Essentials: Technology & Entertainment: September 2008 Archives

Real readies DVD-ripping software, lawsuit

Posted September 30, 2008 12:09 PM by

As portable music players are fast-becoming portable media players, users are looking for ways to make their movies as mobile as their music. Entrenched in copyright issues, the ability to copy DVDs to a computer isn't as much 'desktop' issue as it is a courtroom one.

Earlier this month, media software company Real introduced RealDVD, a product designed to let users copy movies to their computers for playback and storage. Just hours after making the software available, Real has lawyered-up and is preparing to battle the major movie studios in court.

Depp confirmed for a pair of iconic roles

Posted September 25, 2008 12:25 PM by

Anthony May

| Feature Films | News

Taking a break from creating iconic characters (Captain Jack Sparrow...), Johnny Depp has signed-on to a couple of projects that will have him filling the shoes, and hats, of a pair of iconic characters.

Announced at a Disney press event yesterday, Depp will take on the role of Tonto in Disney's revival of the "Lone Ranger" franchise. Originally rumored to don the mask in the film's title role, Depp will play the sidekick, re-teaming with Pirates super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Humor smolders in 'Burn After Reading'

Posted September 22, 2008 8:45 AM by

Anthony May

| Feature Films | Reviews

Character and plot are a couple of pretty important literary elements, just ask any sixth grade English teacher. No matter the rubric, Joel and Ethan Coen's latest assignment, 'Burn After Reading,' would be littered with gold stars.

Essentials: Weekly Rehash (9/19/08)

Posted September 19, 2008 3:43 PM by

Anthony May

| Weekly Rehash

It's a 'quality not quantity' scenario in this week's Rehash. A handful of 'old friends' are coming back to the big screen, Microsoft pulls the plug on Seinfeld and Apple plugs in a new iPod.

Microsoft pulls plug on Seinfeld ads

Posted September 18, 2008 8:42 AM by

Anthony May

| Commentary | News | Technology | Television

Just weeks after launching their new Windows Vista ad campaign, Microsoft is reportedly ending their series of commercials featuring comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

The software giant made headlines when they inked the sitcom star for a reported $10 million, as they aimed to counter competitor Apple's long-running, and well-received, "PC vs. Mac" spots.

Report: Maquire back for Spider-Man 4 and 5

Posted September 17, 2008 8:56 AM by

Anthony May

| Feature Films | News

With the series' director Sam Raimi already on-board, Sony may have snagged the title character for the next installments in the 'Spider-Man' series.

London's Sunday Times is reporting that Tobey Maquire will reprise his role as "your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man" for the series' fourth and fifth films.

Jack's Mannequin teases with two new EPs

Posted September 16, 2008 8:50 AM by

Anthony May

| Music | News

Still weeks before their new album, "The Glass Passenger," hits store shelves, piano-rockers Jack's Mannequin are laying the groundwork for the album's release with a pair of iTunes-exclusive EPs.

Available now on iTunes, The Ghost Overground and In Valleys EPs feature a mix of live tracks, cuts from TGP and other unreleased tracks.

'Ghostbusters' series set for revival

Posted September 15, 2008 4:50 PM by

Anthony May

| Feature Films | News

Fire up your proton packs 'Ghostbusters' fans -- the series is preparing for a comeback. Sony pictures has signed-up Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, writers/producers for NBC's 'The Office, to pen the script for a third 'Ghostbusters' feature.

Apple 'shakes' it up with new iPod Nano

Posted September 9, 2008 5:28 PM by

Anthony May

| News | Technology

As expected, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced a new iPod Nano at a press event in San Fransisco on Tuesday.

In addition to the retooled iPod, Apple announced changes to the iPod Touch and an update to the iTunes software.

Essentials: Weekly Rehash (9/5/08)

Posted September 5, 2008 2:46 PM by

Anthony May

| Weekly Rehash

It's a two-fer on this "Weekly Rehash" - last week's holiday weekend means two weeks worth of smokin' DVD release news, ESPN's growing empire and more.

NFL Network, ESPN consider joining forces

Posted September 4, 2008 12:31 PM by

Anthony May

| News | Television

As if being the home of Monday Night Football wasn't enough to make ESPN NFL-happy, the 'Worldwide Leader in Sports' may be replacing ESPN Classic with the NFL Network.

As the NFL Network toils away battling the FCC, they've has been in talks with ESPN, hoping to form a joint venture that would have the NFL Network taking ESPN Classic's spot on your TV dial.

Hulk, Reaper and Hannah coming to DVD

Posted September 3, 2008 12:40 PM by

Anthony May

| DVD | News

A temperamental scientist and a sneaker-wearing servant of Satan have been given DVD release dates.

'The Incredible Hulk,' the lastest reboot of the franchise, starring Edward Norton as the big green guy, will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray October 12. A wallop-packing three-disc special edition will be available on DVD.

'Legendary' SNES title comes to Wii

Posted September 2, 2008 8:52 AM by

Anthony May

| News | Video Games

While most of America was enjoying the Labor Day holiday yesterday, Nintendo was hard at work, digging through the vault for the latest round of virtual console releases.

Among the titles released yesterday is 'Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.'