Episode 75 - Suicide Squad and Star Wars TV
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Welcome to episode 75 of Geek Bytes Podcast.
I’m Ramon Mejia……I’m Edgar Acosta
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 the $72 million Bitcoin Hack, the Note 7, the new Splash movie, the Star Wars TV show and much much more..
In our discussion section we’ll talk about ...Our review of the Suicide Squad.
Now let’s Begin our show with Geek News
(Music 2)
Geek News
We begin with…
Hackers Steal $72 Million in Bitcoin From Hong Kong Exchange
Hong Kong bitcoin exchange Bitfinex reported this week that hackers had stolen 119,756 bitcoin, which is worth as much as $72 million dollars (with some reports going even higher). News of the hack sent bitcoin tumbling 23 percent, with its current value hovering around $556. Bitfinex confirmed that no other digital currency except bitcoin was targeted in the hack. The hack represents the largest Bitcoin theft on record.
http://gizmodo.com/hackers-steal-72-million-in-bitcoin-from-honk-kong-exc-1784757592
New Note 7
(Play Video 1)
Samsung announced its new 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 7 phone Tuesday.
The internals are similar to the S7 Edge.
It is dust and water resistant and can be submerged up to 1 meter underwater.
The Note 7 uses USB-C, has a 3500mAh battery, and 64GB of internal storage but has expandable storage slot.
It also has an infrared iris scanner than can be used to unlock the phone.
There is also a GIF creator mode that lets the user take create a GIF from any video on the screen.
Pre-orders for the Note 7 begin August 3 in the US for shipping August 19. Pricing will vary by carrier but will be higher than $770.
Updated Gear VR
An updated Samsung Gear VR was announced with a flattened touchpad, a dedicated menu button, an increase from 96 to 101-degree field of view and USB-C and microUSB connectors inside with a data-capable USB-C port on the bottom which can now be used for accessories as well as charging. It also changes color from white to dark blue. You can preorder for $99 and the product will August 19. Samsung also announced its Gear 360 VR camera will go on sale in the US August 19 for $349. http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/2/12351122/samsung-gear-360-us-release-date-price-announced http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/2/12343650/samsung-gear-vr-usb-c-touchpad-update-price-announced
Instagram copies Snapchat
Instagram added a new feature called Stories this week that lets you post photos and 10-second videos that disappear after 24 hours. Since ideas and generic names can't be protected by law, Snapchat will likely not be able to sue. Instagram Stories will appear in a row at the top of your feed. It will roll out worldwide to iOS and Android over the next few weeks. https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/02/instagram-stories/?ncid=rss
Chinese Elevated Bus real!
(Play video 2)
Techcrunch passed along a story from China Xinhua (shoon-huwah) News about a test of an elevated bus that travels over traffic in a port city 200 miles east of Beijing. The Transit Elevated Bus tested braking and power consumption in a brief test. The electric powered bus is 72-feet long and 25-feet wide, and straddles multiple lanes of traffic. It can carry up to 300 passengers and travel up to 40mph.
Rogue One’s new Spaceship
Revealed on The Star Wars Show. Rogue One will introduce a new class of ship to the Star Wars universe, the U-wing. Officially called the Incom UT-60D, the U-wing is both fighter and transport. Lucasfilm Story Group Executive Matt Martin explained that, “It’s a troop transport and gunship, so it’s there to bring in rebel troops to heavy fire zones and get out as quickly as possible,” he said. “The wings move depending on the situation, and it’s there to both drop off troops and provide air support.”
http://nerdist.com/new-rogue-one-vehicle-revealed-on-the-star-wars-show/
Pumpkinhead Returns
Saw franchise producer Peter Block has picked up the rights to the 1988 horror film Pumpkinhead, and he plans on rebooting the horror franchise. According to Entertainment Weekly, he’s currently on the hunt for a director to take on the project, which he is planning as a theatrical release.
The original film was directed by the great Stan Winston and starred Aliens actor Lance Henriksen. The story centers on a man who summons a terrifying demon called Pumpkinhead to destroy the teenagers who killed the man’s son in a tragic accident.
http://geektyrant.com/news/the-1988-horror-film-pumpkinshead-is-getting-a-remake
DEATH NOTE MOVIE ADDS WILLEM DAFOE AS RYUK THE SHINIGAMI
The upcoming adaptation of the mega-popular Japanese manga and anime series Death Note has cast Willem Dafoe as Ryuk the the Shinigami. The film, which co-stars Nat Wolff, Keith Stanfield, Shea Whigham, Margaret Qualley, and Paul Nakauchi, will debut on Netflix in 2017.
The critically acclaimed manga, follows Light Yagami, a high school student who comes across a mysterious notebook (the “Death Note”) with a terrible power: anyone whose name he writes in the notebook will die within 24 hours.
http://nerdist.com/death-note-movie-adds-willem-dafoe-as-ryuk-the-shinigami/
CHANNING TATUM WILL PLAY THE MERMAID IN A SPLASH REMAKE
Deadline reports,that Channing Tatum will soon take up the fins of the mermaid a remake of the classic movie Splash.
Playing opposite Tatum—the Tom Hanks to his Daryl Hannah, so to speak—will be comedian Jillian Bell (Idiotsitter, Workaholics), a fellow 22 Jump Street star and a major driving force behind the development of this new project.
http://nerdist.com/channing-tatum-will-play-the-mermaid-in-a-splash-remake/
No More Infinity Wars Part 2
According to a recent update from Walt Disney Studios release schedule, Avengers Infinity War: Part One and Part Two are going to change.
Avengers: Infinity War will be released as planned on May 4, 2018 and what was scheduled to be the second part in that story has now been changed to an “Untitled Avengers” film.
http://www.screengeek.net/2016/07/29/avengers-infinity-war-will-not-be-split-into-two-movies/
Star Wars TV
This week, ABC network's entertainment president Channing Dungey was asked about the possibility of a new primetime Star Wars television series. Dungey didn't just express interest in that idea, but also confirmed that negotiations are happening now with Lucasfilms regarding a new series.
http://epicstream.com/news/Lucasfilm--ABC-in-Talks-To-Produce-A-Primetime-Star-Wars-TV-Series
HBO CONFIRMS GAME OF THRONES WILL END WITH SEASON 8
Soon after announcing that Season 7 will only be seven episodes long, HBO's new president of programming, Casey Bloys, revealed that Season 8 will in fact be the show's final run. Enjoy the show for the next two seasons folks.
http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/07/30/hbo-confirms-game-of-thrones-will-end-with-season-8
That’s it for Geek News
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 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…
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Our Review of the Suicide Squad
Rate it 7.5-8.0
Better than Batman V Superman, Not as fun as Deadpool.
Takes a little while to get going but that’s expected of any origin story film.
Highlights:
Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn
Music Score - Sweet
Will Smith was the best actor in the movie
El Diablo (Jay Hernandez) touching story of attempted redemption. Reformed cholo gangster.
Enchantress looked cool as the movies villainess
Taking the Marvel approach. Referencing other events in DC movies. Superman arrival and death. Upcoming Justice League search.
Disappointments
Jared Leto as the Joker- Disappointing. Film better without him.
Croc - Only has one purpose
Katana - small backstory, not much else
Hoping for rated R violence
After watching the trailers, expected more fun.
Cameos
Batman and Bruce Wayne
Flash
That’s it for the show.
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.
(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/