Episode 23 – Hitchbot, Gamescon, Fantastic 4 review
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Welcome to another episode of Geek Bytes Podcast.
We bring you the week’s Geek and Tech news and then discuss anything we’re interesting in that week.
Don’t forget to subscribe to us on Itunes, Stitcher or any podcatching app, and Leave a good review if you like the podcast.
I’m Ramon Mejia…….I’m Edgar Acosta
In Geek News this week, we’ll talk about President Obama’s clean energy plan, how HitchBot was decapitated in Philly, Never Buy Ink Cartridges again, Microsoft’s Gamescon announcements, the New World of Warcraft expansion, Kevin Smith auctioning Jorts for Charity, Dragonball Z RESURRECTION , Sony massive reboot, an X-Men TV series, a Dungeons and Dragons movie, the Death of a "Rowdy" Roddy Piper , Trailers of the Week, and more
In our Discussions section we’ll talk about our review of the Fantastic 4 movie
Now let’s Begin our show with Geek News
(Music 2)
Geek News
President Obama’s clean energy plan
This week President Obama announced a new plan to cut U.S. carbon emissions from power plants by a third by 2030.
“There is a such thing as being too late when it comes to climate change,” President Obama said in the national address. “The science says we have to do more.”
The brilliance—or the downfall—of this plan is that it leaves concrete action up to the states. Each state will be able to put together its own plan for cutting emissions which will be approved by the federal government in September of 2016.
This is good because it acknowledges that not every state is starting from the same place—some states already have strong emissions standards. It also recognizes that each state has a different technological path to cut emissions—sunny states will lean towards solar investments, for example.
President Obama framed the plan not as a climate change solution—which always makes people’s eyes glaze over and/or fight about the facts—but as a solution to other problems the country is facing. Switching to renewable energy will aid national security, fix the economy, and most importantly, improve public health. It will save the typical American consumer money and a growing renewable energy industry will create more jobs.
http://gizmodo.com/obamas-new-energy-plan-explained-1721826028
HitchBot decapitated in Philly
The hitchBOT experiment is the dream of a couple of Canadian researchers, David Smith and Frauke Zeller, who wanted to see how far a robot could travel if it only depended on human kindness to hitchhike.
On is Canadian journey HitchBOT ended up traveling over 6,200 miles in Canada, then hitching through places like Berlin and Germany. HitchBOT’s journey is fully documented online and the robot even tweeted about it all. (http://m.hitchbot.me/usa/storify/) (@hitchBOT)
A few weeks ago the research team sent hitchBOT across the entire United States of America. They’d planned for hitchBOT to visit a number of historic sites such as Times Square in New York City, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, and the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Unfortunately, the U.S. was not as kind to the talking robot as the rest of the world. Only two weeks into the trip hitchBOT was vandalized and decapitated. This took place in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia.
HitchBOT tweeted about it:
The researchers made a statement after hitchBOT was vandalized:
We know that many of hitchBOT’s fans will be disappointed, but we want them to be assured that this great experiment is not over. For now we will focus on the question “what can be learned from this?” and explore future adventures for robots and humans."
An Update to the story: Someone brought the remains of hitchBOT to a Kevin Smith show in Brooklyn. Kevin Smith predicted the demise of hitchBOT several years ago on his podcast Smodcast when he first heard about the project.
http://www.sciencealert.com/the-hitchbot-experiment-has-come-to-a-violent-end-in-philadelphia
Facebook Launches Live Video Stream
Tech Crunch reports that Facebook is launching a live video streaming function, similar to Meerkat, and Parascope, that’s only available to celebrities with a verified Page.
VIPs can start a Live broadcast that’s posted to the News Feed, watch comments overlaid in real-time on their stream, and then make the recording permanently available for viewing. Stars like The Rock and Serena Williams will stream this week.
http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/05/facescope/#.dlih31:l9uP
Never Buy Ink Cartridges again
Epson has launched its EcoTank series of printers that replace expensive ink cartridges with stations you can just refill with ink from a bottle. The Eco Tank series is a bit more expensive to buy (ranging from $379 to $1,199 ) but the money you save on ink cartridges makes them a lot less expensive long term.
For example the Epson WorkForce ET-4550 EcoTank All-in-One comes with enough ink for a whopping 11,000 black pages if you print in monochrome only, or 8,500 color pages. In a home office that prints 10 pages per day on average, five days a week, that works out to more than three years' worth of ink in color and four years in black.
That’s also equal to about 20 ink cartridges which at an average cost of $10 each is $200. While refiling the EcoTank will cost you $12 for individual ink bottles or $59 for a full set including color.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2489056,00.asp
Microsoft Gamescon announcements
This week at Gamescon Microsoft made several announcements
1. Microsoft announced that the Xbox One would get its own DVR and streams over-the-air TV recordings to any Windows 10 device with the Xbox app or SmartGlass on iOS and Android.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/08/04/xbox-one-dvr/
2. All Xbox One owners will gain access to backwards compatibility in November. Backwards compatibility won’t allow all Xbox 360 titles to become playable on Xbox One. No games that rely on USB peripherals orKinect will work.
3. Microsoft announced a World E-Sports Championship with $1 million in prizes. The championship will focus mainly on Halo 5's Arena multiplayer.
While $1 million may seem like a lot for a video game competition Valve offered $18 million in prizes during the Dota 2 International Championships.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/4/9094451/halo-5-guardians-xbox-gamescom-2015/in/8859122
New World of Warcraft expansion named Legion
This week at Gamescon Blizzard announced a new expansion pack for their massively popular online game World of Warcraft. The expansion is named Legion and storyline involves the return of the burning legion, a army of powerful demons.
Also included in the new expansion: A New Continent- The Broken Isles, the Level Cap is going to be raised to 110, New Dungeons and Raids, New Artifact Weapons, and A New hero Class- the Demon Hunter.
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/8/6/watch-the-trailer-for-the-world-of-warcraft-expansion
Kevin Smith auctions Jorts for Charity
Kevin Smith, acclaimed director and podcaster, has lost over 85 lbs recently. With all that weight loss he’s been forced to buy a new wardrobe and decided to auction three pairs of his famous cut-off jeans to support of his charity, The Wayne Foundation. The Wayne Foundation is committed to spreading awareness of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Domestic Minor Sexual Trafficking occurring within the United States.
The highest bid currently is $340 with about 2 days left on the auction.
You can also directly donate to the Wayne foundation at waynefdn.org/donate
http://givingworks.ebay.com/kevin-smith/
Dragonball Z RESURRECTION makes $1.97 million opening day in the U.S.
Box Office Mojo reports that Funimation's limited theatrical run of the Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' film earned $1.97 Million on its opening night on Tuesday.
The film ranked #6 in overall box office gross for August 4.
Sony announces massive reboot schedule of popular movies
Sony Pictures has announced the release dates of 16 films slated for 2016, 2017, and 2019, including Ghostbusters, Jumanji, The Magnificent Seven, The Dark Tower, Resident Evil 6, Uncharted, as well as Bad Boys 3 and Bad Boys 4.
The movies that aren't sequels or reboots on this list will have big name talent behind and in front of the camera: Money Monster stars Julia Roberts and George Clooney and will be directed by Jodie Foster; Passengers is a science fiction romance featuring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence; The Lamb is the feature film debut of award-winning animator Timothy Reckart; and Baby Driver will be Edgar Wright's first film since leaving the production of Ant-Man.
The full list
Money Monster - 4/8/16
The Shallows - 6/24/16
Ghostbusters - 7/15/16
Patient Zero - 9/2/16
The Magnificent Seven - 9/23/16
Underworld 5 - 10/21/16
Passengers - 12/21/16
Jumanji - 12/25/16
The Dark Tower - 1/13/17
Resident Evil 6 - 1/27/17
Bad Boys 3 - 2/17/17
Baby Driver - 3/17/17
Barbie - 6/2/17
Uncharted - 6/30/17
The Lamb - 12/8/17
Bad Boys 4 - 7/3/19
A nightmare on Elm Street gets a reboot
Just six years after New Line Cinema rebooted Wes Craven’s classic horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street the first time, news has come down the pike that they’re planning on rebooting the seminal horror movie once more.
According to sources, David Leslie Johnson, the writer behind the recent horror flick The Orphanis, is set to write the screenplay. Jackie Earle Haley, who played Freddy in the reboot, isn’t expected to return, as the studio is looking for a “younger actor.”
http://nerdist.com/freddy-krueger-returns-for-another-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-reboot/
Dungeons and Dragons movie announced by Warner Brothers
This week Warner Brothers and Hasbro issued a press release stating their intent to make a big budget Dungeons and Dragons movie.
“We are so excited about bringing the world of Dungeons & Dragons to life on the big screen,” said Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures. “This is far and away the most well-known brand in fantasy, which is the genre that drives the most passionate film followings. D&D has endless creative possibilities, giving our filmmakers immense opportunities to delight and thrill both fans and moviegoers new to the property.”
http://comicbook.com/2015/08/03/dungeons-dragons-movie-officially-announced/
Fox working on X-Men TV series
Fox Network co-chairman Dana Walden revealed this week that the network is actively pursuing a TV series based on Marvel’s X-Men.
“We’re in negotiations with Marvel,” Walden revealed to the press. “We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to announce something soon. It’s something we’re definitely pursuing.”
Walden also clarified that an X-Men TV show, which he described as a “long-running” series, could only include characters from Fox’s X-Men Movie Universe, as per licensing contracts with Marvel and Marvel Studios.
“The characters from the X-Men franchise are with Fox on the feature [films] side, so we won’t be including Marvel characters that are at ABC with Disney.”
http://comicbook.com/2015/08/06/x-men-tv-series-confirmed-in-the-works-at-fox/
Death of a Wrestling Legend
This past Friday, the world was rocked by the news of WWE Hall-of-Fame wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper succumbing to a fatal heart attack at the age of 61. The WWE began Monday Night Raw with a five-minute tribute to the wrestler with the larger-than-life personality.
The emotional farewell kicked off with a ten-bell salute and then transition to a video highlighting the tremendous life of Roddy Piper, whose birth name was actually Roderick Toomes. He'll be remembered as one of the most-loved villains in WWE history, who pioneered the talk show segments that have become prevalent and was one of the first wrestlers to find success out of the ring as a professional actor in the movie They Live.
http://comicbook.com/2015/08/04/wwe-pays-tribute-to-rowdy-roddy-piper/
Trailers of the Week
Deadpool
Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/8/5/deadpool-trailer
Everest
Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.
http://geektyrant.com/news/breathtaking-new-trailer-for-the-disaster-thriller-everest
Guardians of the Galaxy animated series
Our first sneak peek at the new Guardians of the Galaxy animated series sets us at a time right after Peter Quill (Star-Lord) was taken by the Ravagers. We get to see Peter meet Yondu for the first time and the effects of meeting a earthling has on the band of space pirates.
A Guardians of the Galaxy preview episode will air on Saturday, September 5, before the series premieres on September 26, on Disney XD. But if you don’t want to wait, an episode is already available on iTunes.
Blunt Talk
“Blunt Talk,” follows Walter Blunt, a British import intent on conquering American nightly cable news and his mostly misguided decision-making, on and off the air. Series premiere August 22 9P ET/PT.
Goodnight Mommy
In the heat of the summer lays a lonesome house in the countryside where nine year old twin brothers await their mother’s return. When she comes home, bandaged after cosmetic surgery, nothing is like before and the children start to doubt whether this woman is actually who she says she is. What ensues is a terrifying observational struggle with fatal consequences on par with THE SHINING and DEAD RINGERS.
In Theaters - September 11
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/8/1/watch-the-trailer-for-horror-film-goodnight-mommy
Stone Wall
STONEWALL is a drama about a fictional young man caught up during the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Danny Winters (Jeremy Irvine) is forced to leave behind friends and loved ones when he is kicked out of his parent’s home and flees to New York. Alone in Greenwich Village, homeless and destitute, he befriends a group of street kids who soon introduce him to the local watering hole The Stonewall Inn; however, this shady, mafia-run club is far from a safe-haven. As Danny and his friends experience discrimination, endure atrocities and are repeatedly harassed by the police, we see a rage begin to build. This emotion runs through Danny and the entire community of young gays, lesbians and drag queens who populate the Stonewall Inn and erupts in a storm of anger. With the toss of a single brick, a riot ensues and a crusade for equality is born.
Stonewall in in theaters Sept. 25th
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/8/4/watch-the-trailer-for-stonewall
The Last Witch Hunter
The Last Witch Hunter—a movie where immortal Vin Diesel teams up with Rose Leslie and Elijah Wood to kill Witches and skeletal monsters.
In theaters Oct. 23rd
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/8/6/watch-the-trailer-for-the-last-witch-hunter
Sneaky Pete
From Executive Producers David Shore and Bryan Cranston, Sneaky Pete revolves around a con-man (Giovanni Ribisi) who, after leaving prison, takes cover from his past by assuming the identity of his cellmate, Pete. He moves in with Pete’s unsuspecting family and is roped into the family’s bail bond business. In order to keep the charade up, he plays the part of a skip tracer, taking down criminals worse than himself—and discovering a family life he’s never had
The series is available now on Amazon
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/8/3/watch-the-trailer-for-sneaky-pete
For a review of the topics we covered and any of the links in show notes for this episode visit our site geekbytespodcast.com
If you have any comments or news suggestions for us, please e-mail us at feedback@geekbytespodcast.com
Onto our Discussion section
(Music 3)
Discussion-
· The Fantastic Four
o Deadpool Trailer
That will be it for us this week.
Thanks for listening folks. Now Go Geek out about something.
(Music 4)
Music Credits
"Happy Bee", "Movement Proposition", "Theme for Harold (var.3) ", "Take the Lead"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/