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Recommended Reading: The secrets behind 'Madden's' player ratings
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. How Madden Ratings are Made by Neil Paine FiveThirtyEight If you've ever played a Madden title, at some point, you've questioned how player ratings are compiled. Heck, players are even critical of their own scores. Well, the stats experts over at FiveThirtyEight dive deep on the matter, offering a load of background information and a method for compiling and grading your own abilities... or lack thereof.
Daily Roundup: Microsoft predicts (most) Oscar winners, Google Wallet and more!
From Oscar winners to gadget leaks and a robot that feeds you tomatoes while you run, we've got plenty of stories to get you talking in today's Daily Roundup. Won't you join us past the break?
Microsoft came remarkably close to predicting all 24 Oscar winners
Cortana isn't the only part of Microsoft that's interested in predicting the future. David Rothschild, an economist with the company's New York research lab, was behind the team that successfully guessed six of last night's biggest Oscar winners, including the awards for best film, director, actor and actress. In fact, across all 24 categories they only slipped up on four -- original screenplay, original score, animated feature and film editing.
NSA-Snowden documentary 'Citizenfour' wins an Oscar
A documentary that outlined how Edward Snowden revealed the NSA's data surveillance program to the world has just won an Oscar. Citizenfour director Laura Poitras has a track record of serious documentaries, including My Country, My Country and The Oath, but the PRISM documentary marks her first Oscar win. Following the award, host Neil Patrick-Harris made a quick lil' treason joke at Snowden's expense, possibly missing the gravitas of a story that dominated the news agenda for over a year. In response to the award, Snowden said: "My hope is that this award will encourage more people to see the film and be inspired by its message that ordinary citizens, working together, can change the world." We've added the full statement after the fold. (Can you guess who 'Citizenfour' actually was in the end? Hint: It's not Patrick-Harris)
Recommended Reading: A closer look at the 2015 Oscar nominations
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. Breaking Down the Oscar Nominations: What the Hell Happened to 'Selma'? by Mark Harris Unless you took a week off from the internet, you're well aware that this year's Oscar nominations were announced a few days ago. While Selma did earn nominations for Best Picture and Best Song, the film that depicts Martin Luther King Jr.'s marches from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery in 1965 was mentioned only twice. Grantland's Mark Harris takes a closer look at the full list to see what other categories should've included Ava DuVernay's picture.
Samsung debuts its first Galaxy S5 ad during the Oscars and turns sponsorship dollars into all-star selfies
In case you hadn't heard, Samsung's newest phone is coming. At the Oscars, the Galaxy S5 just got a huge shot of publicity, both in a 30-second ad segment and the not-so-casual presence of its big bro, the Note 3, throughout the award ceremony. We hope you like Hollywood stars and selfies, because Ellen's going to be tweeting a whole lot of them. That's your sponsorship dollars at work, Samsung, even if DeGeneres apparently switched back to an iPhone backstage. Update: Oh, and that ensemble picture being taken in the shot above? The real thing is now the most-retweeted post, ever. [Picture via @Buzzfeed]
How to watch the Oscars on your iPhone, iPad or Mac
ABC announced this week that it will be live streaming the Oscars to its Watch ABC service, but the broadcast won't be easy to watch on your iOS device or Mac. You will need to subscribe to a participating pay-TV provider and live in one of eight ABC geographic markets. Both the Watch ABC app and the ABC Go website will provide a livestream of the pre-show events, the full Oscar broadcast and the follow-up Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars special. To access this content, you must login to the Watch ABC mobile app or the online video streaming service using the username and password from your cable TV account. Once authenticated, you can watch the stream for free on the day of the event. Archived copies of all the Oscar footage will be available on Watch ABC until March 5. The list of partner pay-TV providers include Comcast, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Midcontinent Communications, Verizon FiOS, Google Fiber and AT&T U-verse. Customers of these providers must live in one of the following eight ABC markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Fresno, Calif. If you live outside these areas, you can follow the Oscars on your iPad or iPhone using third-party apps like NewsFusion or E!'s Live From the Red Carpet. The ABC's Oscars telecast will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Pacific) on Sunday, March 2, 2014.
ABC to stream the Oscars for the first time, but only for select viewers
ABC will be streaming its live coverage of the Oscars this weekend for the first time ever, but there are some important caveats. First, the awards show will only be viewable through Watch ABC on the web or through ABC's iOS and Android apps, both of which require a cable subscription for access. What's more, you'll need to live in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham or Fresno in order to stream the event, since Watch ABC isn't available nationwide. Even then, you'll need a Cablevision, Cox, Charter, Midcontinent, Verizon FiOS, Google Fiber or AT&T U-Verse subscription if you wanna see whether Her takes home best picture. If you don't meet the above criteria for streaming, "The Oscars Backstage" second screen experience will be available to all viewers regardless of their location or service provider. This will pull footage from multiple cameras positioned on the red carpet and in the backstage area. As you might expect, folks with full access can toggle back and forth between the extra content and the live show. Last but not least, Variety reports that highlight clips will be posted to Oscars.com five to 10 minutes after they air. The 86th Annual Academy Awards happens this Sunday, March 2nd at 8:30PM ET/5:30PM PT. [Image credit: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images]
Must See HDTV for the week of February 25th: Oscars, Gravity and Game of Arms
The Winter Olympics are over and your normal programming schedule is back in full swing. The NHL is back for hockey fans, but Sunday is the big night for movies, as the 86th Annual Academy Awards air on ABC, hosted by Ellen Degeneres. The Best Picture category is looking particularly stacked with American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave and The Wolf of Wall Street. Tonight the battle of odd reality TV shows takes off as Discovery heads to the mountains for Battle of the Ozarks and AMC airs its Game of Arms arm-wrestling competition. Legit returns this week on FXX, while FX premieres season two of The Americans. Otherwise, we'd keep an eye out for Fred Armisen who is leading the band for Seth Meyers on Late Night, and kicking off a new season of Portlandia on IFC. Gravity is also coming home this week on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D, while gamers can pick up Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare or Thief. Check after the break for trailers plus our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and gaming.
Netflix's first Oscar nomination comes for 'The Square' and you can watch it right now
Yesterday the nominees for the 86th Academy Awards were announced, and for the first time, that list includes a production that will be primarily distributed via Netflix (check here for a list of theater screenings). A documentary centering on the 2011 Egyptian revolution, The Square has already garnered recognition at Sundance and the New York Film Festival. Directed by Jehane Noujaim, it was the first major documentary acquired by Netflix and by all regards, it's a very good choice. After striking critical gold with a slew of TV shows and a few stand-up comedy specials, documentaries are the next focus for Netflix. Besides its first Oscar nominee, it already has The Short Game (trailer) and Mitt (trailer) under its hat. The Square just went live on the service this morning; watch it in full by clicking here or check out a trailer below.
New iPad ad debuts at Oscars
The iPad and iPad mini donned their latest and most fashionable apps and made an Oscar appearance in the form on an ad on Sunday night. It's not the first time Apple has made an appearance at the Oscars. Apple's showings at the awards show stretch all the way back 2007, when the first Apple iPhone commercial made its debut. Other notable Apple Oscar appearances include the iPad's first commercial in 2010, and Steve Jobs has walked the red carpet. You can check out the ad below. [via AllThingsD]
Thanking the Academy: Five Apps for the 2013 Oscars
If you're eagerly awaiting the 85th Academy Awards airing this Sunday on ABC, you may find one of these five apps useful before and during the show -- and all of them are free. Good luck to the nominees! Oscars The official app for the event. It's pretty much a US-only affair, and isn't perfect, but it's a handy way to learn more about the nominated performers, creators and films. You can also fill out a virtual Oscar ballot and share it on Facebook. I found it was a somewhat better experience than the mobile version of oscar.go.com (which pushes you to download the app anyway). Of course, the app really kicks into gear on Sunday night; it will provide Backstage Pass live streams from the red carpet, control room and backstage to deliver a "second screen" experience as you watch the big show. Fair warning: the streams are all sponsored by Samsung, so you may be subjected to a certain amount of iPhone-needling. Stitcher The streaming radio service has been amping up the original content lately, and it is now promising exclusive red carpet coverage on Sunday. If you haven't tried Stitcher and you want a different take on the show, this Sunday is a good time to give it a try. Live From the Red Carpet Speaking of red carpet coverage, E! has been at it for a long time. While I haven't used this one, the app has a perfect rating on the store. If you are a red carpet junkie, this is probably going to make you happy until the show starts. Awards Hero: Oscars Edition Awards Hero is not just a database of Oscar-related info; it's also a quick way to get a voting pool going with your Facebook friends. If you're looking for some friendly competition over who picks the most winners, this is your app. IMDb As the world's foremost online repository of movie information, this one seems pretty obvious. Settle disputes, look up actor histories and lots more with the original "Internet Movie Database." Awards Guide is prettier, however.
2013 Academy Awards red carpet event streaming on Xbox Live
Xbox Live's latest streaming event struts its stuff at 6pm ET on Sunday, February 24, when film aficionados in the US with an Xbox Live Gold subscription can tune into the Associated Press' red carpet coverage of this year's annual Academy Awards. SmartGlass users can also engage with the second-screen experience through their tablets and smartphones.During the event, Xbox Live users can participate in the same interactive voting and tweeting stuff introduced during the Presidential Election coverage. We're not sure what kind of questions will be asked, but if the Presidential Election was any indication, it'll be a lot of bar graphs showing community support levels for Jessica Chastain's dress and questions about foreign policy in Iran. [Image credit]
iPhone saves the day filming Oscar-nominated documentary
CNN Money has a great interview with actor, writer and director Malik Bendjelloul, who finished shooting his Oscar nominated documentary Searching For Sugar Man using an iPhone. According to Bendjelloul, he ran out of money while filming with a Super 8 camera and had to finish the film using the 8mm Vintage Camera app. The inexpensive app produced footage that "was basically the same as the real stuff," says Bendjelloul. You can listen to the entire interview on CNN Money's website. Via MacRumors
IMDb app adds support for Amazon Instant Video links, Oscars
Amazon's latest update to its IMDb app makes it easy for users to watch a movie when they are done reading about it. The new feature will let users click a link in IMDb and watch the title in the Amazon Instant Video app, if the movie is available as part of Amazon Prime video. It's a welcome link between two of Amazon's entertainment-focused properties. Besides support for Instant Video, the updated IMDb app also has a new section just for the Oscars. Users can browse a list of nominees before the February 24th event and then watch the ceremony unfold live on their iPad or iPhone. You can download the IMDb app for free from the iOS App Store. [Via The Next Web]
Get your film fix with the official Oscars app
If you were online at all on Thursday it was virtually impossible not to see a headline reporting on the 2013 Academy Award nominations. If you did happen to miss them, you can see all the nominees and get more information than you would ever need about every actor and film with the only official Oscars app. Between now and Oscar Sunday (February 24th) the app lets you watch hosted specials on celebrity fashion and the nominated films and actors, access a plethora of information on the nominees, view movie trailers for the nominated films, watch exclusive videos, and view exclusive photos. A nice feature is also the ability to cast and share your virtual ballot so you can see how your vote stacks up against others. Come Oscar Sunday the app will allow users to view exclusive live footage from over a dozen feeds of backstage events. The Oscars app is a free download.
Kodak gets court approval to borrow $950 million, end theater sponsorship
Kodak took another step along the road to recovery yesterday, after receiving court approval to borrow $950 million in restructuring funds. Nearly a month after the camera maker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, US Bankruptcy Judge Allen Gropper granted Kodak's request on Thursday, allowing the company to continue operations during its ongoing transition. Gropper's decision, handed down in a Manhattan court, follows a series of negotiations between Kodak and its lenders, and adds an extra $300 million to the $650 million awarded during January's Chapter 11 filing. The company is also allowed to end its sponsorship of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, after successfully arguing that doing so would be in the best interest of Kodak and its creditors. Under the deal, Kodak is obliged to pay $72 million over the course of 20 years. It currently shells out $3.6 million per year and still has $38 million in outstanding payments, but Kodak's lawyers argued that the agreement was too costly. Kodak Chairman and CEO Antonio Perez issued the following statement in response to yesterday's decision: "Today's agreement is another step towards ensuring that Kodak is positioned to execute on the goals the Company set out last month: Bolster our liquidity in the U.S. and abroad, monetize our non-strategic intellectual property, fairly resolve legacy liabilities, and enable Kodak to focus on its most valuable business lines."
Olive: the first feature film 'intentionally' shot on a smartphone (video)
Sure, your smartphone might shoot HD, you might even have a dolly, but most of us know that 30 seconds of accidental filming inside a pocket and a blurry clip from the office party are about the best we can hope for. Not director Hooman Khalili. He made a feature length film using his trusty Nokia N8 and a custom lens, and now plans to show it in movie theaters. The film, called Olive, tells the story of a mute little girl, and the impact she has on the lives of those who meet her. Partly financed by the former Facebook CPO Chris Kelly, this Kickstarter story has the making of a movie itself. Should it raise the required $300k in funding, Khalili hopes it might even get a sniff by the Academy. That's assuming, of course, they've had a recent change of policy. For a sneak peak and a look at the making of, check the video after the break.
Oscar.com offers 'all access' pass to the Academy Awards, for a cost
Sure, you could just watch the Oscars for free along with a bowl of popcorn and your favorite Twitter commentary, but the folks behind the Academy Awards are hoping you'll try something even more "interactive" this time around. Those that head to Oscar.com this evening will be treated to a few different live cameras that are freely available to everyone, but to really see to everything you'll have to fork over $4.99 for the "all access" pass. That will give you access to a number of "exclusive viewing opportunities," including multiple 360 degree cams that you can control, and numerous cameras along the red carpet, backstage, and at the Governors Ball afterwards. And if that's not enough, you can also download the Oscar Backstage Pass app for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch -- it'll run you an additional $0.99.
Apps for the 2011 Academy Awards
With the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences 83rd Annual Academy Awards (or as we like to call them: The Oscars) airing this Sunday on ABC, iOS-using movie fans may want to enhance their viewing experience with a few Apps for their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. So, we've put together a little list of some that might help you out, with descriptions from the App developers themselves and some context from us. First off, if you're interested in the fashion and glamour of the Oscars as well as who wins what award (and we know you are), you'll need Live from the Red Carpet. This app "...lets you experience total VIP access to Hollywood's hottest events, right at your fingertips." "You'll have instant access to hundreds of E! articles, breaking down everything from the winners and upsets to the shows' best (and worst) moments. Plus, connect with Twitter to share your VIP access with the world." This App is pretty useful, especially if you're that person who always wants to know what everyone is wearing. Also, its a great way to keep up on that all-important celeb gossip and party info so even if you can't really be there, you can at least feel like it for a bit. Next up is an App that no certified cinefile can be without: IMDB (AKA The Internet Movie Database). With this App you have instant access to the entire online database of movie knowledge. Do you want to know which movie from 2001 starred Colin Firth and Hugh Grant? It's in there. How about what movie won Best Picture in 1977? It's in there. Or, how about what was director David Fincher's first movie? In there. All the information you could ever want about every actor, actress, movie, director or writer (well, who cares about the writers really?) is in the IMDB database. It's an essential tool in any Oscar watcher's aresenal. Moving on, we've got an App from the folks bringing us the Oscar telecast, ABC Digital. This App, called Oscar Backstage Pass, gives fans "access to live streams from exclusive cameras placed throughout the Red Carpet, the Kodak Theatre and the Governors Ball so you can go beyond the tv broadcast and watch more live Oscar action as it's taking place." That sounds like fun, right? Who knows, maybe one of those cameras will catch someone doing something they shouldn't. Or better yet, a fight. Finally, you can download the "official" Oscars App which, among other things, lets you "make Oscar predictions, access complete Nominee lists, get insider information on each film, watch viewable trailers and more." You can also "compare with your group of friends and share your picks through Facebook, Twitter, text and email." We've got our predictions ready, how about you? The Oscars air on Sunday at 8E/5P on ABC.
