Monthly Archives: May 2015
FCC Denies Request to Delay Net Neutrality Rules
On Friday, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) denied a request from a group of U.S. companies to delay certain components of the agency's net neutrality rules.
The two petitions –– which were filed by a group comprising several telecom companies and wireless providers –– argued that reclassifying broadband as a utility would result in unrecoverable costs for the companies and allow the FCC too much regulatory power over future innovative services.
The petitions did not, however, argue against "bright line" rules, which would prevent companies from blocking certain content, prioritizing customers based on pay, and throttling lawful internet services. The petitioners only requested that the current rules remain in place while the aforementioned reclassification be reviewed.
Daily Deals: Surround Sound For Your Consoles, Xbox One Controller Deal, Destiny $28
$45 Xbox One Controllers With PC Cable
This is your standard wireless Xbox One controller, but it includes a cable for connecting to a PC or Xbox One, and it's going for $5 less than an Xbox One controller without the cable. The best deal I've ever seen on Xbox One controllers is $43, shipping included, from Newegg, so this deal from Amazon is not far off.
ABC Says SHIELD Spinoff Still a Possibility
Last week, news broke that ABC -- while renewing both Marvels Agents of SHIELD and Marvel's Agent Carter -- would not be moving forward with the proposed SHIELD spinoff they'd been developing centered around Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird (Adrianne Palicki) and Lance Hunter (Nick Blood).
During a discussion with the press today about the new ABC schedule, network president Paul Lee was asked about that project. With the spinoff not happening, both Palicki and Blood will stay with SHIELD and Lee said, "We absolutely love those characters on SHIELD," adding, "I think SHIELD really hit its creative stride this year."
Spying on Our Phone Calls Should End Now
We've known for a while now that federal agencies collect data about our communication. Recently, The New York Times reported that a federal court ruled a formerly covert NSA bulk phone surveillance program illegal. While the legislative fallout from this decision is yet to be determined, the ruling represents an important judiciary milestone in the use of technology to spy on our own citizenry. We shouldn't need to fear our own government when we speak.
Think about the conversations you've had with your closest friends. Consider the words you've spoken in private that you later regretted. Recall the tears you've shed over the phone with family after the death of a loved one, or the intimate whispers you've shared with someone you love. Does anyone else have a right to hear these secrets? Should we have to speak every word fearful of reciprocity, suspecting that somewhere, another pair of ears is listening, filing, classifying, and cataloging us? We have all said things we didn't mean, or things we wished we could take back. We can not allow ourselves to live in a world where these ostensibly private utterances are used against us.
Sneak Peak at Wonder Woman’s Cape & Gauntlets
A handful of new images alleging to be Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice concept art have surfaced online, providing an early look at Wonder Woman's cape and gauntlets.
The pictures, which come courtesy of former Latino-Review writer Umberto Gonzalez (aka El Mayimbe), were posted on his Instagram account. Check out Wonder Woman's gauntlets below.
Ubisoft Discusses Assassin’s Creed Unity’s Mistakes
Assassin's Creed Unity wasn't the most well received entry in Ubisoft's flagship series. And in a video released today, the developer discussed how 2014's installment became a learning experience for the team.
In IGN's Assassin's Creed Unity review, we thought the Parisian setting was gorgeous, and acknowledged the plethora of tasks to complete –– but there just wasn't much reason to actually complete them. The protagonist Arno struck us as similarly lacking in character, and in the weeks following Unity's release, the game was plagued with a host of online problems and dilemmas.
Behold a 10K-Piece LEGO Millennium Falcon
A group of enterprising fans has made an incredibly detailed LEGO replica of the iconic Millennium Falcon from Star Wars.
The LEGO building group Titans Creations made this 10,000 piece Falcon, complete with multiple scenes from the movies. Inside you can find Luke training with his lightsaber, C-3PO and R2-D2 around the Holochess table, Han and Chewie at the cockpit, and even a cross-section of the various rats-nest wiring that keeps the bucket of bolts running.
/Film reports that the model was made for the Star Wars Day event for Legoland Malaysia on May 4. It measures 110 cm by 85 cm, and it took six builders the span of two months to plan and build it. By comparison, the largest official LEGO version of the Falcon is only around 5,000 pieces, and is smaller by about one-third. That model cost $500 at release, and now usually costs much more for collectors.
Gotham: Morena Baccarin Becoming Series Regular for S2
Actress Morena Baccarin will return and become a series regular during the second season of Gotham.
Portraying Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Baccarin originally joined Gotham on Fox in January. According to TVLine, Baccarin's recurring role deal included a series-regular option for the sophomore season, which has now been exercised.
Hathaway Does “Godzilla Meets Being John Malkovich”
The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar actress Anne Hathaway will star in Colossal, a new film described as "Transformers versus Adaptation and Godzilla meets Being John Malkovich."
Hathaway will play a rather ordinary woman named Gloria, who has lost both her job and fiancé. Here's a more detailed description of the film, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter:
"But when news reports surface that a giant lizard is destroying the city of Tokyo, Gloria gradually comes to realize that she is strangely connected to these far-off events via the power of her mind. In order to prevent further destruction, Gloria needs to determine why her seemingly insignificant existence has such a colossal effect on the fate of the world."
Joker: A Visual History
Joaquin Phoenix may be the third Joker in a live-action movie over the past 11 years, but the fact is there have been a ton of variations on the Joker over the years.
Ever since he first made his way to comic book pages in 1940's Batman #1, Joker has become one of the most iconic villains in history. Even if you've never seen a Batman movie or read a comic, you probably know who Joker is.
It'd take a village to round up EVERY appearance of Joker from over the decades as thousands of artists have given their take on the Clown Prince of Crime, but IGN has assembled 35 of the most noteworthy versions of the character from the classic era to today. From LEGOs to video games to anime and fan films, here is a visual evolution of the Joker: