Solo: A Star Wars Story teaser premieres—and yes, we’re getting a Wookiee

As predicted by many a hopeful Star Wars fan, this year’s Super Bowl LII included the world’s first look at Solo: A Star Wars Story. The 45-second “teaser” trailer comes packed with just about everything you need to confirm that this is indeed a film about a younger Han Solo: flashes of a Millennium Falcon; an Imperial base that Solo has somehow infiltrated while making promises of becoming “the best pilot in the galaxy”; and brief-but-clear shots of iconic characters such as Lando Calrissian (played by Donald Glover) and a big, might-be-Chewbacca Wookiee. Read 1 remaining paragraphs | Comments

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Solo: A Star Wars Story teaser premieres—and yes, we’re getting a Wookiee

Marvel comics arrive in Hoopla’s public library app

Comic books are a brilliant medium, but keeping up with the latest releases can be expensive. If you live in the US, it’s worth checking out Hoopla ; the service is supported by more than 1, 500 public libraries, and offers free digital access to DC, Image and IDW titles. And starting today, another major publisher is joining the platform: Marvel . More than 250 collections and graphic novels will be available, including Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet book one — by author, journalist and comic book writer Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates — Civil War and X-Men: The Dark Pheonix Saga . There’s a handy map here that shows all of the Hoopla-supported libraries in the US. As Variety explains , the libraries set their own lending limits, so you might be able to check out five or 10 at a time through the app. You won’t, of course, get every new Marvel release, but it’s a good place to start if you’re unsure which characters or series to follow. Hoopla says there should be plenty of familiar faces from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Spider-Man , Daredevil , The Runaways , The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy . As Luke Cage would say: Sweet Christmas… Via: Variety Source: Hoopla (Press Release)

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Marvel comics arrive in Hoopla’s public library app

The iPhone 8 goes up against a Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

Before you start throwing down cash for new phones like a Grinch post heart-expansion, watch our video to directly compare more factors than just name brand and price on two of the most popular phones. The iPhone 8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are both less than $1000 (no thanks, iPhone X) but still expensive, beginning at $805 and $737, respectively. Either would make a great gift to yourself or someone else, but it all depends on what you’re going for. The iPhone 8 looks a little ho-hum in terms of standard old design, but acts zippier because of the new A11 bionic chip, which Apple claims makes it 25% faster. Alternatively, maybe you love Samsung or are just now open to one because of Apple’s no headphone jack policy. The S8 and S8 Plus have a slick design that our own phone reviewers absolutely love and its display (a dazzling 2220 x 1080) compared to Apple’s (a meh 1334 x 750) really put it at the top of the visual appearance heap. And then there’s the camera test. While on paper the smartphone’s cameras seem very similar, (Apple with a 7 megapixel front-facing camera, 12 megapixel back; Galaxy S8 Plus with 8 megapixel front-facing camera, 12 megapixel back), in practice, the selfies from the Galaxy S8 Plus seem far superior. After testing set-up, call quality, video downloading time, playback, visual appearance and cameras on each of the phones, we picked the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus as the winner of this particular head-to-head challenge. Let us know in the comments what we should test next!

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The iPhone 8 goes up against a Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

A lost ‘Doctor Who’ episode featuring Tom Baker is finally here

Doctor Who fans have waited nearly four decades for today. Shada — an episode that began filming in 1979 with Tom Baker as the legendary Time Lord — is finally finished and available to download (a DVD will be released in the UK on December 4th, and in the US on January 9th). An animated segment and a new scene were produced to fill in the footage gaps, both of which feature Baker reprising his role as the Doctor. To add to the prestige, the episode was also written by Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams. As you can expect, Shada was an almost mythical entry in the series for fans. But it wasn’t the only “lost” episode. Last year, the BBC also released an animated version of The Power of the Daleks using audio from the original episode, after losing the source video. That recreation was produced by Charles Norton, who also spearheaded the animated segment in “Shada.” Via: Variety Source: iTunes

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A lost ‘Doctor Who’ episode featuring Tom Baker is finally here

Amazon Fire HD 10 review (2017): A $150 tablet that’s actually good

It’s hard to get excited about an Android tablet in 2017. Samsung is still trying to take on the iPad with its premium Galaxy Tab S lineup , and there are countless slates from other companies that seem more obligatory than innovative. Mostly it boils down to one thing: Google hasn’t done much to make Android tablet-friendly. That makes Amazon’s newest Fire HD 10 tablet all the more special. It features a great 10-inch screen, it’s fast enough to run plenty of apps, and, most important, it costs just $150. Hardware From the beginning, Amazon took a different route with its Fire tablets. They use Android at their core, but they feature a custom “Fire OS” that puts all of the shopping giant’s services front and center. In a way, they’re basically digital Amazon catalogs, allowing you to easily shop and catch up on the latest Prime Video shows. While the company dabbled in the high-end arena with its Fire HDX line, it eventually shifted focus entirely to inexpensive tablets. They’re not exciting, but they’re ideal for people who want a cheap and easy-to-use slate that can run the occasional Android app. In that vein, not much has changed with the new Fire HD 10. It has the same overall design as the 2015 model, with a plastic body and large bezels around the 10.1-inch screen. Notably, there’s no aluminum case, like there was with last year’s entry , but that makes sense, since Amazon was clearly trying to cut costs. At 9.8 millimeters thick, the Fire HD 10 isn’t exactly slim, but its rounded edges make it easy to hold. It’s only a tad heavier than the 9.7-inch iPad, clocking in at 1.1 pounds. I don’t expect much from a $150 tablet, but the Fire HD 10 surprised me — first, with its sturdiness. The plastic case didn’t flex when I tried to bend it, and there weren’t any any noticeable creaking noises either. It feels like something that could take a tumble with ease. That makes it particularly well suited to children and the chronically clumsy. It’s odd that Amazon didn’t make an extra-strong “Kids Edition, ” even though it did for the smaller Fire 7 and HD 8. Those are more expensive than the standard versions, but they come with protective cases and, most important, a two-year warranty against all sorts of damage. The most immediate upgrade is the Fire HD 10’s 1080p screen (224ppi), which is a solid bump up from the 720p (1, 280 x 800–pixel) display of its predecessor. Under the hood, it packs in 2GB of RAM (twice as much as before), as well as a 1.8GHz quad-core processor, which Amazon claims is 30 percent faster than the last model’s. The tablet also includes 32GB of storage, and you can add an additional 256GB via the microSD slot. The Fire HD 10 features two stereo speakers, as well as Dolby Atmos for headphones, which helps to make surround-sound audio more immersive. Amazon also included a 2-megapixel camera on the rear, which is a laughably low resolution for a front-facing camera these days, let alone a primary shooter. There’s also a front-facing VGA (640 x 480 pixels) camera that feels like a blast from the past. It’s been more than a decade since I last saw such a low-res camera on anything. Beyond that, the HD 10’s hardware is fairly straightforward. It still charges over micro-USB — you’ll have to wait a bit longer for Amazon to jump on the USB-C bandwagon. Software While we’ve seen Alexa in the Fire HD 8 before, the new Fire HD 10 is Amazon’s first tablet to offer completely hands-free communication with its virtual assistant. Instead of pressing a button to issue commands, you can simply say “Alexa” out loud, even when the tablet is asleep. It works much like Amazon’s Echo devices, except you also get some on-screen feedback in addition to the assistant’s voice responses. Aside from the addition of hands-free Alexa, Amazon’s Fire OS hasn’t changed much. It’s still broken down into several columns: “For You, ” which directs you to Kindle and Prime Video content in your library; “Home, ” where all of your apps live; and sections for books, videos, games, apps, Audible and newsstand content. And, of course, there’s also one category dedicated to shopping on Amazon. It’s all fairly straightforward, though the huge variety of sections can be intimidating at first. In use Devindra Hardawar/Engadget I’ll admit, I typically dread testing out Amazon’s tablets. They’re not bad, especially given their low prices, but they’re much slower than the gear I normally use. Not so with the Fire HD 10. It’s the first inexpensive Amazon tablet that’s fast enough to keep up with my needs. That’s mostly because the company has finally moved beyond a paltry 1GB of RAM. But I also appreciated having some extra CPU horsepower under the hood. It didn’t matter whether I was scrolling through Twitter feeds, browsing demanding websites, playing Amazon Prime movies or hopping between apps — the Fire HD 10 handled it all without slowing down. Surprisingly, the stereo speakers sound great, even at high volumes. The tablet can even run some games decently, though it would stutter with anything graphically demanding. While the tablet has received a huge performance boost, its GPU is still underwhelming. Really, though, the biggest improvement you’ll notice in the Fire HD 10 is its 1080p screen. That might not sound very exciting these days, but it’s a significant leap for Amazon. The higher resolution makes videos and photos much clearer than before, and the improved brightness makes everything pop. It’s also sharp enough to display text clearly, which is ideal for Kindle books. Sure, the screen doesn’t hold a candle to the insanely bright OLED displays Samsung is using in the Galaxy Tab S2 and S3, but they’re also far more expensive. If you haven’t been bitten by the Amazon Echo bug yet, the Fire HD 10’s Alexa integration will give you a taste of what you’ve been missing. You can ask the virtual assistant to do things like tell you the weather, set timers and relay the latest news. But it also takes advantage of the tablet’s screen to display cards with more information. For example, when you ask about the weather, you also get a preview of what’s to come over the next few days. Alexa can also start playing a video or song on Prime services at your request — unfortunately, that doesn’t work for other platforms like Netflix. The tablet has only one microphone, but it managed to hear my voice requests most of the time, even in noisy environments. Compared with other Android tablets, Amazon’s interface feels far more refined, despite being a bit cluttered. You’re never more than a few swipes away from a new TV show to binge, a book to read or a pair of Cole Haan boots. It’s a consumption machine, for better or worse. The Fire HD 10 lasted nine hours and 45 minutes while playing a downloaded HD video on loop. That’s pretty close to Amazon’s 10-hour battery life claim. While you can install popular Android apps on the Fire HD 10, like Netflix, Evernote and Spotify, Google’s services are noticeably absent from Fire OS. That means no Gmail, no Google Maps and no Google Calendar. Of course, that’s been the case with all of Amazon’s tablets, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. You can, of course, use the built-in email app and Amazon’s Silk browser, but they’re no match for native Android Gmail and Chrome. There are also ways to hack the Fire HD 10 and install Google’s services, but that’s not something that’ll help mainstream users. Given just how much Amazon had to customize Android for Fire OS, there’s little chance Google would ever grant access to its apps. But since Android slates have been in a death spiral over the past few years, it’d be wise for Google to work more closely with the one company that’s built successful tablets on its platform. Let’s face it: The search giant needs to do more than just shove Android apps into Chromebooks . Pricing and the competition In addition to the standard 32GB Fire HD 10 for $150, there’s a 64GB model going for $190. You can also remove Amazon’s special-offer ads on both for an additional $15. While there are plenty of cheap Android tablets on the market, there aren’t many I’d actually recommend. Even Google has given up on its Nexus tablet lineup (a shame, because the Nexus 7 was great). Consequently, Amazon basically competes with itself when it comes to low-end slates. The new Fire HD 8 starts at $80, with 16GB of storage, and the svelte Fire 7 goes for just $50, with 8GB. If you’re worried about the portability of the HD 10, the 8-inch model might be a solid compromise. If you want something even more powerful, with a wider assortment of apps (including Google’s), then it’s worth looking at Apple’s newest iPad. It’s just $329 and features a much better screen and superior hardware. Of course, that means hopping over to iOS, but your only other alternative in the Android arena is the Galaxy Tab S2 , a two-year-old slate that still sells for $300. It has a gorgeous screen and it’s incredibly thin, but its aging hardware doesn’t seem like a good investment today. (If you find it on sale, though, it’s worth a close look.) Wrap-up The Fire HD 10 is a glimmer of hope in the barren Android tablet wasteland. It fixes everything we didn’t like about the last model, while dropping down to an incredibly low price for a 10.1-inch slate. It’s just a shame that such a well-crafted Android device can’t run Google’s services. As it stands, though, the Fire HD 10 is still the cheap slate to beat this year.

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Amazon Fire HD 10 review (2017): A $150 tablet that’s actually good

Disney’s immersive ‘Star Wars’ hotel is a Jedi dream come true

No, you’re not dreaming: Walt Disney World plans to open an insanely ambitious immersive Star Wars hotel that sounds like something out of Westworld . Every guest will experience a completely unique story throughout their stay, which will “touch every single minute” of their day, according to Disney’s resort chairman Bob Chapek. You’ll dress up in Star Wars clothing and explore a starship (the hotel itself) filled with familiar-looking aliens. And just to complete the experience, every window will look out onto space. Basically, it sounds like Disney is extending the interactivity you typically find in its theme park experiences with one of its resort hotels. It’s a part of Disney World’s upcoming “Galaxy’s Edge” area, which is dedicated to Star Wars experiences. As Gizmodo describes , those theme parks will also be very interactive — you could, for example, run into Chewbacca who recruits you for a mission. That leads you to the Millennium Falcon ride, and depending on your team’s performance across your different jobs, you could get extra credits, a reprimand, or even have bounty hunters chasing you across the park. Both Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida will be getting the “Galaxy’s Edge” lands in 2019, but at this point it sounds like the immersive hotel is only headed to Orlando. We’ll be following the hotel’s progress closely, if only to keep an eye on those suspicious Droids. Source: Disney Parks

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Disney’s immersive ‘Star Wars’ hotel is a Jedi dream come true

Samsung sold over 5 million Galaxy S8 phones

Samsung was quick to crow about Galaxy S8 pre-orders , but it was easy to be skeptical without real numbers to back up the bragging. Flash forward a few weeks, though, and it’s a different story. The company now reports that it has sold 5 million Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus devices worldwide since its April 21st debut — not bad for less than a month on the market, and only in a limited number of countries. It’s not certain which model was the most popular, though the regular S8’s lower price helps its chances. It’s hard to say how this stacks up to the Galaxy S7, although Samsung had noted that pre-orders were up 30 percent compared to a year ago. And other manufacturers? That’s tricky when most tend not to divulge model-specific data to avoid tipping their hand to competitors. The closest you get is Apple. It reported selling 50.8 million iPhones last quarter (about 16.9 million per month), but it’s not certain how many of those were iPhone 7 and 7 Plus units, let alone how many of them sold in April. Without directly comparable figures, it’d be difficult to declare a sales leader in high-end phones. As it is, Samsung is likely less concerned about raw numbers and more about its bottom line. In that sense, the S8 could easily be a success. Samsung racked up record operating profit in the quarter before the S8 stared shipping (albeit mainly on the back of chip sales), and the phone’s strong early showing is only bound to help. Via: Mashable Source: The Investor , ZDNet

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Samsung sold over 5 million Galaxy S8 phones

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ team says why it used Red’s 8K camera

When director James Gunn revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would be the first movie shot with Red’s 8K Weapon camera , he triggered a bit of speculation: what prompted the move beyond the incredibly high resolution? You might have a better answer today. Red has posted a behind-the-scenes look at the movie that, to no one’s surprise, talks a lot about why the Vol. 2 team shot with such relatively exotic gear. And no, it’s not just about that picture quality. As director of photography Henry Braham summarizes: the Weapon is a “large format” camera that’s simultaneously “tiny.” That let the crew shoot very detailed imagery regardless of the shot — important for a CG-heavy movie, since it maintains a consistently sharp look. They could use the same cameras for handheld close-ups or unusual rigs, such as a spider rig that flies along a wire. In short, they didn’t have to switch cameras or resort to convoluted setups. The behind-the-scenes video is undoubtedly a puff piece meant to sell you on both the camera and the movie. However, it’s also a hint as to where movie technology is going. You can expect 8K digital cameras to become more commonplace, of course, but they also promise more elaborate cinematography that might have been difficult just a few years ago. Source: Red

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‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ team says why it used Red’s 8K camera

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ team says why it used Red’s 8K camera

When director James Gunn revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would be the first movie shot with Red’s 8K Weapon camera , he triggered a bit of speculation: what prompted the move beyond the incredibly high resolution? You might have a better answer today. Red has posted a behind-the-scenes look at the movie that, to no one’s surprise, talks a lot about why the Vol. 2 team shot with such relatively exotic gear. And no, it’s not just about that picture quality. As director of photography Henry Braham summarizes: the Weapon is a “large format” camera that’s simultaneously “tiny.” That let the crew shoot very detailed imagery regardless of the shot — important for a CG-heavy movie, since it maintains a consistently sharp look. They could use the same cameras for handheld close-ups or unusual rigs, such as a spider rig that flies along a wire. In short, they didn’t have to switch cameras or resort to convoluted setups. The behind-the-scenes video is undoubtedly a puff piece meant to sell you on both the camera and the movie. However, it’s also a hint as to where movie technology is going. You can expect 8K digital cameras to become more commonplace, of course, but they also promise more elaborate cinematography that might have been difficult just a few years ago. Source: Red

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‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ team says why it used Red’s 8K camera

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ team says why it used Red’s 8K camera

When director James Gunn revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would be the first movie shot with Red’s 8K Weapon camera , he triggered a bit of speculation: what prompted the move beyond the incredibly high resolution? You might have a better answer today. Red has posted a behind-the-scenes look at the movie that, to no one’s surprise, talks a lot about why the Vol. 2 team shot with such relatively exotic gear. And no, it’s not just about that picture quality. As director of photography Henry Braham summarizes: the Weapon is a “large format” camera that’s simultaneously “tiny.” That let the crew shoot very detailed imagery regardless of the shot — important for a CG-heavy movie, since it maintains a consistently sharp look. They could use the same cameras for handheld close-ups or unusual rigs, such as a spider rig that flies along a wire. In short, they didn’t have to switch cameras or resort to convoluted setups. The behind-the-scenes video is undoubtedly a puff piece meant to sell you on both the camera and the movie. However, it’s also a hint as to where movie technology is going. You can expect 8K digital cameras to become more commonplace, of course, but they also promise more elaborate cinematography that might have been difficult just a few years ago. Source: Red

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‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ team says why it used Red’s 8K camera