The Transformers: Dark of the Moon Blu-ray doesn't hit the streets officially until next week, but you can get a look at one of the special features early right here. In this video clip director Michael Bay and other members of the production team explain some of the special challenges that came with shooting the special-effects heavy movie in 3D. It required changes to his usual frenetic cutting style with fewer pans and longer shots, as well as extra work by the editors on each element of animation overlaid on each frame. For a longer discussion about the background of shooting the flick you can check out an interview featuring Bay and 3D-master James Cameron here, otherwise just press play, or check out the press release after the break for a full list of special features included when he disc debuts January 31st.

Continue reading Transformers: Dark of the Moon clip breaks down shooting movies, special effects in 3D (video)

Transformers: Dark of the Moon clip breaks down shooting movies, special effects in 3D (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix's Q4 2011 earnings report is in, and the company indicates its streaming subscriber count is now 21.67 million. DVD subscribers were still down however, although not as much as expected with cancellations peaking in September when the services split, leaving it with a total number of 24.4 million customers. This closes out a tough 2011 that saw its subscriber count drop by 800k in Q3, and most recently resulted in the search for a new Chief Marketing Officer. The company exceeded its own targets for growth in streaming customers and domestically, the segment reported a higher-than-expected profit of $52 million.

When it comes to its competition however, Netflix cosigned a rumor indicated today by the New York Post that Amazon may spin off its Prime Instant video service into a cheaper-than-Netflix standalone offering. For now however, it believes Amazon and Hulu offer only a fraction of its content, and net subscriber viewing hours that are less than 10 percent of the 2 billion --around 30 per member -- it reported during Q4. Regarding the new 56-day delay for DVDs and Blu-ray discs from Warner Bros., it "didn't like" the new terms, but decided it was more efficient to keep a direct relationship for discs than to try buying discs from retail again, and expects more "differentiated dates" from studios going forward. We're still digging through the numbers and remarks by executives, check out the press release itself linked below.

...developing

Netflix Q4 results: 220k new streaming-only customers, beats earnings estimates originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paramount Movies lets you stream UltraViolet films from the cloud, for a price originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The network we love to hate has made it a long way in the four years since we promised to never cover it again because of its ridiculous claims. Not only is it still on the air, but Herring Broadcasting has announced it will be adding a linear 3D channel to the existing handful of 3D channels that includes ESPN 3D, n3D and 3net. No word on any broadcaster carriage agreements, yet, but WealthTV 3D has spent two years producing original 3D content in anticipation of the launch and viewers can currently tune in online via Roku boxes. Some of the 3D content has been available via Verizon FiOS VOD since 2010 and while we have long since laughed off the CEO's reaction to our feelings about his channel, our opinion of WealthTV probably isn't going to be changed by adding another dimension.

Continue reading WealthTV 3D joining handful of 3D networks

WealthTV 3D joining handful of 3D networks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Rocketboost launches PC and iOS Control App for its wireless devices

Rocketboost launches PC and iOS Control App for its wireless devices originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rested and recovered after CES, we're back, and where else to get started but...CES. A quick roundup covers some of our favorite products from the show, before we dive into the latest news from Netflix and Hulu. TiVo is also in the news with some interesting DVR stats and wide rollout of its latest update, while Time Warner has finally squeezed its live TV streaming app down to fit iPhones. We even found some time to peek into the future of mobile TV, but to find out what else was on deck, check out the list of topics below or just sit back and press play.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)

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00:02:25 - CES 2012: HDTV and connected devices round-up
00:10:11 - Microsoft acknowledges Xbox 360 color space problem in last update
00:19:30 - Netflix is looking for a new Chief Marketing Officer, if you think you can do better
00:23:08 - Hulu CEO recaps the year 2011: 1.5 million on Hulu Plus, no new owner
00:31:15 - TiVo users watch less Live TV than everyone else
00:35:53 - TiVo Premiere updates rolling out to the masses
00:39:14 - Time Warner Cable app streams live TV to iPhones, no longer iPad-only
00:40:40 - LG's Magic Remote is powered by Nuance
00:43:20 - Comcast's connected cable box making a run at the FCC?
00:46:19 - Sports Fans Coalition motivated the FCC to review its NFL blackout rules
00:50:00 - Hands-on with Dyle Mobile TV, broadcasting live to a handset near you
00:58:02 - HDNet joins up with AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest to become AXS TV this summer
01:02:00 - Comcast's extra ads ruin NFC championship game conclusion in some areas
01:07:48 - Must See HDTV (January 23rd - 29th)

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Engadget HD Podcast 283 - 01.24.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The State of Delaware has bust out a grant of $920,000 for DuPont's obsessed project to bring OLED TVs to the masses. It's building a facility at the Stine-Haskell Research Center in Newark with the chemicals-giant stumping $30 million out of its own back pocket. The new unit will employ 35 people to investigate the possibility of producing Organic Light Emitting Diodes for use in televisions for a fraction of the current cost. In comparison, the OLED TVs we saw at CES could retail for as much as $10,000, enough to make sure you don't ask Grandma for one next Christmas. The line will be used to test the "spray printing" methods that can print a 50-inch TV in under two minutes we saw in 2010. DuPont's obliged to keep the facility open for five years, or it'll expect angry civil servants to storm the building looking for a million dollars worth of stationery in return.

Delawareans rejoice as DuPont builds OLED TV testing plant in Newark originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even in 2012 there are a number of classic films that have yet to be released on Blu-ray, but we can knock one off that list March 6th when Monty Python and the Holy Grail comes home from Sony Pictures. Beyond being remastered in HD and featuring a 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack, the release will also bring exclusive Lost Animations, extended scenes and outtakes features running for over 30 minutes. iPad owners will also be able to snag a companion Second Screen app called The Holy Book of Days that includes special background content from each of the 28 days of the movie's filming. It will cost $4.99 on its own, but for a "limited time" there's a $5 rebate available for those who purchase both disc and app. The disc comes with an Ultraviolet Digital Copy and has an MSRP of $19.99, but Amazon's preorder pricing is already down to $12.99. Check out the full list of extras in details in the press release after the break, and if you're not already familiar with the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow (African or European) we've included the old DVD trailer from a few years ago as well.

Continue reading Monty Python and the Holy Grail comes to Blu-ray March 6th, brings an iPad app

Monty Python and the Holy Grail comes to Blu-ray March 6th, brings an iPad app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The new year is well underway and there's plenty to watch, including more Blu-ray discs with accompanying iPad apps like Real Steel and the season premiere of House. While we pause before the Super Bowl our normal football schedule finally comes to an end, with only the Pro Bowl available for viewing by the most diehard fans Sunday night. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.

Touch
Kiefer Sutherland is coming back to broadcast TV after a brief foray into the online realm with Touch, the story of a widower who suddenly discovers his mute 11-year old son is apparently capable of predicting the future. Whatever. We're not really pulled in by the plot, but when you combine Jack Bauer and Tim Kring, the creator of Heroes (we choose to remember it as a show that only lasted one season), we'll give it a shot. Also, our international readers should have a shot at viewing this one eventually, since the show is apparently scheduled to debut in over 100 countries starting in March -- this week's episode is a one-off special preview.
(January 25th, Fox, 9PM)

Chuck
The adventures of our favorite Buy More employee come to a close this week with a double episode of Chuck Friday night. After five seasons it's about time things got wrapped up and we'll finally see if Chuck and Sarah ride off into the sunset together, or if he ends up back on the couch playing videogames with Morgan. Check out a quick preview trailer embedded after the break, and get your Subway subs, Jefster CDs and other related memorabilia ready.
(January 27th, NBC, 8PM)

NBA
A compressed lockout-shortened schedule means all the stars are playing all the time, and that's as obvious as ever this week. 2003 draftees LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony will all share the court (pending returns from injury) Friday night on ESPN, while the Lob City Clippers are all over national broadcasts, facing the Lakers Wednesday and the Grizzlies Thursday night.

Continue reading Must See HDTV (January 23rd - 29th)

Must See HDTV (January 23rd - 29th) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES is over and we're back to our regular time when we let you peek into the recording booth where the Engadget HD podcast goes to mp3 at 5:30 pm. And we don't know about anyone else, but it sure feels good getting back to our old time slot. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30 pm

Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30 pm originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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