The Dark Knight 2-disk Special Edition REVIEW

Dark Knight

Why our review for The Dark Knight is 4 days late is unforgivable, but what this 2-disk special edition DVD had to offer isn’t any reason for a dog to chase cars either. The Dark Knight is the best Batman film ever released, and if somehow you didn’t see it in Imax or theaters, you should most likely navigate away from this page now, and go see the damn film. Continue reading “The Dark Knight 2-disk Special Edition REVIEW”

DC Comics get some Motion

[Update 3/7/09: Click here for our review on WATCHMEN: THE COMPLETE MOTION COMIC]

“Warner Premiere’s Motion Comics” are short-form digital content pieces based on DC Comics. They bring  movements, voice-overs, music scores, and comic book artwork to life.

DC Comics is giving away an episode of Watchmen for free for the next two weeks at www.ew.com/watchmen. Beginning August 2, Watchmen Motion Comic will be available on the iTunes Store www.itunes.com for purchase and download for $1.99.

More titles will be unveiled after Comic Con!

Watchmen – Motion Comic
Watchmen takes viewers through the critically acclaimed DC Comics and Hugo award-winning graphic novel by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. Set in 1985 at the height of the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union, costumed avengers have been banned with the exception of two – The Comedian and Rorschach. During this time the mysterious murder of a United States government official named Edward Blake occurs in New York, possibly by Soviet Communists. It is later confirmed that Blake is actually a costumed avenger – The Comedian. The news of the murder is discovered by his fellow costumed avenger, Rorschach who sets out to discover the murderer.

During his search viewers discover whether Rorschach is really insane or if he’s uncovered a plot to murder super-heroes and, even worse, millions of innocent civilians. On the run from the law, Rorschach reunites with his former teammates in a desperate attempt to save the world and their lives. But what they uncover will shock them to their very core and change the face of the planet. Following two generations of masked superheroes from the close of World War II to the icy shadow of the Cold War comes this groundbreaking comic story — the story of The Watchmen.

Batman: Mad Love Batman:
Mad Love is taken directly from the pages of the Eisner Award-winning single issue graphic novel by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm. The story revolves around The Joker’s sidekick Harley Quinn who is madly in love with him. She uses crime to demonstrate her love for her “Puddin'” and sets out to commit the ultimate act of love – killing Batman.

The Batman: Mad LoveMotion Comic will be available to purchase from Xbox Live and viewing on mobile phones enabled for Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Video service starting July 22. “Batman: Mad Love” episodes will also be available from other distribution partners in the coming months.

Apple entering Handheld Console sector? iGame coming?

iGame?

Apple revolutionized the MP3 player sector with the iPod, made a mark on cellphones with the iPhone and it seems like its next stop is the handheld games industry! Wait, whuh? This doesn’t come in as an illogical move, seeing as the multimedia-rich iPhones and iPods were pretty good at playing movies and music and more in a handheld system. A gaming console looks like the next logical step in the progression.To find out what’s going on, hit the jump!
Continue reading “Apple entering Handheld Console sector? iGame coming?”

Apple TV $229 AND with MORE Features

At Macworld Apple announced several new features to the Apple TV and a new price ($229 for 40gb, $329 for 160gb), all making for a package that’s actually appealing.

Users can now rent over movies straight from iTunes. Over 1,000 titles will be offered by the end of February. Of that 100 titles will be offered in high definition with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Costs will be $3.99 for new releases, $2.99 for library titles, and $4.99 for high definition titles. Costumers will have 30 days to activate the title and 24 hours after that to watch it.

Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user’s computer for enjoyment on their computer, all
current generation iPods or iPhone.

“With the new Apple TV and iTunes Movie Rentals, movie lovers can rent DVD-quality or stunning HD movies from their couch with just a click of a button,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “No more driving to the video store or waiting for DVDs to arrive in the mail.”

Other new features include viewing photos from their computers, Flickr and .Mac Web Galleries on their widescreen TV as slideshows or screen savers, and anytime photos are updated on Flickr or .Mac, they are automatically updated on Apple TV.

Apple TV NOT Needed with HomeDock HD

Dock your iPod and view its content in high-definition on your TV, sweet. HomeDock HD Upconverts iPod Video to 720p or 1080i via HDMI. Control the content via an RF remote and you’re good to go. The HomeDock HD will be released in Q2 2008 for the price of $249.99.

HomeDock HD

As of right now you’ll save $50, but the question at this point in time is will the price of Apple TV reduce or add more features that makes the HomeDock HD not that great of a bargain? We’ll disclose this information later today.

[Update] It’s official the Apple TV is now $229. Looks like the HomeDock HD is going to have a tougher time in the market.

Microsoft’s Zune – iPod Beater?

Zune 2

Microsoft has announced, this week, that they’re planning a new version of their ‘Zune’ series of mp3 players. Not particularly big news, you’d think – the Zune sold 1.2 million units last year, the iPod over 30 million – but the fact that this announcement is gathering headlines on both mainstream news websites and niche technology blogs is good news: it’s competition.

Apple has, let’s face it, reveled in the fact that their product is now the byword for digital music players. People don’t talk, these days, about buying a new mp3 player. They’ll go to the store and buy a new iPod. When the first models were introduced back in 2001 they were an antidote to what Steve Jobs saw as ‘clunky’ and ‘useless’ players – most of the market then and, ironically, how the first generation iPod appears now.

It’s a well documented story that, since the first of Apple’s new machines caught the public imagination and sold in their millions back in the second half of 2004, they’ve dominated the market. Microsoft has now announced their new model and, with it, a raft of new features that include Zune Social, a networking site based around the player’s owners and their musical tastes.

Previously, the Zune – a competent player itself – had been shadowed, and other companies, like Creative, have produced products to rival the iPod but garnered only modest sales. The hugely innovative, stylish and attractive product introduced by Apple back in 2001 has made the rest of the market wake up and smell the mp3’s being burned to iPod’s all over the country: they had to wake up and catch up.

Thank god they did. The market’s full, now, of products that have had to raise their game to compete with Apple’s behemoth marketing budget. Creative’s entire range includes smaller models, inspired by the Nano, to full-size music masters. They’re aesthetically pleasing, durable and have excellent sound quality, just like the iPod. Archos players also consistently receive rave reviews, as do Samsung’s players. It’s a shame, then, that snappy adverts backed up by a multi-million pound marketing budget and the benefits of having an enviable reputation for success and credibility are the only things missing from making these perfectly worthy pieces of equipment a success.

I’m not saying that the iPod is a bad player – because it’s not. It’s got a great interface and is very good at what it does, even though file playback, and even iTunes itself, can be a little restrictive. It’s just worth exploring your options – now more than ever. There’s far more choice open to consumers than there ever has been, so make the most of it: vive la difference!