HTC’s new Vive Focus Plus VR headset will cost $799 and ship next month
HTC has announced that the Vive Focus Plus — a new virtual reality headset it unveiled last month — will launch on April 15th for $799. The Vive Focus Plus is a self-contained headset with fully tracked motion controllers, following on the heels of HTC’s Vive Focus, which launched with similar specs but more limited tracking options. It’s loosely similar to the upcoming Oculus Quest, but instead of aiming at a mass-market gaming audience, HTC designed the Vive Focus Plus for business customers.
HTC will let visitors to its Vive Ecosystem Conference try out 15 different apps for the Vive Focus Plus, including at least one game: a “Paintball VR” experience where the headset is paired with a haptic vest. But it describes the system as...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2uscndI
All the things Apple didn’t tell us about its streaming TV service
Apple announced its Apple TV Plus streaming service today, along with a handful of original TV shows that are in the works — but it left out just about every key detail beyond their names. That includes price, a release date, or a real sense of the company’s strategy, leaving open a lot of questions about how Apple plans to break into the booming streaming space.
Today’s event provided a big marketing push, to be sure: a parade of stars including Jason Momoa, Oprah, J.J. Abrams, and Big Bird graced Apple’s stage. Apple promised that the streaming service would become “the new home for the world’s most creative storytellers.”
But the spectacle couldn’t distract from the fact that the important details were missing.
What’s worth...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2TxwG3x
Sony confirms it will stop letting GameStop and other retailers sell PS4 download codes
Sony has confirmed that it will indeed prevent retailers like GameStop from selling digital download codes for PlayStation 4 games starting April 1st, 2019. The news, first circulated late last week via a leaked memo obtained by popular game deals watcher Wario64, means that players who do not want to input credit card information into Sony’s PSN platform will no longer be able to buy digital versions of games from physical brick-and-mortar stores. Sony confirmed that it isn’t just GameStop being cut out of the download code business, but all retailers.
“We can confirm that as of April 1, 2019, Sony Interactive Entertainment will no longer offer full games through SIE’s Global Digital at Retail program,” a PlayStation spokesperson tells...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2UbANH5
Apple surely must be trolling us with this new AirPower silhouette
If you thought it was a little weird that Apple would ship its first wirelessly-chargeable AirPods headphones without Apple’s wireless charging pad — the long-delayed AirPower mat — we’ve got some brand new ammo for the conspiracy theories swirling in your brain. MacRumors is receiving reader tips that the new AirPods wireless charging case comes with a picture of AirPower right on the back of the box.
Yes pic.twitter.com/nAQIWX3B5G
— Chris J. Caine (@ChrisJCaine) March 25, 2019
I am pretty sure “Yes” is the only appropriate thing to say in this particular situation.
While many of us are likely to see this as the latest sign that Apple planned to ship the AirPods and AirPower at the same time or that AirPower is at least imminent —...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2JOuogO
NASA is no longer planning to conduct its first all-women spacewalk this week
NASA no longer plans to conduct the first all-female spacewalk this week, citing issues with spacesuit sizing. Originally, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Anne McClain were scheduled to swap out batteries on the outside of the International Space Station this Friday in what would have been an historic event. But now, NASA has decided that astronaut Nick Hague will take McClain’s place.
The space agency says the issue has to do with the types of spacesuits that are available on the ISS. After completing a successful spacewalk with Hague on Friday, March 22nd, McClain realized that she is best suited to wearing a suit with a “medium-size hard upper torso” instead of a large-sized one. NASA has at least two medium-sized spacesuit torsos...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2HDOwAB
Apple TV Plus and the new Apple TV app, explained
Here are some takeaways from today’s loaded, software-focused Apple event: Apple TV Plus is a subscription service with only Apple originals. Unlike Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, you don’t get access to a back catalog of licensed shows or movies.
Apple TV Plus is not a separate, standalone app. Instead, you’ll get to it using Apple’s TV app, which is expanding to many more devices over the coming months.
Starting in May, the Apple TV app will offer add-on paid subscriptions and will be able to stream some shows and movies from Apple’s partners like HBO without bouncing you out to a third-party video service.
All of this is separate from Apple TV the product, which is a streaming set-top box you can buy in stores today and important...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2Uekx84
The Apple Card is Apple’s thinnest and lightest status symbol ever
The most iconic scene of American Psycho features the lead character Patrick Bateman investigating the business card of rival investment banker Paul Allen and boiling in barely contained envy and rage. “Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it.” In Bateman’s world of tailored suits, brand-name eyeglasses, and meticulously trimmed haircuts, the infinitesimally small differences in design between his business card and Allen’s are crushingly decisive. He is of a lower status because his peers all marvel at the refinement of the other man’s card.
Apple’s newly announced Apple Card credit card seems to have taken inspiration from that scene.
We all have a little of whatever bedeviled Patrick Bateman in us. It’s...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2OxYWm5
No Man’s Sky is coming to VR
It’s finally happening: more than two years after launch, sci-fi exploration game No Man’s Sky is coming to virtual reality. It’ll be available as part of a free update this summer on PlayStation VR and Steam VR. “I guess it’s not a huge surprise, but all of the team here is in love with everything sci-fi,” developer Hello Games explained in a blog post. “Virtual reality feels like a little science fiction become real, and has always seemed like a perfect fit for this futuristic game of ours.”
The new VR option won’t have a separate game mode; instead, you’ll be able to play the entire game as it currently exists in virtual reality. “By bringing full VR support, for free, to the millions of players already playing the game, No Man’s Sky...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2TxNKqh
Apple introduces Apple Card, News Plus, Arcade Gaming Service, Apple TV Plus
Apple just unveiled a slew of services on its 2019 special event held at Steve Jobs Center, Cupertino. Apple had invited the press and other guests for this event touted as showtime. And the eventful stage showcased the reveal of Apple Card, Apple News Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple TV Plus, and more programmes to the Apple TV […]
The post Apple introduces Apple Card, News Plus, Arcade Gaming Service, Apple TV Plus appeared first on Smartprix Bytes.
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HTC’s new Vive Focus Plus VR headset will cost $799 and ship next month
HTC has announced that the Vive Focus Plus — a new virtual reality headset it unveiled last month — will launch on April 15th for $799. The Vive Focus Plus is a self-contained headset with fully tracked motion controllers, following on the heels of HTC’s Vive Focus, which launched with similar specs but more limited tracking options. It’s loosely similar to the upcoming Oculus Quest, but instead of aiming at a mass-market gaming audience, HTC designed the Vive Focus Plus for business customers.
HTC will let visitors to its Vive Ecosystem Conference try out 15 different apps for the Vive Focus Plus, including at least one game: a “Paintball VR” experience where the headset is paired with a haptic vest. But it describes the system as...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2uscndI
All the things Apple didn’t tell us about its streaming TV service
Apple announced its Apple TV Plus streaming service today, along with a handful of original TV shows that are in the works — but it left out just about every key detail beyond their names. That includes price, a release date, or a real sense of the company’s strategy, leaving open a lot of questions about how Apple plans to break into the booming streaming space.
Today’s event provided a big marketing push, to be sure: a parade of stars including Jason Momoa, Oprah, J.J. Abrams, and Big Bird graced Apple’s stage. Apple promised that the streaming service would become “the new home for the world’s most creative storytellers.”
But the spectacle couldn’t distract from the fact that the important details were missing.
What’s worth...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2TxwG3x
Sony confirms it will stop letting GameStop and other retailers sell PS4 download codes
Sony has confirmed that it will indeed prevent retailers like GameStop from selling digital download codes for PlayStation 4 games starting April 1st, 2019. The news, first circulated late last week via a leaked memo obtained by popular game deals watcher Wario64, means that players who do not want to input credit card information into Sony’s PSN platform will no longer be able to buy digital versions of games from physical brick-and-mortar stores. Sony confirmed that it isn’t just GameStop being cut out of the download code business, but all retailers.
“We can confirm that as of April 1, 2019, Sony Interactive Entertainment will no longer offer full games through SIE’s Global Digital at Retail program,” a PlayStation spokesperson tells...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2UbANH5
Apple surely must be trolling us with this new AirPower silhouette
If you thought it was a little weird that Apple would ship its first wirelessly-chargeable AirPods headphones without Apple’s wireless charging pad — the long-delayed AirPower mat — we’ve got some brand new ammo for the conspiracy theories swirling in your brain. MacRumors is receiving reader tips that the new AirPods wireless charging case comes with a picture of AirPower right on the back of the box.
Yes pic.twitter.com/nAQIWX3B5G
— Chris J. Caine (@ChrisJCaine) March 25, 2019
I am pretty sure “Yes” is the only appropriate thing to say in this particular situation.
While many of us are likely to see this as the latest sign that Apple planned to ship the AirPods and AirPower at the same time or that AirPower is at least imminent —...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2JOuogO
NASA is no longer planning to conduct its first all-women spacewalk this week
NASA no longer plans to conduct the first all-female spacewalk this week, citing issues with spacesuit sizing. Originally, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Anne McClain were scheduled to swap out batteries on the outside of the International Space Station this Friday in what would have been an historic event. But now, NASA has decided that astronaut Nick Hague will take McClain’s place.
The space agency says the issue has to do with the types of spacesuits that are available on the ISS. After completing a successful spacewalk with Hague on Friday, March 22nd, McClain realized that she is best suited to wearing a suit with a “medium-size hard upper torso” instead of a large-sized one. NASA has at least two medium-sized spacesuit torsos...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2HDOwAB
Apple TV Plus and the new Apple TV app, explained
Here are some takeaways from today’s loaded, software-focused Apple event: Apple TV Plus is a subscription service with only Apple originals. Unlike Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, you don’t get access to a back catalog of licensed shows or movies.
Apple TV Plus is not a separate, standalone app. Instead, you’ll get to it using Apple’s TV app, which is expanding to many more devices over the coming months.
Starting in May, the Apple TV app will offer add-on paid subscriptions and will be able to stream some shows and movies from Apple’s partners like HBO without bouncing you out to a third-party video service.
All of this is separate from Apple TV the product, which is a streaming set-top box you can buy in stores today and important...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2Uekx84
The Apple Card is Apple’s thinnest and lightest status symbol ever
The most iconic scene of American Psycho features the lead character Patrick Bateman investigating the business card of rival investment banker Paul Allen and boiling in barely contained envy and rage. “Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it.” In Bateman’s world of tailored suits, brand-name eyeglasses, and meticulously trimmed haircuts, the infinitesimally small differences in design between his business card and Allen’s are crushingly decisive. He is of a lower status because his peers all marvel at the refinement of the other man’s card.
Apple’s newly announced Apple Card credit card seems to have taken inspiration from that scene.
We all have a little of whatever bedeviled Patrick Bateman in us. It’s...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2OxYWm5
No Man’s Sky is coming to VR
It’s finally happening: more than two years after launch, sci-fi exploration game No Man’s Sky is coming to virtual reality. It’ll be available as part of a free update this summer on PlayStation VR and Steam VR. “I guess it’s not a huge surprise, but all of the team here is in love with everything sci-fi,” developer Hello Games explained in a blog post. “Virtual reality feels like a little science fiction become real, and has always seemed like a perfect fit for this futuristic game of ours.”
The new VR option won’t have a separate game mode; instead, you’ll be able to play the entire game as it currently exists in virtual reality. “By bringing full VR support, for free, to the millions of players already playing the game, No Man’s Sky...
from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2TxNKqh
রাহুলের সবচেয়ে গরিব পরিবারকে বছরে ৭২ হাজার টাকার প্রতিশ্রুতি: কংগ্রেসের গরিবকে ‘প্রতারণা’র আরেকটা প্রয়াস, বললেন জেটলি, আর্থিক শৃঙ্খলা বিপর্যস্ত করবে, মত নীতি আয়োগের ভাইস চেয়ারম্যানের
from home https://ift.tt/2FqzmLA
হিমাচলে বিজেপি সরকারের মন্ত্রীর ছেলে কংগ্রেসে, ‘ঘরওয়াপসি’ প্রাক্তন টেলিকম মন্ত্রীরও
from home https://ift.tt/2uu3i49
৫ কোটি পরিবারকে মাসে ১২ হাজার টাকা আয়ের প্রতিশ্রুতি রাহুলের, ‘নির্বাচনী গিমিক’ কটাক্ষ বিজেপির
from home https://ift.tt/2OpjkW7
শিবগঙ্গা থেকে পি চিদম্বরমের ছেলে কার্তিকে প্রার্থী করল কংগ্রেস, ‘আপত্তি’ প্রাক্তন মন্ত্রীর
from home https://ift.tt/2Fy1fCr
ঢাক ঢোল বাজিয়ে প্রচারে ব্যারাকপুর কেন্দ্রের তৃণমূল প্রার্থী দীনেশ ত্রিবেদী, প্রচারে বাম প্রার্থী গার্গী চট্টোপাধ্যায়ও
from home https://ift.tt/2HTsf0S
কাল তৃণমূলের নির্বাচনী ইস্তেহার প্রকাশ করবেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়
from home https://ift.tt/2ut9Yj1
কংগ্রেস প্রকাশ করল রাজ্যে তাদের দ্বিতীয় প্রার্থী তালিকা
from home https://ift.tt/2HZq1xh
কলকাতা দক্ষিণের তৃণমূল প্রার্থীর সমর্থনে কর্মিসভাতেও অনুপস্থিত বেহালা পূর্বের বিধায়ক শোভন চট্টোপাধ্যায়
from home https://ift.tt/2upEvOS
প্রিয়ঙ্কা বঢ়রার উত্তরপ্রদেশ সফরসূচিতে পরিবর্তন
from home https://ift.tt/2HYnN0K
বেলা ১২টায় সুপ্রিম কোর্টে রাজীব কুমারের বিরুদ্ধে সিবিআইয়ের আদালত অবমাননার মামলার শুনানি
from home https://ift.tt/2usvHaK
জেলায় জেলায় প্রচারে তৃণমূল-সিপিএম, ২৫ আসনে প্রার্থী ঘোষণা কংগ্রেসের, ২৩ জেলার বাছাই খবর, সব জেলার সব খবর, এক ঝলকে
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সাত সকালেই ঘন অন্ধকার, উত্তরবঙ্গে বজ্রবিদ্যুৎ সহ বৃষ্টি, বেলা বাড়লে দক্ষিণবঙ্গেও বজ্রবিদ্যুৎ সহ বৃষ্টির সম্ভাবনা
from home https://ift.tt/2Frchs2
‘মুখ্যমন্ত্রী দাবি করলেও, পাহাড়-ডুয়ার্স হাসছে না’ - এই বার্তাকেই হাতিয়ার করে প্রচারে আলিপুরদুয়ার লোকসভা কেন্দ্রের বিজেপি প্রার্থী জন বার্লা
from home https://ift.tt/2uv5598
William Sadler Is Totally Reprising The Role Of Death In Bill And Ted 3
Dude! Bill and Ted 3 is, like, totally a thing that exists.
It’s even got a release date (August 21st, 2020) to call its own, after title stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter last week announced plans to make a movie this summer. Its name? Bill and Ted Face the Music, which has now officially welcomed the return of William Sadler (The Shawshank Redemption, Demon Knight) as the Grim Reaper himself.
Last seen in Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey almost *checks calendar* 30 years ago, Sadler is yet another exciting addition to the cast, and he’ll be rubbing shoulders with both Reeves and Winter this summer when production on Bill and Ted 3 begins in earnest. Details of his deathly role are being kept under lock and key, but last time out, Sadler’s specter forced Reeves and Winter’s bumbling heroes to dance with death – quite literally, as it were – in order to save their souls from the robot overlords.
It’s all very whimsical, and part of the reason why Bogus Journey remains so charming almost 30 years after its initial release. So lord only knows what surprises are in store for Bill and Ted Face the Music. Nevertheless, here’s the official word on Sadler’s second coming:
For those who have been asking, @Wm_Sadler will totally be reprising his role! pic.twitter.com/jPDZyseotu
— Bill & Ted 3 (@BillandTed3) March 25, 2019
The Bill and Ted 3 Twitter account later added that George Carlin, who famously played Rufus in the original movies, will be honored when Face the Music opens next summer. Carlin passed away in 2008 after starring in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and its bonkers sequel, so it’s only fitting that the third film acknowledges his character in some capacity.
He's so deeply missed by all who worked with him on the previous two films. His character will not be recast, but his absence will be a part of the whole third movie – including what is possibly the most emotional scene of the film.
— Bill & Ted 3 (@BillandTed3) March 25, 2019
Look for Bill and Ted Face the Music to open big on August 21st, 2020.
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Here’s When To Expect The First Trailer For Star Wars: Episode IX
We’re well past being due the first trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX. In the cases of The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, Disney served up first looks a whole year before they were set to arrive. With the Mouse House currently focusing its energies on promoting Avengers: Endgame instead though, the release of a teaser for J.J. Abrams’ closer to the Sequel Trilogy has been put on hold. It’s expected to be coming very soon, however, and now we have a date to mark on our Star Wars edition calendars.
The annual Star Wars Celebration is happening in just a few weeks and Lucasfilm has revealed the details for the panels taking place over the weekend. The one that fans will want to pay attention to most is the Episode IX panel, which is scheduled for 11am EST on April 12th. The panel’s one hour long and will see Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Abrams taking the floor. If the trailer’s coming during the event, that’s when it’ll drop.
And we’re definitely being told to expect some “surprises.” At least, that’s according to this description of the panel, which teases plenty to look forward to, including special guests.
“With the culmination of the Star Wars Saga arriving before the end of the year, the Star Wars: Episode IX panel is one you will definitely not want to miss! With Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Star Wars: Episode IX director JJ Abrams appearing on stage, you can count on plenty of surprises and special guests to keep your imagination buzzing for the rest of Celebration! Live on the Celebration Stage; streamed to the Galaxy and Twin Suns Stages.”
Filming wrapped on Episode IX just last month, but since then we’ve got a few light teases from the cast about its content. For one, Oscar Isaac confirmed that it’ll be the final installment in the Skywalker saga, which has dominated the past eight mainline SW movies since the franchise began. This has led fans to theorize that Mark Hamill may have a sizable role as Luke while Hayden Christensen might just return for a cameo as Anakin, too. Hey, he is at the SW Celebration this year.
Star Wars: Episode IX is set to blast into this galaxy on December 20th, and as soon as we get confirmation on when the trailer will arrive, we’ll be sure to let you know.
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Candyman Reboot Director Says Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Is Not Replacing Tony Todd
Last month, the news broke that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was set to star in the upcoming Candyman reboot. But while it was initially thought that the Aquaman and The Get Down star was assuming the title role, subsequent reports cast doubt on the claim.
Sure enough, in a recent interview with Collider, director Nia DaCosta denied that Abdul-Mateen will be playing the killer once portrayed by Tony Todd:
“Well, it’s been slightly misreported. I can’t say what’s happening in the film because we want it to be a surprise, but he’s not replacing Tony Todd. That’s been reported, and I was just like, ‘I don’t know what to say about this. This is not right.’”
A few weeks ago, THR reported that Abdul-Mateen had instead been cast as an artist who becomes obsessed with the Candyman legend. From the sound of things, DaCosta isn’t ready to confirm the assertion, but one thing she is willing to discuss is her enthusiasm for author and filmmaker Clive Barker, who wrote the short story that served as the basis for the original 1992 Candyman:
“Oh, man, I love his work a lot, from Abarat to everything else. There’s so much specificity and dark whimsy in his work. Dark whimsy is not the right word, but there’s so much reality and truth in it, at the same time. Being able to take genre and expansive worlds and expansive people, and doing that as well as he’s done it, is a big thing. Also, there’s the weirdness of it that I think is really special, and how specific that weirdness is. That’s what I want to draw into our Candyman.”
Right now, little is known about the story of the next Candyman, which is being billed as a “spiritual sequel” to the first movie. Nonetheless, the project has already attracted a lot more interest than your average horror remake, partly because it’s being produced and co-written by Get Out helmsman Jordan Peele, who’s currently enjoying a fresh wave of acclaim with his second directorial feature Us. It also doesn’t hurt that Abdul-Mateen is being joined by If Beale Street Could Talk star Teyonah Parris, who’s reportedly set to play the art dealer girlfriend of Abdul-Mateen’s character
Beyond those two stars, however, casting details are in short supply, though it’s currently expected that Todd will not be reprising his role. If so, then we’ll find out how the next Candyman fares in his shoes when the reboot hits theaters on June 12th, 2020.
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Mark Hamill Teases Luke Skywalker’s Return In Star Wars: Episode IX
As anyone familiar with the actor’s frequent Twitter trolling can tell you, Mark Hamill isn’t about to cave to fan demands for Star Wars: Episode IX material. But in a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the star seemed to let the smallest bit of info slip.
While discussing the magnificent beard he wore on the set of Knightfall, Hamill alluded to another project he was working on that required him to keep his own natural facial hair:
“They glued the beard on over my own beard. I had to keep the beard for something else.”
Looking at Hamill’s upcoming projects, the next Star Wars movie certainly seems like the best guess for what that “something else” could be, though when Kimmel quizzed him further on the matter, the actor said the following with a wink:
“Well it’s NDA; that’s non-disclosure agreement. Don’t quote me.”
Hamill previously opened up about Lusasfilm’s intense spoiler security tactics in an interview with Entertainment Weekly last December, in which he compared the secrecy of the job to working for the CIA. The star went on to explain that he wasn’t allowed to keep the Episode IX script overnight, and was only briefly given it to read while someone at Disney waited with him. By contrast, Hamill recalled how he was allowed to show the script for the original 1977 Star Wars to all his friends because “back then nobody cared.”
Clearly the times have changed, and that goes especially for the content of this ongoing space saga, which is currently seeing a passing of the torch between generations. But before Hamill makes his exit from the franchise, we’ll find out how the late Luke Skywalker helps bring the Sequel Trilogy to a close when Star Wars: Episode IX hits theaters on December 20th, 2019.
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