House of Cards S2 Blu-ray goes on sale June 19th for those who prefer a hard copy
House of Cards may be most famous for leading the charge of Netflix’s original streaming content, but the show’s producer Media Rights Capital is ready for all avenues. Just like the first season, season two will get a release on physical discs this summer from Sony Pictures. Frank Underwood’s Washington D.C. escapades are ready for viewing in 1080p, and although that’s not 4K, at least your ISP’s connection to Netflix can’t get in the way. One change this year is that there are a few extras on the discs including a behind the scenes look at a table read and dive into Frank’s tendency to directly address the viewer — we’ll have to wait and see if Netflix adds special features to the streaming editions before the next season arrives. There’s no pricetag yet, but the first season started off at about $50 before settling in near $30, and we’d expect about the same for this one.
Blu-ray and DVD Bonus Featurettes:
· “Two Houses” – Exploring differences between the original show & the history of how this project came together.
· “Table Read” – A behind-the-scenes look at table reads cut together with the actual scenes from the show.
· “Direct Address” – Exploring the way Francis talks directly to viewers in both the original & new series
· “Politics for Politics Sake” – Politics is only the back drop in this show, but the themes are universal.
This featurette explores what the show is all about — relationships and power, not just politics.
· “Line of Succession” – A look at the creative process that goes into making an episode.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Why the IRS wants to be your Facebook friend
If the fear of an audit wasn’t enough to scare you into being honest on your taxes, try this on for size: the IRS might be checking out your Facebook page. The good ol’ Internal Revenue Service is reportedly using robots to scope out public social media accounts to catch potential tax dodgers. That means that the government can question if the “business trip” you took to Hawaii was legit based on snorkeling photos from your Instagram account or where you got all those benjamins in that YouTube video.
Tax evasion is a big deal in the US, and accounts for an estimated $300 billion in lost government funds each year. Like it or not, the IRS is technically free to use any public posts on social media during the auditing process or even to profile potential liars. That means you don’t want to brag on Twitter about how much money your business is making if you’re actually about to go under. Likewise, if you are fudging your taxes (which we don’t recommend), you should consider revisiting your account privacy settings, and make sure you’re keeping any incriminating evidence to yourself.
Image credit: Stockmonkeys
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
Source: Marketplace
This is how Samsung thinks about design
Samsung said it would launch a website that showed off its design chops, and it’s delivering as promised. The newly launched Make it Meaningful page dives into the inspirations behind the Korean company’s products, complete with an abundance of giant artwork, marketing speak and promo videos. It’s not just breathless prose about “timeless” TVs (the S9) and “sharply refined details” (the Galaxy S 4), though. The tech giant also addresses the more pragmatic concerns behind certain products — Samsung notes that it built one washing machine just for India, where humidity and limited electricity rule out conventional appliances.
The site isn’t limited to discussing individual gadgets. Samsung is eager to talk about its artistic collaborations and design events, and you can get a better sense of its overall design philosophy. There isn’t a lot of content to look at just yet, and the odds aren’t great that you’ll get many pre-release revelations. Nonetheless, the site is worth exploring to better understand the motivations of what’s arguably the world’s most influential technology company.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Internet, Samsung
Source: Make it Meaningful
GM reportedly working on a lower-cost Chevy Volt
When it comes to electric vehicles, the Chevrolet Volt is as mainstream a brand as it gets. But despite GM’s efforts to make the Volt a top choice among EV buyers, demand for it hasn’t been what the company expected since it began production in 2010. To turn this situation around, General Motors is said to be planning the release of a more affordable model of its Chevrolet Volt. According to a recent report from Reuters, the automaker has only sold 58,158 Volts to date, which is a staggering number when you consider that the Nissan Leaf has more than 80,000 total sales and counting.
With the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, the automaker will reportedly take a cue from Tesla and offer different models, one being an entry-level version priced “from just over $30,000,” compared to the car’s current price of $35,000. This rumored price could also help GM undercut its competition, with vehicles like Ford’s C-Max Energi and Honda’s Accord plug-in hybrid both carrying a much heavier price tag. As a result, however, Reuters states the lower-priced Volt would have a range of under 300 miles and offer “less equipment,” so some sacrifices would be necessary. Still, this could be a good thing for you, since you’d have more options to choose from and, better yet, at a more reduced cost. Or, if money’s no problem, you could always just buy a Model S and call it a day.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Motor Trend
Source: Reuters
Project Moonshine comes to life as the Project Hera Launcher Theme
A few days ago, we heard about a certain rumoured ‘Project Moonshine’ that is apparently currently in development and will result in a Google core apps icon makeover. The icons partly appear to be more in line with the web versions of their icons, however are sufficiently different to be identified as the mobile versions. While there has been no solid evidence to suggest when (or if) these new icons will come into force, Brian Roberts’ new theme, the Project Hera Launcher Theme, will give you a taste of what Project Moonshine might look on your device now.
The Project Hera Launcher Theme is launching with a mere 60 icons, though these are mostly the core Google apps, as well as custom designed wallpapers and widgets. This is probably your best bet at seeing what the Moonshine icons will look like on your device, so if you’re interested, the theme is having an introductory sale for $1 only (Play Store links are below).
What do you think about the look of Project Moonshine? Are you going to pick up the Project Hera Launcher Theme and give it a try? Let us know how you find it in the comments.
Source: Google+
Theme: Project Hera Launcher Theme
Price: $1.00
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Apple, Samsung and more to adopt anti-theft smartphone kill switch
Apple and Samsung are duking it out in court yet again, but there’s at least one thing they (and a host of their smartphone making rivals) agree on: users shouldn’t be helpless when their phones are stolen. That’s why, starting in July 2015, all of the smartphones those companies sell in the United States will come with an anti-theft tool meant to help keep your data out of the wrong hands. The full list of backers includes the usual heavyweights: besides Apple and Samsung, there’s Google, HTC, Huawei, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, along with the country’s biggest wireless carriers. Those parties in total represent a tremendous chunk of the American wireless industry, so your next (or next next) smartphone will almost certainly let you stick it to the sticky-fingered.
And what, pray tell, would such tools do? According to the CTIA, users will be able to remotely wipe and restore their devices (say, from a cloud backup), and prevent them from being reactivated or used by unsavory types. That seemingly simple move wouldn’t just save us all anguish, it could save us a collective total of $2.5 billion a year in replacement costs and insurance fees. It sure sounds like a win for consumers, but some — like Senator Mark Leno, who sponsored a bill to create a kill-switch for connected gadgets in the Golden State — think such tools should be on by default rather than requiring users to opt-in. He’s probably on to something, but at least all these companies have a few months to iron out the details.
Filed under: Mobile
Source: CTIA
Here’s the software that helps Edward Snowden avoid the NSA
Edward Snowden hasn’t escaped the NSA’s watchful eyes purely by exploiting lax security — he also uses the right software. We now know that he communicates with the media using Tails, a customized version of Linux that makes it easy to use Tor’s anonymity network and other tools that keep data private. The software loads from external drives and doesn’t store anything locally, so it’s relatively trivial for Snowden and his contacts to discuss leaks without leaving a trace.
The underlying technology isn’t completely original, and it’s not perfect; Tails’ open source code and anonymous developer base help resist pressure to include spy-friendly back doors, but there are still potential security holes. Users also have to be careful with their choices of internet services while using Tails, as the wrong ones could give the whole game away. Even with those concerns in mind, the software is a big help to Snowden, journalists and others that want to keep their conversations under wraps with a minimum of effort.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Via: Slashdot
Sony has a 4K TV for every budget (that’s at least $2,099)
Sony has nailed down the final launch details for its newest 4K Bravia TVs, and surprise — they just might be affordable this year. The “entry-level” XBR-X850B series will start at a relatively frugal $2,099 for a 49-inch model, with prices peaking at $5,499 for a 70-inch set. If you’ve got a bit more cash and want upgrades to both audio and wall mounting, the XBR-X900B line starts at $3,999 for a 55-inch set and scales up to $8,999 for a 79-inch variant. There’s still a couple of models for the money-is-no-object crowd, of course. The improved LED lighting of the 65-inch XBR-X950B will set you back $7,999, while the display’s 85-inch sibling costs an eye-watering $24,999. All of the 4K sets ship in June.
The company also hasn’t forgotten about those with earlier Bravia sets. It’s releasing an updated version of its 4K media player, the FMP-X10, this summer. There’s no pricing just yet, but it has 1TB of storage for downloaded Video Unlimited movies and supports the same 4K Netflix movies as newer Bravia TVs. The previous model sold for $699, although Sony has bundled it with sets for free or at a discount — whatever the new one costs, you may not have to pay full price.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Sony
Source: Sony
Daily Roundup: Amazon’s first phone, Project Ara developer conference and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Here’s Amazon’s phone: six cameras and a 4.7-inch screen
We’ve all heard the rumors, but BGR claims it’s gotten hold of Amazon’s first phone — and it has six cameras. The 4.7-inch handset (shown above) might not appear very sleek or attractive. But don’t worry, that’s just an enclosure.
Apple CarPlay coming to Pioneer’s in-dash systems this summer
Pioneer’s NEX line of five in-dash entertainment systems will get Apple’s CarPlay support through a firmware update set to arrive this summer. Owners with an iPhone 5, 5c or 5s will be able to take advantage of Apple Maps, Siri and more!
Office 365 Personal now available for $7 per month
Microsoft’s hoping to reel in new Office 365 subscribers by offering a cheaper, leaner iteration for only $7 a month or $70 annually. There isn’t an exact launch date yet, but remember, it’ll be just $3 cheaper (per month) than the full version.
Google’s Project Ara developer conference is live, watch it here
Day one of the Project Ara developer conference has begun. Needless to say, most people probably can’t catch a flight to Mountain View. Thankfully, though, anyone can keep up with Google’s modular phone because the entire event is being streamed live.
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Filed under: Misc
[Download] Google Play Services v4.3.25 is pushed out to address stability Issues
About a month ago, Google Play Services was updated to version 4.3.26 which promised to improve on all the cool new inclusions Google had added to version v4.3, like new APIs and some really cool Play Games functionality. Unfortunately, it seems that despite all the good it had planned to integrate, v4.3.26 has caused some people quite a lot of grief with reports of force closing and abnormal memory loads that cause devices to operate sub-optimally. Thankfully, Google looks like it has moved to rectify this by pushing out Google Play Services v4.3.25 today.
The ‘downgrade’ is likely to fix the stability issues that some users and developers have been seeing. Although it probably also removes some features, it’s likely not to affect the average Joe like you and me. You should be getting a notification to update today, but if you aren’t getting it quite yet and really need the new Play Services, we’ve got the APK available for download below:
Google Play Services v4.3.25 apk download
Were you suffering any issues with that last Google Play Services version? Let us know if you were and if this version has made things better.
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