Amazon Reportedly Working on Android-based Smartphone

Amazon is now working on a smartphone, if a report from Bloomberg is to be believed.

The device is being built to directly compete with other Android-based phones and the iPhone. The phone is reportedly in production at Foxconn, the Chinese manufacturing company that builds hundreds of products. While Amazon currently produces several products, including the Kindle e-reader and Kindle Fire tablet, the company has made no indication of entering the smartphone arena.

If true, it stands to reason that Amazon’s smartphone will have deep integration with the Amazon Prime service, which gives subscribers not only free two-day shipping, but also free access to tens of thousands of TV shows and movies. Amazon will also likely offer a number of cloud services such as a music player similar to Google Play (formerly Google Music), and have its own Android-based app store and media marketplace to buy movies, TV shows, music, and games.

Amazon is certainly in a strong position to sell their own smartphone because of the company’s retail power as well as its connections to cellular carriers through Amazon Wireless, which sells hundreds of phones on all major US carriers.

Would you be interested in an Amazon smartphone? What would make it worth buying for you?

Source : ign[dot]com

Tron: Uprising - "Identity" Review

Note: Full spoilers for the episode follow.

Imagine that everything you know, every memory, everything that makes you you, was contained on an external storage device. Now imagine that device was stolen. That's the situation Beck finds himself in when he's duped by a small-time thief and nearly loses everything. You have to feel sorry for him as his memory begins to fade, but it was a pretty dumb mistake for someone who is supposed to be a freedom fighter in the mold of Tron. And considering how important identity discs are in the world of the Grid, and the dire consequences of being without one for any length of time, they're surprisingly easy to steal. But let's overlook that little plot convenience and get right to the heart of the story. Which, as it happens, had a lot to do with matters of the heart.

Since the beginning, Tron has kept Beck at a distance, relating to him solely as the cool, reserved mentor, even at times when Beck really needed a friend. As he explains in a rather exposition-y scene near the end of the episode, Tron once let his friendship with Clu cloud his judgement, and that experience has made him cautious about forming new emotional ties. But in "Identity" he puts it all on the line and risks exposure to bring Beck back from the brink of oblivion. It's an important turning point in their relationship. It's also worth noting that Tron's knowledge of strays and the process of memory loss was too thorough not to have come first-hand. We've seen in the first few episodes that Tron is badly damaged physically, now we know he's got some internal scars to match.

What the creators of this series seem to understand in developing Tron: Uprising so far is that you can have all the ultra cool light cycle chases through spectacular digital landscapes you want, but none of it is going to connect with an audience unless they care about the programs riding those bikes. I appreciate that the writers are taking the time to explore the characters' motivations, even one-shot characters like Lux. Her sacrifice wouldn't have meant as much without the insight that her actions were rooted in her love for Cobol. That she would betray him after learning of Tron's survival is a testament to Tron's power as a mythical figure.

Zed is also turning out to be more than just a minor character whose only purpose is fill out the B story of each episode. Though he hasn't yet had much impact on the greater story arc, he has had some difficult choices put before him. His desire for recognition and respect from guys like Bartik and Hopper clash directly in this episode with his feelings for Mara. Luckily for Beck, love wins this round, but I was a bit disappointed that Zed walked away from the chance to join Paige's task force. I would have liked to have seen him go up against Beck as the Renegade.

All of this character stuff goes hand in hand, of course, with the slick visual design, which continues to impress. By now, it's easy to take the look of the show for granted, but the style is really distinctive from anything else on television. In "Identity" we got more thrilling action, including a cool sequence that climaxed in Beck jumping through a window, and some pretty fluid fight scenes. We also visited a new location, Pergos. It wasn't quite as gritty as I expected from Tron's description as a rundown "garbage heap," but it did have a different aesthetic from Argon City and the other locales we've seen so far.

In just four episodes, we've had a chance to explore more of the Grid than in either of the films, and I look forward to more of that world expansion in the show's future. Based on past experience, I fear that Tron: Uprising is bound to let me down sooner or later, but I'm happy to say that it hasn't happened yet.

Source : ign[dot]com

Apple Debuts Brand New Podcasts App

Apple today released a podcast app that allows you a simpler way to find, subscribe, and listen to podcasts natively on your iOS device.

Unfortunately, the podcast app shoots you straight into the Podcast section of the iTunes store as soon as you try to download anything – instead of letting you download natively inside the app.

However, if you already subscribe to a bunch of podcasts, then the app will supply you with a much, much better catalog option.

Top Stations is a new feature that allows for an easy way to discover new stations, and you can loop back ten seconds, loop forward thirty seconds, or even set a Sleep Timer – which will automatically stop playing a podcast after a while (in case you love to fall asleep to Tech Fetish).

Perhaps best of all is a speed adjustment that lets you fly through podcasts at much faster or slower speeds, turning your favorite IGN podcasters into chipmunks or monsters, depending on your mood.

The app is free and has been optimized for iPhone 3GS and newer, as well as iPod touches (3rd generation or newer), and iPads (sporting iOS 5.1 or later).

If you have even a passing interest in podcasts, head to iTunes to download this app. And while you’re at it, make sure to take a look at all of IGN’s awesome podcasts, right here on IGN.



Source : ign[dot]com

The Big Bang Theory: Season Finale Review

Note: Full spoilers of this episode to follow.

I always love a good framing device, and tonight's episode of The Big Bang Theory featured a pretty awesome one involving Wolowitz reflecting – just moments before blasting off into space – on his wedding with Bernadette, and the events that lead to their decision to quickly elope.

Not only did this framing device set the episode apart from the rest of the season, but it killed two birds with one stone, allowing fans to see both events without stretching things to two untidy episodes. And, despite having both the space launch story and the wedding in one episode, the framing device allowed us a taste of the hell Wolowtiz will likely endure in space, while enjoying the more character-centric, and touching, aspects of this season-long arch.

Also, since wedding episodes are pretty common for season finales, the launch subplot added a flavor to the narrative that freshened things up. In fact, pretty much every aspect of the wedding felt fresh, right down to Sheldon's Klingon officiation.

In many ways, "
The Countdown Reflection" represents what many fans have longed for all season – a better balance of geeky jokes, relationship humor, character and Sheldonisms. Pretty much everyone hit their marks tonight (Sheldon was on fire, by the way), and yes, this includes Amy Farrah Fowler, who got at least three solid laughs out of me.

The episode also hosted a decent share of touching moments, starting with the first scene between Wolowitz and Bernadette, where he gives her a little star pendent he plans to take into space, so he can bring her home a star (awww). It was an honest moment that felt both real and cute, and was followed by a pretty solid laugh. And the final scene, between all the couples, was also honest and sweet, and a pretty great payoff to the previous episode.

As is sometimes the case with The Big Bang Theory, this season in particular, the characters are pretty clumsily written and half-cocked. But a great many of the issues did manage to get cleared up here, paving the way for a sharper, potentially funnier sixth season...hopefully.

Sheldon and Amy's relationship will finally move forward, likely in some rather hilarious and awkward ways.
Leonard and Penny deepened their feeling for one another. Wolowtiz and Bernadette, now married, must now mutually endure Wolowtiz's overbearing mother, or purge her from their lives. And Raj, well...he seems to have finally come to terms with being a bachelor.

Let's hope the kinks of this season won't rear its ugly head next fall, and tonight is just a twinkling of things to come. I will leave you with my favorite line of the episode that, in spite of my optimism and love for the show, seems somewhat fitting,"That's what you said about the Green Lantern movie. You were 114 minutes of wrong."


Source : http://tv.ign.com/articles/122/1224582p1.html

The Big Bang Theory: Season Finale Review

Note: Full spoilers of this episode to follow.

I always love a good framing device, and tonight's episode of The Big Bang Theory featured a pretty awesome one involving Wolowitz reflecting – just moments before blasting off into space – on his wedding with Bernadette, and the events that lead to their decision to quickly elope.

Not only did this framing device set the episode apart from the rest of the season, but it killed two birds with one stone, allowing fans to see both events without stretching things to two untidy episodes. And, despite having both the space launch story and the wedding in one episode, the framing device allowed us a taste of the hell Wolowtiz will likely endure in space, while enjoying the more character-centric, and touching, aspects of this season-long arch.

Also, since wedding episodes are pretty common for season finales, the launch subplot added a flavor to the narrative that freshened things up. In fact, pretty much every aspect of the wedding felt fresh, right down to Sheldon's Klingon officiation.

In many ways, "
The Countdown Reflection" represents what many fans have longed for all season – a better balance of geeky jokes, relationship humor, character and Sheldonisms. Pretty much everyone hit their marks tonight (
Sheldon was on fire, by the way), and yes, this includes
Amy Farrah Fowler, who got at least three solid laughs out of me.

The episode also hosted a decent share of touching moments, starting with the first scene between Wolowitz and Bernadette, where he gives her a little star pendent he plans to take into space, so he can bring her home a star (awww). It was an honest moment that felt both real and cute, and was followed by a pretty solid laugh. And the final scene, between all the couples, was also honest and sweet, and a pretty great payoff to the previous episode.

As is sometimes the case with The Big Bang Theory, this season in particular, the characters are pretty clumsily written and half-cocked. But a great many of the issues did manage to get cleared up here, paving the way for a sharper, potentially funnier sixth season...hopefully.

Sheldon and Amy's relationship will finally move forward, likely in some rather hilarious and awkward ways.
Leonard and
Penny deepened their feeling for one another. Wolowtiz and Bernadette, now married, must now mutually endure Wolowtiz's overbearing mother, or purge her from their lives. And
Raj, well...he seems to have finally come to terms with being a bachelor.

Let's hope the kinks of this season won't rear its ugly head next fall, and tonight is just a twinkling of things to come. I will leave you with my favorite line of the episode that, in spite of my optimism and love for the show, seems somewhat fitting,"That's what you said about the Green Lantern movie. You were 114 minutes of wrong."


Source : http://tv.ign.com/articles/122/1224582p1.html