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Pricing & Availability Revealed for New WiSA Certified Klipsch Reference Wireless Speakers[teaser]The upcoming wireless home theater speakers will launch in June.[/teaser] WiSA certification has been granted to the new Klipsch Reference Wireless Speakers. The 2019 lineup will include a center channel speaker, front and rear monitors, and a subwoofer. "After a positive reception at this year's CES, the Klipsch team is very excited to launch our new Reference Wireless line in 2019," said Vlad Grodzinskiy, product manager for Klipsch. "Our Reference Wireless speakers are designed for people that want the simplicity of a sound bar and high-performance multi-channel capable audio. They will be an ideal complement to the growing number of WiSA Ready platforms, which includes LG TVs, Xboxes, and computers." With WiSA certification, the Klipsch Reference Wireless Speakers will be able to play wireless, multi-channel audio with low-latency speaker synchronization from compatible WiSA Certified or WiSA Ready sources connected to a WiSA Certified USB Transmitter. This includes new 2019 LG OLED and Nano Cell TVs, as well as Xbox One consoles, Windows 10 PCs, and more. The new Klipsch Reference Wireless Speakers are set to start shipping in June. Here's a full rundown of pricing for each speaker model: RW-34C Center Channel Speaker - $499 RW-51M Front and Rear Monitors - $699/pair RW-100SW Wireless Subwoofer - $499 "We’re thrilled for Klipsch's powerhouse, wireless speaker system to hit the market this year," said Tony Ostrom, president of WiSA. "The WiSA Association is seeing tremendous excitement around WiSA Ready platforms hitting the market in 2019. The Reference Wireless WiSA Certified speakers from Klipsch are an incredible sounding solution at a compelling price point that exemplifies how WiSA is changing and simplifying the way passionate listeners experience home entertainment." Source: WiSA via BusinessWirePosted Wed Mar 13, 2019 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Spotify Premium Memberships Now Include Free Hulu Subscriptions[teaser]The music service now offers free access to Hulu.[/teaser] As part of a special limited time promotion, Spotify is now bundling complimentary standard Hulu memberships with the company's Premium subscription plan. The offer will be available until 6/10/19 or while supplies last, and is open to new Spotify Premium users. Spotify Premium costs $9.99 per month and offers ad-free streaming and offline access to millions of songs and podcasts. Likewise, the service also includes support for creating and sharing playlists. Meanwhile, the free bundled Hulu Standard Plan provides ad-supported streaming access to more than 85,000 episodes of on-demand TV, along with thousands of movies and Hulu Originals like The Handmaid's Tale, Marvel's Runaways, Future Man, and Castle Rock. Likewise, Hulu is the exclusive streaming home to shows like ER, Lost, King of the Hill, 30 Rock, Family Guy, Seinfeld, South Park, and more. Prior to this new promotion, Spotify previously offered a $12.99 per month Premium plan bundled with Hulu. Current subscribers to that option will be automatically switched over to the new $9.99 per month bundle at the end of their current billing cycle. A Hulu standard streaming plan currently costs $5.99 per month without a Spotify Premium subscription. The company also offers an add-free plan for $11.99 per month and a Live TV plan for $44.99. Those options are not currently available as bundles with Spotify Premium. New Spotify Premium subscribers can receive a 30-day free trial. For more details on the Spotify Premium with Hulu promotion, check out Spotify's website. Source: SpotifyPosted Tue Mar 12, 2019 at 12:25 PM PDT by: -
Disney's Acquisition of 21st Century Fox Set to Close on March 20[teaser]The massive merger will finally go into effect later this month.[/teaser] After over a year of customary reviews and regulatory processes, Disney is now set to officially complete its acquisition of 21st Century Fox. The $71.3 billion deal is scheduled to become effective at 12:02 a.m. Eastern Time on March 20, 2019. The acquisition initially carried a $52.4 billion price tag but Disney was forced to increase its offer for Fox after a competing bid was made from Comcast. The purchase includes Twentieth Century Fox Film and Television studios, along with cable and international TV properties. With that said, the Fox Broadcasting network and stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network will be separated into a new company and will not be part of the agreement. As a result of the deal, Disney will now add Fox's many film and TV properties, including Avatar, The Simpsons, FX Networks, and National Geographic to its own portfolio. Likewise, the agreement will finally let Fox's Marvel film/TV franchises enter Disney's MCU, including the X-Men, Deadpool, and The Fantastic Four -- allowing Wolverine and The Human Torch to pal around with The Avengers on the big screen for the first time. In addition, Disney is also receiving 21st Century Fox's investment in Hulu, giving them the majority stake in the streaming platform. Meanwhile, Disney is also set to launch its own separate streaming service, dubbed Disney+, later this year. "The acquisition of this stellar collection of businesses from 21st Century Fox reflects the increasing consumer demand for a rich diversity of entertainment experiences that are more compelling, accessible and convenient than ever before," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "We're honored and grateful that Rupert Murdoch has entrusted us with the future of businesses he spent a lifetime building, and we're excited about this extraordinary opportunity to significantly increase our portfolio of well-loved franchises and branded content to greatly enhance our growing direct-to-consumer offerings. The deal will also substantially expand our international reach, allowing us to offer world-class storytelling and innovative distribution platforms to more consumers in key markets around the world." Sources: Disney via BusinessWire, Deadline, DisneyPosted Tue Mar 12, 2019 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
Yamaha Expands MusicCast Whole Home Automation Support with New URC Driver[teaser]More Yamaha gear now supports URC home automation.[/teaser] Yamaha has announced the release of a new driver for URC's Total Control 2.0 whole home automation and control system, adding two-way control and MusicCast multi-room audio compatibility to a wide-range of Yamaha audio devices. "The new URC driver significantly expands the flexibility and range of solutions available to custom integrators with Yamaha home audio products," said Robert Goedken, general manager, AV division, Yamaha Corporation of America. "Our MusicCast line unites state-of-the-art home entertainment with high-performance multi-room audio, and now it can all be easily controlled as part of the leading URC whole-home automation system." With the new Yamaha URC driver, customers with a URC system can now control all Yamaha MusicCast gear, including AVENTAGE and RX-V series AV receivers, Hi-Fi receivers, sound bars, wireless streaming amps, and wireless speakers. The tech supports use with a single Yamaha product or an entire custom-integrated whole home audio configuration with several devices. Likewise, the update provides two-way control for all applicable MusicCast streaming services like Pandora, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Deezer, TIDAL, Napster and internet radio. In addition, the driver enables control of playback in each room, including the ability to access metadata, a "scrolling list" for songs and stations, quick linking and unlinking of rooms, and input selection. The new Yamaha software driver for URC is now available to download for free via the URC Dealer Portal at http://www.urcportal.com. Once downloaded, customers can import the driver into the URC Accelerator software where it can be used in place of the existing Yamaha AV receiver drivers. Source: YamahaPosted Tue Mar 12, 2019 at 07:45 AM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: GOOD OMENS, THE ACT, COBRA KAI, and More[teaser]A demon, an angel, and a karate kid headline this week's collection of streaming trailers.[/teaser] Hulu, YouTube Premium, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and MotorTrend have all released new previews and info for several of their upcoming series and films. Here's a full rundown of titles scheduled to arrive on each service: The Act (Hulu, March 20) - A seasonal anthology series that tells startling, stranger-than-fiction true crime stories. Season One follows Gypsy Blanchard (Joey King), a girl trying to escape the toxic relationship she has with her overprotective mother, Dee Dee (Patricia Arquette). Her quest for independence opens a Pandora's box of secrets, one that ultimately leads to murder. Cobra Kai: Season 2 (YouTube Premium, April 24) - Daniel and Johnny are back and their rivalry is bigger than ever. Will Daniel's new Miyagi-Do dojo have what it takes to beat Cobra Kai--or can Johnny keep the dream alive? Good Omens (Amazon Prime Video, May 31) - With Armageddon just days away, the armies of Heaven and Hell are amassing and The Four Horsemen are ready to ride. Aziraphale, an angel, and Crowley, a demon, agree to join forces to find the missing Anti-Christ and to stop the war that will end everything. Based on the best-selling novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, Good Omens follows an unlikely duo and their quest to save the world. Jimmy Carr: The Best of Ultimate Gold Greatest Hits (Netflix, March 12) - Clean Suit. Dirty Mouth. Jimmy Carr’s back with an epic anthology of zingers. Nothing is off limits as Jimmy Carr serves up the most outrageous jokes from his stand-up career in a special that's not for the faint of heart. Queer Eye: Season 3 (Netflix, March 15) - The series returns to Netflix and is going global, introducing audiences around the world to a modern aesthetic, diverse perspective and a brand new Fab Five: Antoni Porowski (Food & Wine), Bobby Berk (Interior Design), Karamo Brown (Culture), Jonathan Van Ness (Grooming) and Tan France (Fashion). Our new Fab Five will forge relationships with men and women from a wide array of backgrounds and beliefs often contrary to their own, touching on everything from LGBTQ rights and social commentary to how to make the best farm-to-table guacamole and more! LOVE DEATH + ROBOTS (Netflix, March 15) - Terrifying creatures, wicked surprises and dark comedy converge in this NSFW anthology of animated stories presented by Tim Miller and David Fincher. Starring Topher Grace, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Gary Cole, and more. On My Block: Season 2 (Netflix, March 29) - Co-created by Lauren Iungerich (Awkward) and Eddie Gonzalez & Jeremy Haft (All Eyez On Me), On My Block is a coming of age comedy about four bright and street-savvy friends navigating their way through the triumph, pain and the newness of high-school set in the rough inner city. Ultraman (Netflix, April 1) - Years ago, the famous giant of light Ultraman worked to protect peace on Earth. Now, a new champion arises: Shinjiro Hayata, a high-school student who must don the Ultra Suit and the worries that come with it. The son of the former Ultraman, he will become this generation’s new hero! Someone Great (Netflix, April 19) - Aspiring music journalist Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) has just landed her dream job at an iconic magazine and is about to move to San Francisco. Rather than do long distance, her boyfriend of nine years (Lakeith Stanfield) decides to call it quits. To nurse her broken heart, Jenny gathers up her two best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow) for one outrageous last adventure in New York City. From writer/director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (creator of MTV’s Sweet/Vicious) Someone Great is a hilarious and heartfelt story of friendship, love, and what it means to let go of your twenties and enter adulthood. When They See Us: Limited Series (Netflix, May 31) - Based on a true story that gripped the country, When They See Us will chronicle the notorious case of five teenagers of color, labeled the Central Park Five, who were convicted of a rape they did not commit. The four part limited series will focus on the five teenagers from Harlem -- Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise. Beginning in the spring of 1989, when the teenagers were first questioned about the incident, the series will span 25 years, highlighting their exoneration in 2002 and the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014. Drift This (MotorTrend, Now Streaming) - Hosted by drifting pioneers Chris Forsberg and Ryan Tuerck, Drift This explores how to make improbable vehicles—from a UPS-style truck to a stretch limousine to bumper cars—drift. Using creative engineering, custom fabrication, and pure brute horsepower, Forsberg and Tuerck combine professional racing knowledge with creative insanity to make vehicles drift and, on occasion, blow one or two up in the process! A new episode will premiere every four weeks, and bonus content will be released weekly. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $13 per month for HD streaming and $16 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $119 per year or $13 per month. Likewise, Prime Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. - 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 YouTube Premium subscription costs $12 per month. - A current MotorTrend subscription costs $5 per month. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Amazon (YouTube), Hulu (YouTube), YouTube, MotorTrend (YouTube)Posted Fri Mar 8, 2019 at 04:10 PM PST by: -
Disney Announces Opening Dates for STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE Theme Park[teaser]Official launch dates have been revealed for Disney's Star Wars-themed land.[/teaser] Disney has announced opening dates for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The new theme park land will open ahead of schedule at Disneyland in California on May 31 and at Disney's Hollywood Studios (part of Disney World) in Florida on August 29. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will allow visitors to "become galactic travelers and live their own Star Wars stories in a galaxy far, far away." Visitors will be able to explore the planet Batuu, stop by a street market in Black Spire Outpost, try franchise delicacies like blue milk, visit the Cantina, and more -- all while interacting with various creatures and characters from the Star Wars universe. And as part of the land's phase one opening, guests will also be able to experience the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride, placing them behind the controls of the famed ship that "made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs." Check out a new promo video below! Following the park's initial launch, a phase two expansion for Galaxy's Edge is also planned to open later in the year, adding access to the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride. The attraction is designed to thrust guests into an epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order, and is said to "blur the lines between fantasy and reality." Likewise, beyond the land itself, Disney is also building a complementary Star Wars-themed resort, offering a "fully-immersive, multi-day Star Wars adventure aboard a luxury starship complete with high-end dining, space-view cabins, and exciting action." In order to gain admittance to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland in California between May 31 and June 23, 2019, guests will need valid theme park tickets and a no-cost reservation (subject to availability). Details on how to make a reservation will be revealed at a later date via Disneyland.com and the Disney Parks Blog. Meanwhile, reservations will not be offered or required to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World in Florida at this time. Source: Disney Parks BlogPosted Thu Mar 7, 2019 at 01:50 PM PST by: -
Disney+ Streaming Service Set to Include Disney's Entire Vault of Films[teaser]Disney is opening its vault for the studio's upcoming streaming platform.[/teaser] As reported by Deadline and Uproxx, Disney has revealed some additional details for Disney+, shedding some more light on what kind of content customers can expect from the service. The news comes from a recent shareholders meeting and subsequent Q&A with Disney's chairman and CEO, Bob Iger. During the event, Iger confirmed that all 2019 Disney film releases, beginning with Captain Marvel, will be available to stream exclusively through Disney+ after their theatrical runs. Likewise, Iger also revealed that beyond new movies and original titles, the platform will be home to the studio's complete library of films as well, including periodically out of print titles usually kept in the "Disney Vault." Here's Iger's quote on the topic from the meeting: "And at some point fairly soon after launch, it will house the entire Disney motion picture library, so the movies that you speak of that traditionally have been kept in a 'vault' and brought out basically every few years will be on the service." Meanwhile, original streaming titles currently in development for Disney+ include a Star Wars: Rogue One prequel series starring Diego Luna, a second Star Wars live-action show titled The Mandalorian, a Marvel series focused on Tom Hiddleston's Loki, a Monsters Inc show, and a new High School Musical series are also in the works. Likewise, exclusive movies expected to premiere on the platform include Don Quixote, Stargirl, Togo, Lady and the Tramp, The Paper Magician, 3 Men and a Baby, Sword and the Stone, Timmy Failure, Magic Camp, and Noelle. Pricing and an exact release date for Disney+ have not been confirmed yet, but the service is expected to launch later this year with a rumored monthly subscription cost or around $6 to $8. Sources: Deadline, UproxxPosted Thu Mar 7, 2019 at 12:45 PM PST by: -
TCL Launches 4K Roku TV Giveaway Promotion for March Madness[teaser]The company is giving away TVs every week in March.[/teaser] To coincide with the 2019 NCAA March Madness Tournament, TCL has announced the launch of its Final 4K Madness Giveaway. The promotion gives fans the chance to win a TCL 55-inch 6-Series Roku TV throughout the month of March. "With out-of-the-box stunning picture, our award-winning TCL Roku TVs gives fans access to college basketball games and a perfect centerpiece to enjoy the tournament at home," said Chris Larson, Senior Vice President, TCL North America. "Everyone should have an opportunity to enjoy our lineup of popular TVs and the Final 4K Madness Giveaway is a fun and easy way for fans to win a viewing experience that’s second to none." As part of the giveaway, one random winner will be selected every Friday in March to receive a 55-inch 6-Series 4K TCL Roku TV. Interested parties can enter the contest via www.tclusa.com/final-4K-madness or through TCL's social media sites. Winners will be chosen and announced on March 8, March 15, March 22, and March 29 at 5:00pm PST. The TCL 6-Series 4K HDR Roku TV features Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, along with the Roku OS smart TV platform. In addition, the set uses Contrast Control Zone Technology with 120 dimming zones on the 65-inch model. Likewise, the panel uses NBP Photon technology with LED phosphors to provide Wide Color Gamut support. A new iPQ Engine is implemented as well to maximize coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut and provide accurate color settings right out of the box. An HDR Pro Gamma feature is also offered to maintain details in dark and bright scenes regardless of a room's lighting conditions. Source: TCLPosted Tue Mar 5, 2019 at 02:30 PM PST by: -
Select DTS Play-Fi Devices Now Support Alexa-Preferred Speaker Feature[teaser]A new Alexa function is now available on compatible Play-Fi devices.[/teaser] DTS has announced the addition of Alexa-Preferred Speaker Functionality for "Works with Alexa" capable DTS Play-Fi products. "We are excited to share this feature through the wide breadth of DTS Play-Fi powered devices," said Dannie Lau, general manager, DTS Play-Fi. "With this new ability, customers worldwide now have a simpler way of playing their music on their preferred speakers throughout their Alexa smart home." The "Works with Amazon Alexa" feature for compatible DTS Play-Fi products enables users to control audio playback for their device via spoken commands through a separate Amazon Alexa product. And with the new Preferred Speaker option, customers can now designate a specific DTS Play-Fi device as their default music playback speaker for their Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Spot, Echo Show or other Amazon Alexa component. Once selected, users can control the default device through voice commands without having to specifically state the device's name. Here's a full rundown of currently available certified DTS Play-Fi "Works with Alexa" devices: Ace Audio Aerix Duet Anthem AVM 60, MRX 1120, and MRX 720 Arcam rPlay Definitive Technology W Studio Micro sound bar Klipsch The Three and The Capitol Three Special Edition, Gate, PowerGate, RSB-14 sound bar, RSB-8 sound bar, and RW-1 MartinLogan Bravado, Cadence sound bar, Crescendo X, Forte, Motion Vision X, and Unison McIntosh MB50, RS100, and RS200 Onkyo P3 Smart Speaker Paradigm PW Soundbar, PW 300, PW 600, PW 800, PW Amp, and PW Link Phorus PS10 Smart Speaker Pioneer Elite F4 Smart Speaker Polk Audio Omni SB1 Plus Rotel T-14 Sonus Faber SF 16 Soundcast VG10 SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System and Prime Wireless Soundbase Outside of Alexa support for select models, DTS Play-Fit tech enables customers to wirelessly play high quality lossless music from smartphones and tablets over an existing Wi-Fi network throughout the home. The tech can synchronize playback of a single source to multiple speakers; can stream different sources to different speakers simultaneously from the same mobile device; and can support individual music streams to separate speakers from different devices at the same time. Likewise, Play-Fi is not brand exclusive. This means that Play-Fi audio products from different manufacturers can actually work together seamlessly. Source: DTSPosted Tue Mar 5, 2019 at 01:35 PM PST by: -
Everything Coming to iTunes & the Apple TV App in March 2019[teaser]Check out all the new digital titles coming to the iTunes library and Apple TV App in March.[/teaser] Apple has revealed its March lineup of iTunes movies and TV shows. The collection includes films like Aquaman, If Beale Street Could Talk, Vox Lux, Mary Poppins Returns, Vice, Bumblebee, The Mule, On the Basis of Sex, and more. And beyond iTunes, Apple has also compiled a list of February 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 March iTunes and Apple TV app titles per Apple: iTunes Movies 3/3 Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes 3/5 Aquaman 3/5 If Beale Street Could Talk 3/5 Vox Lux 3/12 Mary Poppins Returns 3/12 Second Act 3/12 Vice 3/12 They Shall Not Grow Old 3/12 Out of Blue 3/12 Iceman 3/12 Combat Obscura 3/12 Never Grow Old 3/12 Chimera Strain 3/12 Mission of Honor 3/19 Bumblebee 3/19 The Mule 3/19 Triple Threat 3/19 Dragged Across Concrete 3/26 Homes & Watson 3/26 A Dog’s Way Home 3/26 Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase 3/26 Welcome to Marwen 3/26 Stan & Ollie 3/26 M*F*K*Z 3/26 On the Basis of Sex 3/26 Diane 3/26 A Vigilante iTunes TV Shows 3/18 Escape at Danemora 3/25 Ray Donovan – Season 6 3/25 Two Dope Queens – Season 2 Apple TV App 3/1 The Widow – Limited Series (Prime) 3/2 American Masters: Holly Near: Singing Schedule for Our Lives (PBS) 3/3 Leaving Neverland – Two Part Documentary (HBO) 3/4 Alaskan Bush People – Season 9 (Discovery) 3/4 Naked and Afraid – Season 10 (Discovery) 3/4 American Idol – Season 2 (ABC) 3/4 Good Girls – Season 2 (NBC) 3/4 Very Cavallari – Season 2 (E!) 3/5 America’s Hidden Stories – Docu-series (Smithsonian) 3/5 Summer House – Season 3 (Bravo) 3/7 Real Housewives of New York City (Bravo) 3/8 A.P. Bio – Season 2 (NBC) 3/8 Station 19 – Season 2 Midseason (ABC) 3/8 Superstore – Season 4 Midseason (NBC) 3/8 For the People – Season 2 (ABC) 3/10 American Gods – Season 2 (Starz) 3/10 The Case Against Adnan Syed (HBO) 3/10 Now Apocalypse -Season 1 (Starz) 3/13 MasterChef Junior – Season 7 (Fox) 3/14 The Good Fight – Season 3 (CBSAA) 3/14 Empire – Season 5 Midseason (Fox) 3/15 Catastrophe – Season 4 (Prime Video) 3/15 Project Runway – Season 17 (Bravo) 3/15 Shrill – Season 1 (Hulu) 3/17 Billions – Season 4 (Showtime) 3/18 The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (HBO) 3/19 The Fix – Season 1 (ABC) 3/19 NCAA March Madness 3/19 9-1-1 – Season 2 Midseason (Fox) 3/20 The Act (Hulu) 3/20 The Village – Season 1 (NBC) 3/21 Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists – Season 2 (Freeform) 3/24 Into the Badlands – Season 3 (AMC) 3/25 Knightfall – Season 2 (History) 3/27 Growing Up Chrisley – Season 1 (USA) 3/28 MLB Opening Day 3/28 Jane the Virgin – Season 5 (CW) 3/28 Million Dollar Mile – Season 1 (CBS) 3/28 Happy! – Season 2 (Syfy) 3/29 Hanna – Season (Prime Video) 3/29 What We Do in the Shadows – Season 1(FX) 3/29 Abby’s – Season 1 (NBC) 3/31 Barry – Season 2 (HBO) 3/31 Veep – Season 7 (HBO) 3/31 Call the Midwife (PBS) 3/31 Masterpiece: Mrs. Wilson (PBS) Source: iTunes via EWPosted Mon Mar 4, 2019 at 04:50 PM PST by:
