Energizer Introduces The iSurge Charging Station for iPod & iPhone

Energizer has introduced its new iSurge Travel Charging Station for the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and other devices. The iSurge is an all-in-one AC adapter offering a top-mounted 30-pin dock for the iPod and iPhone, two USB ports with 2.1 Amp output for fast charging of the iPad, 3 standard, surge-protected AC outlets, a 180-degree rotating plug, and an integrated nightlight. Energizer’s iSurge Travel Charging Station will sell for $60 and will be available in October.

Air Mater Takes Flight in Cars 2 Blu-ray & DVD

Cars 2 will arrive on November 1st on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D and here is a first look at the brand-new animated short included in the release, Air Mater!

The Cars toon Air Mater features the fan-favorite character spinning his tales in an exciting new adventure high above Radiator Springs.

In Cars 2, Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy once again lend their voices to auto buddies Lightning McQueen and Mater as they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix. As the competition races through the streets of Europe and Japan, Mater gets caught up in some international espionage with the help of Finn McMissile (voiced by Michael Caine) and must fend off menacing villains looking to sabotage the Grand Prix.

The home video release also includes the Pixar short Hawaiian Vacation alongside such revved-up bonus features as “World Tour” (an interactive global thrill-ride through nine different destinations where the Pixar minds found inspiration for the film), commentary by director John Lasseter, and a sneak peek at the nuts and bolts of Cars Land (on the 5-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack). Cars 2 is also the first Pixar film also to be released in spectacular Blu-ray 3D.

And in honor or Pixar’s 25th anniversary, 25 fans will have a chance to meet and greet Pixar’s John Lasseter. Stop by the Disney In-Home booth at D23 Expo Saturday in Anaheim, CA from 9am to 2pm for your chance to see the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar.

Invisibility Cloaks 50% Off

Somebody at Borders has a good sense of humor. Wonder if they sold any?

The 25 Greatest Unscripted Scenes in Films

Mewlists has compiled a great supercut of unscripted scenes in films. The 25 scenes were not scripted, but rather, improvised.

New Publication Date & The Front And Back Cover To Steve Jobs Biography By Walter Isaacson

The publication date of Steve Jobs upcoming biography written by Walter Isaacson has now been pushed forward to November 21, 2011.

The cover is described by Isaacson as follows:

“The cover is the Albert Watson portrait taken for Fortune in 2009. The back is a Norman Seeff portrait of him in the lotus position holding the original Macintosh, which ran in Rolling Stone in January 1984. The title font is Helvetica. It will look as you see it, with no words on the back cover.”

Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues this book chronicles the roller coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing.

According the book’s overview as submitted by the publisher, Jobs has cooperated with the book and has not asked for any control over the final product. He has reportedly left no topic off-limits for the book and has not even requested the right to read it before publication, suggesting that the book will yield the most open look at Jobs’ personal and professional life yet published.

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The Top 100 Science-Fiction & Fantasy Books

The winners of NPR’s Top 100 Science-Fiction and Fantasy survey are an intriguing mix of classic and contemporary book titles. The panel of experts reviewed hundreds of the most popular nominations and tossed out those that didn’t fit the survey’s criteria. You’ll notice there are no young adult or horror books on this list; those genres will be saved for future polls.

See the list HERE.

Locke & Key Guide To Known Keys One Shot Available On September 21, 2011

This special standalone issue ($3.99) features an expanded guide to the known keys in Joe Hill’s and Gabriel Rodriguez’s superb comic series, Locke & Key. Also included is all-new guide to failed keys and a story of summer-night magic, set in Keyhouse’s unlikely past.

Look for this informative 32 page issue to be available on September 21, 2011.

Google Releases Google Catalogs For iPad

Google has released Google Catalogs for the iPad, a new free app that allows iPad users to browse through their favorite catalogs in an interactive, rich-media format. The application features digital versions of catalogs from diverse categories such as fashion and apparel, jewelry, kids, home decor and gifts, with content from top brands including Bloomingdale’s, Crate and Barrel, Macy’s, Nieman Marcus, Urban Outfitters and many more.

Users can zoom in on photos to see close-up views of products, tap on tags for more information and view photo albums and videos as well as finding products in nearby stores or online. The app also provides the ability to search for products across multiple catalogs, build a collage of favorite catalog pages and products, and share individual products or user-created collages with friends; users can also mark catalogs as favorites to be notified when new issues arrive. Google Catalogs is available HERE as a free download.

The Marvel Dark Tower Omnibus Hardcover Slipcase Edition

This fall, Marvel will be publishing The Marvel Dark Tower Omnibus Hardcover Slipcase Edition ($150), which will be a beautiful two volume set containing nearly 900 pages of the Marvel Dark Tower comics, short stories and bonus material. The details of the set are as follows:

“The Man in Black fled across the desert…and the gunslinger followed.”

With those words from a short story published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Stephen King launched one of the most seminal characters in his lifetime of writing into a destiny fraught with danger, death, triumph and loss. In the almost thirty years since that momentous occasion, King introduced millions of readers to the densely textured realm of Mid-World through his magnum opus, the Dark Tower series of novels. King joined with Marvel in 2007 to bring his masterwork of fantasy to a new generation of readers. Adding stunning new textures to the mythos of Roland and Mid-World for the past four years.

Book one of this amazing two volume set is 296 pages and contains: Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #1-7, The Long Road Home #1-5, Treachery #1-6, Sorcerer #1, The Fall of Gilead #1-6 and The Battle of Jericho Hill #1-5.

Book two is 600 pages of essential short stories, bonus material and:

- Three guidebooks overseen by Dark Tower: A Concordance author Robin Furth unlock the many secrets of Roland Deschain, the Gunslingers, Gilead and the dark forces of Farson — bringing readers greater insight into the people, places and things of Mid-World.

- Supplemental material from the first thirty issues of Marvel’s Dark Tower series shed even more light on King’s epic — with short stories by Furth, and a tour through artists Jae Lee and Richard Isanove’s sketchbooks, and more!

- Material includes Dark Tower: Gunslinger’s Guidebook, End-World Almanac and Guide to Gilead, Marvel Spotlight: Dark Tower and additional material from the first 5 graphic novels.

Pottermore Sneak Peek

Can’t wait until October to dive into J.K. Rowling’s new online destination for Harry Potter fans? Click through Entertainment Weekly’s first look at Pottermore HERE to get a feel for some of what awaits you there!

Apple & Starbucks Team For Free App Promotion

Apple and Starbucks have long had a partnership that gives Starbucks customers a way to download free music tracks from Apple’s iTunes Music Store, and the two companies are now coming together to do the same with paid applications.

Using the same “Pick of the Week” cards the two companies have been using since April 2008, Starbucks is now using that same system to dole out iPhone applications.

Just like for music, users can find free cards waiting for them at the cash register with codes on the back that can be entered into iTunes or the App Store to get the application.

The first application to be offered for free is Shazam Encore (iTunes), a music-identifying app that sells for $5.99 in the U.S. version of the App Store.

The Cheesecake Factory Debuts New SkinnyLicious Menu With Low Calorie Dining Options

Famous for their expansive menu which offers something for everyone, The Cheesecake Factory has just expanded their offerings with a new low calorie menu aptly named “SkinnyLicious.” Redefining low calorie flavor, the new SkinnyLicious menu provides guests with even more choices with signature rich taste.

“We are very happy to introduce our new SkinnyLicious menu to our guests,” said David Overton, Founder of The Cheesecake Factory. “We wanted to create a menu that delivers an exceptional dining experience to our calorie-conscious guests, without compromising the delicious taste that people have come to expect from The Cheesecake Factory.”

With nearly 50 mouthwatering lower calorie items, the SkinnyLicious menu offers a wide variety of new and signature favorites. The wide variety of selections will be featured on a standalone menu alongside the regular menu, and include options ranging from appetizers to main entrées. The Small Plates & Appetizers and fresh-baked Flatbreads categories feature dishes all under 490 calories, while the entrée Salads and main courses are all served with 590 calories or less. Also featured are five Skinny Cocktails each with 150 calories or less.

The SkinnyLicious menu will also introduce 13 brand-new items including the Mexican Tortilla Salad, the SkinnyLicious Hamburger and Tuscan Chicken. Low-calorie favorites offered on The Cheesecake Factory’s current menu such as the Beets with Goat Cheese, Chicken Pot Stickers and Asian Chicken Salad will also be offered on the SkinnyLicious menu.

modulR Review

The folks at modulR have done it again. They have updated their entire line of iPad cases and accessories to compliment the sleek design of the iPad 2.  As you may recall from my previous FIRE WIRE review, the modulR system is not simply a trim hardshell case but an entire accessory system that integrates with the nodes on the back of the case to allow the user to access their iPad in countless locations and in new and different ways. You shared your feedback, and the designers and engineers at modulR listened. The hand, shoulder strap, and Slim Wall Mount have all been redesigned. Here is a brief listing of some of their products as well as an overview of some of the features and benefits of this great system.

The Slim Case ($39.99) has a sturdy and comfortable feel.  It fits snugly around the back and sides of the iPad 2, and allows complete access to all ports and buttons. There is a circular plastic insert that can be removed to display the apple logo on the back or you can keep it attached to have a solid backing. Optional custom personalization of this insert will be available in the future. The case also comes with an adjustable Hand Strap.  The strap allows complete control of your iPad. The case is also Smart Cover compatible.  However, it does not allow the Smart Cover to fold behind the case, as it typically does. A new modulR iPad 2 Cover Stand ($29.99) should be available soon to solve this issue.  It will utilize the nodes on the back of the case to ensure a sturdy stand while also providing screen protection.

The Shoulder Strap Pro ($19.99) is the perfect choice for comfortably and securely carrying your iPad. It also comes with a built in slot in the lower portion of the strap to house a nifty modulR capacitive stylus (also included for a limited time) that works very well and has a great natural feel to the solid and sturdy design.

One of the greatest accessories is the Car Headrest Strap ($19.99).  This strap installs in seconds, and turns your vehicle into a virtual living room.  My 10 year old can attest to how great this strap worked.  He was thrilled to be able to watch his favorite movie while on a recent trip to Boston.  No more “Are we there yet mom?”  A big approval comes from our entire family on this accessory. The strap also comes with a handy bag for easy storage.

When you get this system, you will want to have a Quick Stand ($14.99) in every room.  They have a sleek and modern looking design and come in great colors like white, black, silver and orange.  They hold your iPad in 2 different viewing angles, landscape viewing mode and landscape typing mode.  I use mine for viewing recipes or listening to music while in the kitchen, keeping up with my agenda and calendar in my office, and using it as a clock stand on my bedside table.  The uses in each room are countless.  With these stands, I always have a safe and secure place to view and actually use my iPad.

A more permanent solution for viewing and using your iPad is the Slim Wall Mount ($19.99) or the Utility Mount ($14.99).  The Slim Wall Mount allows you to discretely attach your iPad in both portrait and landscape modes to any wall using the provided adhesive and screw mounting kit. The Utility Mount allows you to attach your iPad to any surface, including your fridge. With your iPad mounted to your fridge you can create a simple grocery list, and never forget the milk again.

With all of the choices of really cool accessories that modulR offers, you will most likely want them all, I know I did.  There are some really great bundle packages that allow you to get just what you want for a great price.  Some packages include: The Anywhere Pack ($69.99) that includes iPad 2 Case, Hand Strap, Slim Wall Mount, Shoulder Strap Pro and Car Headrest Strap. There is also the Startup Pack ($49.99) that comes with: Pad 2 Case, Hand Strap and Slim Wall Mount. I now have a safe and attractive way to attach, view, and utilize my iPad 2.  I am thrilled with all of the terrific ways that the modulR system has helped me to maximize the functionality of my iPad at work, home, or at play. You can learn more about modulR products here. (Reviewed by Meredith Fire-Hess)

LEGO’s 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van Due In October 2011

This authentic camper van is a replica of the classic Volkswagen Camper Van from 1962. Every iconic feature is here! On the outside, the terrific detailing includes ‘V’ shape three-way color split at the front, rounded roof and window frames, opening ‘splittie’ safari windshield, opening doors, iconic pop-up roof with textile curtain surround, roof rack, rear side air intake vents and lots more. The detailing is equally impressive on the inside, from the authentic VW air-cooled flat four cylinder boxer engine, front cabin bench seat, gear stick, angled dashboard and iconic spherical speedometer, to custom LEGO features like a folding dinette table, closet with mirror and even a painting. The model contains 11 windows, authentic plaid-print textile curtains and wing mirror. The interior also features rear bench seat that transforms into a bed, ‘Make LEGO Models, Not War’ T-shirt and rear shelf with plant.

The LEGO 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van measures 11.8″ (30cm) long and 5.5″ (14cm) high, contains 1,322 pieces and will retail for $100.

Look for this cool retro replica LEGO set to arrive in October 2011.

Joe Hill’s Locke & Key Site Now Live

I cannot praise the comic book series, Locke and Key enough. Not since Neil Gaiman’s Sandman have I voraciously read every issue, savored each gorgeous panel and eagerly waited for the next one to arrive. Suspense novelist and New York Times best-selling author, Joe Hill has created an elaborate and fantastic mythology with tantalizing plot twists and well crafted characters that the reader truly cares about. Gabriel Rodriguez’s cinematic art fills each page with careful detail and powerful emotion.

For those that have not read the books, Locke & Key tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them… and home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all…

The publisher, IDW has generously created this website that outlines: the books, critical acclaim, the keys and the creators. Previews of each story arc along with interviews with the creators are available as well.

If you have been a long time fan like me or you are considering picking up the first graphic novel, the site is a perfect place to spend some time poking around. Pay no attention to the echoing voices you might hear or the creepy moving shadows on your wall.

Keep Our Secrets Book By Jordan Crane

Keep Our Secrets by Jordan Crane ($15.95) is a book printed with heat-sensitive, disappearing ink. The publisher promises that the color-change effect does not wear out and is infinitely repeatable!

The story finds two young children touring their noisy house with fresh eyes, discovering along the way that all is not as it seems. Each drawing has hidden images beneath, visible only when the reader rubs the page to warm the disappearing black ink. Among the hidden images: a giant dog slumbering in a piano, a wishing puddle full of dimes, a raccoon that is actually a robot and a camera secretly made of cheese.

Coming in November 2011 from McSweeney’s McMullens, the brand new children’s imprint from McSweeney’s Books in San Francisco.

D23 Expo Mobile App Now Available

D23 Expo begins next week so it’s time to plan which events you want to attend. Smartphone owners can check schedules, view live updates, access interactive features and tools, enter polls and much more by using the D23 Expo mobile app found at www.D23mobile.com.

A Night at the Movies: The Horrors of Stephen King Special To Air On TCM In October

In October, Turner Classic Movies will premiere A Night at the Movies: The Horrors of Stephen King, with the master storyteller himself discussing the classic horror films that influenced him the most.

Premiering on Monday, October 3, at 8 p.m. (ET), Stephen King discusses how he discovered terror at the movies. The best-selling author and filmmaker takes viewers on a journey through many aspects of the horror genre, including vampires, zombies, demons and ghosts. He also examines the fundamental reasons behind moviegoers’ incessant craving for being frightened. Along the way, he discusses the movies that have had a real impact on his writing, including Freaks (1932), Cat People (1942), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Jaws (1975), Halloween (1978) and The Changeling (1980).

A Night at the Movies: The Horrors of Stephen King will kick off an entire month of classic horror on TCM, with each Monday night’s lineup packed with memorable chillers. The offerings include Universal classics like Frankenstein (1931) and The Wolf Man (1941), Val Lewton thrillers like Cat People (1942) and I Walked with a Zombie (1943), Hammer classics like Horror of Dracula (1958) and cult favorites from William Castle and Roger Corman.

September 2011 Men’s Journal Style & Design Issue On Newsstands Today

In the September Style & Design issue of Men’s Journal; (on newsstands today): 59 of the most beautiful, best-functioning products you won’t want to live without plus David Amsden heads to a remote Bahamian beach to check out Lenny Kravitz’s spartan digs.

Jonathan Demme To Direct Stephen King’s JFK Novel, 11/22/63

Variety reports that “The Silence of the Lambs” director Jonathan Demme has optioned feature film rights to Stephen King’s upcoming novel “11/22/63″ and is set to write, direct and produce the adaptation through his Clinica Estetico banner.

The book due in November follows Jake Epping, a 35-year-old high school English teacher from Maine who travels back in time to try and prevent President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.

Ilona Herzberg (“Rachel Getting Married”) will produce the sci-fi project, while Stephen King will executive produce. Demme is planning to start shooting in the fall of 2012.

Marvel Makes Inaugural Appearance At Disney’s 2011 D23 Expo

On Sunday, August 21, at 10:15 a.m. in the Anaheim Convention Center Arena, join creators from the Marvel team for an exclusive and unprecedented experience that will take you through the evolution of the first comic book in 1939 to Marvel’s current position as one of the most important creative forces in the world. During this presentation, which will include interactive Q&A segments, the audience will not only get an inside glimpse of the history of Marvel and its iconic Super Heroes but also discover why Marvel truly is a House of Ideas. This session will be hosted by Joe Quesada, one of the most respected and sought-after writers and artists in the entertainment industry and chief creative officer, Marvel.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the one-of-a-kind show that is Disney’s D23,” Joe says. “Whether attendees are new to the world of Marvel or longtime fans, they’re going to love what we’ve planned for them!”

Also, be sure not to miss Marvel’s own president of Production Kevin Feige as he joins some of the top names in film on Saturday, August 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Walt Disney Studios panel to discuss Marvel Studios’ plans for 2012, including the hotly anticipated Marvel’s The Avengers!

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope – Collector’s Edition

If you have never attended Comic-Con and wanted to get a sense of the spectacle and enormity of this annual entertainment event or wanted to relive fond memories from attending the convention, then I highly recommend the Collector’s Edition of Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope ($50).

Sideshow Collectibles has created a lavish 224 page fabric bound hardcover book with a protective slip-case. The cover title is debossed and the pages have silver colored edging. An affixed ribbon page marker lets you remember your last reading page and this special collector’s edition contains 32 pages of unique content not found in the trade edition.

This unique keepsake features an in-depth, illustrated look at the phenomenon that is San Diego Comic-Con International. Oscar-nominated director–and fanboy himself–Morgan Spurlock captures the magic and madness of Comic-Con in an upcoming documentary, and this companion book is a photographic celebration of the convention’s heart and soul: the fans who attend in costume, in droves, with their kids, with their parents…and with love, awe, and admiration in their hearts.

Hundreds of stunning photos capture the whimsy and wonder, and are accompanied by interviews with many of the celebrities who attend, as much as to promote their projects as to be a part of the fandom: Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, Seth Green, Todd McFarlane, Guillermo del Toro, Bryan Singer, Seth Rogan, Matt Groening, Olivia Wilde and Frank Miller.

The Office Season 8 Promo

Check out the new promo NBC has released for season 8 of The Office.

Eddie Murphy To Provide Voice For Hong Kong Phooey Animated Film

Eddie Murphy will provide the voice to the animated lead character in Alcon Entertainment’s live action/animated big screen adaptation of the of the 1970s Hanna-Barbera animated TV series Hong Kong Phooey.

Alex Zamm (Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts, Tooth Fairy 2) will direct the film.

Based on the 70′s cult classic Hanna Barbera animated TV series, a mild-mannered dog named Penry (Murphy) stumbles into a mystic ceremony and is accidentally granted mystic powers, including the ability to walk, talk, and do kung fu. Under the tutelage of his kung fu master, Penry dons a costume and becomes Hong Kong Phooey, and with the help of his trusting sidekick Spot the cat cleans up a rogues gallery of wacky criminals.

Mondo To Release Invisible Man Poster By Kevin Tong & The Mummy Poster By Martin Ansin On Thursday, August 11, 2011

Mondo announced 2 new releases in their Universal Monsters series today. Kevin Tong has masterfully illustrated the poster for H. G. Wells’ The Invisible Man and Martin Ansin has turned in his poster for The Mummy.

The Mummy variant contains hieroglyphics that aren’t made up symbols, but an actual translation of the credit block.

Please follow Mondo on Twitter for the on sale announcement. These posters will be for sale online at a random time on Thursday, August 11, 2011.

Poster by Kevin Tong. 24″x36″ screen print. Hand numbered. Edition of 285. ($45)

Poster by Martin Ansin. 24″ x 36″ screen print. Hand numbered. Edition of 385. ($45)

Poster by Martin Ansin. 24″ x 36″ screen print. Hand numbered. Variant edition of 150. ($75)