Juno
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Blu-ray releases on April 15th, 2008
There's something for everyone coming out this week on Blu-ray with the number one title easily being the Academy Award winning Juno (IMDB 8.1), which features the best audio Blu-ray has to offer: DTS-HD MA (48hz/24-bit). But that's not the only title featuring master quality audio this week, as Alien vs. Predator:Requiem is sure to thrill you -- even with it's painfully low IMDB score of 5.1 and a unfun BD Live game. The somewhat unknown title this week, which also looks like it's worth a watch is Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Fox has a few catalog titles this week as well, but from the looks of the reviews, it doesn't appear Fox is very serious about releasing high quality HD catalog titles as both Predator and Commando get low marks on both audio and video quality -- perhaps the prints were so bad, Fox didn't have much to work with. Blu-ray 504*Blu-ray Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (Fox) Alien vs. Predator/Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (Two-Pack) (Fox) Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Image) Commando (Fox) Juno (Fox) Mariah Carey: The Adventures of Mimi (Image) A Passage to India (Sony) Predator (Fox) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Juno Blu-ray Disc gets reviewed in detail
For those that peeked Jason Reitman's Juno in theaters, you could probably tell that cutting edge visuals weren't priority number one. That being the case, The Man Room found the 1080p / AVC-MPEG 4 encode to be "decent enough," but didn't hesitate to note that the film's low budget is still apparent in Blu-ray form. In essence, we wouldn't recommend picking this one up to wow your pals, but if you're a fan of the storyline, what is presented seems to be satisfactory enough. As for audio, you'll get a DTS-HD Master Audio track as well as a welcome 5.1 Dolby Digital track; both formats fared well, but then again, there's not much more than dialog and the occasional indie track to tingle your ear drums, anyway. On to extras: Fox tossed in a Digital Copy for those that care, and contrary to its habits, managed to stuff quite a few bonus features on the disc. Based on what we've read, Juno seems like a solid buy if you're cool with middle-of-the-road visuals, and particularly so if you're an extras junkie.
Juno game not actually in the works
When we reported on the possibility of a game based on indie hit Juno, we're sure most of you complained internally that unwanted teen pregnancy doesn't exactly make for good game fodder. To you we say this: 1. You must not have played Mega Man X 37: Unwanted Teen Pregnancy. 2. You don't have to worry, because 1UP reports that the game isn't actually on the way.Apparently the whole thing was based on a misunderstanding that's really too convoluted to relay here. Besides, we're sure Brash Games is going to be snapping the idea up any moment now, so there's really no cause for concern.
DICE 08: Quirky indie hit 'Juno' to birth a game
Did juno they're making a game based on the blockbuster – and Oscar-nominted – indie hit Juno? Of course, it's not just Hollywood rudely reaching across the entertainment table for video game IPs they can twist and snap into a movie mold (yeah, we're looking right at you Dungeon Siege), game makers are pretty good at it too (now we're looking at you Dirty Dancing: The Game). And now GameSpot brings us news that Juno will be the next lucky film to be rudely dragged across the digital divide, though we're still not clear who the developer is. During a panel at the D.I.C.E. Summit in Las Vegas, "intellectual-property migration specialist" (they have those?) Keith Boesky said, "People are making a game based on Juno just to cater to the [casual] market." While he didn't specify anything at all about the game, another panelist was Minho Kim – director of operations at free-to-play, microtransaction-driven game pub Nexon America – leading GameSpot to wonder aloud "if it would follow Nexon's free-to-play business model." Just brainstorming here, but the property seems ripe for microtransactions ... just look at all those layers. Jeans and a skirt? Cha-ching! [Update: Not so fast, folks.]
Abortions and cheat codes
Have you kids seen Juno, the latest film from director Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking)? It's a coming-of-age tale about an eccentric 16-year-old managing her unexpected pregnancy, and, in spite of its Dawson's Creek-esque dialogue and unrealistic plot, it's also a pretty good film, in our opinion. Considering the ubiquity of the Nintendo DS, it didn't surprise us to see the handheld make a cameo in the movie, but the particular setting in which the DS appeared was a surprise -- an abortion clinic. A teenage receptionist taps away on her portable while handing medical forms to the titular character, right before offering her a complimentary boysenberry-flavored condom. "My boyfriend wears them every time we have intercourse," she praises. "It makes his junk smell like pie." What could she have been playing on her DS, greeting and offering condoms to people all day while the women who've come in to get their "problems" fixed sit anxiously in the waiting room? Probably not Imagine Babyz!That's not the only time video games come up in Juno, either! Halfway through "Anyone Else But You," a song by The Moldy Peaches that plays several times during the film, one of the singers croons out the famous Konami code. How awesome is that? There's also a shortened version sung by Juno's stars, Michael Cera and Ellen Page, on the official soundtrack; it's totally wizard. You can hear the original track and watch a trailer for Juno right after the break.
Is the Shadow set to be T-Mobile's new hot brand?
While we're waiting for the Shadow's official unofficial launch date of October 31st, BGR has served up a couple other sweet little morsels on this lovely little device. The specs are looking decent with Windows Mobile 6 -- sporting some exclusive interface -- WiFi, 2 megapixel camera, OMAP CPU at 201 MHz, 128 MB RAM, and a QVGA screen. According to rumor, the Shadow is set to become T-Mob's next hot brand for those that no longer -- and really, did anybody ever? -- see the Sidekick as chic. Pricing has apparently been set at $149 after $50 rebate on a two year commitment with whispers of an exclusive $9.99 unlimited email plan in the works. The Boy Genius also reports that we could well see a Shadow II in the future, but we'd be happy to simply get our hands on this one first.
T-Mobile Shadow unboxed, still not released
Here it is again, the HTC Juno / Pheobus / Dopod C750 all boxed up in its soon to be announced T-Mobile Shadow branding. A tipster over at The Boy Genius Report claims that it might be sporting a VGA screen like we've already heard and that center-button is actually a scroll-wheel which serves as a 4-way navigation pad. The green and brown colors are said to "look great" with your fall wardrobe while sporting a soft-touch finish around back to keep this slider, sliding in your hand and not off the tabletop. BGR's got a full gallery just beyond the read link.
HTC "Phoebus" hits the FCC, could be the Juno for T-Mobile
Details (other than super-nerdy RF interference specs) are light right now, but an HTC device labeled the "Phoebus" just hit the FCC's website, and a look through the specs reveals what appears to be a GSM 850 / 1900 device, with a 2 megapixel camera. Unfortunately, there's isn't a picture of the front of the device, so you'll have to make do with this sexy shot of a flayed backside while we dig up the real.Update: Goodness, the back end of this thing certainly bears a striking resemblance to that of the Dopod C750, doesn't it? Looks like this could be the upcoming Juno for T-Mobile.
Dopod C750 and HTC Juno one in the same?
Unless our eyes are being mighty deceitful, IT168's photos of the Dopod (HTC's consumer brand for Asia) C750 sure look an awful lot like the HTC Juno image we've already seen. Granted, there's no way to confirm this suggestion just yet, but it's hard to deny that the two form factors are eerily similar. According to a (very) rough translation, the C750 boasts a 2.6-inch VGA (640 x 480) display, Windows Mobile 6, a microSD expansion slot, USB connectivity and a built-in camera to boot. For those still skeptical, click on through for a few more looks.[Via SlashPhone]
Dopod C750 and HTC Juno one and the same?
Unless our eyes are being mighty deceitful, IT168's photos of the Dopod (HTC's consumer brand for Asia) C750 sure look an awful lot like the HTC Juno image we've already seen. Granted, there's no way to confirm this suggestion just yet, but it's hard to deny that the two form factors are eerily similar. According to a (very) rough translation, the C750 boasts a 2.6-inch VGA (640 x 480) display, Windows Mobile 6, a microSD expansion slot, USB connectivity and a built-in camera to boot. For those still skeptical, click on through for a few more looks.[Via SlashPhone]
HTC Juno headed to T-Mobile?
Not a lot of dirt on this one just yet, but BoyGeniusReport has it that the HTC "Juno" should be headed to T-Mobile, and soon. Of note, the Juno moniker is apparently just a codename that could change upon official launch, but this sexy handset will purportedly include Windows Mobile 6, a "consumer friendly interface (TouchFlo?)," and a whole lot of wow-factor in the display. Regrettably, that's practically all of the details available at the moment, but considering that it should hit T-Mobile exclusively late next month, official word shouldn't be too far behind.
