Monthly Archives: January 2020
Phil Spencer Shows Off Xbox Series X Processor
Xbox head Phil Spencer has offered tech fans a small tease of the processing power behind the upcoming Xbox Series X console, which is set to be released later this year.
Showing off the processor on Twitter, Spencer merely changed his profile picture to an image of the new hardware chip, which reads "8K" and "Project Scarlett."
Spotted by Tom Warren from the Verge, the processor, seen below, looks very similar to that of the Xbox One X, but seems to be slightly bigger. Unfortunately, not much else is known about the Xbox Series X processor at this time, but it seems Spencer is trying to build some hype around the upcoming Xbox console.
Christian Bale Reportedly In Talks to Join Thor: Love and Thunder
Former Batman actor Christian Bale may be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as part of Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder. According to Collider, Bale is in talks to join Thor 4 in an undisclosed role.
This is purely speculation, but given that Waititi has cited the comic The Mighty Thor as inspiration for his next Thor movie, it could be that Bale will be playing a villain from that series like the evil businessman Dario Agger who transforms into a powerful Minotaur. The Mighty Thor is part of a larger Thor saga where Gorr the God Butcher is the overarching villain, so that character may be a possibility.
Hisense’s 2020 TVs Get Brighter and Smarter
Hisense surprised us last year with some of the best looking 4K TVs on the market while only costing between $600 and $400 dollars. For this coming year, the TV manufacturer is doubling its efforts with even better image quality and more feature while preserving its low price points.
We’ll start off looking at the Hisense H9G Quantum, the successor to the last-year’s lauded Hisense H9F. This year’s model packs a ULED (Ultra LED) Quantum Dot panel that brings up this set’s peak brightness to 1,000 nits. This brighter panel also comes more local dimming zones that brings up the total to 132 zones for a 55-inch set and 180 for the 65-inch version.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold: Pricing, Specs, and More Announced for 5G Foldable PC
Lenovo officially unveiled the specs, pricing, and other details for its ThinkPad X1 Fold, the company’s first foldable PC. The ThinkPad X1 Fold with Windows 10 will be available mid-2020 with prices starting at $2499. A Windows 10X version is expected to be released at a later date.
The ThinkPad X1 Fold is a fully-fledged PC that can change into different kinds of modes thanks to its foldable 13.3-inch display. Weighing less than 2.2 pounds (1kg), the ThinkPad X1 Fold can be used as a tablet, or even a conventional laptop, but can be folded into a small, portable form factor.
The ThinkPad X1 Fold is designed from a combination of lightweight alloys and carbon fiber, with a leather folio cover. Lenovo co-engineered the device with Intel and the X1 Fold is powered by Intel Core Processors with Intel Hybrid Technology. The foldable PC will initially ship with Windows 10, but a Windows 10X model is planned for a later date. The Fold will also support optional 5G connectivity.
Joker Among Writers Guild of America Best Screenplay Nominees
Not long after Joaquin Phoenix won a Golden Globe for best performance in Joker, the clown prince himself is officially on the nominee list for the Screenwriters Guild of America award for best adapted screenplay, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Joker is joined in the nominee list by similarly high-profile movies of 2019, including Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, Tom Hank’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit, and Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.
Bill & Ted 3: New Image Released From Face the Music
Orion Pictures has released a new image from Bill & Ted Face the Music, featuring Bill (Alex Winters), Ted (Keanu Reeves), and their daughters (Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine).
The new image shows the quartet in a garage filled with music equipment. You can check out the new image, as well as the three previously released screens, in the slideshow below.
Here's the official synopsis for the series' long-awaited third film, courtesy of Orion:
The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William "Bill" S. Preston Esq. and Theodore "Ted" Logan. Yet to fulfill their rock and roll destiny, the now middle aged best friends set out on a new adventure when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it. Along the way, they will be helped by their daughters, a new batch of historical figures, and a few music legends - to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony in the universe.
Doctor Who’s The Master Explained: Who is the Doctor’s ‘Best Enemy?’
Full spoilers follow for "Spyfall: Parts 1 & 2," the first two episodes of Doctor Who's new season.
“I am usually referred to as the Master…universally.”
With this month's launch of the second year of Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor (in the 12th season of the modern series), we also got the surprising return of the Master, as played by Sacha Dhawan, as well as the resurgence of the mystery around the "Timeless Child." But who exactly is the Master, and what is he up to this time around...?
Sacha Dhawan as the Master
NBA Jam, Burger Time and More Arcade1up Cabinets Announced
Retro arcade cabinet maker Arcade1up introduced several new cabinets at CES 2020, including NBA Jam, a sit-down Star Wars, special edition Burger Time, as well as a partnership with Zen Studios for 3/4 scale digital pinball machines.
The NBA Jam cabinet features online functionality "allowing users to play with other Arcade1Up cabinets in drop-in style games" in North America and features NBA Jam, NBA Jam Tournament Edition, and NBA Hang Time.
According to Arcade1up, its pinball partnership with Zen Studios "includes titles from Bally/Williams and other yet to be announced, big names in the pinball space."
The new Burger Time cabinet also includes arcade classics Karate Champ, Bad Dudes, and Caveman Ninja, and features art from Burger Time, as well as a light-up marquee, special edition riser, and "rounded side panels" to keep it "true to the original."
Disintegration Hands-On Preview: A New Kind of Shooter
At first glance, Disintegration looks like a whole lot of ingredients from different genres stylishly mashed together: one part futuristic first-person shooter, one part action-focused airship piloting, a heavy dose of strategy elements like troop commands, abilities combos, and cooldown rotations. It can seem like a lot.
On paper, that's the core of Disintegration – a game of many different layers. You’d think those elements might clash, that they'd cannibalize one another: the precision gunplay, the frantic aerial dodging, and the careful issuing of orders from on high. But all those pieces, somehow, working harmoniously is what supports V1 Interactive’s grand design – thanks, primarily, to V1's actual design.
How I Learned to Grieve and Heal Through Star Wars
Warning: this article contains minor spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!
While Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker delivered some big revelations that rocked the foundations of the Skywalker Saga, it was one innocuous, blink-and-you-miss-it moment featuring two unnamed characters that left me reeling. It came as the Resistance congregated after their victory: two women shared a celebratory kiss.
Though it may not seem like much, for me it meant the world because it helped me find closure after years of trying to process the loss of my best friend Drew Leinonen. He was among those killed during the 2016 shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. That little kiss marked the end of a long journey involving an online petition, thousands of Star Wars fans, and the head of Lucasfilm itself.