fandango
Latest
Project Leap hopes to hop into your TV screen, source-agnostic VOD in tow
Last year, Bittorrent portal Vuze allowed you to push downloaded video directly to game consoles and iDevices, sure, but the company's latest product promises to let you pull media from the internet and any network-connected device right to your TV. Dubbed "Project Leap," the application lets you simply type in the name of a film and searches your local computers, attached storage, Amazon, Hulu and Netflix databases for a match, after which point you can play, add it to your queue, begin instant streaming or purchase (if need be). The program pulls up a widget-like selection of additional data as well, including Rotten Tomatoes reviews and YouTube trailers, and those who enjoy company with their digital celluloid will be happy to hear to hear Twitter, Fandango and live internet chat might make appearances as well. Though we didn't get hands-on for ourselves, the scrolling, card-based interface seemed plenty polished in its present, five-button (up, down, left, right, ok) iteration -- the challenge now is to find a device manufacturer who'll build it into a set-top box or connected TV. Vuze CEO Gilles BianRosa said he might settle for it becoming a Google TV app or Yahoo widget itself, but only if the final combined product was simple; no offense to septuagenarian matriarchs, we're sure, but he told us it must be "grandmother" easy. While he said he's already received interest from unnamed consumer electronics companies, the product will launch one way or another -- even if Leap doesn't land in embedded hardware quite yet, a beta will be available in September for Mac and PC.
5 Apps for movie nuts
Just a few years ago, lovers of movies had one option of finding out where and when a film was playing: the newspaper. Remember them? They came sometime after scrolls and before Pong. Next came Mr. Moviefone. Who of you cannot hear a certain voice in your head as you read: 'Hello and welcome to Moviefone'? The voice has been doing it since 1989, and has recorded over three million voice prompts. Moviefone represents many theater chains including: some AMC screens, Cineplex Odeon, Clearview Cinemas, Galaxy Cinemas, and National Amusements theaters depending upon location. And then came the Internet. Some years later, in 2000 Fandango emerged to create some competition. Using a ton of funny commercials and movie trailers featuring paper bag puppets, they gave Moviefone a run for their money representing such chains as: some AMC screens, Carmike Cinema, Century Theaters, CineArts, Cinemark, Edwards, Regal, United Artists, and others depending upon location. Both have Internet sites where, for a service charge ranging from $.75 to $2.00, tickets could be bought online to make sure you wouldn't be shut out of that midnight showing of Transformers 2. Then came the iPhone/iPod Touch and things got considerably easier, although there is no clear demarcation of what service sells what, or where. I want to give you two alternatives, each using one of the two competing services. Now Playing - Free This is one of the nicest apps going. It uses Fandango for purchasing tickets, but it does a whole lot more. In fact, it has the fullest feature set of any movie app I've come across. Here are some of the things it can do: Netflix management: Many options found on the Netflix site are available here but I found them a bit harder to get to than on the web site. Queues can be re-ordered, add to or deleted from. When adding you have the option of moving your choice to the top of your queue. If you're not sure if you want it, you can be transferred to Amazon, IMDb, Wikipedia or even the Netflix site via Safari for more information. I should note that when using any of the Netflix oriented functions, the app takes quite a while to download all your Netflix account information. Movie searching by theater: Choose a theater and get show times and the option of playing a trailer. A website button brings you to all of the sites mentioned plus the Metacritic review site, or you can read the first paragraph of a number of reviews from top critics. You are also alerted if the movie is already in your Netflix Queue and given the Netflix star rating. Movie schedules can be emailed. A full list of upcoming movies along with DVD release dates can be found along with the ability of saving any upcoming title to your Netflix queue to receive it after it's released. It doesn't have the nicest interface out there, but it's jammed with functionality and the price is certainly right. Note: Fandango service charges a 'convenience fee' ranging from $.75 to $2.00 depending upon venue and location.
Second "Meet Pre" video retains calming effects, shows off third party apps
If that first Meet Pre video wasn't soothing enough, Palm's released the second episode of its chill-inducing series, "This Weekend," showing off third party like Fandango and Pandora, as well as offering a sharper look at messaging and how SMS and internet clients like Google Talk / AIM are placed into one cohesive chat log with each contact. As with last time, integration is the key point to take from here, and of course being able to play Pandora in the background while browsing other apps has gotta be one of the most enjoyable features, especially for anyone who's been struggling with the iPhone's lack of multitasking. Sure, the video's great, but whether or not it'll function that well in practice is still up in the air. Hit up the read link to see it for yourself.
Fandango iTV app comes to DISH Network
We've never really understood the premise of at-home theater ticket buying unless you're trying to beat the crowd to a hot showing. Is it really that much more convenient to wait in line to present a Fandango confirmation compared to waiting in line to buy tickets? For DISH Network subscribers who've got it all figured out, you'll be elated to know that a new Fandango iTV application has just arrived to provide on-couch ticket ordering. Best of all, the functionality isn't set-top-box specific; anyone who tunes to channel 100 will have the option to buy, and all you have to do is show the credit card at the cinema to gain entrance. You can go ahead and color us underwhelmed and out of the loop simultaneously if you choose.
Fandango finally on the iPhone
They've gone and done it. Fandango [App Store link] is out for the iPhone/iPod touch as a free download. There are a lot of movie apps for the iPhone with showtimes and trailers -- Now Playing, Hot Popcorn, and i.TV also link to the MovieTickets.com site for ticket buying -- but Fandango is the 800 pound gorilla for the US market's online movie info and ticket purchasing. It links to more than 16,000 domestic screens.Now, right from the comfort of wherever you and your iPhone are, you can find the nearest theater, get showtimes, see a trailer, and buy a ticket. You can also get an idea what others thought of the movies that are playing.I use the web version of Fandango a lot, just because I hate to stand in line letting sticky candy and soft drink residue cover my shoes. But now, you can shorten your time in the lobby and maximize your time in the theater, while still getting candy and soft drinks on your shoes.To make purchasing easy, you can enter your credit card details in the app. Fandango says it is securely stored, and it hides all but the last 4 digits of your credit card. On the other hand, if your iPhone is stolen somebody can see a lot of movies, as there is no password protection on the 'buy' button.Still, it's a very good way to get tickets in a hurry if you are out and about. Fandango usually charges about a buck for each ticket, but when the lines are long it's worth it. Note: According to the Fandango site: "Convenience charges currently range from $0.75 to $1.50 per ticket depending on geographic location. IMAX screening and some special events have a $2.00 convenience charge."Since you can't print your ticket from the iPhone, Fandango sends you a pick up code in an email, or you can show your credit card at the theater, and in some cases you can go to an automated kiosk at the theater. Fandango knows what redemption method is used at the theater you're attending, so the email will advise you.For a lot of iPhone owners, getting this app is huge. For others, it may just be a yawn. If you're into movies, however, the Fandango app is literally, the ticket.
