The iPhone 5 has arrived, and it's pretty great. But I can't shake this nagging feeling that Apple could have done more.
A week ago, CNET's David Carnoy penned a great roundup of the most-wanted features that didn't make it into the iPhone 5. It seemed like easy pickings for a Top 5 video, so I imposed a ranking, stood in front of a camera, and created the video you see before you (click here if you don't see a video at the top of this … Read more
Middle-earth buffs now have something to rejoice about -- Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson announced today that his movie adaptation of "The Hobbit" will be a trilogy rather than the previously announced two-part sequel.
He made the announcement on Facebook, saying that while he was editing the first and second movies in the series, he realized how much of the story was being left out.
"We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life," he wrote. "All … Read more
The current wave of 3D films is a sucker's bet.
You've probably experienced it yourself: After slapping down a significant premium on movie tickets and sliding on your 3D glasses, you're treated not to a visual feast but a feeling of intense dissatisfaction. For many films, the 3D effects are barely there; in others, the post-production conversion actually makes it worse. … Read more
"The Hobbit" is possibly one of the first movies to be filmed in 48fps, or double the framerate of tradition theatrical releases. According to a Facebook entry by its director Peter Jackson, the switch promises significantly higher clarity and smoothness, especially when it comes to fast movements and panning shots.
Some viewers, however, were unimpressed after a preview of the movie at the CinemaCon trade show in Las Vegas. A rival studio's projectionist was even quoted by the Los Angeles Times, saying that the film looked like a made-for-TV movie and was too accurate and too clear. … Read more
Lego plus "Lord of the Rings." Need we say more?
It's not at all clear exactly what Lego has planned, but the iconic toy company said today that it is launching in 2012 a new LOTR line of, well, something.
Still, it seems obvious that what we'll be seeing is a "Lord of the Rings" themed Lego set, or sets. And that's because the extremely cagey Web site for the project features what I can only presume is Frodo--a Lego version of him, that is--holding on to a very large shiny ring.
This … Read more
Donald and Eric discuss the latest innovations in head-mounted technology, including animatronic cat heads.
Also, the future has your organic-honey needs taken care of, and Eric runs through Geek News highlights, including the 3D technology behind "The Hobbit" and a Victoria's Secret nod to comic book geeks.
Subscribe in iTunes SD Video | Subscribe in RSS SD Video … Read more
Here's something for "Lord of the Rings" fans eagerly anticipating the upcoming movie "The Hobbit."
In a recent post on his Facebook page, director Peter Jackson gave fans a sneak peek at some of the innovative techniques used to shoot the film in 3D. The movie is being made with 48 RED Epic digital cameras, and since it's shot in 3D, those cameras have to be paired and positioned a specific distance apart.
Sounds easy? It isn't. While the RED cameras are a lot smaller than regular film cameras used in Hollywood, the lenses they use make it nearly impossible to place them close to each other. The filmmakers had to engage the help of 3ality Technica, a company that makes custom camera rigs, to create specialized mounts for the cameras used in "The Hobbit." … Read more
If you willingly choose to pay to see a movie like "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," you give up your right to complain about your fellow theater-goers. This is the lesson Wilson and I impart to our third co-host, who got suckered by the trolls on Rotten Tomatoes into seeing the pre-prequel to "Planet of the Apes."
The big news, of course, is Google's proposed acquisition of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, so we'll discuss what that means for existing patent trolls, Android handset competitors, and the Android platform in general.
Stick around until the end of the show, when we'll announce which two lucky listeners won our V-Moda Faders earplugs giveaway contest!
The 404 Digest for Episode 882 Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5B. Air Swimmers let you fly your own fish. Rise of the Planet of the Apes: An animal-rights manifesto disguised as a prison-break movie. Weekend breaches: BART page by Anonymous. Episode 882 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read moreCisco Systems shuts down production of the Flip video camera
You can now rent movies in your browser through Vudu
HTC launches the Sensation with a video-streaming service called HTC Watch
Nokia releases two new phones with Anna, the newest iteration of Symbian
Sprint kicks off a streaming music service and store called Music Plus
Microsoft hopes to rival Google Maps Street View with Bing Maps Streetside, which has started image capture in London
The Firesay Firefox extension lets you use voice control in Facebook
Apple announces Final Cut Pro X
The upcoming … Read more
Ever wonder how much Darth Vader might be worth? Or maybe Voldemort? I haven't, but when it's time to compile Forbes' annual Forbes Fictional 15, a list of the net worth of the wealthiest characters in fiction, it comes up.
This year, Smaug, the dragon made famous in Tolkien's "The Hobbit" who will likely be featured in the currently-in-production movie by MGM and New Line Cinema, makes the list at No. 7 with $8.6 billion--right between superhero billionaires Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark.
It's not an easy number to come up with, but Forbes writer Michael Noer does a handy job of doing just that--and he even shows his work.
He's put together a workable equation that starts by calculating the amount of precious metals in the dragon's bed of treasure by using information Tolkien included in the book (using Bilbo's height as compared with the pile); generally held "facts" about dragon treasure from sources like Dungeons & Dragons; and the real-world values of gold and silver coins.
The mound--675.6 cubic feet, if you must know--is then combined with the best-guess size of Smaug's diamond-encrusted underbelly (again, calculated with help from D&D sourcebooks at 684.6 spare feet) and the probable worth of other treasures (like the Arkenstone of Thrain) to get the final estimate.
As an expert on Tolkien and dragons (remember my D&D-inspired tattoo last summer? Yeah, I'm a Dungeon Master) and someone who's fairly decent with math, I can't find a hole in Noer's logic. While the $8.6 billion figure might not be exact, it's damn close enough, and I can't imagine anyone coming up with a more accurate figure.
If you can, you're more than welcome to give it a shot in the comments below. Just remember that, like Noer, you'll need to show your work.… Read more
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