Netflix lands ‘Arrested Development’
“If you’ve been feeling coldly toward Netflix recently, this might warm you up: The media-streaming giant has signed an exclusive deal to resurrect acclaimed comedy series “Arrested Development.” New episodes will be available only to Netflix streaming subscribers in the U.S. in 2013.”
(source: The Huffington Post, via The Daily Beast)
Happy 6th anniversary show, Stephen!
Steven Colbert, on the unveiling of his seventh portrait:
“Oh, ladies and gentlemen, aren’t I beautiful? This year I am portrayed holding the F.E.C. ruling that allowed me to form Colbert Superpac, and become a Washington power player. How big a player? Let’s just say I am not legally required to disclose that information. All thanks to the Supreme Court ruling that money equals free speech. And as you can see, you have given me so much freedom, it is spilling out of my sleeve.” (October 18, 2011)
(source: Colbert News Hub)
Ultra HDTV technical standards agreed on, more pixels is a good thing
“The high-definition pride of your living room may not want to hear it, but it looks like ultra high-definition TV (or UHDTV) has now taken another step towards reality. While shop-floor products remain years away, experts in the ITU Study Group on Broadcasting Service have made several agreements on technical standards for your (next?) next TV purchase. Increasing pixel count in future sets is also expected to improve viewing angles on glasses-free 3D, which needs more dots to work its lenticular magic. 33 megapixels sounds like it should be enough to work with.” Read more…
(source: Engadget)
Android selected to power Boeing's 787 Dreamliner entertainment system
“Boeing has chosen Android to power the in-flight entertainment system of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft. For other aircraft, airlines are able to choose their own entertainment contracts, but the 787 will feature a package deal to save costs. The inflight entertainment system will feature music, videos and apps that will run on screens ranging from 7- 17 inches.” Read more…
(source: Android Central)
Cable providers aim to offer channels ‘a la carte’
“Finally: Cable providers have reversed their position on ‘a la carte’ channel offerings, and hope to eventually allow customers to pick and choose which channels they want to pay for, and which ones they don’t.” Read more…
(source: Digital Trends)
Jon Stewart compares 'Daily Show' to Fox News: 'We're both expressions of dissatisfaction'
“In the [September 24th] issue of Rolling Stone… Jon Stewart talks to Rolling Stone Executive Editor Eric Bates about his disappointment in Obama, political satire in the post-Bush era and how the 24/7 media is corroding the national debate. ‘[The 24-hour networks] are now the absolute most powerful force driving the political narrative,’ he says. ‘And the picture that they create is one of conflict, because they’re on for 24 hours a day, so they have to create a compelling reason for you to watch them. Otherwise, they’re just Muzak – newzak.’” Read more…
(source: Rolling Stone)
Apple quietly kills 99¢ TV show rentals
“Bad news for anyone who was looking to rent the latest episode of Top Gear from iTunes, as Apple has quickly and quietly removed their 99¢ television rental option today.” Read more…
(source: TechCrunch)
Craig Ferguson, sidekick skeleton providing late-night TV laughs
“The man who gives voice to Geoff [Peterson, Craig Ferguson’s robot sidekick] is actor/comedian Josh Robert Thompson and he is in control of everything Geoff does — whether it’s his voice, a surprise sound effect, or the movement of Geoff’s head and arm…. Nothing between Geoff and Ferguson is scripted.” Read more…
(source: Herald Dispatch, via Twitter)
The TV that watches you
“A new type of Internet-connected television, due out before the end of the year, has built-in software and hardware that send data about what is on-screen to an Internet server that can identify the content. Web pages being viewed using the same Internet connection as the TV set can then tap into that information. The system can identify any content onscreen, whatever the source, whether live TV, DVDs or movie files playing from a computer….”
“Flingo, the San Francisco-based startup that developed the technology, known as Sync Apps, says the new set is already being mass-produced by one of the top five television brands in the U.S. and will retail for less than $500.” Read more…
I’m not so sure I think this is such a good thing. Seems like there would be a lot of potential for mischief and invasion of privacy by those collecting and sharing this data. —drego
(source: Technology Review, via Slashdot)
Online jihadist calls for David Letterman's assassination
“A website frequently used by Al-Qaeda has posted an assassination threat against David Letterman…. [A] frequent online commenter called on Muslims to kill the CBS late-night host after taking offense at a joke made on the program.” Read more…
(source: Inside TV, via Huffington Post)
Infographic: Netflix by the numbers
“[Netflix] has managed to grow its streaming video service from an added feature to its main business, and it’s utilized its footprint on more than 450 devices to amass more subscribers than even Comcast, the nation’s biggest cable TV provider. Check out our infographic for a look at the money, the technology and the catalog behind the Netflix empire.” Read more…
(source: gigaom)
Standardized specs make 3-D TV viewing easier, but not prettier
“The good news: Starting next year, the 3-D glasses you get with your 3-D TV may be compatible with displays made by other major manufacturers as well. The bad news: They’re still hopelessly ugly. “ Read more…
(source: Wired)
TV Everywhere is the new DRM
“Missed yesterday’s episode of Master Chef? Don’t worry, it’s already online. All you have to do is look up your latest TV bill, then go online and get a web account with your pay TV provider, leave that site, go to Fox.com and log in with your pay TV credentials. And then keep logging in again and again every month. Welcome to the new world of TV Everywhere, where TV watching is as complicated as online banking.” Read more…
(source: gigaom)
15 things we love about 'The Daily Show'
Happy 15th birthday: We love you, The Daily Show !
“Today marks the 15th anniversary of ‘The Daily Show.’ Yes, our favorite nightly news parody program is all grown up. Luckily the humor isn’t showing its age — it’s often still just as infantile and hilarious as the day the show premiered…. In honor of the show’s epic achievement, with over 2,000 episodes, more than 70 correspondents and special contributors and 15 years of telling it like it is, we’re counting down the 15 Things We Love About ‘The Daily Show,’ in no particular order.” Read more…
(source: AOL TV, via Huffington Post)
The real Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert, a graduate of Northwestern University, made the cover of his alumni magazine. The article is a nice depiction of his roots in acting and improvisation as told through the people around him at the time. Read more…
(source: Northwestern Magazine)
