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David Letterman's Netflix talk show snags Obama as the first guest
While Chelsea Handler's talk show on Netflix is on its way out, the company is taking a different approach with a new attempt featuring David Letterman as shown by its first trailer. My Next Guest Needs No Introduction is scheduled for six 60-minute episodes with George Clooney, Malala Yousafzai, Jay-Z, Tina Fey, Howard Stern and President Barack Obama slated to visit. The first episode, with Obama, will arrive January 12th, with new ones released monthly. The show will take place inside and outside the studio, as Letterman returns to TV for the first time since leaving the Late Show on CBS in 2015.
Netflix snags an Alan Arkin, Michael Douglas comedy series
Netflix may have lost Disney, but it has been bringing in a ton of big names the past couple of weeks. The latest project to be announced is a comedy series starring Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. Entitled The Kominsky Method, the series will be written and produced by Big Bang Theory co-creator Chuck Lorre.
Recommended Reading: Why do we hate CGI so much?
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Why VFX Is Being Vilified by Raqi Syed & Sonya Teich Motherboard By now, you've heard someone complain about the prevalence of visual effects in movies. Perhaps you've groaned about it yourself. Sure, there are varying degrees of execution, and some of the results that made the final cut have been downright awful. Take Avengers: Age of Ultron for example. The film was a massive success at the box office, but critics griped about the role visual effects played in the bulk of the action. Is all the post-production to blame for ruining movies?
Watch this: J-pop hologram singer performs on David Letterman
Hatsune Miku, also known to some people as Miku Hatsune, is already a sensation in her native Japan. But now she's taking her vocal talents to other parts of the world, including none other than the US. The virtual pop start appeared last night on the Late Show with David Letterman, where she performed her single "Sharing the World" in full hologram form. While the J-pop singer is well known in The Land of the Rising Sun, it's interesting that Hatsune's character, created by software developer Cryptone Future Media, is now showing up in mainstream media programs Stateside -- especially one as big as Letterman's late-night show. You can check out the performance in the video after the break.
Neil Young's Pono music service wants to democratize high-quality audio (video)
Neil Young isn't shy when it comes to embracing new technology, something he put beyond question with his latest appearance on The Late show with David Letterman. The artist took the opportunity to reveal plans for his high-fidelity Pono music service. The aim is to tackle the poor quality in which he believes most people receive their music these days -- the humble MP3. Young's offering would comprise a three-pronged approach, including a music store with high-resolution recordings, a digital-to-analog style conversion technology, and portable hardware to listen to it all with. The simple intention is to offer music as it was originally intended to be heard, but at this time there's no detail as to what this actually entails (sorry specification fans). According to Rolling Stone, the big three labels are interested, and the goal is to unify, rather than diversify, the quality of recorded content. The Pono players (that yellow wedge you see above) will serve up your existing catalog, but you'll likely need to re-buy some of your collection if you want the holistic experience. With no cards fully on the table, we're at the ransom of Young's celebrity endorsements, which all claim that the benefits are tangible. Young, of course, says "You can't get better than this, this is what they do in the studio," but until we get some details, or ears on, everybody knows this is nowhere. [Image credit:CBS]
David Letterman's top 10 reasons to buy an iPad 2
The iPad 2 has been getting a lot of attention since it arrived in US stores on March 11. The lines at Apple Stores around the country were top news on many local TV stations, and the sleek new device has been popping up on shows in the five days since the introduction. Last night, Late Show host David Letterman used the iPad 2 as fodder for his nightly "Top 10 List." While some of the "Top 10 Reasons to Buy an iPad 2" fall flat, there are several that are actually pretty humorous, including #7 which describes the three cameras that come with every iPad 2. I'm just hoping that Letterman decides to start using an iPad 2 to display his script so that we don't have to keep looking at his bald spot when he bends over to peer at the Top 10 List... Click the read more link to watch Dave in action. [via BusinessInsider]
David Letterman's "Top Ten Excuses of the Guy Who Lost the iPhone Prototype"
On Wednesday night, David Letterman's Top Ten list was dedicated to the guy who lost the 4G iPhone prototype. The phone was later found and sold to Gizmodo. Some of the excuses Letterman thought the Apple engineer who lost the iPhone should use: "Couldn't call Apple for help because I lost my iPhone." "Thought there was an app that would wisk [sic] it back to my house." "At least I didn't lose my finger like that iPad guy." "It didn't work anyway -- it uses AT&T." What's more entertaining than his Top Ten list is watching Letterman's little rant about his utter disdain for the iPhone prototype story. "This comes under the category for me of 'who cares'," Letterman said. "Honestly, I just couldn't care less about this."
iPad roundup: Letterman licking, Colbert chopping, MobileMe and Remote support
Let's get straight to the meat. The iPad was doing the talk show rounds last night, with heavy hitters David Letterman and Stephen Colbert one-upping each other on who can do the sillier thing with it. Letterman went with the old school "if you don't know what to do with it, lick it" routine, while his competitor brought out a more sophisticated salsa preparation act. Pick your favorite from the videos after the break. In more material news, Apple has announced that MobileMe now includes the iPad among its supported devices, while some eager souls over at MacStories have spotted that iTunes 9.1 now references an "iPad remote," which suggests the nearly 10-inch tablet will soon be able to function as one of the most luxurious channel changers around. And you thought you wouldn't find a use for it.
Found Footage: Ridiculously fast iPhone typist
According to an IBM-University of Michigan study [link to PDF], when transcribing, those using a traditional hardware QWERTY keyboard type at an average rate of 33 words per minute. This means that YouTube user "konceptzoflife" is 152 percent faster than the average typist. The only thing is, he can do it on his iPhone. Using iTextSpeed to test his typing speed, the Usain Bolt of iPhone typists registered 83 WPM; his ultimate goal is to hit 90 WPM. The 83 WPM, which is the fastest I've seen on an iPhone, is still markedly shy of hardware QWERTY keyboard record holder Barbara Blackburn. The late Blackburn, whose fame made her a guest on Late Night with David Letterman (when he was on NBC after Johnny Carson), can maintain 150 WPM for a full 50 minutes, and can top out at 212 WPM. [via 148Apps]
Late Show writer doesn't find humor in smoking G4 adapter
Looks like Justin Stengel of The Late Show with David Letterman picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue... since he was able to detect the acrid odor of his G4 power adapter scorching and sparking its way through the cord insulation. Whoops. The rather laconic response from the Genius Bar ("We've got those in stock, if you want to come buy a new one") is not going to win any points either, but it may lead to this:Top Ten Other Uses for a G4 Power Adapter:10. Works as mosquito coil to repel robot mosquitoes9. World's smallest curling iron for eyebrow use8. Hotwire Dave's car at the impound lot7. Secretly inside every Ronco Home Defibrillator6. Latest "Betty Crocker" version of apple pie calls for smoked Apple5. Gentle teasing -- spot-weld Biff Henderson's headset to his head4. Perfect excuse to use your iPhone, call i911 and report an iFire3. Cures under-desk fungus2. Get two adapters, play 'Dueling Banjos' with fritzing noisesand the number one other use for a G4 power adapter...1. Two words: DIY Taservia Engadget
Letterman's head writer faces sparking, smoking PowerBook adapter
Granted, we've seen our fair share of Apple products getting a bit hot under the collar, and while the PowerBook AC adapters never were truly regarded as top-notch pieces of equipment, it seems that this particular one chose the wrong guy to get all sparked up on. Justin Stangel, a head writer / producer for the Late Show with David Letterman, was presumably writing up the night's monologue when he was uncomfortably faced with a sparking AC adapter. As any true professional would do, he actually filmed the volatile device getting its spark (and smoke) on rather than evacuating the area, so be sure and click on through to see what the fuss is all about.
Nintendo gives Letterman DS, Brain Age for his 60th; top 10 reasons he needs it
In honor of David Letterman's 60th birthday -- and for a little bit of cheap PR, of course -- Nintendo sent him a cute little gift pack, not dissimilar to the one they sent President Bush recently, including a couple of DS Lites and some copies of Brain Age to take care of that aging gray matter of his. Here are our top 10 reasons why Letterman needs this package, other than the obvious one: he doesn't. Saw Leno in line getting a PSP, knew he had to take action. Heard he could get Miyamoto on the show; has no idea what that is. There's a DS port of "Will it Float" on the way. Got a great deal on some stolen games from the dude outside Hello Deli. Been doing standup so long he forgot simple arithmetic. Because he couldn't figure out how to do any stupid pet tricks in Nintendogs. He's always wanted to make his cranium as veiny and muscular as Paul Shaffer's. He's got a three year old who probably pwns him at video games. It will hopefully knock off twenty years, to when he used to be funny. He needs all the juice he can get to think up these stupid top 10 lists. Peep Nintendo's letter to Dave after the break.[Via Joystiq]
HDTV Mag does 2005 HD review
Last year really was huge for the high definition world. Think about it. Flat panel HDTVs dropped almost half in price. More and more HD stations became available. Major programs started broadcasting in high-def. i.e. "The Late Show with David Letterman" first then Good Morning America a few months later. Don't forget, HD Beat went live in the summer of '05.HDTV Magazine has complied a very complete list of all the things that happened in our little high-def world. Check it out!
