Fans of Hulu can breath of sigh of relief.
After rumors sprang up this week that the popular streaming web-site would start charging for content, a source close to the company has told Entertainment Weekly that isn’t the case.
“A source close to Hulu, however, tells EW that the site remains steadfastly committed to free content, explaining [...]
NASA Debuts iPhone Application
October 29, 2009 || Category: Science News, Technology News | Leave a Comment
Want to keep up with the latest developments at NASA?
Now there’s an app for that.
The space agency launched an iPhone application last week that allows users to track current and future launches as well as keep up with the position of the International Space Station.
The app also offers users access to the agency’s vast [...]
Facebook To Keep Profiles of Deceased Members
October 29, 2009 || Category: Technology News | 1 Comment
Just like the mafia, it’s easy to get on Facebook but difficult to get out.
At least with the mafia, when you die you’re out.
Apparently the same isn’t true for Facebook.
Your digital footprint could live on once you shuffle off this mortal coil thanks to a new program announced by the popular social networking site.
If your [...]
The Roku device, which allows users to watch streaming content on their televisions, is introducing several new players and dropping the price on its entry level device.
The price for an entry level Roku device is dropping from $99 to $79, USA Today reports. An HD version of the device will retail for $129. A new [...]
Hulu To Start Charging As Early As Next Year?
October 28, 2009 || Category: Featured, Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 7 Comments
A couple of weeks ago, we brought you news that Comcast was looking to purchase enough of a stake in on-line site Hulu that it could begin charging users to view content on the popular site.
While the deal between Comcast and NBC/Universal hasn’t gone through yet, it appears that Hulu may be getting ready to [...]
Disney Wants Movies To Play Across All Platforms
October 22, 2009 || Category: Featured, Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 3 Comments
The House of Mouse has created waves within the home entertainment industry by beginnng to offer packages that include the DVD and Blu Ray versions of some of their most popular releases.
Now it appears Disney wants to take the next step forward and create digital editions of their movies that could be viewed across multiple [...]
Maybe you can’t use them to fight a duel with your nemesis, you could use a light saber to help save you or your comrade from dying on the field of battle.
A new Pentagon report indicates that the U.S. military is using special issue plasma knife that cuts through flesh with a “blade” of glowing [...]
New iPhone App Will Unlock, Start Your Car
October 14, 2009 || Category: Technology News | 4 Comments
Lost your car keys?
There’s an app for that.
And while it may not help you find the lost keys, a new iPhone application will help you unlock and even start your car. The new application, released this week, includes an iPhone application and a receiver that enables users to lock, unlock and remotely start their car [...]
We’re slowly getting closer to the future predicted by movies like “Blade Runner” and “Minority Report.”
Kelloggs has announced that it is looking into using a laser to burn its logo onto individual corn flakes. That way when you’re enjoying a bowl of corn flakes, you’ll know whose corn flakes they are.
The company has become so [...]
Lucas Doesn’t Care Where You Watch His Movies
October 7, 2009 || Category: Technology News | 1 Comment
George Lucas doesn’t care if you watch his movies in your home theater or on your iPhone.
His biggest concern is that you’re watching them.
At least that’s what the “Star Wars” creator said when he was asked about people watching movies on an iPhone or other mobile devices earlier this week.
At the World Business Forum, Lucas [...]
Cinemark Looks to Challenge IMAX
October 5, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
The third largest movie chain in America is looking to challenge IMAX for big-screen dominance.
According to USA Today, Cinemark is planning on opening a series of large screen theaters called Cinemax XD in time for the holiday season. The theaters will roll out in selected cities across the country, including San Francisco, Tuscon, Las [...]
In the mid-90’s several high-profile media entities tried offering viewers the ability to connect their television and their Internet connections. The results were a mixed bag with high profile concepts like WebTV, AOL TV and Time Warner’s iTV falling by the way side.
And while consumers were reluctant to embrace interactive TV then, a new [...]
Disney Offers Details on “Star Tours” Update
September 15, 2009 || Category: Cool Stuff, Technology News | 1 Comment
A couple of months ago, we brought you news about the Walt Disney theme parks working to update the popular ride, Star Tours.
Set in the “Star Wars” universe, the original version took riders on a galactic tour of the universe and even included a run at a new Death Star the Empire was building. [...]
Google, the search engine that can find anything you want on-line, is looking to help make sure you have an affordable and renewable power source.
The San Jose Business Journal reports that Google is researching ways to reduce the cost of solar power with new mirror technology it is developing.
“We’ve been looking at very unusual materials [...]
YouTube Negotiating For Streaming New Releases
September 3, 2009 || Category: Technology News | Leave a Comment
You can order them on your pay-per-view provider the same day as they hit DVD and Blu Ray. So why not be able to pay to stream them as well?
That’s the thinking behind YouTube’s latest potential venture. The streaming web site is negotiating with Hollywood to offer streaming movies through its popular service, [...]
On Slice of SciFi #228, we discussed director James Cameron’s desire to make 3-D a part of the home theater experience.
It appears that several companies are jumping on board the band wagon and trying to make sure that 3-D is the next big thing in home theater entertainment, reports the Hollywood Reporter.
“Today, 3D is [...]
If you use Skype to make international calls, be warned that starting Sunday, you’ll be paying more for the service.
According to Wired, Skype is raising its international connection rate from 3.9 cents per minute to 7.9 cents per minutes for most countries.
he connection fee remains 3.9 cents for calls to so-called Global Rate Countries, a [...]
Fresh Film, DivX Sign Agreement
August 26, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
If you’ve paid $16 for a digital copy of a movie, wouldn’t it be nice to have the ability to back it up or burn it to a disc to watch on your home theater system?
You may get a chance to do that (legally) for some movies thanks to a new deal between FreshFilm and [...]
Redbox Could Control 30% of Rental Market By 2010
August 26, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
The popular DVD rental kiosks you see in and outside stores are growing. Led by the popular Redbox kiosks, a new study predicts the kiosks could make up to 30% of the rental market by the end of next year.
Currently, Redbox and similar kiosks represent about 19% of the rental retail market. Popular on-line rental [...]
FCC Will Tackle Wireless At This Week’s Meeting
August 24, 2009 || Category: Technology News | 2 Comments
This week, the Federal Communications Commission will take up the issue of wireless communications, reports USA Today.
The FCC will tackle three issues related to the current and future state of wireless communications. The group will examine wireless competition, barriers to entry and investment and consumer billing, including wireless contracts.
The FCC’s push is [...]
EW’s Fall Preview Issue Features Video Ad
August 20, 2009 || Category: TV News, Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 2 Comments
If you’re a subscriber to “Entertainment Weekly,” you may want to keep your eye out for the Sept. 18 issue.
The annual fall preview issue with have something new–a video ad.
CBS and Pepsi are teaming up to highlight the CBS Monday line-up–including Slice of SciFi favorite, “The Big Bang Theory”–with an ad that will feature a [...]
NASA Uses Radar to Map Earthquake Faults
August 13, 2009 || Category: Science News, Technology News | Leave a Comment
In the original “Superman,” Lex Luthor hatched a plan to create new ocean-front property by setting off a massive earthquake that would topple much of the western United States into the Pacific Ocean.
And while that may be a bit extreme, the fear of a massive earthquake hitting California and other western states is a very [...]
The few, the proud and the unable to log into social networking sites from their government machines.
The United States Marine Corps has banned access to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter on its networks according to Wired. The ban goes into effect immediately and is being taken largely as a security measure.
“These internet sites in general are [...]
Could Netflix iPhone App Allow Streaming Video?
August 4, 2009 || Category: Technology News | 3 Comments
Popular DVD rental outlet Netflix is working on an application for the iPhone according to Slash Film.
And while that may not be big news since every company under the sun is offering or developing an app for the popular iPhones, there are reports the company may allow users to stream content with the application. The [...]
While we don’t yet have colonies on the moon, you can explore the surface of the moon from the comfort of your own home or office.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moonlanding, Google Earth has added a new feature, Google Moon. The tool functions like Google Earth and is a 3-D atlas [...]
Is Amazon Looking to Acquire Netflix?
July 15, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 4 Comments
Shares of Netflix stock rose five percent yesterday on indications that Amazon may be looking to acquire the popular movie rental service, according to the Memphis Business Journal.
The paper reported Netflix shares (NASDAQ: NFLX) closed at $42.19 on Monday, up 5.29 percent after trading as high as $42.40 earlier in the day.
Netflix stock has more [...]
Borders Launches Their Own E-Book Reader
July 9, 2009 || Category: Book News, Technology News | 5 Comments
Borders is making a run at Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader. The book store chain recently announced the launch of their own e-book reader, the Elonex.
The Elonex will come pre-loaded with about 1,000 books and will support both the open-source ePub and proprietary Adobe formats. It will be “completely compatible” with the 45,000 odd e-books [...]
In a move seen to put in direct competition with its biggest rival, Microsoft, Google has announced the creation of a new open-source operating system.
The new system is called Chrome OS and is intended to be “lightweight, quick-starting operating system” according to Wired. The central focus of the system will be supporting the Google Chrome [...]
If you’re using Internet Explorer on a system running Microsoft XP or Windows Server 200, Microsoft warns there is a serious security flaw. The flaw allows hackers to take control of your computer according to a report in USA Today. All you have to do is visit a web site infected with a tiny bit [...]
Comcast, Time-Warner Sign “On Demand” Agreement
June 25, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | Leave a Comment
If you have Comcast, your on-demand choices are about to expand.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, a new deal between Comcast and Time Warner will bring Warner Brothers content to the Comcast on-demand menu. Included in the deal are on-demand showings for popular cable series, “The Closer” and “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.” There will [...]
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