TV & Movies
The latest news and reviews of TV shows and movies.
Latest
Hulu Plus app for iPhone now supports Chromecast streaming
Chromecast owners got Hulu Plus app streaming on their Android devices and iPads at the start of the month. Today, it's the iPhone's turn: a newly updated Hulu Plus app lets those with smaller-screened iOS devices control TV shows playing through Google's media adapter. There aren't any new features beyond Chromecast support, but it's enough to excuse a trip to the App Store for an upgrade.
U-Verse live TV streaming reaches Android, including tablets
AT&T's live U-Verse TV streaming has at last reached Android. Subscribers can now watch over 100 live channels from their Google-powered hardware, including more than 20 channels that are available away from home. The U-Verse app also supports Android tablets for the first time, the carrier says. Support is still limited to a total of 30 devices, but those with compatible gear can tune in at the source links.
WoW Moviewatch: Wanderer's Festival
Wanderer's Festival is a nice little machinima summary and reminder about the in-game event of the same name. The machinima blend of speaker and action serves the story very well, and the whole piece is just fantastically charming. It's not a complex video but I think the simplicity and focus of purpose makes the piece tighter; not much wasted time or animation here. Nice job, Martiean! Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Moviewatch: Prince Kael'thas Sing-Along
In the grand tradition of Dr. Horrible, a group of Hungarian players created the Prince Kael'thas Sing-Along. Everyone's favorite it's-just-a-setback elf takes to song and silliness to express his very deepest feelings. The video is packed full of references and story, so it's well worth the time. Some of the language might feel a little stilted, but that's because none of the creators were native speakers. Considering that fact (which they point out themselves), this video is just amazing. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Moviewatch: The Story
Legs and Cranius go great together. It's hard to put it much simpler than that. The Story hit the streets back in 2009 and, like many things, has stood the test of time. If ever there were a finer pair of collaborators, then I don't know them. Sit back today and enjoy a song from yesteryear. They managed to make it even better than the original, and that's saying something. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
Aereo TV streaming arrives in Detroit on October 28th
Aereo spent much of the summer expanding its presence in southern states, but it's swinging its attention back to northern climes today. The TV streaming provider just revealed that it will launch in the Detroit metropolitan area on October 28th. Motor City viewers can pre-register for a chance to subscribe ahead of the public launch, with service starting at $8 per month for access to over 20 local channels that include ABC, Fox and NBC. The rollout is just one of many this year, but it's well-timed for Android fans; Detroit should be the first city to get Aereo service following the Android app launch on October 22nd.
WoW Moviewatch: If You Gank Me Again
It's hard to believe that If You Gank Me Again by Jennisfar and Nation is three years old. Featuring autotune, R&B grooves, and a PVP theme, this video is a reminder of a different time in machinima. While current WoW videos are mostly comedy, parody, and commentary videos, that period was filled with musical remakes and the dreaded "belf rap." This song was particularly nice, especially for its laid back examination of the eternal angst of getting ganked. Like a poet pondering the sylvan landscape, this song casts a mournflul reflection on the desire to get your main. Or something like that. Here's hoping we'll see artists like Jennisfar and Nation back in Azeroth one day. Thanks to Vilcens for the suggestion! Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
Latest Defiance patch gives weapons an overhaul
It's been about a month since Trion delivered the most recent Defiance state-of-the-game address, which promised a number of sweeping improvements throughout the game. Players can now see the first step of those improvements on the live servers in the form of patch 1.105, which was released today. This particular patch is all about shooting things and, more specifically, the weaponry players use to do so. In a nutshell, the new patch has reworked the stats of all new weapons in the game, meaning that players should no longer find weapons with useless bonuses (like melee bonuses on a sniper rifle, for instance), and rarer weapons will be universally better than their lower-quality counterparts. The official dev blog goes into all sorts of detail that we couldn't possibly squeeze into the remainder of this paragraph, so any curious Ark Hunters should head over that way.
WoW Moviewatch: The l33t team 2: Tales of a lost adventurer
The Lonely Rider rides again but not alone, releasing The l33t team 2: Tales of a lost adventurer. With confusing capitalization choices and about 12 minutes of video, The l33t team isn't for the faint of heart. The general plot and idea is there, but this video struggles from some soundtrack and pacing issues. It can be really tough to understand what some of the characters are saying, and the whole thing could probably move a little faster. I liked the video well enough in a general sense, but I'd turn those mics way up or something. Overall, though, I hope The Lonely Rider keeps going. Bonus for the Nesingwary song. That was pretty awesome. Probably worth a parody video on its own. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Moviewatch: Sky Golem the Robot
I guess a video was more than just inevitable; it was downright inevitable and breathtaking. Featuring the coolest darn mount in WoW, Sky Golem the Robot shows off this incredible item. If this isn't the best reason yet to take up Engineering, I don't know what you're waiting for. And if you detect some faint homage to Pacific Rim, don't worry: that was on purpose. Kaiju of Azeroth better be wary. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
The Mummy Online shuts down today
Do you remember The Mummy Online? It was a browser game by Bigpoint, it was in beta testing, it... you don't, do you? Apparently a lot of people didn't, seeing as how the company is shutting the game down as of today without much fanfare. According to the official announcement, Bigpoint has determined that due to the dropping playerbase it simply made more sense to sink more resources into games with an active group of players rather than trying to revive something slowly drying out. There's a metaphor in there. No word has been given on any kind of compensation for players who had spent money on the game. Readers may also note that the game never technically left beta testing, making it one of many titles to fold before an official launch. Our condolences to any gamers or developers affected deeply by this loss. [Thanks to Scott for the tip!]
WoW Moviewatch: If Fans Created the WoW Expansion
Not every crowdsourced idea is a good one, and Wowcrendor is here to show you why. If Fans Created the WoW Expansion highlights some of the more surreal notions our community occasionally comes up with, and probably why Blizzard doesn't always implement them. While not every notion is silly, we do like to get hung up on some particular details. I'm personally waiting for the expansion titled Hogger Kills Everyone. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WSJ: Netflix could come to US cable boxes soon, Comcast and Suddenlink in talks
Over the last few years cable providers have begun rolling out cable boxes with extra features and internet hookups, but almost all of them -- even TiVo, when provided by a cable service -- have been missing access to subscription video apps like Netflix. That could change soon according to a Wall Street Journal report today, that Netflix has renegotiated studio deals that made it difficult to provide the app and is negotiating with cable providers to put it on their boxes. RCN representatives have publicly stated it's asking for Netflix, while the report names Suddenlink and Comcast as two services in talks. Suddenlink has provided TiVo DVRs since 2010 that lack the Hulu Plus and Netflix apps of their retail cousins, while Comcast's X1 platform has built-in internet support, but no video apps to take advantage of it. Additionally, the report mentions that Time Warner Cable and Cox have had discussions about adding a YouTube app, and that Comcast is talking to other services as well. Netflix has recently worked out deals with providers overseas like Virgin Media and Com Hem, and its app has been a part of Google Fiber TV since it launched. According to the Journal however, a similar rollout in the US faces hangups not only because cable companies may see it as a competitor, but also because of its desire to add them as partners to its OpenConnect CDN. The first may not be much of an issue as providers use it to push high speed internet tie-ins -- something we've heard about before. We'll see how opening up Super HD streaming to all enables the second portion, hopefully having Netflix and other services as an option in more places is something that happens soon.
WoW Moviewatch: Heavy in Your Arms
Heavy in Your Arms is a few years old, and we featured it back in 2011. But reader Nan was such a fan of the machinima that she suggested a replay. It's relatively rare that a video goes so far to inspire someone to write, especially if the video is a few years old. So, sit back and enjoy a wonderful video on this lovely Sunday afternoon. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WRUP: Bugs
It's not always a perfect game. Don't get me wrong -- WoW has demonstrated years of fantastic play, imaginative stories, and nail-biting raids. But occasionally, those little creepy crawly critters cackle into the code and crevices. And isn't a little bug infestation just part of the Halloween season? So this WRUP, we asked your intrepid WoW Insider staff to share with us their favorite bugs of WoW. What about you? Whether metaphorical or literal, which of the bugs remain your favorite?
WoW Moviewatch: Unsung Heroes of Azeroth
Not every hero destroy dragons, fights gods, and lays down ancient heroes. Some of the most impressive feats in the world are performed by the Unsung Heroes of Azeroth. Whether we're talking about the postal service worker or the auctioneer, these are the true pillars of our society. I think this is easily Slightly Impressive's best video yet. It's an original concept, contains plenty of subtle commentary about the game, and it's flawlessly performed. Very well done! I've really grown into quite the fan. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Moviewatch: Two Battles At Once
Who doesn't love a good gnome mask? Kakio opens his new video Two Battles At Once with a healthy dose of it, promising more gnome shenanigans throughout the video. Two Battles At Once is a pretty big upgrade over his previous video, which is promising for what we might see in the future. This video includes the complaint that the Alliance always wins the battlegrounds. That might be the first time I've ever heard that phrase is machinima, so my hat's off to that bit of creativity. The gnome joke is still the best bit, though. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
Defiance spotlights a new kind of arkfall
If you've played Defiance for a while you're pretty familiar with how the game as a whole works. There are rules, an ordered nature to the whole thing. Arkfalls happen a certain way. Except the game's latest DLC pack has introduced a new wrinkle in the form of Dark Matter arkfalls, events pitting players against waves of Dark Matter enemies with the goal of being the only side left standing. Which is easier said than done. Players will encounter four types of event in both Minor and Major categories; the former lasts 20 minutes and the latter runs for 60. Extractor and Mayhem events pit players in an escalating shootout with Dark Matter forces, Obliteration tasks players with destroying an arkfall core, and the Extraction Force event pits players against the strongest of the forces that the Dark Matter troops can rally. Take a gander at the video past the break for some of the feel contained within these new events.
WoW Moviewatch: You want to be a Warrior?
We're a fan of warriors around here. Or, at least, Matthew Rossi is a fan of warriors. But not everyone is cut out for the sword-and-board or dual-poleaxe-wielding life. You have to ask yourself, are you sure You want to be a Warrior? Mooclucking's new video is a nice tongue-in-cheek celebration of one of WoW's most iconic classes. While I'm not sure it'll inspire anyone to abandon their beloved caster, I don't think it was meant to. Make sure you wait to the end: the video spells out a classic problem with warrior PvP. We've all felt that pain. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
Twitter's new Comcast deal could have you watching TV from tweets
Twitter's making a broader push into your TV room -- if you're a Comcast cable subscriber, that is. The cabler's just inked a deal with Twitter that should see the addition of a "See It" button appear on tweets pertaining to NBCUniversal programming later this fall. According to AllThingsD, the initiative should work something like this: say you're browsing your feed and come across a tweet about "The Michael J. Fox Show" (if it survives long enough), there'll be an associated "See It" button that, when clicked, will take you to a card with more detailed information and, crucially, the ability to DVR or watch the program on TV or online. Beyond just TV shows, the partnership will also allow Twitter users to set reminders for upcoming programs and even purchase movie tickets on Fandango -- all options made accessible by the "See It" button. The specifics of the deal haven't been fully disclosed, so it's not clear which shows will enjoy the "See It" button promotion, but other cablers and TV networks could soon be participating as well. Twitter intends for this unique strategy to spread across content providers, bridging your social networking life and all its real-time buzz with your TV consumption habits.
