Technology and Lifestyle

Reruns in theaters, Disney+ quietly removes Avatar

2022-09-07T09:06:00.001-07:00

Reruns in theaters, Disney+ quietly removes Avatar

Ahead of Avatar (2009) in theaters, Disney+ quietly removed the film from its platform.

Reruns in theaters, Disney+ quietly removes Avatar

Disney+ has quietly removed the Avatar movie from its platform, ahead of its re-release in theaters next month. First released in 2009, Avatar still stands as the highest-grossing film of all time, grossing a total of $2.8 billion at the worldwide box office.

The success of the first film prompted director James Cameron to turn Avatar into a franchise, and finally announced four sequels to be released through 2028.

After being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the first sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water is slated to debut later this year on December 16. To help fans bring back memories of the first film, Disney announced it will re-release Avatar in theaters in September, with remastered audio and image versions.

Reporting from ScreenRant (18/8), ahead of its rerun in theaters, Disney+ quietly removed the film from its platforms worldwide. There's been no official announcement from Disney or 20th Century Studios, but the timing is right with the re-release.

The move was likely made in an attempt to lure more people into theaters and increase Avatar's worldwide box office total for a second time.

Besides, sooner or later the image and audio remastered version of Avatar means it will also be released on Disney+. However, there is no indication when that will happen. Likely not until the theater re-release is complete and before The Way of Water debuts in December. Until then, audiences can catch Avatar in theaters on September 23.

Pinocchio's live-action film will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar September 8th

2022-09-05T23:56:00.001-07:00

After turning into a boy, the human version of Pinocchio is played by Benjamin Evan Ainswort.

Pinocchio's live-action film will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar September 8th

Pinocchio will finally appear in a live-action film that will soon be airing on Disney+ Hotstar on September 8. The film stars Tom Hanks, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key, Lorraine Bracco, Cynthia Erivo, and Luke Evans.

In accordance with the fairy tale we have known so far, the live-action Pinocchio film tells the adventures of a wooden doll who turns into a real boy. The film was directed by Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis.

After turning into a boy, the human version of Pinocchio is played by Benjamin Evan Ainswort, while Tom Hanks plays the woodcarver who creates and sculpts Pinocchio, Geppetto.

Other cast members include Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket, Cynthia Erivo as Blue Fairy, Keegan-Michael Key as “Honest” John; Lorraine Bracco as Sofia the Seagull who is, and Luke Evans as The Coachman.

The live-action film will also feature favorite songs from its animated predecessor, including Cynthia Erivo's "When You Wish Upon a Star". In addition, this film also features original songs composed by Alan Silvestri and Glenn Ballard.

Pinocchio is written by Robert Zemeckis and Chris Weitz, with Andrew Miano, Chris Weitz, Robert Zemeckis, and Derek Hogue producing, with Jack Rapke, Jacqueline Levine, Jeremy Johns, and Paul Weitz executive producing.

Godzilla vs. Kong 2 will explore MonsterVerse more deeply

2022-09-03T22:08:00.002-07:00

Godzilla vs. Kong 2 will explore MonsterVerse more deeply

New synopsis for Godzilla vs. The upcoming Kong 2 promises a deeper exploration of MonsterVerse's origins.

Warner Bros Pictures has just shared the full synopsis for the Godzilla vs. Kong, who will explore the origins of the Legendary MonsterVerse. The film will see Godzilla and Kong unite against a new threat from Hollow Earth.

Based on the synopsis quoted from Collider (26/8), Godzilla vs. Kong 2, which is yet to have a title, will showcase the teamwork between Godzilla and Kong. The two must unite to fight a mysterious threat.

In the previous film, these two monster kings defeated MechaGodzilla, a man-made iron and cable monster. However, before becoming a team, the two fought to the end, in which Godzilla forced Kong to submit to him.

The new synopsis also promises the sequel will explore the MonsterVerse mythology, answering some of the mysteries left by the first film. In Godzilla vs. Kong, we learn that humans coexisted with Titans thousands of years ago, establishing an empire in an underground realm called Hollow Earth.

There, Kong finds the Titan assassin's axe, a weapon that cannot withstand Godzilla's power. Even so, the weapon opens up new possibilities for the MonsterVerse to explore, as it signifies that humanity's fate has always been tied to giant creatures.

As Warner Bros Pictures now reveals, the sequel will link each clue by showing how exactly Titas appeared and what their relationship to Kong's original home, Skull Island, is.

Untitled sequel to Godzilla Vs. Kong will hit theaters on March 15, 2024. The film is again directed by Adam Wingard with a script by Terry Rossio (Godzilla vs. Kong), Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight), and Simon Barrett (You're Next).

Meanwhile, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle will reprise their roles, with new cast members including Dan Stevens, Fala Chen, Alex Ferns, and Rachel House.

Daniel Craig learns a Southern accent for the role of detective Blanc in Glass Onion

2022-09-03T07:14:00.001-07:00

Detective Blanc has a very different accent from the British accent he used to use while playing James Bond.

Daniel Craig learns a Southern accent for the role of detective Blanc in Glass Onion

Daniel Craig is working on his accent to portray the character Benoit Blanc in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Myster, which will premiere on Netflix . He even hired a coach to regain the Southern accent that detective Blanc used in the first Knives Out film.

"I trained with an accent coach for three or four months during which we started shooting," Craig told Empire magazine. "I forgot the accent and I didn't want to make a "pastiche". I wanted to keep it as grounded and anchored in reality as possible."

In the first Knives Out, Blanc is depicted as arrogant as Ransom Drysdale (Chris Evans). This character has an accent that is very different from Craig's own British accent, which he used during his portrayal of James Bond.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is set in Greece, on the private island of a tech billionaire, played by Edward Norton. Craig aka detective Blanc will reportedly be the main player in this sequel.

Apart from Craig and Norton, other actors and actresses who also take part in the film include Kathryn Hahn, Kate Hudson, Lesle Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Dave Bautista and Ethan Hawke.

The film will premiere on Netflix on December 23, but before that, it will hit the Toronto International Film Festival in early September.

Netflix cancels second season of Resident Evil

2022-09-02T20:12:00.001-07:00

Netflix cancels second season of Resident Evil

Despite being in the top 5 most watched Netflix series earlier this month, Resident Evil received low viewership ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.

Netflix is rumored to be canceling the second season for its newest series, Resident Evil . The series marks a new adaptation of Capcom 's video game series , of the same name, which features a different story and characters than those in the franchise.

The series also features new characters, such as Ella Balinska and Adeline Rudolph as Jade and Billie Wesker, the adopted daughter of Albert Wesker (Lance Reddicks) who discovers the evil intentions behind the Umbrella Academy company now led by Evelyn.

Andrew Dabb, who created the series previously discussed narrative plans to bring a few more seasons to Resident Evil. However, as Deadline recently reported (27/8), the title was officially canceled by Netflix after its inaugural season.

Despite being in the top 5 most watched Netflix series earlier this month, Resident Evil received low viewership ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. The main criticism of the series refers to the plot, clichés, and swirling problems.

Previously reported, Resident Evil scored 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, becoming one of the lowest-scoring Netflix series on the ranking site. This also sets new history because the previous animated miniseries Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, managed to reach at least 39%.

Netflix's decision to discontinue this relatively new series may sound disappointing to fans. However, the company seems unwilling to take that step, given what they're going through lately from a financial standpoint.

Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp prepare exclusive features for paid subscribers Meta subsidi

2022-09-01T19:58:00.001-07:00

Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp prepare exclusive features for paid subscribers

Meta subsidiaries like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp will soon have exclusive features for customers willing to pay.

Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp prepare exclusive features for paid subscribers

Facebook , Instagram , and WhatsApp will soon have special features available only to paid premium users. Meta is forming a new division called New Monetization Experiences that will focus solely on paid features for enterprise apps, according to a memo reported by The Verge .

While Facebook and Instagram already have a number of paid features catering to creators, such as Stars, paid events, and various subscription products, it looks like the new division in Meta will separate from the initiative. For the record, Meta has promised not to cut creator content earnings until 2023.

It's unclear what paid features might result from the effort, but Meta's vice president of monetization John Hegeman told The Verge (via Engadget ) that the company is keeping a close eye on its competitors. Twitter, Snapchat, and Telegram recently launched monthly subscriptions that unlock exclusive features and other in-app perks for paying subscribers.

Paid features can help Meta find new non-ad revenue sources. Recently the company's billion-dollar advertising business has taken a significant hit as iOS privacy changes and economic downturn have also affected its competitors.

Samsung Galaxy A04s comes with three main cameras and 90 Hz screen

2022-09-01T10:00:00.001-07:00

Samsung has quietly launched its Galaxy A04s phone to the global market. On the camera side, this phone has three main cameras.

Samsung Galaxy A04s comes with three main cameras and 90 Hz screen

Samsung Galaxy A04s has officially launched globally. This is an upgraded variant of the Galaxy A04 which debuted recently. The latest Galaxy A04s comes as a successor to the Galaxy A03s which was announced last year.

The Samsung Galaxy A04s features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen with HD+ resolution and a waterdrop notch design . The display offers a 90Hz refresh rate and a protective layer of Gorilla Glass 3. The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button.

In terms of photography, the Samsung Galaxy A04s has a triple rear camera configuration consisting of a 50 MP main camera, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor camera. There is also a front camera for selfies and 5 MP video calls.

Reporting from Gizmochina (1/9), the Galaxy A04s is equipped with an octa-core processor with an unknown chipset brand. However, it is estimated that this processor will be an Exynos 850. The phone comes with 3GB and 4GB RAM along with 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB internal storage options.

There is support for a microSD card slot for additional storage needs of up to 1 TB. Samsung provides the Galaxy A04s with a 5,000 mAh battery capacity and support for 15W fast charging. The phone runs on the OneUI 4.1 user interface based on the Android 12 operating system.

The connectivity options on the Galaxy A04s are a 3.5 mm headphone jack, dual SIM, 4G, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5. The colors available for this phone are Black, Green, White, and Copper. Unfortunately there is no further information for this device.

Microsoft reveals dangerous 'bug' in Android version of TikTok app

2022-09-01T07:26:00.006-07:00

This dangerous security vulnerability (bug) in the Android version of the TikTok application was discovered by Microsoft's research division.

Microsoft reveals dangerous 'bug' in Android version of TikTok app

Microsoft discovered a security vulnerability in the Android version of the TikTok app. This vulnerability is caused by a malicious bug that allows users to tap on malicious links on the social media platform .

Details regarding the security exploit were provided by the Microsoft 365 Defender Research Team division in a blog post. Launching The Verge (1/9), the vulnerability affects the functionality of links in the TikTok application on Android devices.

This bug was discovered by Microsoft in February 2022 in the Android version of the TikTok application. At that time, Microsoft also pinned the label 'high level of vulnerability' to malicious loopholes contained in the short video application for Android devices.

The reason is, this bug can be used by hackers to hijack TikTok user accounts on Android devices . Once taken over, hackers will have access to all the main functions of the account, including the ability to upload videos, send messages to other users to view private videos stored in the account.

To hijack the targeted TikTok account, hackers will take advantage of this Microsoft discovered bug by creating a link to display in the application. If this link is clicked by the account owner, it will automatically activate a series of codes that can give hackers access to the account.

Microsoft disclosed this vulnerability to TikTok shortly after it was discovered. Furthermore, Microsoft confirmed, TikTok immediately responded to the reports that had been made.

"We provide them with information about the vulnerability and collaborate to help fix this issue," said Tanmay Ganacharya, Partner Director for Security Research at Microsoft Defender for Endpoint . “TikTok responded quickly, and we commend the efficient and professional resolution of the security team.”

Meanwhile, TikTok revealed, it is likely that no victims were targeted by hackers exploiting bugs . TikTok spokeswoman Maureen Shanahan said she had responded to the report quickly.

“The potential impact is huge, as it affects all global variants of the TikTok Android app, which has a total of over 1.5 billion downloads on the Google Play Store. However, there is no evidence that it was exploited by malicious parties," added Maureen.

Although it has been fixed, it's a good idea for TikTok users on Android to immediately update their app to a newer version. This is done to avoid unwanted things in their account in the future.

Sony Xperia 5 IV officially launched

2022-09-01T06:39:00.001-07:00

Sony has finally launched their latest mobile phone through the Sony Xperia 5 IV. The processor it uses is Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

After several rumors before its launch, Sony has finally officially released the Xperia 5 IV. The latest compact flagship phone from the Japanese electronics company is informed that it presents a significant improvement. The new device offers a bigger battery , wireless charging support, and an improved camera.

The Sony Xperia 5 IV carries a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2520 x 1080 pixels (Full HD +) and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Reporting from Gizmochina (1/9), the processor used by this phone is Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 which is paired with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.

The phone runs on the Android 12 operating system . The body is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance. Do not miss the Gorilla Glass Victus to protect the screen. This product has dual stereo speakers with support for Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, DSEE Ultimate, and 360 Reality Audio. There is also a 2.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot.

For the photography part, there is a triple camera system on the back. All three cameras offer a resolution of 12 MP. The main camera uses a 1/1.7-inch sensor with a 24mm-equivalent wide lens, the secondary camera has a 1/2.5-inch sensor with a 16mm-equivalent ultra-wide lens, and a 2.5x telephoto camera equivalent to a 60mm-sized sensor 1/3.5 inch.

All three cameras support 120 fps recording, Real-time Eye AF, and Real-time tracking. The wide and telephoto modules also support optical image stabilization (OIS). For the front camera, it uses a 12 MP resolution sensor with a 24 mm equivalent lens.

On the battery side, the Sony Xperia 5 IV is supported by a 5,000 mAh battery capacity. It brings support for 30W USB PD fast charging and Qi wireless charging. Unfortunately this phone is shipped without a charger and USB cable.

Sony Xperia 5 IV comes in three color options, namely green, black, and white. However, this device will only be available in 8GB + 128GB memory configuration. This latest phone from Sony is sold at a price of USD 999 (Rp 14.9 million).