bad Blood: Season 2 (Netflix Original) Black Spot: Season 2 (Netflix Original) How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) (Netflix Original) Killer Ratings (Netflix Original) When They See Us (Netflix Original) May TBA Charmed (2018): Season 1 DC's Legends of Tomorrow: Season 4 The Mechanism: Season 2 (Netflix Original) Supergirl: Season 4 Source: Netflix via Den of GeekPosted Mon May 6, 2019 at 05:00 AM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: THE HANDMAID'S TALE, MURDER MYSTERY, and More[teaser]Check out our latest roundup of streaming trailers.[/teaser] Hulu, Netflix, and CBS All Access have all released new previews and info for several of their upcoming series and films. Here's a full rundown of streaming titles scheduled to arrive on each service: The Society (Netflix, May 10) - Follows a group of teenagers who are mysteriously transported to a facsimile of their wealthy New England town, left without any trace of their parents. As they struggle to figure out what has happened to them and how to get home, they must establish order and form alliances if they want to survive. The series is a modern take on Lord of the Flies. The Mechanism: Season 2 (Netflix, May 10) - 2014. After presidential elections, Verena’s task force team has arrested 12 of Brazil's top 13 contractors. In this season, there is still one missing, the biggest of them all: Ricardo Brecht (Emilio Orciollo Netto). Verena (Caroline Abras) and Guilhome (Osvaldo Mil) and Vander (Jonathan Haagensen) remain engaged in their investigations, as well as Ruffo (Selton Mello): the retired deputy is still acting outside of the law and relentless in his pursuit of Ibrahim (Enrique Diaz), getting more estranged from his wife Regina (Susana Ribeiro) and daughter Beta (Julia Svaccina). Good Sam (Netflix, May 16) - When a mysterious good samaritan, aka “Good Sam,” leaves $100,000 cash on seemingly random doorsteps, New York City TV news reporter Kate Bradley (Tiya Sircar) sets out discover Good Sam’s true identity and motive, turning her personal life upside down. It's Bruno! (Netflix, May 17) - Follows dog lover Malcolm (Solvan “Slick” Naim), his best friend and canine companion Bruno, and the hilarious adventures that take place on their vibrant Brooklyn block. Designated Survivor: Season 3 (Netflix, June 7) - A lower level United States Cabinet member is suddenly appointed President after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession. Murder Mystery (Netflix, June 14) - When an NYC cop (Adam Sandler) finally takes his wife (Jennifer Aniston) on a long promised European trip, a chance meeting on the flight gets them invited to an intimate family gathering on the Super Yacht of elderly billionaire Malcolm Quince. When Quince is murdered, they become the prime suspects in a modern day whodunit. MURDER MYSTERY reunites Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston along with an ensemble cast of global talent. The Twilight Zone (CBS All Access, May 9) - Episode 7, "Not All Men," stars Taissa Farmiga and is hosted by Academy Award winner Jordan Peele. A meteor shower spreads infection across an entire town… affecting some of the inhabitants more than others. Taissa Farmiga, Rhea Seehorn, Luke Kirby and Ike Barinholtz guest star. The Handmaid's Tale: Season 3 (Hulu, June 5) - Adapted from the classic novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalism in its militarized ‘return to traditional values'. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Elisabeth Moss) is a Handmaid in the Commander’s household, one of the caste of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate the world. In this terrifying society, Offred must navigate between Commanders, their cruel Wives, domestic Marthas, and her fellow Handmaids – where anyone could be a spy for Gilead – all with one goal: to survive and find the daughter that was taken from her. Veronica Mars (Hulu, July 26) - Spring breakers are getting murdered in Neptune, thereby decimating the seaside town’s lifeblood tourist industry. After Mars Investigations is hired by the family of one of the victims to find their son’s killer, Veronica is drawn into an epic eight-episode mystery that pits the enclave’s wealthy elites, who would rather put an end to the month-long bacchanalia, against a working class that relies on the cash influx that comes with being the West Coast’s answer to Daytona Beach. In addition, Hulu has also announced an extended partnership with Marvel Television to develop two new live action series: Ghost Rider and Helstrom. Both shows are set to debut in 2020 and will be co-productions with Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios. Here are synopses per Hulu: Marvel's Ghost Rider - Ghost Rider, also known as Robbie Reyes, is a quintessential antihero, consumed by hellfire and supernaturally bound to a demon. Reyes lives on the Texas/Mexico border and when he unleashes the Rider, Robbie brings vengeance for the innocents he encounters, but struggles to control the power he wields. Marvel's Helstrom - Daimon and Ana Helstrom are the son and daughter of a mysterious and powerful serial killer in Marvel's Helstrom. The siblings have a complicated dynamic as they track down the terrorizing worst of humanity — each with their attitude and skills. Likewise, Hulu also announced Nine Perfect Strangers based on the book by Liane Moriarty. The show comes from co-writers and co-showrunners David E. Kelley and John Henry Butterworth. Meanwhile, a new limited series titled The Dropout starring Kate McKinnon as Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has also been greenlit. Finally, the streaming platform has renewed Pen15, Ramy, and Shrill for second seasons. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $13 per month for HD streaming and $16 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $6 per month with commercials. In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month and Live TV bundle is available for $45. - A current CBS All Access subscription costs $5.99 per month with reduced commercials or $9.99 per month for a commercial-free plan. Sources: Hulu (YouTube), Netflix (YouTube), CBS All Access (YouTube), HuluPosted Fri May 3, 2019 at 07:30 PM PDT by: -
Everything Coming to iTunes & the Apple TV App in May 2019[teaser]Check out all the new digital titles coming to the iTunes library and Apple TV App in May.[/teaser] Apple has revealed its May lineup of iTunes movies and TV shows. The collection includes films like Apollo 11, The Upside, Everybody Knows, Climax, Slaughterhouse Rulez, The Kid, Five Feet Apart, and more. And beyond iTunes, Apple has also compiled a list of May streaming titles set to be available via the Apple TV App on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices. The Apple TV App allows users to browse through content from over 60 video services without switching from one app to the next, including titles from Amazon Prime Video, HBO Now, Showtime, CBS All Access, Hulu, and many other pay-TV subscriptions. Here's a full rundown of May iTunes and Apple TV app titles per Apple: iTunes Movies 5/7 Everybody Knows 5/7 Peel 5/7 Birds of Passage 5/7 Bundy and the Green River Killer 5/7 Climax 5/7 Everything That Glitters 5/7 High Moon 5/7 Sesame Street: Awesome Alphabet Collection 5/10 The Professor and the Madman day+date 5/14 Apollo 11 5/14 Never Look Away 5/14 Slaughterhouse Rulez 5/14 Greta 5/14 Unbanned 5/14 Upside 5/14 WWE: Wrestlemania 35 5/14 Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 5/17 The Professor day+date 5/17 Aniara day+date 5/17 Charlie Says day+date 5/17 My Days of Mercy day+date 5/17 All Creatures Here Below day+date 5/17 We Have Always Lived in the Castle day+date 5/17 A Violent Separation day+date 5/21 Tyler Perry’s Madea Family Funeral 5/21 The Kid 5/21 Ruben Brandt, Collector 5/21 Beserk 5/21 Gloria Bell 5/21 Avengement 5/21 Run the Race 5/24 Five Feet Apart 5/24 The Poison Rose day+date 5/24 Funny Story day+date 5/24 Isabelle day+date 5/28 Shed of the Dead 5/28 The Waldheim Waltz 5/28 Santana Live at the US Festival 5/28 The Mustang 5/31 Domino day+date Apple TV App 5/1 Ladies Night - Season 1 (BET) 5/3 iZombie - Season 5 (CW) 5/3 At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal - Documentary (HBO) 5/3 Suspiria - Movie (Prime Video) 5/4 The Predator - Movie (HBO) 5/4 Kentucky Derby (NBC) 5/5 The Spanish Princess - Season 3 (Starz) 5/6 Chernobyl - Miniseries (HBO) 5/6 The Real Housewives of Potomac - Season 4 (Bravo) 5/8 Texicanas - Season 1 (Bravo) 5/9 State of the Union - Season 1 (Sundance) 5/9 The Employables - Season 1 (A&E) 5/10 Paradise Hotel - Season 1 (Fox) 5/10 Klepper - Season 1 (Comedy Central) 5/10 Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men - Miniseries (Showtime) 5/10 Sneaky Pete - Season 3 (Prime Video) 5/11 Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 6 (ABC) 5/11 What Would You Do? - Season 14 (ABC) 5/12 Veep - Series Finale (HBO) 5/14 The Bachelorette - Season 15 (ABC) 5/15 Good Bones - Season 4 (HGTV) 5/16 Wahlburgers - Season 10 (A&E) 5/16 Southern Charm - Season 6 (Bravo) 5/16 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black (TNT/CBS All Access) 5/17 Catch 22 - Miniseries (Hulu) 5/17 Fleabag - Season 2 (Hulu) 5/17 Big Bang Series Finale (CBS) 5/19 Game of Thrones - Series Finale (HBO) 5/20 Liberty’s People - Movie (HBO) 5/21 Beat Shazam - Season 3 (Fox) 5/21 Blood and Treasure - Season 1 (CBS) 5/23 Vida - Season 2 (Starz) 5/23 Name of The Rose (Sundance) 5/24 Elementary - Season 7 (CBS) 5/26 Game of Thrones: The Last Watch (HBO) 5/29 America’s Got Talent - Season 14 (NBC) 5/29 Songland - Season 1 (NBC) 5/29 Animal Kingdom - Season 4 (TNT) 5/29 The Radkes - Season 1 (USA) 5/29 Chrisley Knows Best - Season 7 (USA) 5/30 Archer: 1999 - Season 10 (FX) 5/30 American Ninja Warrior - Season 11 (NBC) 5/30 Property Brothers: Forever Home (HGTV) 5/30 MasterChef - Season 10 (Fox) 5/30 The InBetween - Season 1 (NBC) 5/31 Deadwood - Movie (HBO) 5/31 Good Omens - Season 1 (Prime Video) Source: iTunesPosted Wed May 1, 2019 at 08:05 PM PDT by: -
Netflix Launches High-Quality Audio Support with Increased Bitrates[teaser]The streaming service now supports higher bitrate audio playback.[/teaser] Netflix has announced the launch of High-Quality Audio support, offering sound performance that comes a bit closer to matching the studio master. The feature is now available for 5.1 and Dolby Atmos titles. The impetus for the audio quality upgrade came during the mixing process of Stranger Things: Season Two. When reviewing the streaming tracks for the opening car chase scene of episode one, The Duffer Brothers noticed that the audio quality wasn't as crisp as it was on the mixing stage. Hoping to provide a better experience closer to the studio master, Scott Kramer, Netflix's Production Sound Technology Manager, and Sean Sharma, Netflix's Engineering Director, developed a method to provide higher bitrate audio playback for the show. And now that feature is being employed across even more content. Netflix's High-Quality Audio feature is available for 5.1 and Dolby Atmos tracks, offering adaptive support for higher bitrates. This means, that even if a user has bandwidth or device limitations, the sound quality will be able to scale to offer the best streaming audio performance that a customer's setup is capable of. Similar adaptive quality streaming is also used for the platform's video playback. With all that said, even with the new increased quality, Netflix's streaming bitrates still can't match the quality of lossless audio mixes found on discs with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA audio. Here's a full rundown of the new audio bitrate ranges now available per Netflix: 5.1: From 192 kbps (good) up to 640 kbps (great/perceptually transparent) Dolby Atmos: From 448 kbps up to 768 kbps (Dolby Atmos is available for members subscribed to the Premium plan) In addition, the company plans to offer even higher bitrates in the future as encoding tech improves. A current Netflix subscription starts at $13 per month for HD streaming and $16 per month for Ultra HD streaming. Source: NetflixPosted Wed May 1, 2019 at 01:23 PM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: CATCH-22, SNEAKY PETE, and More[teaser]Check out our latest roundup of streaming trailers.[/teaser] Hulu, Netflix, DC Universe, and Amazon Prime Video have all released new previews and info for several of their upcoming series and films. Here's a full rundown of streaming titles scheduled to arrive on each service: Into the Dark: All That We Destroy (Hulu, May 3) - A geneticist who fears that her son may be becoming a serial killer, creates a group of clones in an attempt to cure him of his psychopathic tendencies by allowing him to relive the murder of his first victim. Catch-22 (Hulu, May 17) - Christopher Abbott is Yossarian, a bombardier, whose frantic obsession every time he goes up on a mission is “to come down alive”. His odds of success at such a simple aim keep getting worse, because Colonel Cathcart (Kyle Chandler) keeps raising the number of missions the men have to fly. More than the retreating Germans, the real enemy for Yossarian and his rag-tag bunch of friends is the bureaucracy of the military, inverting logic at every turn. The pinnacle of this is Catch-22, a military by-law which states that if you fly your missions, you’re crazy, and don’t have to fly them; all you have to do is ask. But if you as not to, then you’re sane, and so you have to fly them. Sneaky Pete Season 3 (Amazon Prime Video, May 10) - Who is Marius Josipovic? Marius himself would like to know. He's feeling a pull toward the Bernhardt family. But he's not part of the family. He's a con-man. The chance to become more like a normal human being is enticing. It also scares him to death. This season all the members of the Sneaky Pete family explore their identity. It's a dangerous journey. They could lose themselves or their lives. BONDiNG (Netflix, April 24) - Chains, whips and hilarious quips! For grad student/dominatrix Tiff (Zoe Levin) and her cash-strapped gay best friend Pete (Brendan Scannell), S&M is a business, not a pleasure. Well, maybe there’s a little pleasure. Their professional relationship redefines their friendship, but more importantly helps them find themselves. ReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads (Netflix, April 26) - The Music You Know. The Stories You Don't. Netflix's Original Documentary Series, ReMastered, investigates high-profile events affecting some of the most legendary names in music presenting groundbreaking discoveries and insights beyond what’s been previously reported Knock Down The House (Netflix, May 1) -Winner of the Audience Award: U.S. Documentary and the Festival Favorite Award at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, Knock Down the House joins these extraordinary women on the campaign trail as they mobilize their bases, engage voters, and build a movement during a time of historic volatility in American politics. Tuca & Bertie (Netflix, May 3) - An animated comedy series about the friendship between two 30-year-old bird women who live in the same apartment building: Tuca (Tiffany Haddish), a cocky, care-free toucan, and Bertie (Ali Wong), an anxious, daydreaming songbird. Lucifer: Season 4 (Netflix, May 8) - Reeling from the aftermath of Chloe seeing his devil face, Lucifer faces a new challenge: Eve, the original sinner herself, is back. Does she want revenge for when he tempted her out of Eden oh so many years ago… or something else entirely? Easy: Season 3 (Netflix, May 17) - Creator Joe Swanberg’s Easy returns for a third and final season, featuring some new faces as well as many returning fan favorite characters, all of whom are navigating the modern maze of love, sex, technology, and culture in Chicago. The Rain: Season 2 (Netflix, May 17) - The world as we know it has ended. Six years after a brutal virus carried by the rain wipes out almost all humans in Scandinavia, two Danish siblings emerge from the safety of their bunker to find all remnants of civilization gone. Soon they join a group of young survivors and together set out on a danger-filled quest through an abandoned Scandinavia, searching for any sign of life. What/If (Netflix, May 24) - Neo-noir social thriller WHAT/IF explores the ripple effects of what happens when acceptable people start doing unacceptable things. The first season of the Netflix original series focuses on a mysterious woman's lucrative, but dubious offer to a cash-strapped pair of San Francisco newlyweds. Starring Renée Zellweger. Dark: Season 2 (Netflix, June 21) - A family saga with a supernatural twist, is set in a German town in present day where the disappearance of two young children exposes the double lives and fractured relationships among four families. Swamp Thing (DC Universe, May 31) - Follows Abby Arcane as she investigates what seems to be a deadly swamp-born virus in a small town in Louisiana but soon discovers that the swamp holds mystical and terrifying secrets. When unexplainable and chilling horrors emerge from the murky marsh, no one is safe. Based on the DC characters originally written and drawn by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $13 per month for HD streaming and $16 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $6 per month with commercials. In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month and Live TV bundle is available for $45. - A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $119 per year or $13 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. - A current DC Universe subscription costs $8 per month or $75 per year. Sources: Hulu (YouTube), Netflix(YouTube), Amazon (YouTube), DC (YouTube)Posted Fri Apr 26, 2019 at 08:45 AM PDT by: -
Sony Details Pricing & Availability for 2019 TV Lineup, Including a $70,000 8K Display[teaser]The company's new OLED and LCD displays are now rolling out to stores.[/teaser] Sony has announced pricing and availability for its 2019 TV lineup, including a massive 98-inch Z9G 8K MASTER Series LCD TV with an equally massive $70,000 MSRP. The new display collection also features the A9G 4K OLED TV, A8G 4K OLED TV, X950G 4K LCD TV, X850G 4K LCD TV, and X800G 4K LCD TV series. "Continually innovating to exceed our customers' expectations is a core element of Sony's premium strategy," said Mike Fasulo, president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics North America. "Our new MASTER Series TVs combine larger screen sizes, 4K and 8K resolution, and unique Sony image-enhancing technologies to create an extraordinary and highly immersive viewing experience." The Z9G 8K MASTER Series LCD TV features Sony's Picture Processor X1 Ultimate and 8K X-Reality PRO, allowing the TV to upscale any content to near-8K quality. In addition, the set incorporates Sony's Backlight Master Drive feature with full-array local dimming and 8K X-tended Dynamic Range PRO. Likewise, the Z9G includes Acoustic Multi-Audio with four front-facing speakers. Finally, the TV supports Netflix Calibrated Mode, IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos, HDR10, and HLG. Here's a full rundown of pricing and availability per Sony: 85" Z9G 8K MASTER Series LCD TV: $12,999.99 MSRP (available in June) 98" Z9G 8K MASTER Series LCD TV: $69,999.99 MSRP (available in June) The A9G 4K MASTER Series OLED TV features Sony’s Picture Processor X1 Ultimate, Object-based Super Resolution, Object-based HDR remaster, and Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR. Likewise, the panel offers Pixel Contrast Booster tech, enabling more color and contrast in bright areas. In addition, the TV uses Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology to create sound from the screen itself. Finally, the A9G supports Netflix Calibrated Mode, IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos, HDR10, and HLG. Here's a full rundown of pricing and availability per Sony: 55" A9G 4K MASTER Series OLED TV: $3,499.99 MSRP (available in May) 65" A9G 4K MASTER Series OLED TV: $4,499.99 MSRP (available in May) 77" A9G 4K MASTER Series OLED TV: $7,999.99 MSRP (available in June) The A8G 4K BRAVIA OLED TV features Sony’s 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme. Likewise, the TV uses Acoustic Surface Audio technology to create sound from the screen itself. Finally, the A8G supports IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. Here's a full rundown of pricing and availability per Sony: 55" A8G 4K BRAVIA OLED TV: $2,499.99 MSRP (available in May) 65" A8G 4K BRAVIA OLED TV: $3,499.99 MSRP (available in May) The X950G 4K LCD TV features Sony's Picture Processor X1 Ultimate and a full-array local dimming backlight with X-tended Dynamic Range PRO. Likewise, the TV offers Acoustic Multi-Audio by sound positioning tweeters. Finally, the display supports Netflix Calibrated Mode, IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG as well. Here's a full rundown of pricing and availability per Sony: 85" X950G 4K LCD TV: $4,999.99 MSRP (available late April) 75" X950G 4K LCD TV: $3,499.99 MSRP (available now) 65" X950G 4K LCD TV: $2,199.99 MSRP (available now) 55" X950G 4K LCD TV: $1,399.99 MSRP (available now) The X850G 4K LCD TV features Sony's 4K HDR Processor X1 and Acoustic Multi-Audio via Sound Positioning Tweeters. In addition, the TV offers TRILUMINOS Display tech and support for HDR10 and HLG. Here's a full rundown of pricing and availability per Sony: 85" X850G 4K LCD TV: $3,499.99 MSRP (available now) The X800G 4K LCD TV features 4K X-Reality PRO upscaling and TRILUMINOS Display technology. Likewise, the TV supports HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats. 43" X800G 4K LCD TV: $649.99 MSRP (available now) 49" X800G 4K LCD TV: $749.99 MSRP (available now) 55" X800G 4K LCD TV: $899.99 MSRP (available now) 65" X800G 4K LCD TV: $1,199.99 MSRP (available now) 75" X800G 4K LCD TV: $1,999.99 MSRP (available now) Source: Sony via CESPosted Tue Apr 23, 2019 at 10:10 AM PDT by: -
Physical Media Sales Continue to Decline but Overall Home Entertainment Spending Is Rising[teaser]Sales of discs are continuing to drop but the home entertainment industry itself is growing.[/teaser] As reported by The Digital Bits, recent sales data presented by the MPAA does not paint a particularly promising future for physical media. With that said, the continued popularity of streaming and cable services have led to an overall increase in home entertainment spending. According to the market data from the Digital Entertainment Group and IHS Markit, global physical media sales have declined by a staggering 48% over the last five years, dropping from $25.2 billion in 2014 to only $13.1 billion last year. And sadly, the launch of 4K and potential future arrival of 8K media don't seem to be pushing toward any kind of substantial uptick. Graphic via MPAA's 2018 Theme Report But while physical media sales might be on the decline, the overall home entertainment industry is actually growing -- thanks in large part to the increased popularity of digital media and streaming services. Per the MPAA report, global digital media spending has gone up by 170% over the last five years, rising from $15.7 billion in 2014 to $42.6 billion in 2018. In addition, 2018 marked the first year that subscriptions to online services surpassed subscriptions to cable. With that said, despite having fewer members, cable still accounted for a higher overall revenue total than streaming platforms did in 2018. Of course, many home theater enthusiasts (like myself) continue to greatly appreciate the video and audio quality benefits of physical media like 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray over digital streaming. It's just not clear whether that passionate yet relatively niche consumer base will be enough to ensure the survival of disc-based formats going forward. Sources: MPAA via The Digital BitsPosted Mon Apr 22, 2019 at 03:15 PM PDT by:
