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TMO Deals

iRig Video Creator Tool Bundle with Mounting Clip, Mic, Remote Shutter, More: $89.99

Bryan Chaffin ·

Check out the iRig Video Creator Tool Bundle. It includes the iKlip Grip Pro, a desktop tripod, handgrip, full-sized tripod, and monopod; a ¼” UNC mount on the top to make it easy to mount accessories; the iRig Mic Lav lapel microphone that plugs directly into your smartphone or tablet, and a 6” LED ring light with adjustable color and brightness so you always look your best. In short, it’s everything you need to record videos or live stream. This bundle is $89.99 through our deal. 

Podcast

TMO UK Associate Editor Charlotte Henry (#5) - TMO BGM Interview

John Martellaro · · Add Comment

Charlotte Henry is a London-based technical journalist. A self-described media junkie, she writes about Apple — and now for the Mac Observer as well as our UK Associate Editor. She has also written for City A.M., Computer Business Review, the Independent on Sunday and CapX. Her new book is: Not Buying It.

In this episode, Charlotte and I discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the TV entertainment and streaming industry. We look at the diversion of theatrical releases to streaming, whether indoor theaters will ever return to normal, possible changes to production methods, throttling of streaming speeds, a possible return to more feel-good movies, the impact on binge watching, series vs. movie watching during lock-down, and Charlotte’s reaction to Disney+. Plus, John reveals a very personal secret!

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Netflix Top 10 Lists Appear Today to Show Popular Content

Andrew Orr ·

Starting today Netflix is rolling out a Top 10 lists feature that will update every day. It will feature the platform’s most popular content.

“Starting today you’ll notice something new when you go on Netflix: The Top 10 row,” the company said in a tweet. “The lists update daily to show what’s popular in your country and are broken into three categories: Netflix overall, shows & films.”

The most popular Netflix offerings in your country should show up in their own row once you log in to your Netflix account, the company said. “The list is rolling out globally now and should be on your homepage by the end of the day at the latest.”

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Remember Neopets? It’s Being Turned Into a TV Show

Andrew Orr ·

Virtual pet website Neopets is being turned into a television show aimed at 8-12 year olds.

As part of the agreement, Singapore-based Beach House will develop new stories and characters, with Blue Ant’s Canadian studio providing animation services.

The show is still in the early stages of development and its format and style aren’t finalized, but Beach House plans to target the series at eight to 12s. The pair are seeking co-production and broadcast partners for the project.

I wish I still had my login information for Neopets.

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Comcast Will Raise Your Price Even if You Don’t Use NBC’s Peacock

Andrew Orr ·

Two things will go live on April 15: Early access for NBC’s Peacock streaming service, and a price hike from Comcast.

The extra costs will not be readily evident to new customers as the rate increases mostly appear as hidden fees…For some customers, these price hikes have already taken effect as the company began the gradual squeeze in December. All totaled, subscriptions should increase by about 3.6 percent for most subscribers, whether they use Peacock or not.

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‘Altered Carbon’ Season 2 Arrives on Netflix February 27

Andrew Orr ·

Good news for sci-fi fans: Altered Carbon season 2 arrives on Netflix February 27, 2020.

Season 2 of the sophisticated and compelling sci-fi drama finds Takeshi Kovacs (Anthony Mackie), the lone surviving soldier of a group of elite interstellar warriors, continuing his centuries-old quest to find his lost love Quellcrist Falconer (Renée Elise Goldsberry).

I enjoyed watching the show so I’m excited for season 2. It’s been so long since I’ve seen season 1 that I forgot For All Mankind’s Joel Kinnaman was in it.

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‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2 Arrives Fall 2020

Andrew Orr ·

Fans of Disney’s The Mandalorian will be pleased to know that show runner Jon Favreau confirmed that it’s been approved for season 2, which will arrive fall 2020.

We already knew ‘The Mandalorian’ would be returning for a second season, after Favreau revealed in November that he’d begun filming on the second instalment of episodes. But now we have a better idea of exactly how long we’ll have to wait to find out what happens next in the streaming original, which is arguably the best new Star Wars universe content since the original series of films (yes, I really believe that).

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AT&T Raises Price of DirecTV Again

Andrew Orr ·

Despite losing millions of customers the last time it did this, AT&T decided to once again raise the price of DirecTV. Monthly rates will increase by US$8/mo starting on January 19, 2020.

The $8-per-month increase will apply to the DirecTV Premier plan that currently costs $189. A $7 increase will apply to the Ultimate package that costs $135 and to the Xtra package that costs $124; a $5 increase will apply to the Choice plan that costs $110; a $4 increase will apply to the Select package that costs $81 a month and to the Entertainment package that costs $93; and increases of $1 or $3 will apply to basic plans.

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How the De-Aging Process Behind ‘The Irishman’ Worked

Andrew Orr ·

Filmed by Martin Scorsese, The Irishman tells the story of Mafia hitman Frank Sheeran and the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.

Their first concern was making sure the actors would be comfortable. “The process doesn’t use animation, it actually records the faces of actors with every nuance of their performance and replaces them with the younger CGI faces,” Prieto explains. “The advantage is that you don’t have to place motion-capture marks on the actors’ faces or helmets with little cameras. In fact, they don’t even wear makeup. It feels perfectly natural to them. This was a prerequisite for Scorsese — he did not want the actors to be encumbered with any VFX paraphernalia.”

It’s a long, 3.5-hour movie but I thought it was good.

Cool Stuff Found

Apple Shares Featurette of ‘Truth Be Told’

Andrew Orr ·

Apple shared a video that gives us a look at its upcoming Apple TV+ show Truth Be Told.

When new evidence compels podcaster Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) to reopen the murder case that made her a national sensation, she comes face to face with Warren Cave (Aaron Paul), the man she may have mistakenly helped to put behind bars. Her investigation navigates urgent concerns about privacy, media and race.

Truth Be Told is created by Nichelle Tramble Spellman and stars Octavia Spencer, Aaron Paul, Lizzy Caplan, Elizabeth Perkins, Michael Beach, Mekhi Phifer, Tracie Thoms, Haneefah Wood and Ron Cephas Jones.