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  • You Need a MoviePass Subscription for Summer

    You Need a MoviePass Subscription for Summer

    Moviepass is an incredible deal, if you don’t have one already you are really missing out. Yes, there are many arguably nonsensical reasons not to get one. Its too good to be true, I heard their investment company is running out of money,I don’t like that they know what movie im going to go see, I cant reserve my seat in advance, yes yes all barley valid points not to have a once in a life time opportunity for an  all you can see movie theater pass.

    What about the “They don’t make anymore good Movies any more” reason? Well we all know we are going to see Deadpool, Solo, Jurassic World 2 and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, But here are the Top 5 movies out this summer that you wouldn’t pay to go see in the theaters, but should probably go see in the theaters, and could see for free with your Moviepass, so go see them Movies..

    1.Christopher Robin

    Disney’s new take on Winnie the Pooh, titled simply Christopher Robin, from director Marc Forster. Ewan McGregor stars in this as a working-class family man in London. He re-encounters his childhood friend Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life. The main cast includes Hayley Atwell, Mark Gatiss, Adrian Scarborough, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, and Paul Chahidi. For the voices: Jim Cummings as Winnie-the-Pooh, Chris O’Dowd as Tigger, Toby Jones as Owl, Peter Capaldi as Rabbit, Sophie Okonedo as Kanga, and Nick Mohammed as Piglet. This teaser only introduces us to Pooh, with more characters to come. This comparison is going to upset a few of you, but this kind of reminds me of Hook – a grumpy guy revisits his past to discover happiness again.

     

    2.Hereditary

    A24 has revealed another  acclaimed horror film , Hereditary, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. This movie  focuses on the Charlie, the young daughter in the film, played by Milly Shapiro . From writer/director Ari Aster, Hereditary is about a close family that starts to unravel following the death of their reclusive grandmother. As an overwhelming terror takes over their household, their peaceful existence is ripped apart, forcing their mother to explore a darker realm in order to escape the unfortunate fate they’ve inherited.

    Toni Collette stars, along with Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Ann Dowd, and Zachary Arthur. This film is incredible, and will be one of the big breakout horror hits this year, for sure. Don’t miss it when it comes to your local cinema – it’s not only terrifying to watch, but an extremely impressive film between performances and cinematography and script.

     

    3.Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

    Just this trailer will make you tear up, then also remind you how important and wonderful goodness and happiness are. Focus Features has revealed a documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, made by Oscar-winning doc filmmaker Morgan Neville. This is more than just a profile of the late Fred Rogers, known best as Mr. Rogers – it’s a wonderful look at how a man tried to make the world better by figuring out how to speak to kids and teach them the importance of compassion and understanding and helpfulness.

    This premiered to glowing reviews at the Sundance Film Festival this year. Someone wrote about it: “This is the documentary we all need right now. It’s a heartwarming, rousing film about how goodness makes an impact in society. It shows us that we can make a difference if we help someone else, if we support them, and believe in them, and remind them that they are perfect just they way they are.” You have to see it.

    4.Tag

    “You never know when someone’s going to pop up.” And… you’re it! Warner Bros has finally getting us excited for the  summer comedy movie Tag, based on the true story of a massive game of Tag that a few guys have been playing every year since they were kids. The game is so competitive, so intense, that people will fly all around the country just to not be the one who is “it”. Yeah, it’s crazy.

    The movie is about a small group of former classmates who organize the elaborate, annual game. With a rockin’ cast: Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Annabelle Wallis, Rashida Jones, Isla Fisher, Leslie Bibb, Hannibal Buress, with Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner. As fun as this looks, it is actually going to have anything to say, or just: hey, be as crazy as you can, because why not have fun. You know you will enjoy this film and you also know you wont spend $15 to find out how much… Moviepass

    5.Alpha

    An enemy will become an ally.” Sony Pictures’ epic new action thriller titled Alpha, formerly known as The Solutrean. This is the latest feature film from Albert Hughes, who last directed The Book of Eli in 2010, and it’s set during the last Ice Age – 20,000 years ago (kind of like Emmerich’s 10,000 BC). This epic adventure follows the story of Zeta, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee, a young man injured on a bison hunt left for dead. He befriends a lone wolf and together they figure out how to survive in this harsh environment. So basically it’s The Revenant meets 10,000 BC. The full cast includes Natassia Malthe, Leonor Varela, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Mercedes de la Zerda, and Jens Hultén. The Wolves look so cool, Im looking forward to this one…fo free!! Moviepass.

    The Final MoviePass Thought

    I know you know Im making sense. You are right now thinking, I would not have planned to see any of these in the theater but with a Moviepass subscription I will go check theses out. This right here is what is going to turn Moviepass to the next big Netflix. Im mean come on, one of these movies has John Hamm in it…and im going to see all of them for less then half of the big blockbusters I was going to see anyways. Happy summer at the movies for me.

  • NES Classic to Return to Store Shelves in June

    NES Classic to Return to Store Shelves in June

    The beloved Nintendo Entertainment System lives again, again! NES Classic Mini systems are slated to return to retailers June 29th, according to Nintendo, and the company claims the systems will be available until the end of the year. This is fantastic news for retro gaming enthusiasts looking to relive some of the most iconic games of all time!

    Tremendous Hit

    Since its initial release in Fall 2016, the NES Classic has been a tremendous hit, selling out its initial run in record time. Following its astonishing success, Nintendo released the SNES Classic, a miniature version of the NES’s successor, which experienced similar sell-outs. Finally, this Summer, fans who missed the initial release window will have a chance to snag the tiny retro console for MSRP, which is $60. For those who held out for a re-release, or simply couldn’t find a reasonable price on the secondhand market, this news is great!

    eBay Scalpers

    Notably, the NES Classic and its successor were both heavily targeted by eBay scalpers, scam artists who buy collectibles in large quantities and resell them on eBay and similar sites for absurd markups. Nintendo clearly didn’t expect such a massive demand for the systems, and scalpers capitalized on the low supply by further bottlenecking it and preying on nostalgia. This time around, however, Nintendo promises a much higher supple of both NES and SNES Classic systems, ensuring retailers will have them stocked for MSRP. This is awesome for customers, and terrible for scalpers. Win-win!

    NES Classic systems come preloaded with 30 iconic games, including Super Mario Bros, the Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Balloon Fight and more! You can grab one of your own and enjoy games from the 80’s that helped redefine the gaming industry when the system re-releases on June 29th.

  • Is Google Duplex Too Real?

    Is Google Duplex Too Real?

    We’re living in the future. If you needed a reminder of this, you need look no further than the prevalence of artificial intelligence on the cusp of becoming indistinguishable from humans. At their I/O 2018 conference, Google showcased their new Duplex technology. Duplex allows Google Assistant to make phone calls for you to set up appointments and reservations. The unique trick here is just how lifelike and eerie the Assistant sounds on the phone. It says “umm,” and “mmm-hmm.” It uses upward-lilting speech to sound authentic. It sounds completely human.

    How Far is too Far?

    Google claims that the Duplex technology will identify itself as such when it goes live. This, at least, covers our initial fears that people will be unaware that they are interacting with artificial intelligence. However, the presence of this technology alone could be cause for concern: what if another, less responsible company develops similar technology? What if scammers steal the technology and use it to operate elaborate phone scams? The potential for abuse is certainly high. It remains to be seen what protections Google has in place for this lifelike AI.

    So What?

    Maybe you don’t mind the idea of lifelike-sounding machines calling you. If they sound human and I’m not aware that they’re machines, so what? Why should I care? Google already promised it would even identify itself! To which I would say: I don’t think we need to worry about Duplex itself. I thoroughly believe Google will be responsible with this tech, if only because all eyes are on them. They are a leader in AI research and this is a pioneering piece of technology that many will likely follow. As such, I have no doubt Google will toe the line and act ethically with their new tech. The question remains, though: will those that follow do the same? Now that the door is open, who knows what kind of potential for misuse of this technology puts on the table.

    This is Just the Beginning

    Either way, Google is not alone in pushing the boundaries of AI applications. Microsoft and Facebook are also pursuing the future of AI in attempts to make their products synonymous with the burgeoning tech. These companies and others like them are all racing to hit the market with the most lifelike, the most impressive and least detectible AI before their competition. We can only hope they temper their haste to be the first to market with a desire to act ethically and responsibly with technology that will change the way we interact with our world.

  • Google Privacy Policy to Become More Readable

    Google Privacy Policy to Become More Readable

    Taking effect on May 25th, Google’s new privacy policy aims to be more transparent and more plainly explain what user data it collects and shares. William Malcolm, a privacy leader at Google, stated in a blog post: “We’ve improved the navigation and organization of the policy to make it easier to find what you’re looking for; explained our practices in more detail and with clearer language; and added more detail about the options you have to manage, export, and delete data from our services.”

    Clarification

    Notably, this rewording of the privacy policy does not represent any changes to the policy: it is simply a clarification in attempt to make the policy more transparent. This move coincides with the May 25thGeneral Data Protection Regulation in Europe, certainly a move to assure users their data isn’t being used against them.

    Google has recently made adjustments to the “my account” tab of their Google Account home page, allowing users to selectively purge searches they don’t want attached to their online presence. These changes come amidst widespread anxiety over data collection and algorithmic abuse by companies like Google and Facebook. Shifts such as these are reassuring, and hopeful signal a shift to a more responsible role for the tech giant.

    Ad Muting

    In a related move, Google has begun incorporating a “Mute this Ad” function in their search engine. Most users probably already use an Ad Block plug-in on their desktops, but it is still a welcome update to mobile devices.

  • Cisco Pulls All Ads From YouTube

    Cisco Pulls All Ads From YouTube

    In a move to preserve brand integrity, Cisco has pulled all of its ads from YouTube. A now-deleted post from Cisco stated that they didn’t want their brand to appear alongside “sensitive content.” CNN recently reported that ads from major companies like Facebook, Cisco and Amazon were appearing alongside videos featuring “white nationalists, Nazis, pedophilia, conspiracy theories, and North Korean propaganda.”

    Not Unprecedented

    This move is not unprecedented, though. Last March, Verizon, AT&T and the British Government all pulled ads from the streaming site when news broke that their ads were appearing alongside videos promoting terrorism. Again, in November, a report broke that ads from Amazon, Mars, eBay and others were appearing alongside videos with pedophilic content. In both instances YouTube vowed to tighten controls over where advertisers’ spots appeared on the site.

    Cisco, a major manufacturer of networking equipment, follows in the example of those companies that do not want their ad spots confused with their monetary endorsement. YouTube’s responsibility and culpability in relation to inflammatory, hateful content hosted on their site is a topic of much debate at this point. Some argue that YouTube shouldn’t allow content containing white nationalist hate speech and borderline Nazi propaganda. Others contend that YouTube exists solely as a platform for video hosting and shouldn’t act a censor, as understanding extremist views is key to countering them.

    In either event, Cisco would sooner pull all of their ads in a show of disgust at the presence of such content than get into an argument about freedom of speech. As a business interested in making money and not stirring up political discussions, this is a reasonable move.

  • Expect Big Things from Apple’s WWDC

    Expect Big Things from Apple’s WWDC

    Last year’s WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) saw the announcement of the HomePod as well as the new iPad Pro 12.9 and iPad Pro 10.5. This was also when Apple revealed iOS 11 and watchOS 4. Apple will have to up the anty if it wants to compete with Google’s jaw dropping I/O conference. Lets look at some big things we expect to hear about in Junes WWDC.

    iOS 12

    This is a not a surprise, we have seen twelve iOS update keynotes at these things over the years. This year what we are looking to see is vast stability upgrades. Primary apps getting overhauled or upgrades, apps like  Mail, Camera and Photos ever calendars, calculators, and stocks. Could we make iMovie a little more mainstream and easier?  Security and performance focus would be less exciting but much needed. What not to expect is for apple to blow your hair back with some revolutionary feature or function, they will save that for September.

     

    iPhone SE

    I’ve written about this before, the SE has aged well and served its purpose but now its time for even the entry level iPhone to get a much needed upgrade. Why waste something this meaning less and cram it in with the big release in September when you can pop it out at the end of June and give a pop to the Q2 earnings.  I would expect the SE to unveiled and introduced at the WWDC and pre orders a week after.

     

    Watch OS 5

    They do this every year, while we are starting to hear rumors about the Watch 4, we will for sure see the preview for the new watch OS. Id like to see a quicker control option, new watch faces, and if the crowd gets too bored at this tech conference maybe test out a new sleep tracking feature.

     

    New Mac Pro

    We know a redesigned Mac Pro is coming, and Apple even recently made a point of reminding everyone when it said the following in a press release:

    “In addition to the new iMac Pro, Apple is working on a completely redesigned, next-generation Mac Pro architect-ed for pro customers who need the highest performance, high-throughput system in a modular, upgrade-able design, as well as a new high-end pro display.”

    Im thinking we will see a big keynote on this. I would expect it to be the highlight of WWDC, kinda mad I spent that $8000 on a new mac pro in Feb.

     

    What Else

    Those are the thing we know for sure they will hit upon at the WWDC but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a new Apple TV, with a boost to TV content. The Macbook and Mac Mini will be getting some attention as well, and don’t forget about a possible hint at a revamped iPad Pro for a fall release. Not to mention we will have to sit through hours of financial report and sales bragging from Tim Cook to look forward to..

  • Google Home Receiving New Functionality

    Google Home Receiving New Functionality

    At this year’s I/O 2018 press conference Google unveiled a slew of new features and functionality for their Google Home platform. If you missed the event live, no worries, we have a recap of all the updates for Google Home right here!

    Google Smart Display

    As a direct competitor to Amazon’s Echo Show, the new Google Smart Displays go on sale this July. Representing a leap forward for the Smart Home line, the Smart Displays will be able to play YouTube videos and display search information directly on the screen. With all the Chromecast and Google Assistant support you’ve already come to expect from the platform, the Smart Display is an even better way to help you stay organized and connected.

    Duplex Functionality

    By far the most astonishing thing seen at I/O 2018 was Google’s new Duplex software. Essentially a highly advanced conversational AI, Duplex uses tons of neat linguistic tricks to sound eerily human. Originally pitched as a service that can make phone calls in lieu of users, in order to set up reservations and the like, Google has also teased that the highly advanced conversational program will make its way into the Google Home suite. Google Assistant functionality that speaks and reacts like a real person sounds simultaneously creepy and awesome. I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords!

    Play Movies Compatibility

    Bafflingly, Google Home has only recently received the functionality to launch movies purchased from Google’s own Play Store. Google Home has long had the ability to launch Netflix and other streaming services with just voice commands, but Google is only just now rolling out support for playing Google Play Movies from your library. While this one seems like a no-brainer, it’s always nice to small quality of life improvements like this not get overlooked in favor of massive new updates like the upcoming Duplex support.

  • GPU Prices (Finally) Dropping

    GPU Prices (Finally) Dropping

    If you’re like me and have less interest in using a GPU for cryptocurrency than video games, you’ve surely lamented the absurd prices of high end graphics cards over the last few years. Thankfully, prices are finally starting to drop on GPUs due to a variety of factors.

    The Crypto-Elephant in the Room

    For starters, the market for cryptocurrencies like BitCoin and Etherium is starting to cool down. This has been gradual, as the initial rush for the currencies was exponential, but now more reasonable expectations for the technology have led to most currency miners backing off somewhat on their investments in expensive mining rigs.

    Supply is Meeting Demand

    GPU manufacturers are finally starting to meet up with demand on their shipments. High end graphics cards are not easy or cheap to produce, and so the initial gold rush for cryptocurrency largely wiped out back inventory of premium GPUs. However, enough time has now passed that manufacturers are filling shipments again, which is great for consumers.

    ASICs on the Horizon

    Seeing the potential in the market, computer parts manufacturers have promised to deliver dedicated mining rigs, called ASICs, by the end of 2018. In preparation for this, most major mining operators are pulling back in their GPU purchases, consolidating their funds for the release of dedicated platforms for their trade. This is only good news: miners will be happy to have more specialized set ups and gamers will be able to affordably acquire high-end GPUs without taking out a small loan.

    Bottom Line

    Don’t feel the pressure to buy a new GPU right away. If you really want one, now isn’t a bad time, as most high-end cards are going for right around MSRP now, which is fantastic. However, as supply continues to catch up to demand and the release of ASICs rigs grows nearer, we will likely see further discounts on GPUs when the mining bubble moves on. Less likely, but more helpful for consumers, would be if the cryptocurrency bubble burst altogether.

    While some gamers and PC enthusiasts have fingers crossed, that eventuality seems to be less likely the longer BitCoin and the like persist. Either way, we’ll very likely continue to see price drops on graphics cards for the foreseeable future.

  • Google ARCore 1.2 to Offer New Functionality for Augmented Reality

    Google ARCore 1.2 to Offer New Functionality for Augmented Reality

    Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technology are both major focuses for Google at the moment, judging by their I/O 2018 press conference and continued support for ARCore. The ARCore software attempts to replicate some of the functionality of Google’s Project Tango hardware on conventional smart phones. Augmented reality features such as wall detection, image recognition and more are core features of Project Tango and ARCore.

    Cloud Anchors

    The fantasy-sounding Cloud Anchor technologies allows for multiplayer experiences in augmented reality. Sharing simulated 3D objects with multiple users allows for several people at once to manipulate the same augmented reality experience. This could allow for such fascinating digital projections like chess games with no need for pieces or a board. The imagination of developers is really the only limit to this exciting new technology.

    Cross-Platform

    More exciting still, Google is building this ARCore technology to work across iOS devices as well as Android devices. This is sure to broaden the user base of the new functionality and make it more desirable for developers to adopt the experimental augmented reality software.

    Improved SDK

    Speaking of developers, Google also promises an improved software development kit for programmers looking to make new augmented reality apps. The Sceneform SDK will allow developers to use common 3D widgets without having to go through the process of animating and programming them. This shared toolkit will likely continue to make augmented reality projects desirable to build for Android devices, helping solidify Google as a primary supporter of the burgeoning technology.

  • Apple Issues Ultimatum to App Designers

    Apple Issues Ultimatum to App Designers

    New guidelines are now in the hands of Apple developers. By July 2018, all new apps will need to support the unique dimensions and top-of-screen notch on the iPhone X. This new guideline applies not just to new apps, but to all apps that already exist on the Apple App Store.

    Apple’s Statement

    “iOS 11 delivers innovative features and the redesigned App Store to hundreds of millions of customers around the world. Your apps can deliver more intelligent, unified, and immersive experiences with Core ML, ARKit, new camera APIs, new SiriKit domains, Apple Music integration, drag and drop for iPad, and more. Starting July 2018, all iOS app updates submitted to the App Store must be built with the iOS 11 SDK and must support the Super Retina display of iPhone X.”

    iOS 11 SDK

    The SDK in question is the new iOS 11 SDK, or software development kit. This will mean that all apps will support the features and unique screen characteristics of the iPhone X by the end of the summer. Most developers have found the top notch to not be the hardest thing to design their apps around. Instead that the always-on home indicator (the thin bar that indicates access to multitasking, etc.) has been the largest design challenge.

    This approach is nothing new and is similar to Apple’s support of previous iPhone releases. Most popular apps have already updated to reflect these design changes. Those that haven’t were already expected to follow suit shortly, even without the ultimatum from Apple. Given that the iPhone X has been fantastically popular this comes as no surprise.

    And the iPhone X’s popularity is no mistake! The iPhone X is also our favorite premium smart phone! To find out why, go check out our roundup of our favorite smart phones.