Episode 64 –  Google VR and TV trailers Galore

 

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I’m Ramon Mejia…….and I’m Edgar Acosta

Welcome to another episode of Geek Bytes Podcast.

Today is May 20th, 2016 and this is episode 64 of the podcast.

Every podcast we bring you the roundup of the week’s best Geek and Tech news, then we discuss that news and anything else we’re interested in that week.

In Geek News this week, we’ll talk about  Google I/O announcements, self driving semis, the Harley Quinn spinn off movie, trailers of the week and much much more..

In our Discussion section  we’ll talk about the 32 new TV shows coming out later this year. Which we liked and which we’ll skip.

Now let’s Begin our show with Geek News

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Geek News  

We begin with…

Google I/O news

Google made a slew of announcements this week on new projects, updated plans, and what’s next for Google. Here are the most interesting announcements of the week.

  • Google’s next operating system, code named Android N, is apparently far enough along that Google thinks it's ready for more people to try it out. This third beta release is out now. If you want to opt in, you'll be able to do so at Android's website. You can also submit what you think the “N” in Android N should be since Google is taking name submissions.

 

  • Google announced a voice-activated device called Home that has a speaker in the base and integrates with other cast devices like Chromecast Video and audio, and supports home networking systems for Home Control. Google Home won't arrive until later this year so Amazon’s Echo doesn’t have to worry until then.

 

  • Google also announced a messaging app called Allo.  It includes a the voice-activated smart assistant and an incognito mode that offers, end-to-end encryption, discreet notifications and permanent deletion of messages. It's coming to iOS and Android this summer. https://youtu.be/QJ3WV8N92Hs

 

  • Google also announced VR Mode in Android N and the Daydream platform for VR development which gives VR apps exclusive access to the device’s processor cores. Looks like Google’s recognized the success of the GearVR and wants all devices running android to be able to get VR now. https://youtu.be/KNR4j1DJ4Cc

 

  • Google’s VR Head Clay Bavor confirmed Google will sell its own version of DayDream VR gear saying on stage at I/O, “And, by the way, it’s not just going to be partners building from the reference design, we, Google, are also going to build a controller and a headset and make it available.” Google is partnering with Epic Games and the Unity on the motion-sensing controller.

Self Driving Semi Trucks

Backchannel reports on Otto a startup founded by Anthony Levandowski, the man who built Google’s first self-driving car, and three other ex-Google engineers. The company has bought and retrofitted three Volvo truck cabs with lidar, radar and cameras and driven them sometimes with no human occupant, on highways in Nevada. Otto plans to sell after-market self-driving kits at a fraction of the cost of a new cab. Initially the tech will only work on highways, exit to exit.

https://backchannel.com/the-man-who-built-googles-first-self-driving-car-is-now-a-trucker-aa1726d3a36f#.9bsrfil7l         

Gesture Control for Gear VR                                            

Eyesight Technologies has developed gesture control that uses a phone’s rear camera allowing touch-free input for Things like GearVR and Cardboard.

No mention on when it will come to phones-- though Engadget says Eyesight is bringing its control scheme to phones with built-in 3D sensors.

https://youtu.be/70Cnd2WdAMU     

http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/17/gesture-control-for-phone-vr/

 

Touchscreen Arm

PC Magazine reports that Samsung has received a patent for a small projector that can display UI elements on skin and read behaviors to translate into mobile or virtual actions. PC Mag notes Carnegie Mellon researchers introduced SkinTrack last month, a similar system for turning your arm or hand into a touch screen. That system uses a high-frequency AC-signal-emitting ring to communicate with electrodes in a wristband.

http://www.pcmag.com/news/344485/samsung-patent-tips-wearable-projector

 

Samsung Galaxy Surfboard

Samsung Brazil has created a commercial featuring Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina and a wild Samsung Galaxy Surfboard concept.

It looks like any regular sleek surfboard, except it has an LED display that's powered by a Samsung Galaxy S7 that slots into the base of the board.

The surfboard can feed live conditions of the sea straight onto the display, alongside wind direction and the frequency / height of waves. Trainers can even send surfers messages to help improve their technique.

https://youtu.be/Y8yrfnT-PtI

http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/5/11/11657666/samsung-galaxy-surfboard

 

Tetris Movie in development

According to Deadline the Tetris movie project is eyed as an $80 million China-U.S. co-production under Threshold Global Studios,Threshold Global Studios, a new banner formed by Bruno Wu and producer Larry Kasanoff. Threshold has been working with The Tetris Company for over a year, presumably to flesh out story details and really make sure they were nailing the deep, rich mythology of blocks falling into rows.

https://youtu.be/CvUK-YWYcaE

https://deadline.com/2016/05/tetris-the-movie-bruno-wu-larry-kasanoff-threshold-global-china-cannes-1201758000/

 

Transformers 5 gets Title

Paramount Pictures has announced that the official title for the fifth installment of director Michael Bay's Transformers film franchise will be titled Transformers: The Last Knight

Production on the new Transformers movie is scheduled to start on June 6th in Detroit and will be followed by a Bumblebee spin-off film set to come out in 2018 and then Transformers 6 arrives in 2019.

http://geektyrant.com/news/the-official-title-for-transformers-5-is-transformers-the-last-knight

 

Harley Quinn Spin Off Movie in Works

Everyone is already in love with with Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn in the upcoming Suicide Squad movie. So much so that there are reports that Margot Robbie and Warner Brothers are already working on a Harley Quinn spin off movie. Some other characters that might be apart of the film include Batgirl and the all female superhero team Birds of Prey.

http://geektyrant.com/news/margot-robbie-and-warner-bros-are-developing-a-harley-quinn-spinoff-movie

 

Save Agent Carter

Last week we reported that ABC canceled the Marvel tv show Agent Carter after less than stellar ratings this season. However, fans have started a petition on Change.Org to save the show and bring it to Netflix. They already have over 90,000 signatures and a goal of 150,000. Netflix has done amazing things with the Marvel titles they’ve made and we hope they can save the amazing show Agent Carter.

https://www.change.org/p/netflix-save-agent-carter-bring-her-to-netflix

 

Buckaroo Banzai TV

On episode 246 of the Kevin Smith’s podcast Hollywood Babble On, he confirmed that he’s in talks with MGM to create a TV version of the cult movie Buckaroo Banzai. Apparently, the episode of the Flash he directed aired MGM approached him with the opportunity. Kevin Smith accepted citing the project as a dream writing project.

https://youtu.be/ii9n8CMpLMk

 

That’s it for Geek New.

If you like the podcast and want to help support us you can find out all the ways to do so at geekbytespodcast.com/support

Now We’ll move on to trailers of the week.

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In our Trailers of the Week section we discuss the best trailers that came out this week. Remember you can watch the full trailers at geekbytespodcast.com; We begin this week with…

The BFG

A Big Friendly Giant brings Sophie, a 10 year old girl, to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams. Having both been on their own in the world up until now, their affection for one another quickly grows, but Sophie’s presence in Giant Country has attracted the unwanted attention of the other giants, who have become increasingly more bothersome.

https://youtu.be/y1fZg0hhBX8

 

Ghostbusters

This is the 2nd international trailer for the movie and I like it better than the ‘made for the USA’ versions. There are still great jokes but it doesn’t give away most of the movie. You also get to see more of the larger cast of the film including some SNL alumni. Looking forward to seeing these ladies kick some ghost butt on July 15th.

https://youtu.be/qH5rgRXkgAk

 

Mr. Robot Season 2.0

MR. ROBOT follows Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), a young cyber-security engineer who becomes involved in the underground hacker group fsociety, after being recruited by their mysterious leader (Christian Slater). Following the events of fsociety’s hack on multi-national company Evil Corp, the second season will explore the consequences of that attack as well as the illusion of control.

https://youtu.be/YibylhkLwGo

 

Outcast

Based on the comic created by Robert Kirkman, creator of the Walking Dead, this Cinemax show is a supernatural horror that chronicles the story of Kyle Barnes, a man whose loved ones are involved in demonic possession since his childhood. As an adult, with the help of a reverend, he tries to unveil what lies behind the supernatural manifestations and why he seems to carry special peculiarities.

https://youtu.be/GKJMlq7Xh8I  

That’s it for Trailers of the week. Now onto our Discussion section

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In our discussion section we talk about anything we find interesting that doesn’t fit in with the News section. This week we’re talking about…

The New Summer and Fall shows

We’ve collected 36 trailers for new TV shows coming out. Which are you looking forward to seeing?

  • Vice Principals --Danny McBride fights for a chance to be vice principal.

  • Shooter

  • Good Behavior

  • Will

Fox

  • Lethal Weapon

  • The Exorcist

  • Son of Zorn-- Live action + animation, workplace humor

  • 24: Legacy

  • Pitch -- My wife liked pitch. The 1st female MLB pitcher.

  • Making History --Time travelers start the American Revolution. Need I say more?

  • The Mick --Two bit hustler must be an aunt to her rich sisters kids while she’s in jail. Hilarity!

  • Shots Fired

  • Star-- Foster kids become Girl Group

  • APB-- Cops get Biliaire sponsor

 

NBC

  • The Good Place--Kristen Bell goes to Heaven, comedy

  • This is Us

  • Timeless--History teacher Timecop,action suspense

ABC

  • Uncle Buck

  • Designated Survivor--Kiefer Sutherland is the Prez

  • Notorious

  • Speechless -- Minnie Driver is a mom fighting for her disabled kid, in a funny way.

  • Downward Dog--Talking Dog

  • Still Star Crossed

  • Conviction--Agent Carter overturns convictions

  • Time After Time--H.G Well and Jack the Ripper Time travel

  • Imaginary Mary--Jenna Elfman has an imaginary friend, rom-com

  • American Housewife--Molly’s sister gets big and married

 

The CW

  • No Tomorrow--Rom-Com. Hot girl falls for guy who thinks world is ending soon.

  • Frequency--Based on the movie. Time Travel! At least sound.

  • The Great Indoors--What Jeff Winger does after Community ends

  • Pure Genius

  • MacGyver

  • Bull--Anthony Dinozzo is a trial consultant

  • Training Day

  • Kevin Can Wait--Retired Kevin James comedy

  • Man with a Plan--Retired Matt LeBlanc comedy

http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2016/5/19/e4fu3jd1fl16qk8zkhflmu2avwvq90

That’s it for the show.

Remember to check out our website, geekbytespodcast.com, for all the links from the podcast and our original content like author interview, reviews, and recommendations.

Thanks for watching and listening.

For the Geek Bytes Podcast I’m Ramon Mejia and I’m Edgar Acosta. Now Go Geek out about something.

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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/