Why ‘The Hobbit’ may not look the same in every US cinema

When 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is released next month, 400 screens across the US will be showing a technically superior version after Warner Bros announces which theaters will receive the 48 frames per second edition of the movie.

With the release of the first of Peter Jackson’s much-anticipated Hobbit trilogy less than two months away, theater owners are having to come to terms with the fact that, while the movie will be released in a format that allows it to be projected at the increased frame rate of 48 frames per second, that enhanced release will be limited to a small number of theaters in the US, based around two particular theater chains.

Warner Bros. had announced last Spring that it planned to make The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey available at the increased rate – The traditional frame rate for movie projection is 24 frames per second – to excitement from the theater industry in general. However, that excitement has paled when it was revealed that only 400 screens in the US will be receiving this edition of the movie, with the remainder receiving a 24 frame per second edition (For context, it was estimated that there were 39,580 movie screens in total in the US last year).

The limited release for the advanced format is being described by the studio as “a platform release” that utilizes what is called HFR 3D technology present in mostly Regal and AMC theaters, upsetting many theater owners. According to Michael Karagosian, president of cinema consultancy MKPE Consulting, “Several manufacturers set aside profitable projects to switch resources to supporting HFRs for Hobbit,” without realizing that they wouldn’t have the opportunity to show the improved version. Amongst those manufacturers, Sony Electronics, whose Senior Vice President of Digital Cinema Solutions Gary Johns admits “We put the money into it,” before adding that although “the opportunity for sales is diminished,” he “think[s] we will get there. I’m sure it will be back. We think HFRs is great thing.”

The reason for the limited release, according to Warners, is that it wants the movie to be seen in the best light possible, which means taking time to ensure that the technology has been properly installed. “We want to make sure we do it properly and make sure the public sees it in its best form,” Warners President of Domestic Distribution Dan Fellman is on record as saying. “We are very committed to this. [High frame rates are] the most important change in exhibition, probably since the introduction of sound.”

The idea that the technology may not be up to standards everywhere isn’t an entirely fallacious one, according to Dolby’s Senior Director of Cinema Product Marketing Matt Cuson: “Some technical issues have come up in testing and not all the devices did things as well as Warners had expected,” he said, adding that “It’s a high profile fail, should you fail. Nobody wants that.”

The takeaway for fans interested in seeing Jackson’s latest epic as close to the way the director intended it, perhaps, is that they should pick their theaters carefully when the movie is released December 14. Otherwise, who knows what treats you’ll miss?

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Skyfall gear guide: All the gadgets fit for a spy

Skyfall hits theaters in the United States later this week, but many of the gadgets Bond will use are already available to buy – if you have a Bond budget. Prepare your lusty eyes over these one-of-a-kind pieces.

While the latest 007 flick, Skyfall, has already popped up in UK theaters, those of us in the States will lay eyes on Daniel Craig’s third go around as Bond this Friday, November 9. Of course, the super sleek spy is known for a closet full of badass gadgets, and Skyfall is no exception. Here’s a first look at all the gear Bond will be sporting in Skyfall – and where you can snag some for your next mission.

Aston Martin DB5

Plenty of exotic automotive nameplates have graced the Bond films throughout the decades — Lotus, BMW, and Jaguar have all served as four-wheel chariots for the dapper double O. But another car, more than any other, has come to define our beloved MI6 agent, and that car is the Aston Martin DB5.

Marking its third appearance in the long-running Bond franchise, the iconic Aston is back. We’re not sure what additional gadgets and weaponry the classic car may feature, but we expect upgrades to the original’s bulletproof shield, passenger ejector seat, oil slick sprayer and pop-out guns are in order. Consider our excitement shaken, not stirred, to see DB5 in action once again.

Walther PPK

If you’ve seen the trailer for Skyfall, you might have noticed that Q is a lot younger than we’re used to seeing. In one scene, he is seen issuing Bond a brand new Walther PPK. Perhaps his most personalized gadget yet, this re-modified version of classic Bond handgun has a palm-sensitive biometric reader that will not fire unless Bond is the one holding the firearm. So, enemies, if you’re out of ammo, don’t bother trying to snatch this bad boy from the man. It’s not Bond’s most powerful weapon to date, but it sure is pretty cool.

Globe-Trotter Stabilist Rifle Case

Produced just for Skyfall, this limited-edition rifle case features an aluminium body with a diamond-quilted lining and chrome locks so even your weapons get the ultra-luxe accommodation. The handle in this commercial edition also has the telescopic sight, replicating the James Bond’s version to a tee (without the actual functionality, of course. We can only dream.) Globe-Trotter has crafted only 100 of these for global sale at a retail value of £5,000 (approximately $8,000 USD) so get your order in while supplies last, if you’ve got the cash.

Sony Xperia TL

Every gadget James Bond uses is full of crazy doo-dads and secret features. Oddly enough, with a modern smartphone, there’s an app for just about everything. The Sony Xperia TL is set to be Bond’s phone of choice in Skyfall, and this time he’s in for a treat. The TL will soon be released on AT&T and comes with a 4.6-inch HD screen and an impressive 13-megapixel camera, which we’d imagine would be good for spying. Bond might also make use of the NFC capabilities of the TL, which can pair with other devices by simply tapping it on them. The only downside is that Bond will be stuck using Android 4.0 at launch. Like the rest of us, he’ll have to wait for an upgrade to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) … unless, of course, Q has already hacked into the system to give him all the apps he’ll ever need.

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M

Think you can walk into your nearest Omega retailer, spend big bucks, and get yourself a piece of that James Bond flavor? Well, yes and no. The special edition watch Bond wears in the film can perform any function a phone can (and then some), so expect some hidden tricks to unveil throughout the movie. While your Omega might not be able to shoot lasers, it is equipped with a scratch-resistant crystal dome, a chromium-nitride diving scale, rhodium-plated hands, steel case, and is water-resistant for up to 2,000 feet deep. The limited-edition Planet Ocean Skyfall edition is slated for release some time before the year’s end, with prices to be announced. Bond can be seen wearing the watch in some of the promotional posters, along with a classic black suit. Speaking of which…

Bespoke Tom Ford suit

Hardly a gadget but hardly James Bond without, the staple Tom Ford suit is a must-have if you’re looking to cop Bond’s style. The custom tailored suit uses breathable, flexible fabric that allows Bond to both battle and strut while maintaining a modern fit.

[Additional reporting by Amir Iliaifar and Jeffrey Van Camp]

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

DT Daily: Facebook hits 1 billion, TomTom heads to Android

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October 4, 2012

• DT Daily Syndication

Facebook hits 1 billion users, TomTom navigates its way to Android, Taken 2 hits theaters to terrible reviews, the Mars Curiosity rover joins Foursquare, and the first presidential debate sets a new Twitter record.

Related Links:

• Welp, Facebook now has 1 billion active users
• TomTom finally hits Android starting at $50, not ready for all devices (video)
• Mars Curiosity Rover joins Foursquare, posts from Mars
• Twitter says: Romney won, Obama lectured, Lehrer lost control
• Taken 2 hits theaters

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Google adds movie trailers to search results

Definitely a helpful addition to a search results page, Google is making it easier to find trailers for movies currently in theaters.

Detailed on Google’s official Google+ account this week, the search company has added links to movie trailers when a user searches for information regarding showtimes at local theaters. In order to bring up these listings, the user uses a search term like “showtimes zip code” or “showtimes city name” and Google displays all the current movies playing at nearby theaters. As of this week, a new gray button that says “Trailer” appears to the right of each movie listing. When the button is clicked, a pop-up window is launched overlaying the search results page. The trailers are being streamed from a “Googlemovietrailers” YouTube account, but Google doesn’t allow users to browse videos on the account. Users need a direct link to play the trailer on the YouTube page.

Depending on the screen size, the overlay window will size itself accordingly and automatically choose the highest quality version of the video. Google also overlays a dark gray color on the remaining white portion of the screen to improve viewing quality.

At the top of the overlay window, the user will see the name of the movie trailer on the left and a Google+ Recommend button on the right. However, there’s no rating system included on the overlay for negative feedback. Underneath the embedded YouTube video, Google has included the name of the director, several names of the top actors and actresses in the film and a detailed description of the plot.

It’s likely that the inclusion of movie trailers on search result pages will reduce the amount of people that visit sites like Apple, Yahoo, IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes to view a movie trailer. As of right now, the addition of the movie trailers button has been rolled out in the United States as well as other English-speaking countries including the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. However, Google plans to roll out the new movie trailers button globally as well.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com