"Cutting the cord" is a big buzz word in the entertainment industry right now. People are cutting off their satellite and cable subscription in favor of using streaming services like Netflix and Hulu in order to save money. By adding the Mohu Leaf Indoor HDTV Antenna to your TV, you can likely get 5-6 HD quality channels for free (depending on where you live). I am…
The idea behind the ICON project, as told by designers Nathan Goldman and Dan Kuhlken: “Every film has one. A signature prop, set, or location. Something that, in a single image, can represent the entire movie. With this in mind, they created 50 geometric prints of iconic places and things from various films and TV shows. Examples include Office Space, Groundhog Day,…
There are some crazy good deals for HD movie bundles happening on the iTunes Store right now. The following collections are available for just $15 each: The Dark Knight Trilogy The Lord of the Rings Trilogy The Matrix Trilogy Ocean's Trilogy Men in Black Trilogy Lethal Weapon Movie Collection Each bundle includes individual movies in high-definition 1080p resolution. The Dark Knight, Ocean’s…
Fire TV is Amazon's new $99 media-streaming and gaming box for HDTVs. Like its competitors—such as the Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku—Fire TV can stream from a number of services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Pandora, and more. One feature that sets it apart is the remote control's built-in mic, which allows you to hold a button and search…
The Great Discontent is one of my absolute favorite web publications. Their interviews with creative people from all over the web can often be inspiring, entertaining, touching, and even funny. The site is quite beautiful and features some excellent photography. (I love the site so much that I was inspired to begin conducting some interviews of my own a while back.) And…
I've been on a bit of a reading kick lately. First was the Shady Characters book I mentioned here the other day, then Cloud Atlas (an incredible story, in my opinion), and now I'm making my way through Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. Mr. Penumbra's tells the story about a young web designer who loses his job thanks to the recession of the…
While there are just three episodes left of AMC's Breaking Bad, you can pre-order the entire series in what has to be the coolest Blue-Ray set ever. Housed in the replica money barrel are discs with every episode of the show, 55 hours of special features from all seasons, a two-hour documentary, a Los Pollos Hermanos apron and more. The whole kit…
The Roku has been a long-time favorite of those who the AppleTV just doesn't cut it. Tonight, the Roku 3 was announced. With a new UI and a new chipset behind it, the Roku 3 is much faster than previous version. The new remote has a headphone jack in it, which is (quite frankly) amazing. I don't understand why I haven't seen…
Skyfall, the twenty-third in a long line of fantastic James Bond movies—and the third one starring Daniel Craig—has garnered over a billion dollars worldwide, making it the 7th-highest grossing film of all time. It has maintained a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92% since its release, and Roger Moore has even declared Daniel Craig to be the best Bond. Clearly the franchise is…
Remember the Tamagotchi craze of the 1990s? You know, those little virtual pets you carried around in your pocket? Ever imagine what it would be like for that cute little alien to grow up into a HAL 9000-esque robot that ordered you around while cracking jokes about you? That's basically how I would describe this hilariously awesome new to-do list app called…
27 years ago today, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into flight, killing all seven aboard. While the accident was caused by a faulty o-ring in the shuttle's right solid rocket booster, a much bigger problem at NASA was found by the investigators: NASA had become complacent after decades of routine flights. Discovery's When We Left Earth chronicles manned space flight,…
While it's not available quite yet, you can pre-order Season 5 of Breaking Bad on DVD. If you want Blu-Ray, you can do that, too. Vince Gilligan's epic story of one-time-chemist-teacher Walter White reaches new highs — and lows — in the recent season, and if you haven't seen it yet, you really are missing out on some of the best television ever…
The Amazing Spiderman is out on Blu-Ray next week, bringing the Web Slinger's reboot to a living room near you. Peter Parker's origin story is re-told in what many to believe a much better way than it was back in the early 2000s when Tobey Maguire was in the suit. The Blu-Ray includes deleted scenes, commentaries, screen tests and stunt rehearsals. It…
The Apple TV might not be the cutest Apple product currently on the market. The small black box might look like a hockey puck, but it's found its way in to the living rooms — and hearts — of many Apple fans. One problem with the design is the weight. Clocking in at just .6 pound (that's 272 grams), it can be pulled backwards…
EA is back with its flagship sports game, Madden NFL. This year, the game is built on a whole new engine, offering better graphics and better usability designed to mimic a nationally-televised game. Some have been complaining that EA's changes to Franchise Mode were unfounded, our money is on this game being yet another great title in a long line of hits.…
Two of the greatest movies ever made, and then, well, who knows what happened for Part III. Right now the trilogy bundle is on sale on iTunes for just $18. It's not HD, but it is cheap. And, in a way, watching these movies in their original, standard definition almost seems like the way it should be. Or, if you do prefer…
Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Peter Jackson, The Adventures of Tintin, is an adventure story about a boy and his dog on their quest to uncover hidden treasure. This is one that Anna and I never got to see in the theatre. It's available now to rent or own, and so the Blu-Ray version in the queue for our next…
Okay, okay. I admit, I'm lousy at writing out reviews for movies. But that won't stop me from recommending a good flick when it comes across my living room, and Hugo is one of those. I saw it in the theater and rented it again with Anna on Blu-Ray and loved it both times. It's fun, it's well written, and the cinematography…
This game is awesome. I'm a big fan of games where you sit down with a handful of friends or family, everyone has their beverage of choice (usually hot tea at our house), and you play a good-paced, interesting, strategy game. Settlers of Catan has been the long-time favorite in the Blanc household. Lately we've been having fun with Ticket to Ride…
Written and directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg, Super 8 was one of my favorite movies of 2011. Like a combination of E.T. and The Goonies (but with lens flare and CGI), Super 8 was both suspenseful and playful. (Also available on iTunes.)