Apple Gives Sneak Peek of Mac OS X Lion

Apple today gave a sneak peek of Mac OS X Lion, the eighth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system. Shipping next summer, Lion is inspired by many of iPad’s software innovations. Today’s sneak peek highlighted just a few of Lion’s features, including the Mac App Store, a new way to discover, install and automatically update desktop apps; Launchpad, a new home for all of your Mac apps; system-wide support for full screen apps; and Mission Control, which unifies Exposé, Dashboard, Spaces and full screen apps into an innovative new view of everything running on your Mac, and allows you to instantly navigate anywhere.

“Lion brings many of the best ideas from iPad back to the Mac, plus some fresh new ones like Mission Control that Mac users will really like,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Lion has a ton of new features, and we hope the few we had time to preview today will give users a good idea of where we are headed.”

The Mac App Store brings the revolutionary App Store experience to OS X, making discovering, installing and updating Mac apps easier than ever. Like on iPad, you purchase apps using your iTunes account and they download and install in just one step. App updates are delivered directly through the Mac App Store, so it’s easy to keep all of your apps up to date. The Mac App Store will be available for Snow Leopard within 90 days and will be included in Lion when it ships next summer.

Launchpad makes it easier than ever to find and launch any app. Similar to the Home screen on iPad, you can see all the apps on your Mac elegantly displayed just by clicking the Launchpad icon in the dock. Apps can be organized in any order or grouped into folders, and you can swipe through multiple pages of apps to find the one you want.

Lion includes system-wide support for full screen applications. With Lion, you can enter full screen mode with just one click, switch from one full screen app to another with just a swipe of the trackpad, and swipe back to the desktop to access your multi-window applications.

Mission Control presents you with a unified view of every app and window running on your Mac, so you can instantly navigate anywhere. Mission Control also incorporates the next generation of Exposé, presenting all the windows running on your Mac grouped by application, alongside thumbnails of full screen apps, Dashboard and other Spaces.

Apple Brings FaceTime to the Mac

Apple today announced the public beta of FaceTime for Mac, an entirely new application that allows Mac users to video call iPhone 4 and iPod touch users as well as other Macs. Featuring an easy to use interface, FaceTime for Mac automatically uses your Address Book contacts so there’s no need to create special buddy lists, and it works seamlessly with the built-in camera and mic on Mac notebooks, iMac and Apple LED Cinema Displays.

“FaceTime makes video calling to or from mobile devices easy for the first time,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’ve sold more than 19 million FaceTime-ready iPhone 4 and iPod touch devices in the past four months, and now those users can make FaceTime calls with tens of millions of Mac users.”

FaceTime for Mac requires Mac OS X Snow Leopard and is easy to set up with an Apple ID. The public beta is available immediately as a free download at www.apple.com/mac/facetime.

 

Sennheiser PMX 680i Review

I have been in search of the perfect sport headphones that are water resistant, ergonomically designed to be secure and comfortable, deliver great sound quality, and seamlessly integrate with my iPhone. My search is finally over and my workouts are exponentially more enjoyable since using the Sennheiser / adidas PMX 680i neckband headphones ($79.95).

A marriage was made in heaven when adidas partnered their sports know-how with Sennheiser’s audio expertise to create the ultimate listening experience with the PMX680i. The headset features a rugged design incorporating a glow in the dark reflective stripe on the headband, an ergonomic neckband that is comfortable and secure while exercising and comes complete with a Dupont Kevlar reinforced cable offering exceptional strength. The headset is both sweat and water-resistant, which is ideal for an active lifestyle. The sound quality is rich and powerful; however the earbuds are designed to allow external noise to be heard. This is a wonderful safety feature that allows the user to have a greater awareness of their environment while exercising outdoors. The headphones come complete with an instruction manual, a cable clip, and a pair of foam ear pads.

One of the features that make this sport headset so unique is the integrated remote and microphone located on the cable. You can pause, fast forward and rewind your track as well as take calls while on the run (literally).  Both the microphone and remote are supported by the iPod touch (2nd and 3rd generation), iPod classic, iPod nano (4th and 5th generation), iPod shuffle (3rd generation), iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad and Macbook, Macbook Pro and Mac Pro (2009 and later). Voice Control is supported by the latest iPod touch, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

If you prefer a different headphone configuration, there are many to choose from, such as the Sports Ear Canal Phones, the Sports Headset, or the Sports Clip-On Earphones. If you are looking for a great pair of sport headphones, you’ve got to check out the variety of choices at Sennheiser, there is a style for nearly everyone’s taste and budget. (Reviewed by Meredith Fire-Hess)

The Big Fat Ugly Sandwich

This beast of a sandwich measures six inches in diameter and starts with two rolls.

Then a dump truck empties in 4 cheeseburgers, double cheesesteak, chicken cheesesteak, gyro meat, grilled chicken, bacon, sausage, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese bites, fried mushrooms, jalapeño poppers, pizza bites, onion rings, hash browns, American cheese, mayo, ketchup and french fries.

What, no nachos, what were they thinking?

You can pick one up from the Fat Sandwich Company for only $25.

Comic Book Pick of The Week: Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall # 1

The sequel to the biggest creator-owned comic of the decade–the one that spawned the number one hit movie and the worldwide phenomenon–is here! Kick-Ass is back, just as over-the-top as ever! As everybody’s favorite psychotic 11-year-old Hit Girl trains Kick-Ass to be…well, a bad-ass, Red-Mist gathers a team of super-villains to take them down! It’s super hero mayhem as only Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.can bring you!

The 32 page comic will be on sale at comic shops tomorrow (Wednesday October 20, 2010).

The Art of Drew Struzan

Described by Steven Spielberg as My favorite movie artist, Drew Struzan has created some of the most iconic movie poster images of the last 30 years, from Raiders of the Lost Ark to Star Wars: Episode III.

The Art of Drew Struzan ($34.95) is the first book to cover the acclaimed artists movie work in depth, with a Foreword by Frank Darabont. Featuring over 300 pieces of artwork, from black and white and color comprehensives (presenting concepts and ideas) to final poster art, accompanied by excerpts from an exclusive interview with the artist, the development of 40 projects is related and explained. With scores of previously unseen pieces, including unused final poster art for movies such as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Hellboy II, this is a treat for movie buffs and artists alike.Indiana Jones. Back to the Future. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Star Wars: Episode II and III. If you have seen any of these movies, you know Drew Struzan. His name may not be in the credits, and you wouldn’t recognize his face on the street, but you know him anyway.

As Frank Darabont, a writer/director/producer writes in the foreword, “Movie posters suck these days. They’re going to suck even more tomorrow.” But it wasn’t always this way; there used to be actual artists employed by studios, who did actual art that was actually good. Their works became more than a cheap marketing ploy, they became gallery-worthy in their own right, and Drew Struzan is among the best. Struzan’s gorgeous movie posters have graced theater entryways and VHS and DVD covers for the last four decades, welcoming you to some of the best films produced by Hollywood. His spot-on portraiture brings a tactile realism and at-a-glance summation of the entire film to the viewer, managing to evoke all the familiar feelings that make a great film something more than just another slot in your collection as soon as you see it. The Art of Drew Struzan shows exactly how he did it, letting readers get a peek at the many “comps” (rough drafts) it took before a final product was revealed, including several never-before-seen comps, as well as the stories behind every image.

This recently published heavily illustrated art book weighs in at 160 oversized (9” x 12 1/4”) pages and can be ordered HERE.

Tango App For The iPhone

Tango brings you free, high-quality mobile video calls over 3G and Wi-Fi! Tango is an entertaining video calling service that connects people around the world.

Tango will change the way you communicate every day, stay connected, and share special moments as they happen. Whether saying goodnight to your kids while traveling on business, needing advice from your best friend while shopping, or saying I love you to your girlfriend studying abroad, Tango for all your calls because you never know where your conversations will take you.

Tango Features:

• Free video calling to your friends and family around the world, wherever you are
• Call between iPhone and other smartphones on 3G and Wi-Fi
• Works on iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 (but not the iPhone 3G, sorry!)
• Populates Tango Contacts automatically from existing phone contact list
• Invite friends and others by e-mail or text
• Switch cameras and swap screens to show what is around you
• Move between video to audio and back to video
• Simple and easy to use
• Create an account in less than five seconds – New profile not required

Download the app HERE.

Marvel Superheroes Get Their TRON On

In anticipation of the upcoming film, TRON: LEGACY, Marvel announced that its biggest superhero franchises would get special TRON-style variant covers in November.

It will be interesting to see future comic book and movie crossovers now that Disney owns Marvel Comics.

See more covers HERE.

Kings of Leon’s Come Around Sundown Review

Come Around Sundown is a great follow up to Kings of Leon’s 4^th album, the hugely successful Only by the Night.  Only by the Night sold in excess of 6.2 million copies worldwide and the family from Franklin, Tennessee are poised to continue to rule the rock world with their latest outing. Come Around Sundown has 13 songs and comes in at just over 47 minutes long.  The first single Radioactive is classic KOL and there are a few other songs that seem capable of being stand alone singles as well. The song Back Down South has a strong country feel to it and like Radioactive, it comes with a little bit of gospel mixed in for good measure. The band continues to experiment with different sounds and the song Mary is a direct throwback to the 50’s Doo-wop genre. The band is currently on an extensive tour to promote the album and will be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on October 23^rd.  I got turned on to KOL with Only by the Night and this new offering of songs did not disappoint.  On a scale of 1-10 I give it a solid 8.5. Come Around Sundown is available in stores and online today. (Reviewed by Don Thompson)

 

Cemetery Dance Publications To Publish The Deluxe Special Edition of Stephen King’s Full Dark, No Stars

Cemetery Dance Publications is very pleased to announce the publication of  the Deluxe Special Edition of Stephen King’s chilling new collection of novellas entitled Full Dark, No Stars.

The tales in Full Dark, No Stars are bleak, featuring some of the darkest moments of any King work in recent memory, and the publisher has brought together a team of five acclaimed artists to create nearly twenty exclusive illustrations for our edition including black and white pieces and glossy color tip-ins.

This fine collectible volume will be published in three editions printed in two colors on a high-quality paper. Secretly rolling at the printer since September and on schedule to ship at the end of the year, the Cemetery Dance Deluxe Special Edition of Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King will be the perfect addition to any collection!

The three editions are as follows:

Slipcased Oversized Hardcover Gift Edition of 1,750 copies – $75

Traycased Oversized Hardcover Signed Limited Edition 750 copies signed by Stephen King – $350

Oversized Signed Hardcover Lettered Edition of 52 copies signed by Stephen King and all of the artists, and protected in a deluxe traycase – $1,500

These deluxe special editions will NOT be sold in stores are being printed in extremely low print runs and will sell out fast! Order your copy HERE today.

Brenda Chapman Exits Pixar’s Brave

Cartoon Brew has learned that Brenda Chapman, who was to be the first woman director at Disney•Pixar for Brave, is now no longer with the studio.

The site says that story artist Mark Andrews (who also co-directed the Pixar short One Man Band) has taken over directorial duties.

Chapman previously directed The Prince of Egypt at DreamWorks.

Brave is being voiced by Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson and Julie Walters.

Opening in theaters on June 15, 2012, it is the tale of impetuous, tangle-haired Merida who, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father’s kingdom and her mother’s life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right.

 

Bose Introduces Bluetooth Headset

Bose has long made headphones and earphones of both the wired and the Bluetooth varieties, but on Monday the company announced its first single-ear, cell-phone connected Bluetooth headset, called the Bose Bluetooth Headset.

The headset is mostly focused on noise cancellation, particularly in changing noise environments. Using Bose’s TriPort technology, the headset measures speech and noise, and adjusts sound levels to keep volume consistent, even when going from loud to quiet areas. The microphone is also designed to sense the voice in the microphone and speaker, and to eliminate background noise without hurting the call signal.

The StayHear tips that help users get the right fit with Bose’s in-ear headphones also come with the Bluetooth Headset, and the on/off sliding switch make it quick to turn on the headset and answer a call. Taking a call requires a pinching motion on the headset. Volume and Call are controlled via actual buttons. The headset is designed to be minimalistic and light, with most buttons and indicator lights hidden when the headset is on the user’s ear.

The draw to the Bose Bluetooth Headset, as with all Bose devices, will be the sound quality—Bose has a reputation for quality audio, and many phone users are certainly looking for better reception on their phone calls, particularly in noisy areas.

The headset will be available in late November, from Bose stores and retailers, for $149.95.

 

Drive Angry Trailer

Drive Angry stars Nicolas Cage as Milton, a hardened felon who has broken out for one last chance at redemption. Hell bent on stopping a vicious cult of fanatics who murdered his daughter, he has three days to stop them before they sacrifice his infant granddaughter beneath a full moon. Milton must us his anger to go beyond all human limits in order to save his last connection with humanity.

He’s joined by Piper, a young sexy-smart waitress who liberates her ex-boyfriend’s cherry red muscle car in order to help Milton. Now, the two of them are hot on the trail of the charismatic Jonah King and his murderous followers. King will throw every one of them faithful under the wheels of Milton’s turbo-charged Black ’71 Challenger, to fulfill hist destiny and unleash hell on earth.

But the bloodthirsty cult is the least of Milton’s problems. The police are after him, too. And worse. An enigmatic killer known only as “The Accountant.” The Accountant knows what Milton is trying to and and simply doesn’t care. With wicked cunning and hypnotic savagery, the Accountant will relentlessly pursue Milton at high speed across the forgotten back roads of the American south.

Fueled by high octane and pure rage, Milton and Piper must battle the onslaught of King’s disciples, avenge his murdered daughter, and save his granddaughter before his last chance at redemption is revoked.

The film directed by Patrick Lussier will be released on February 11, 2011.

Iron Man 3 To Be Released On May 3, 2013; Disney Picks Up Marketing Rights

Disney, Paramount Pictures, and Marvel Studios have announced via press release that Iron Man 3 will be released in on May 3, 2013. Under a new deal, Disney will be responsible for the marketing and distribution of the film, and will also oversee The Avengers. (The studio paid Disney $115 million for the transfer of rights.) Paramount will be releasing Marvel’s Thor on May 6, 2011 and Captain America on July 22, 2011. “Five years ago, when Paramount and Marvel made our initial deal, both our businesses were in very different places,” Paramount CEO and Chairman Brad Grey said in the release. “We are grateful for the partnership we have had with the terrific Marvel team over these years and proud of the work we have done together. Today, this new agreement is the right deal for Paramount, for Marvel, and for Disney. We look forward to working together on Thor and Captain America, and we wish Disney and Marvel the utmost success, in what we know will be a very productive and wide-ranging partnership.” (Reprinted from EW.com)

 

Coleman Micro Quad Lantern

The Coleman Micro Quad Lantern ($36) is a clever new product that alleviates the need to purchase four separate flashlights. It includes four light pods that function as emergency hand-held lights or together act like a 360-degree lantern when combined in their base.

Each pod charges via the base’s 4 AA batteries and features a magnet, belt clip, and strap handle, allowing you to use the light hands free. Colored plastic covers for the lights are also included to mimic emergency flashers. The lantern includes a one-year warranty.

 

Solving The Smallest Rubik Cube In The World

At 0.39 inches (10mm) this is the smallest Rubik’s Cube in the world. It was created by Evgeniy Grigoriev, and it’s 2mm smaller than his own previous record.

Build Anything With LEGO

In ‘Build Anything’, LEGO becomes a part of the real world, standing in for the clock face of the Big Ben, the London Eye and other sights of the UK capital.

Illustrator and filmmaker Temujin Doran submitted ‘Build Anything’ as his entry for the LEGO section at the Cannes Lions Video Contest this year.

 

The Hobbit Films Are Greenlit, Peter Jackson To Direct

The announcement, made jointly by New Line president and COO Toby Emmerich, Warner Bros. president and COO Alan Horn, and MGM co-CEO Steve Cooper, says the “the two films based on ‘The Hobbit’ are now greenlit and will begin principal photography in February 2011, under the direction of Peter Jackson.”

If the movie does not shoot in New Zealand, the country where Jackson made his “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the filmmaker said Warners are looking at five different locales around the world to host the project.

 

Brad Litwin’s MechaniCards

MechaniCards ($45-$90) are miniature, hand-operated, kinetic sculptures, designed and produced in limited edition by Brad Litwin. Each one is hand made, numbered and signed by the artist. They are constructed primarily from paperboard, with a few bits of wood, metal, or plastic. They make excellent gifts, and are suitable for mailing, as truly unique greeting cards.

 

Michael Jackson’s Vision, The First-Ever Complete DVD Collection Of Short Films Due On November 22

In collaboration with the Estate of Michael Jackson, Epic/Legacy Recordings is releasing Michael Jackson’s Vision on November 22, making available for the first time ever the entire library of short films produced by Michael Jackson during his career as a solo artist.

Packaged as a deluxe boxed set, Michael Jackson’s Vision ($40) contains more than four-and-one-half hours of content across three DVDs, capturing the entire spectrum of Michael’s pioneering short films that transformed the entertainment industry with timeless, pop culture classics that today’s youth embrace with as much passion as their parents did a generation earlier.

Michael Jackson’s Vision brings together more than 40 videos, ten of them previously unavailable on DVD and each presented in newly restored color and remastered audio.  And this release marks the debut of the short film for the R. Kelly-penned “One More Chance.”

Jackson’s short-form zombie dance party masterpiece, “Thriller,” famously directed by John Landis, remains a cultural phenomenon. It recently became the first (and only) music video to be inducted by the Library of Congress into the National Film Registry, an elite collection of only a few hundred films.

Michael Jackson’s Vision includes the full-length versions of the John Landis-directed “Thriller” and “Black or White” as well as the classic “Bad” directed by Academy Award winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese. Also included in the boxed set are Michael’s collaborations with such other noted film directors as John Singleton, Spike Lee and David Fincher as well as “Ghosts,” his rarely-seen collaboration with special effects legend Stan Winston.

Michael Jackson’s Vision will be available in a limited edition deluxe boxed set featuring a 60-page glossy hard-bound book that includes behind-the-scenes photos from Michael’s personal archives.

The state-of-the-art packaging includes cover art using lenticular virtual imaging technology to vividly represent memorable scenes from Michael Jackson’s signature short films.

ABC Planning Live Action Hulk Series

ABC is currently developing a live-action television series based on The Incredible Hulk, reports Deadline.

The character of the Hulk and his alter-ego, Bruce Banner, first appeared in 1962′s The Incredible Hulk #1. A scientist, Banner’s accidental exposure to Gamma rays causes him to becoming an uncontrollable, rampaging beast whenever he is enraged.

Outside of comics, The Incredible Hulk is perhaps best known as a CBS series that ran from 1978 to 1982, starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. More recently, the character has spawned two films, 2003′s Hulk (starring Eric Bana) and 2008′s The Incredible Hulk (starring Edward Norton). Mark Ruffalo is attached to take over the role for 2012′s The Avengers.

Although there is some planned continuity between the latter two films, it is unknown whether or not that plan will carry over for the ABC series, which is currently seeking writers.

 

Spider-Man’s Foe The Lizard Will Be Played By Rhys Ifans

Rhys Ifans will play The Lizard in the new Spider-Man film reboot directed by Marc Webb according to The Wrap. Despite rumors that Venom was coming back, sources close to the film say he will be absent from this film.

Andrew Garfield from The Social Network and Emma Stone from Zombieland will be playing Peter Parker and Gwen Stacey respectively, with Mary Jane Watson yet to be announced.

 

Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales To Be Released On November 2nd

Join lovable tow truck Mater and all of your favorite characters from Pixar’s “Cars” in this fun-filled animated series, featuring nine revved-up tales. As Mater describes his past adventures–from hot-rod racing to monster truck showdowns to UFO encounters–racecar Lightning McQueen does his best to determine if these hilarious stories are really true. Stars the voices of Larry the Cable Guy and Owen Wilson.

All nine episodes including “Heavy Metal Mater,” “Mater the Greater,” “El Materdor,” “Tokyo Mater,” and “Mater Private Eye” are featured. The 38 minute long DVD and Blu-ray is due in stores on November 2nd, the same release date as Toy Story 3.

Christopher’s Nolan’s Inception Arrives On DVD & Blu-ray On December 7th

Warner Home Video has announced DVD ($28.98) and Blu-ray/DVD Combo ($35.99) releases of Christopher’s Nolan’s Inception for December 7th.

Extras on the DVD release will include featurettes (“The Inception of Inception”, “The Japanese Castle: The Dream is Collapsing”, “Constructing Paradoxical Architecture – Designing the Staircase to Nowhere”, “The Freight Train – Constructing the Street-Faring Express Train”).

 

Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly?

With Hollywood classics,  the almost-could-have-happened casting game is always fun to think about. John Travolta auditioned for “Star Wars,”  Clint Eastwood was pursued as a replacement for Sean Connery in the 007 films and and Tom Selleck, the poor fella, actually turned down the chance to wear the hat in the Indiana Jones films.

Then there’s the rare star that actually gets the job and then loses it — and yes, today we’re talking about Eric Stoltz and the Marty McFly gig in “Back to the Future.” The film is hitting home video in a lavish new 25th anniversary edition and here’s a clip from the bonus features that illuminates the way Stoltz was erased from a major moment of movie history.