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This Week in Gear: LG Sponsors PaleyFest, Samsung Details New Mixed Reality Headset, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including LG's sponsorship of PaleyFest NY 2017, Samsung's new mixed reality headset, and more.[/teaser] From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed. For this edition, we're covering LG's sponsorship of the 2017 PaleyFest in NYC, Samsung's new HMD Odyssey headset, Sony's updated PS VR, and Hisense's new partnership with US Soccer. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: LG Electronics Announces Official Sponsorship for PaleyFest NY 2017 The Paley Center for Media has announced LG as an official sponsor for PaleyFest 2017. The event is being held October 6-16 at the Paley Center's New York location. "The Paley Center for Media is thrilled to welcome LG as the Preferred Television for PaleyFest NY 2017," said Maureen J. Reidy, the Paley Center's President & CEO. "The Paley Center and LG represent the best of entertainment and technology, and we're proud that guests to this year's PaleyFest will have the opportunity to experience this incredible combination of cutting-edge TV technology and content firsthand." The 2017 PaleyFest will feature premiere screenings and panels for many popular television shows. The schedule includes Black Mirror (October 6), Family Guy (October 7), Star Trek: Discovery (October 7), black-ish: A Conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross (October 9), Late Night with Seth Meyers from NBC (October 10), Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (October 12), Oz Reunion (October 15), and Blue Bloods (October 16). In addition, attendees will be able to see LG's OLED 4K TV lineup, including the flagship LG SIGNATURE OLED W7. The "Wallpaper" display offers perfect blacks, infinite contrast, an expanded color gamut, Dolby Atmos sound, and wide viewing angles. Likewise, the set includes Active HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, YouTube VP9, and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) support. Finally, the display features LG's Picture-on-Wall design with an amazingly thin (around one-fifth of an inch), semi-flexible screen that can attach to a customer's wall with magnets. Source: LG via PR Newswire Samsung & Microsoft Detail HMD Odyssey Windows Mixed Reality Headset Samsung has revealed its latest headset device. The new HMD Odyssey is a Mixed Reality headset designed in partnership with Microsoft for use with a compatible Windows 10 PC. "The Samsung HMD Odyssey is a high performing headset designed to provide the most immersive Windows Mixed Reality experience," said YG Choi, Senior Vice President of PC Business Team, Samsung Electronics. "With the widest field of view, built-in spatial sound and easy setup, the Samsung HMD Odyssey transports consumers to incredible virtual reality experiences." The headset features dual 3.5-inch AMOLED displays with a resolution of 1,440 x 1,600 @90/60Hz, a 110-degree field of view, built-in premium AKG headphones for spatial sound, and array mics for voice commands. In addition, the device uses inside-out position tracking and includes a Six Degrees of Freedom1 (6 DOF) sensor and two motion controllers. Pre-orders for the Samsung HMD Odyssey are now live in the US for $500. "We're excited to welcome the Samsung HMD Odyssey to the Windows Mixed Reality family of devices," said Alex Kipman, Technical Fellow at Microsoft. "This is an incredible product and another important step for the mixed reality journey we are on at Microsoft. With the Samsung HMD Odyssey, the team at Samsung has developed a Windows Mixed Reality headset that will delight our fans looking to immerse themselves in the world of mixed reality this holiday." Source: Samsung Sony Preps Updated PlayStation VR Model Sony has revealed plans to release an updated version of its PlayStation VR headset. The upcoming CUH-ZVR2 headset model will offer a few design improvements over the current CUH-ZVR1 version, including the ability to integrate stereo headphone cables with the VR headset, a slimmer, streamlined connection cable, and an updated Processor Unit with support for HDR pass through. This latter upgrade will allow users to enjoy HDR-compatible PS4 content on their TVs without having to disconnect the Processor Unit in between the TV and the PS4 console (this function can only be used when the VR headset is off). Beyond these changes, the headset will be the same as the previous model. Designed for use with a PS4 and PlayStation Camera, the PS VR headset features a 1920×RGB×1080 (960×RGB×1080 per eye) OLED display with a 110-degree FOV (Field of View) and a 90Hz refresh rate (120Hz in cinema mode). A launch window for the updated PS VR headset has not been announced yet, but pricing for the new model is expected to remain the same. Source: Sony via Engadget Hisense Details New Partnership with US Soccer Hisense has announced a new partnership to become the Official TV and Appliance Manufacturer for US Soccer Teams. The company will be supporting US Soccer through the 2018 World Cup, 2019 Women's World Cup, U.S. Soccer Development Academy, and US male and female youth national soccer teams. "In addition to our global FIFA partnership, our U.S. Soccer partnership offers an amazing opportunity to bring families and soccer fans together throughout the year and cheer on our country during some of the biggest sporting events in the world," said Mark Viken, Vice President of Marketing at Hisense USA. "Soccer is a global sport with incredibly passionate fans. We’re excited to introduce that passionate market to our industry-leading TV lineup to deliver the ultimate viewing experience." The partnership will kick-off during today's US Men's qualifier match against Panama, showcasing a variety of in-game and social activations. The multi-channel campaign will then go on to cover extensive brand integration across broadcast, digital, in-stadium exposure, and on-site activations. And to help mark the company's new status, Hisense is currently holding a Twitter contest for a chance to win a free 4K TV and US Soccer team jersey. To enter, fans need to tweet #HisenseUSMNT before 11:59 p.m. ET on October 8 (click here for full contest rules and eligibility information). Source: HisensePosted Fri Oct 6, 2017 at 01:30 PM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: 'Future Man,' 'Fearless,' and More[teaser]A full trailer for Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's Future Man has been revealed.[/teaser] Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon have released new trailers and other info for several of their upcoming shows and movies, including The Babysitter, Dark, Raising Dion, Fearless, Future Man, and Shut Eye. In addition, CBS All Access has announced plans to add one more episode to the "first chapter" of Star Trek: Discovery. The show premiered on September 24 and has pushed the CBS All Access service to a new record high for subscriber sign-ups in a single week. "Consumer response to the launch of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY has been tremendous," said Marc DeBevoise, President and COO, CBS Interactive. "The build up to the show's premiere led us to a record-setting month, week and ultimately day of sign-ups. The second week of the series has also exceeded our expectations and is a credit to the brilliant and dedicated work of the show’s entire creative team and cast. We can’t wait for fans to see what comes next for the U.S.S. Discovery and its crew." The first block of Star Trek: Discovery episodes was originally set to include eight installments, but now the first chapter will include nine episodes. The final episode of chapter one is set to stream on Sunday, November 12. The second chapter, featuring the season's remaining six episodes, will then return to CBS All Access in January 2018. The Babysitter (Netflix, October 13) - The Babysitter follows a lonely, 12-year-old boy who falls in love with his hot babysitter only to discover that she’s part of a satanic cult that wants to kill him. Starring Bella Thorne, Robbie Amell, Samara Weaving, Andrew Bachelor, Hana Mae Lee, and Judah Lewis. Written by Brian Duffield and directed by McG. The Dark (Netflix, December 1) - 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. In ten, hour-long episodes, the story takes on a supernatural twist that ties back to the same town in 1986. The series is created by award-winning showrunners Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, who previously received critical acclaim for their movie Who am I (2014). In addition, Netflix has ordered a 10 episode season for Raising Dion, a new one-hour sci-fi, family drama based on the short film of the same name (embedded below). The show comes from commercial and music video director Dennis Liu, who created the original comic book and short film. Carol Barbee (UnREAL, Judging Amy) is attached as showrunner/executive producer and is credited with scripting the first episode. Michael B. Jordan (Creed) is also on board as an executive producer and actor for the show. The series follows the story of a woman named Nicole Reese, who raises her son Dion after the death of her husband Mark (Jordan). The normal dramas of raising a son as a single mom are amplified when Dion starts to manifest several magical, superhero-like abilities. Nicole must now keep her son’s gifts secret with the help of Mark’s best friend Pat, and protect Dion from antagonists out to exploit him while figuring out the origin of his abilities. "We haven’t seen this type of superhero story before -- an origin myth full of imagination, wonder and adventure, all grounded in the experiences of a modern single mother," said Cindy Holland, Vice President, Original Content for Netflix. "Michael B. Jordan is an exciting and dynamic talent, and I’m excited to see him, MACRO, Carol and the team translate Dennis’ unique vision to television." Fearless (Amazon Prime Video, October 27) - A legal conspiracy thriller following human rights lawyer Emma Banville (Helen McCrory), whose latest case will uncover a web of secrets and collusion with both personal and national repercussions. In the series, Emma sets out to prove the innocence of Kevin Russell (Sam Swainsbury, Mum), a man who she feels was wrongly convicted for the murder of schoolgirl Linda Simms (Eve Austin, In the Flesh) 14 years earlier. Emma is determined to reveal the truth behind Linda’s death and is prepared to go to extreme lengths to prove Kevin’s innocence. However, as she digs deeper into the case–risking her career, personal life and reputation–she begins to sense powerful forces in the police and the intelligence services who want to stop her from uncovering the truth. Future Man (Hulu, November 14) - From Executive Producers Seth Rogen (Sausage Party, Knocked Up, This is the End) and Evan Goldberg (Preacher, Sausage Party, Superbad, Knocked Up), Future Man follows a janitor by day/world-ranked gamer by night who travels through time to prevent the extinction of humanity after mysterious visitors from the future proclaim him the key to defeating the imminent super-race invasion. Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games, The Kids Are Alright) stars as Josh Futterman, an uninspired and dejected gamer who quickly becomes earth’s unlikely hero. Eliza Coupe (Happy Endings), Derek Wilson (Preacher), Ed Begley Jr. (St. Elsewhere) and Glenne Headly (Don Jon) also star. Shut Eye: Season Two (Hulu, December 6) - Takes a darkly comedic look at the world of Los Angeles storefront psychics and the organized crime syndicate that runs them. Former magician Charlie Haverford (Jeffrey Donovan) oversees a number of fortune telling parlors on behalf of his violent and domineering Romani kingpin boss, until a blow to the head jars him into a new mindset, making him question everything he has ever believed. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $11 per month for HD streaming and $14 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - 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. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $8 per month with commercials. In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Netflix, Amazon (YouTube), Amazon, Hulu (YouTube), CBSPosted Fri Oct 6, 2017 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
BenQ Releases HT1070A's 1080p Projector for $649[teaser]The new budget-friendly HD projector is now available.[/teaser] BenQ has announced the release of its latest projector model. The HT1070A offers full HD 1080p performance for an affordable price point. "When we designed the HT1070A, we wanted to offer an affordable projector that makes entertainment come alive for family movie night," said Rachel Dohmann, marketing manager at BenQ America Corp. "With strict adherence to the Rec. 709 color standard combined with our CinematicColor technology, everyone will be on the edge of their seats experiencing content so realistic and vibrant." The projector offers native 1080p projection with a 16:9 aspect ratio and support for screen sizes of 60 inches to around 300 inches. Likewise, the device uses the latest DLP technology and a unique RGBRGB color wheel design to offer >96% Rec. 709 color gamut coverage. In addition, the unit features BenQ's exclusive CinematicColor technology, a 15000:1 contrast ratio, 2200 ANSI Lumens of brightness, and a vertical keystone function. Dual HDMI connectivity is included as well, allowing users to hook up Blu-ray players, video game consoles, set-top boxes, laptops, streamers and more. Here's a rundown of key specs per BenQ: - 96% coverage of Rec. 709 color space- Hassle-free installation- 100" big screen at only 2.8 meters- 1.2x Zoom increases flexibility for the space- Power saving technology for long lamp lifetime The BenQ HT1070A 1080p projector is now available for a suggested retail price of $649 from stores like BenQDirect.com, Best Buy, Fry's, NewEgg, and B&H. And in addition to the HT1070A, BenQ also recently released its LK970 4K Laser Projector with 5,000 ANSI lumens of brightness for an MSRP of $12,999. Source: BenQPosted Fri Oct 6, 2017 at 09:30 AM PDT by: -
VUDU, Google Play, and Amazon Lower their Prices for 4K Ultra HD Digital Titles[teaser]The streaming platforms have all reduced their 4K prices.[/teaser] VUDU, Google Play, and Amazon have all lowered prices for select 4K Ultra HD titles in their respective digital stores. The new pricing likely comes as a response to Apple's $20 price point for its new selection of 4K HDR titles in the iTunes store. As part of the adjustment, select Warner Bros. and Universal VUDU Ultra HD titles with Dolby Vision HDR are no available for $15 - $20, with some movies even on sale for as little as $10. Popular $15 titles include movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow, Suicide Squad, and Batman v Superman. In addition, most UHD VUDU rentals now range between $4 and $8. Click here to see the discounted titles! 4K Dolby Vision VUDU playback is currently available on select displays, including 2017 LG OLED models and VIZIO M and P Series displays. Meanwhile, though the majority of Google Play's 4K selection remains around the $30 price range, there are a few $20 UHD titles on sale now as well, including new releases like Spider-Man Homecoming and Baby Driver. Likewise, Amazon has reportedly followed suit too, dropping many of its own 4K digital titles to $20, along with some UHD movies even as low as $5. For its part, Apple recently launched its own selection of 4K HDR titles in the iTunes store, with many priced at $20. In addition, the service will even offer automatic 4K HDR upgrades for HD titles already in a user's existing iTunes library when they become available free of charge. 4K iTunes playback is currently supported via the new Apple TV 4K (full review here). Sources: VUDU, Engadget, ForbesPosted Fri Oct 6, 2017 at 06:30 AM PDT by: -
Home Theater 101Keeping track of the latest audio and video tech can be daunting. Thankfully, High-Def Digest has you covered. [teaser]Welcome to our Home Theater 101 series, where we explain emerging technologies, AV formats, digital streaming platforms, and more.[/teaser] This page is designed to act as a central hub for all of our Home Theater 101 articles. If you don't know the difference between Dolby Vision and HDR10+, or DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, click on the guides below for full in-depth breakdowns on each subject. Cheers & thanks so very much for reading! Everything We Know About 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray This was our original explanation of the new 4K format, written six months before its debut! Is 4K a Scam? Inspired by a reader's question on Facebook, we explore the history as well as the benefits and pitfalls of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and streaming content. What is Dolby Atmos? Over the last few years, Dolby Atmos has taken the surround sound experience to the next level through addition of overhead audio. But just what exactly is Dolby Atmos and how does it work? And what do A/V enthusiasts mean when they throw around terms like object-based mixing and up-firing drivers? This guide is here to breakdown the ins and outs of the format. What is DTS:X? Like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X takes the surround sound experience to the next level through the use of overhead audio and object-based mixing. But while both formats are very similar, are there any notable differences? And what products support the tech? This guide covers all the basics of DTS:X technology and gear. Up-mixed: Dolby Surround v DTS:Neural:X Though the differences between native Dolby Atmos and DTS:X tech might not be appreciable, both company's now offer their own new immersive audio up-mixing solutions as well. Designed to add height effects to traditional surround sound mixes, Dolby Surround, and DTS:Neural:X both aim to deliver similar experiences -- but is there a clear winner between the two? What is HDR? High Dynamic Range is the biggest display advancement in years, offering enhanced contrast and colors. But how does the process really work? And what's the deal with all of the competing formats? From nits to color gamuts, this guide is here to explain what HDR is and how it's used to improve the 4K TV experience. What is Dolby Vision? With the basics of HDR out of the way, this section dives deep into the intricacies of Dolby's own proprietary high dynamic range format, addressing what makes the Dolby Vision process unique. If you don't know the difference between static metadata and dynamic metadata, this is the guide for you. What is HDR10+? As an emerging royalty-free dynamic metadata high dynamic range format, HDR10+ offers similar features as Dolby Vision. But just what are the differences between the two, and what gear and content currently support the format? This guide is here to highlight all the ins and outs of the industry's newest HDR solution. HDR Sucks: The Challenges & Frustrations of HDR10 Are all HDR formats created equally? Pitting HDR10 against Dolby Vision, this article examines the drawbacks and limitations of static metadata solutions versus dynamic metadata tech. Everything on Netflix with Dolby Vision, HDR, and/or Dolby Atmos As 4K HDR TV and immersive audio adoption continues to grow, more and more content providers have begun to embrace Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos content. And when it comes to streaming services, few digital platforms offer a library as robust as Netflix. This list highlights all of the titles currently available on the service with Dolby Vision, HDR, and/or Dolby Atmos support. Everything on Amazon Prime Video with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and/or Dolby Atmos Though not quite as large as Netflix's library, Amazon also offers a growing collection of HDR and Atmos titles. Likewise, it's the only platform currently offering support for the new HDR10+ format. With that in mind, this list highlights all of the titles available on the service with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and/or Dolby Atmos support. Best 4K Streaming Services More and more streaming platforms are adding support for 4K playback, but selections, compatibility, and pricing vary quite a bit from service to service. To help size up the current crop of digital providers, this list covers the key pros and cons of each competing platform, allowing readers to decide which service is the best for them. When 4K Is Not 4K So you've got a fancy new 4K TV and an Ultra HD Blu-ray player with plenty of discs -- but are the movies you're watching actually in 4K? Well, it turns out more often than not, the answer is... no. While 4K production and mastering are becoming more popular, the majority of modern movies are still either photographed digitally at 2K or have a 2K Digital Intermediate. This article lists some examples and elaborates on why resoltuion isn't everything when it comes to the benefits of the Ultra HD format. What is LCD? Though OLED displays offer some key benefits, the most common and popular panel type in the Ultra HD TV market remains LCD. But just what exactly is an LCD TV? And what's the distinction between the tech's varying panel types and LED backlight options? If you don't know the difference between edge-lit LED panels and full-array local dimming panels, this guide is here to cover all the basics of LCD TVs. What is VR? While virtual reality in some form or another has been around for decades, the format has recently seen a major revival and performance overhaul as display and computing technologies have advanced -- providing a new level of immersion. But just what exactly is VR? And which headset is right for you? If you don't know the difference between an Oculus Rift and a Daydream View, this guide is here to breakdown the ins and outs of Virtual Reality.Posted Thu Oct 5, 2017 at 02:19 PM PDT by: -
Optoma Launches UHZ65 4K UHD Projector & HD39Darbee 1080p Projector[teaser]New HD and 4K projectors are now available.[/teaser] Optoma has announced the release of its latest projector models. The newly launched products include the UHZ65 4K UHD projector and the HD39Darbee 1080p projector. "The Optoma UHZ65 is the culmination of years of design iterations, engineering and testing to bring the highest quality home cinema projector to market for a price that consumers can afford," said Brian Soto, head of product management, Optoma Technology. "With 4K content now readily available, and entertainment options always expanding, we are delivering on our goal to provide an entertainment experience that can truly envelop a room and an audience at home." The UHZ65 uses a powerful laser phosphor light engine and offers a resolution of 3840x2160 with 8.3 million pixels via XPR video processing technology with fast switching. In addition, the projector is rated for about 3,000 lumens and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio with Dynamic Black enabled. Likewise, the unit supports high dynamic range with HDR10 capabilities, along with wide color gamut support. HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 is integrated as well, and the device features vertical lens shift and a 1.6x optical zoom. Optoma's UHZ65 4K Laser projector is now available for an estimated street price of $4,499 from stores like ProjectorPeople.com, ProjectorScreen, ProjectorSuperstore, Full Compass, and Visual Apex. Meanwhile, the HD39Darbee offers 1080p projection, 3D support, and integrated DarbeeVision image enhancement, which uses neuro-biologic algorithms to provide improved detail, depth, and object separation. In addition, the unit features 3,500 lumens of brightness, a 32,000:1 contrast ratio, and a REC.709 color mode. 17 percent vertical lens shift and a 1.6x optical zoom are offered as well, and the device is rated for 15,000 hours of lamp life. "The H39Darbee produces an incredibly sharp and bright image, providing an immersive home theater experience, even in environments with ambient light," said Brian Soto, head of product management, Optoma Technology. "By integrating innovative solutions such as DarbeeVision technology into our products, Optoma continues to demonstrate that projectors provide the highest quality and most flexible home theater experiences for consumers." According to Optoma's press release, the H39Darbee 1080p projector is now available for an estimated street price of $899, but Amazon's current listing carries a more expensive $1,799 price tag. Sources: Optoma 1, Optoma 2 via PR NewswirePosted Thu Oct 5, 2017 at 12:50 PM PDT by: -
Netflix Announces Price Increase for HD and 4K Ultra HD Subscription Plans[teaser]Users who want to stream HD or 4K content will need to pay a few dollars more.[/teaser] As reported by Variety, Netflix has announced a price increase for its Standard HD Plan and its Premium 4K Ultra HD Plan. The Standard Plan was previously set at $10 per month but has now been raised to $11 per month. Meanwhile, the Premium Plan was previously set at $12 per month but has now be raised to $14 per month. The company last raised its Standard Plan price back in October 2015. The updated pricing is now in effect for new subscribers. In addition, the price increase will be rolled out to current subscribers over the next few months. Netflix will begin contacting current customers about the change on October 19, offering at least 30 days advanced notice tied to a user's specific billing cycle before making the switch. Meanwhile, the company's Basic SD Plan will remain unchanged at $8 per month. The price increase comes as Netflix continues to invest more money in programming, with plans to spend $6 billion in content this year. "From time to time, Netflix plans and pricing are adjusted as we add more exclusive TV shows and movies, introduce new product features and improve the overall Netflix experience to help members find something great to watch even faster," the company said in a statement. The $11 Standard Plan offers access to HD playback on up to two screens at the same time. The $14 Premium plan offers HD and 4K Ultra HD playback on up to four screens at the same time, along with support for HDR (high dynamic range) and Dolby Vision content on compatible displays. Finally, the Basic Plan simply offers SD playback on one screen. New users will receive their first month free and subscribers can cancel at any time. Source: VarietyPosted Thu Oct 5, 2017 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Google Details New Pixel 2 Smartphones, Pixel Buds, Home Speakers, and Daydream View[teaser]The company has revealed its new lineup of gadgets.[/teaser] Google has announced the latest additions to its tech product line. The collection includes the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel Buds, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max, and an updated Daydream View Headset. The new Pixel 2 features a 5-inch 16:9 AMOLED display with an FHD resolution of 1920 x 1080, 441ppi, 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 95% DCI-P3 coverage, and a 100000:1 super contrast ratio. Meanwhile, the Pixel 2 XL features a 6-inch pOLED 18:9 display with a QHD+ resolution of 2880 x 1440, 538ppi, 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and a 100000:1 super contrast ratio. Under the hood, both models use Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 2.35Ghz + 1.9Ghz, 64Bit Octa-Core processors, along with 4GB LPDDR4x RAM running Android 8.0. A 12.2MP rear camera with 4K video recording and an 8MP front camera are integrated as well. The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2XL are now available for pre-order with prices starting at $649 in the U.S. In addition, the company has revealed its new Pixel Buds. The wireless headphones feature a unique fabric loop and touchpad control on the right earbud. For charging, the Buds can be stored in a pocket-sized charging case for up to 24 hours of listening time. The headphones include Google Assistant support as well, allowing users to touch and hold the right earbud to ask for music, make phone calls, get directions, and more through voice commands. Likewise, Google Translate support is also integrated, enabling real time translations for 40 languages. The Google Pixel Buds are available to pre-order now for $159 in the US with Just Black, Clearly White, and Kinda Blue color options. Google has also announced two new additions to its Google Home lineup. The Google Home Mini is a compact smart speaker with a fabric enclosure, 360-degree sound, and far-field microphones, offering support for Google Assistant voice control. Meanwhile, the Google Home Max will be the company's largest smart speaker model, offering premium sound and Google Assistant. The device features dual 4.5-inch high-excursion woofers, and is about 20 times more powerful than the original Google Home. Likewise, the speaker is the first model to offer Smart Sound tech powered by Google's artificial intelligence, allowing the Max to adapt its sound output to suit a user's environment, context of use, and preferences. Google Home Mini is now available for pre-order for $49 with an expected release date of October 19. Google Home Max will be available to pre-order starting November 13 for $399 and comes with 12 months of ad-free YouTube Music (subject to these terms). Finally, the company has unveiled an updated version of its Daydream View VR Headset as well. The upgraded model features new high-performance lenses for better image clarity and a wider field of view, along with a premium two-tone fabric to make the headset soft and light. The new Daydream View headset will cost $99 and will be available in Fog, Charcoal and Coral color options. Source: GooglePosted Wed Oct 4, 2017 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Movie Pass Real World ReviewHi, Everyone, please welcome guest writer Josh LeBlanc, who has been helping us out on a couple of our other sites and decided to check out Movie Pass for HDD. Cheers! PROS -$9.95 a month. -Can see a movie every day of the week. -Available to use at over 4,000 theaters. CONS -Doesn’t work for Imax or 3D Movies. -Have to be physical at the theater. -Probably too confusing for your Mom (God love her) INTRO Movie Pass -- the any movie, any theater, any day, service for $9.95 -- isn’t new. It’s actually been around for a few years. Before July of 2017 however, about forty thousands Movie Pass customers paid almost fifty dollars a month for the right to go to a standard non-imax or 3d movie, in the theater… every day. But then they did something radical. They changed their price to $9.95. Something that sent the country into a tizzy. Analysts said the price was unsustainable and that the company would go bankrupt. HOW MOVIE PASS WORKS When you buy a ticket with your Movie Pass card, which is actually a Mastercard, Movie Pass then pay the theater the full price for the movie ticket. They’re promising to do that EVERY DAY for subscribers. So, if you live somewhere like Los Angeles, where tickets can go as high as $18 dollars for a non-3d movie. Double what you pay for a month of subscribing to movie pass. Hence the pundits saying it’s unsustainable. Who’s going to pay for all these tickets? It’s not like Netflix where you pay a flat fee to have access to a select library. With Movie Pass you’re paying $9.95 to have access to ANYTHING that’s in the theater (save for 3D & IMAX). Needless to say when they announced the price change, they were immediately bombarded by requests for the service, which pushed card delivery from a guaranteed five days up to 2-3 weeks, and some new subscribers weren't exactly thrilled. HOW TO SIGN UP FOR MOVIE PASS 1. Go to https://www.moviepass.com/ and enter credit card information and sign up. 2. Download the Movie Pass App for your iOS or Android device. 3. Wait to receive your Movie Pass Mastercard in the mail. 4. Physically go to the theater. 5. Once you’re within 100 yards of the theater, open the Movie Pass app on your smartphone, pick the movie and the time you want to see it at, and then click purchase. 6. The amount of that movie ticket is then loaded onto your Movie Pass Mastercard instantly. 7. Use the Movie Pass card to buy your ticket at either the automated kiosk or with a real live person. 8. Enjoy the movie. DOES IT REALLY WORK? The short answer… is an astounding YES! But there have been some frustrations. I ordered Movie Pass from the Movie Pass Website on August 24th, 2017 and was immediately charged $9.95. I then downloaded the iPhone app and waited for my Movie Pass Mastercard to arrive. …and waited. …and waited. …and waited. The company issued a release that said they were having delays due to high demand. Which I totally understand, a lot of people online didn’t and there was a lot of angry tweets and reddit posts like this: “I still haven’t received my card yet! I’m just gonna cancel it, this is joke!” Where did everyone’s patience go? Is it FOMO, are they afraid everyone is going to the movies without them? Are they mad they had to pay full price to see IT? I have not idea. Calm down people, they said it’s going to take a few weeks to catch up with the demand. That sounds reasonable to me. Finally on September 22nd, 2017 it arrived. This is over four weeks. Again, it’s really not that big of a deal. I waited to order one, it’s my fault, really. Keep in mind that, according to Movie Pass' website, even though they charge you right away for the service, your service doesn’t start until you activate your card. It’s October now and I still haven’t gotten changed a second month’s fee yet, so, so far they seem to be true to their word on that front. I don’t expect to be hit with another fee until sometime around October 25th. I then fired up the App and looked for a list of theaters near me that accepted Movie Pass. The Laemle in North Hollywood was on the list. I was so eager to go try this card out that I got there and only thing playing within an hour, was The LEGO Ninjago Movie. Did that deter me from trying it out? Heck no, it didn’t. I picked Ninjago on my phone, selected the time and it asked me for the last four digits of my Movie Pass card. I entered the and waited for 30 seconds. It looked like it kind of froze on me, so, I backed out and then clicked don the time again and got the “SUCCESS” screen. It’s a little finicky, but, it appeared to work. Next I went over to the box office, muttered “cough ninjago” under my breath, and handed over the Movie Pass card for the $12 dollar ticket… and it worked. I’ve used it a few more times in the past week and it’s worked every single time. Seriously. It was actually a mistake to give me one of these things as I’m gonna swipe it until they take it away from me. THE WORST BITS You have to be physically within 100 yards of the theater to buy the ticket. I know why they do it, they’d never make a profit if you could just select tickets from your phone and buy it. Why? For one people wouldn’t care if they didn’t go. They’d buy a ticket just to have one then if they had to cancel wouldn’t care because to them it would have been free. For two, it would get more use which would make it harder for the company to make a profit. I personally don’t mind the having to physically be at the theater, just know, you might have a hard time getting a ticket opening night in a big city to see a movie when you can't reserve a seat far in advance. The card doesn’t work in Imax or 3D screens. Why? because they would definitely go bankrupt. There’s no financial model that makes sense when the tickets are that expensive. Also, each time I’ve used it there seems to be a small hangup from when you select the purchase ticket time to the success screen coming up. I’m guessing what they’re really waiting on is the transfer of funds to your card. I bet you don’t get that “SUCCESS” message UNTIL funds have been deposited into your account. They probably don’t want to aggravate the ushers with people saying “Swipe it again, it’s in there.” forty times a night. Regarding the stories of people who only received a portion of the ticket price on their card, and had to pay the difference and then send a picture of the stub to Movie Pass to get a refund, I haven’t had any of those issues. You may have also read about AMC trying to block the use of Movie Pass. In fact, the only way they can do it is to block all Mastercards, which they’ve done in a few cities. This would be annoying to other people who don’t have Movie Pass and just want to use their regular old MasterCard. Having said that, it does currently work at AMC theaters in Los Angeles. Here’s another thing they won’t like. You can even get an AMC STUBS REWARD CARD and use it every time you go to the movies on Movie Pass and earn points towards free tickets and concessions. Churn those points guys, churn those points. I’m not sure why AMC doesn’t want Movie Pass used at their theaters, though internet rumors range from they want to start their own version of the product, to fear that it reduces the value people think they’re getting with a movie ticket. And, as someone who has to have a weekly phone call with their Grandfather to re-connect his HBO NOW subscription to his ROKU because he clicks “SIGN OUT” after every time he uses it, I can see using the Movie Pass App and card to be too much to process for anyone from a technology-challenged generation. Lastly, before Movie Pass dropped their current monthly fee to $9.95 they sold a 50% stake in their company to Helios and Matheson Analytics Inc., a company that will then sell yourmovie-goingg history back to the studios. If that bothers you and I can see why it might bother some, then maybe Movie Pass isn’t for you. Personally, I see everything, so, it really doesn’t matter to me as my data is kind of useless to them. FINAL THOUGHTS [Teaser]Despite highlighting a few headaches and pitfalls, for me the pros of being able to see as many 2D movies as I possibly can for only $9.95/month outweigh the cons by leaps and bounds.[/Teaser] Are there going to be some restrictions? Of course, it costs less than 4K Netflix, which makes me wonder if they'd change the service to include more pricing tiers. Say $30 a month to be able to see Imax or 3D movies and $50 a month to be able to buy tickets online for any date in the future. That’s where’d they’d really start to make money. People have a tendency to think they need something more than they actually do and are willing to overpay for the privilege. For me, though, I love it and the service comes Highly Recommended for anyone who sees more than one non-IMAX or 3D movie per month in the cinema. If you’re on the fence about trying Movie Pass, what do have to lose besides $9.95. Try it!Posted Wed Oct 4, 2017 at 10:13 AM PDT by: -
Roku Unveils New Streaming Player Lineup with Prices Starting at $30[teaser]The company's updated product line has been detailed.[/teaser] Roku has announced its latest collection of streaming media devices. The lineup includes upgraded Roku Express, Roku Express+, and Roku Streaming Stick models, along with the new 4K HDR Roku Streaming Stick+, and a cheaper price point for the Roku Ultra. Likewise, the company has also announced the arrival of its new Roku OS 8. "Our new streaming player line up provides performance, price and features to meet our users needs so they can sit back, relax and enjoy their TV viewing experience even more," said Chas Smith, general manager of Roku TVs and players. "Consumers will love our new sleek Roku Streaming Stick+ with an innovative advanced wireless receiver that gives up to four times the wireless range and a remote that controls TV volume and power. It makes 4K and HDR streaming simple." The second-generation Roku Express ($30) and Roku Express+ ($40, Walmart Exclusive) offer five times better performance over previous editions, giving customers a strong entry-level HD experience. And in addition to an HDMI connection, the Express+ model also includes a composite A/V port for older displays. Meanwhile, the Roku Streaming Stick ($50) features a compact design with a quad-core processor, 802.11 AC dual-band MIMO wireless, and support for HD streaming. Likewise, the new version now comes with a voice remote. In addition, Roku is also introducing the new Roku Streaming Stick+ ($70) with an advanced wireless range, along with HD, 4K, and up to 60 FPS 4K HDR playback. Finally, the company is reducing the suggested retail price of its flagship Roku Ultra model to $100. The Roku Ultra features HD, 4K, and 4K HDR playback with up to 60 fps. The device also includes advanced wireless performance, an ethernet port for wired connectivity, a micro SD slot, and a voice remote. Pre-orders for Roku's new streaming player lineup are set to launch today for an October 8 release. And beyond its new hardware, the company has also announced the launch of Roku OS 8. The updated operating system offers a New Smart Guide for Roku TVs that blends OTA TV with streaming content; enhanced voice control features; single sign-on for TV everywhere channels; an updated 4K Spotlight Channel and more. Click here for a full rundown of Roku OS 8 features. "At Roku, we love TV and we're focused on making it better for everyone," said Ilya Asnis, senior vice president of Roku OS at Roku. "Roku OS 8 delivers on our key pillars of ease, content and value. These new features make the entertainment experience more enjoyable for our customers, while solving some of the biggest pain points when watching TV today." Roku OS 8 will start rolling out to Roku players early this month. Likewise, the update will hit Roku TV models in November, and will expand to all compatible Roku devices by the end of the year. Sources: Roku, Roku 2Posted Mon Oct 2, 2017 at 08:30 AM PDT by:
