by Chris Ullrich, Nov 9 2011 // 12:00 PM
Once the dominant player in the mobile and web content delivery space, Adobe’s Flash has seen quite a backlash against it in recent years. In truth, tt was always kind of a pain, at least for me, made websites look pretty ugly and often hogged system resources on my Macs to the point of crashing the entire system.
But the beginning of the end was probably Apple and then CEO Steve Jobs’ staunch refusal to include Flash on any of its iOS devices, including the iPhone and iPad. At the time some commented that Apple was making a big mistake in not including Flash on its devices. Now it looks like those people may have to reconsider their opinions.
According to reports, Adobe says it will “no longer adapt” the once-dominant program for handling multimedia and animation on computers and mobile devices. In an email to developers Adobe added that it will “continue to support the current Android and PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates.”
Previously, former Apple CEO Steve Jobs led the opposition to the program, which he said in 2010 was “unreliable, vulnerable to hacking, a battery hog, and gave Adobe too much power over the services that could be offered on mobile devices.” Besides, power over mobile devices was his job, not Adobe’s. I kid, I kid. Much love to Steve.
At the time, Apple, Google, and Microsoft said they preferred an open system: the pretty cool and easy to use HTML5. However, in spite of this, Flash survived and was incorporated on Google Android and BlackBerry smartphones — until now. Although, having used a few Android phones with Flash enabled, it was still pretty much a POS.
However, now it looks like even Adobe has seen the proverbial writing on the wall and has decided to end mobile Flash and concentrate on HTML 5. Smart move. A bit late, but smart nonetheless. Now let’s hope they end up killing Flash altogether and we never, ever have to see it again.
Posted in: Android · Apple · Mobile · Mobile Apps · News · Software · Tech
Tagged: Adobe, Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Kills Flash, Android, Flash, Google, iOS, iPad, iPad 2, iPhone, iPhone 4S, Mobile, Software, Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs Hates Flash
by Joe Gillis, Nov 9 2011 // 10:30 AM
Many times when previews arrive for upcoming comics we will take a few moments and talk about them and how cool they seems. This time around, however, we’re going to let the preview artwork for Marvel’s upcoming Carnage speak for itself — mostly. Besides, we didn’t do that with the trailer from earlier today so really, why start now?
Even though the artwork is pretty impressive, we do want to provide a bit of the story, just to help set things up. Here’s the scoop on the comic, which is written by Zeb Wells with art by Clayton Crain, directly from Marvel:
Leaving a wake of bloodshed, no one is safe from Carnage’s lunacy – even the Avengers! Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man and more of Earth’s Mightiest must go on a brutal hunt to capture Cletus Kasady before the American heartland falls under his mass-murdering spell.
Sounds good, right? Ok, let’s get to the images.
Check them out after the break. Look for Carnage #1 to arrive on December 7th.
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Posted in: Comic Previews · Comics · Marvel · News
Tagged: Captain America, Carnage, Carnage #1, Clayton Crain, Cletus Kasaday, Comic Previews, Comics, Iron Man, Marvel, Spider-Man, The Avengers, Zeb Wells
by Joe Gillis, Nov 9 2011 // 9:00 AM
Normally, we make you read through a bunch of stuff and then you can click through to see the trailer we’re talking about. Not this time friends.
This time, the trailer is right here, in your face. That’s right, the latest trailer for Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is here and it’s here for you. Narrated by Suleiman the Magnificent (The Lawgiver), it tells his story a story of a man who will need the help of the assassins and Ezio to resolve a power struggle.
Okay, we may have lied just a bit. The trailer is actualy afteet the jump. Sorry about that. The bosses won’t let us put things on the front page. Not sure why but we like our jobs so there you go.
So, on that note, click through to check it out. Look for Assassin’s Creed: Revelations later this month.
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Posted in: Game Trailers · Games · News · Video Games
Tagged: Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Ezio, Game Trailers, Trailers, Ubisoft
by Joe Gillis, Nov 9 2011 // 7:30 AM
For you comic book lovers torn between Amazon’s upcoming Kindle Fire and the newly announced Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet — with all its reported Marvel comics goodness – here’s a bit of news to help fuel your debate. Or, perhaps, solve it.
ComiXology has officially announced their app, which features an array of thousands of comics from several publishers, will be included as a built-in with Amazon’s device and will ship with it at launch.
“Launching with a $199 price point makes Amazon’s Kindle Fire a great device for making comics accessible to the masses and the vibrant 7” screen is perfect for our Guided View reading system,” said CTO and co-Founder John Roberts.
This is good news for anyone who was worried the Nook Tablet might have the advantage over the Kindle Fire in the comic book reader competition. ComiXology has so many great comics it doesn’t seem like those who ordered a Kindle Fire, and wanted to use it to read comics, have any reason to be jealous of their Nook-using pals.
The Amazon Kindle Fire is available for pre-order now. Although, if you want one any time soon you better hurry as demand has been pretty big.
Check out the full press release from ComiXology after the break.
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Posted in: Android · Comics · Mobile · Mobile Apps · News · Software · Tech
Tagged: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Comics, Comixology, DC, Digital Comics, ePub, Image Comics, Kindle Fire, Marvel, Mobile Content, Nook Tablet
by Jonathan Weilbaecher, Nov 8 2011 // 3:06 PM

We told you yesterday about the new Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet, and it looks amazing. Lot’s of features that you see on lots of different tablets, and some interesting bells and whistles, but the new Nook Tablet does have a few tricks up it’s sleeve. Beginning next week the Nook will be offering the world’s largest collection of digital Marvel Graphic Novels.
This is potentially huge news because even in a world of digital day and date releases of single issues, many readers still prefer to wait for the collected editions. The explosion of book stores like Barnes & Noble really helped fuel a “wait for the trades” mentality amongst comic fans who have grown tired of the complexity of keeping up with single issues. So there is a nice symmetry to having a Barnes & Noble tablet lead the way in digital graphic novels.
Reading comics digitally is just now coming into play in a major way. With DC releasing it’s major titles digitally day and date and Marvel making advances to do the same, digital comic consumption could save the industry that gave the world so many iconic characters. It is also smart of Barnes & Noble to focus on the graphic novel side of the marketplace, digital distribution could hinder trade sales, so utilizing the oft proven “if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em” strategy could prove very lucrative.
Full details, including a sampling of what graphic novels will be available for the Nook Tablet, after the jump
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Posted in: Android · Announcements · Books · Comics · Hardware · Marvel · Mobile · Mobile Apps · News
Tagged: Announcments, Apps, Barnes & Noble, Comics, Digital, Graphic Novels, Marvel, News, Nook Tablet, Tablet
by Jonathan Weilbaecher, Nov 8 2011 // 12:00 PM
The music in a Super Hero film is one of the most important aspects to making an iconic movie. The characters are larger than life, and that needs to be translated into the music. Going back to Superman, almost all of the best Super Hero movies have had the support of an iconic score.
So when Marvel is putting together the biggest Super Hero movie of all time it is only a natural that they are going with one of the greatest action/adventure composers of all time, Alan Silvestri. According to his own website, Silvestri will be writing the score for The Avengers, the culmination of five Marvel Studios productions that have introduced all of the principle heroes and villains.
Silvestri composed the wonderful Captain America score, and with that film being the closet thing to a prequel to The Avengers it is great to get a chance to hear a good progression of themes from one movie to another. Although I will have to admit to a little bit of disappointment that David Newman isn’t getting a crack at this movie. Newman composed the score for director Joss Whedon’s first feature film, Serenity, and has a fantastic knack for action scores himself.
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Posted in: Action · Announcements · Comics · Marvel · Marvel Studios · Movies · Music · News · Sci-Fi
Tagged: Alan Silvestri, Announcments, Avengers, Captain America, Comics, composer, Film Score, Marvel, Movies, Music, News
by John Carle, Nov 8 2011 // 10:30 AM
Check out the latest episode of the Bitcast with JC and WallE as they explore the world of gaming. In the news, the two reflect on the Grand Theft Auto V launch trailer and recap their predictions from the last episode and see who did better. Also discussed are the November 8th PSN releases of Crono Cross, Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI.
In the Topic of the Week section, the Bitcast takes a look at the Free to Play gaming model which is becoming more and more prevelent in gaming today. The two discuss both the merits and concerns of the concept, look at how it has been implemented in existing titles and talk about what it can have in store for the future.
In their Now Playing, WallE has a throwback moment as he looks back at the original Uncharted for the PS3. JC expands further on his time with his review for Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure.
Posted in: First Impressions · Game Reviews · Game Trailers · Games · Nintendo · Nintendo 3DS · Nintendo DS · PC Games · Playstation 3 · PlayStationNetwork · Rockstar Games · Video Games · Wii · Xbox 360
Tagged: Activision, Crono Cross, Fable III, Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Free-to-Play, Grand Theft Auto V, League of Legends, MMOs, Nintendo, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Playstation, Playstation 3, Rockstar Games, Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, SquareEnix, Uncharted, Wii, XBox, Xbox 360, XBox Live
by Jason Inman, Nov 8 2011 // 10:00 AM
Everyone knows that Wednesday is new comic book day. While picking up your new issues consider looking at some of the trade paperbacks and hard covers of past issues and story lines. But which ones should you choose?
That’s why every Tuesday, The Flickcast will recommend a collection of comics that are just as good, if not better, than the issues you are currently buying. Books that deserve to be read, and bought the next time you walk into your local comic book store.
“I mock the costume. I mock my father — his life. I am a fool.” – Jack Knight – Starman #1
Everyone can relate to having problems with your father. No matter what you do, you always believe you’re not living up to his example, but imagine if your father was a superhero. A famous superhero that has saved the world several times, and is one of the most amazing inventors ever. How hard would it be to live up to his example then? That’s what this Trade Paperback Tuesday’s pick is all about.
The Starman Omnibus Vol #1 collects Starman issues #0-#16. Written by British writer James Robinson, and illustrated by Tony Harris, Starman was a series that followed the adventures of Jack Knight, son of Ted Knight, better known as the legendary hero of Opal City, Starman.
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Posted in: Comic Reviews · Comics · DC · DC Entertainment · Editorial and Opinion · Features
Tagged: dc comics, DC Universe, Jack Knight, James Robinson, Starman, Starman Omnibus Vol #1, Ted Knight, Tony Harris, Trade Paperback Tuesday
by Matt Raub, Nov 8 2011 // 8:30 AM
Last Sunday, Adult Swim premiered their newest foray into the realm of live action spoofs: The Heart, She Holler. Consider it Twin Peaks meets Passions with loads of incest and moments you can’t forget if you tried.
We got the chance to speak with the series’ star, Patton Oswalt, about the insanity of the show on Friday, and even he couldn’t do it justice with a description. Now, we’ve got the mastermind behind the show, Vernon Chatman, to shed some light on the its origin. Let’s see if he can do a better job.
Chatman is best known for some of the weirdest and funniest television of the past few years like Wonder Showzen, Xavier: Renegade Angel, and even doing tons of work (not to mention being the voice of “Towlie”) for South Park.
After the jump, check out what Chatman had to say about The Heart, She Holler, and catch the miniseries airing every night this week, and repeating every night after Sunday at 12:45pm, only on Adult Swim.
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Posted in: Action · Adult Swim · Cartoon Network · Celebrities · Comedy · Drama · Exclusive · Geek · Interviews · News · TV · Video
Tagged: Kristen Schaal, Patton Oswalt, South Park, The Heart She Holler, Towlie, Vernon Chatman, Wonder Showzen, Xavier: Fallen Angel
by Joe Gillis, Nov 8 2011 // 7:31 AM
If you’ve never read Brian K. Vaughn’s comic series Y: The Last Man, you’re really missing out. It’s very well written and has enjoyed tremendous popularity.
So much so, in fact, that it’s one of the reasons Vaughn ended up as a writer for ABC’s LOST for several seasons. Now, it looks like Vaughn’s TV writing career is going to continue.
According to Deadline, he has been signed to write Showtime’s drama series adaptation of Stephen King’s 2009 novel Under the Dome, from DreamWorks Television. According to the report, Vaughn was chosen after a long search by the show’s producers and will begin writing the adaptation immediately.
In case you’re not familier with the story, the supernatural thriller concerns locals at a Maine vacation spot who battle one another when a force field suddenly surrounds their town and cuts them off from the rest of the world. Yes, it takes place in Maine. Try to contain your surprise.
To be honest, this is not my favorite Stephen King novels. However, Vaughn is one of my favorite writers so hopefully he will bring his trademark wit and style to the project. The series expects to begin filming early next year for a debut sometime next Fall.
Posted in: Adaptation · News · Showtime · TV
Tagged: Adaptations, Brian K. Vaughn, Lost, Showtime, Under the Dome, Writing, Y: The Last Man
by Douglas Barnett, Nov 7 2011 // 3:00 PM
This week’s Monday pick is the action thriller Blue Thunder (1983) directed by John Badham (Dracula, War Games). The film stars Roy Scheider (Frank Murphy), Malcolm McDowell (Colonel Cochrane), Daniel Stern (Richard Lymangood), Candy Clark (Kate), and in his final film performance, Warren Oates (Captain Jack Braddock).
“Blue Thunder” is the codename given to an advanced new helicopter that is chosen to be deployed over Los Angeles in an attempt to quell public disorder in preparation of the upcoming Olympic games and general crowd control from the air.
Scheider stars as officer Frank Murphy, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot who suffers from PTSD due to his combat experiences in Vietnam. Scheider is chosen to fly the five million dollar prototype that he observes at an army proving ground in the California desert. Murphy is impressed with the chopper’s capabilities such as the ability to record a whisper from two thousand feet, search targets by infrared heat signatures, travel by silent “whisper mode”, and level a city block with a six barrel 20 mm electric cannon.
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Posted in: Academy Awards · Action · Blu-Ray · Columbia Pictures · Cult Cinema · DVD · DVD Reviews · Editorial · Monday Picks · Movies · Mystery and Suspense · Netflix · Sony
Tagged: Candy Clark, Daniel Stern, John Badham, Malcolm McDowell, Roy Scheider, Warren Oates
by Chris Ullrich, Nov 7 2011 // 1:30 PM
One of the most useful applications I use every day on the Mac has now arrived for Windows. That’s right Windows-using writers Scrivener is now available to you.
No matter if you’re writing the next great American novel (something for National Novel Writing Month perhaps?), research paper, script or any long-form text document that involves more than hammering away at the keys until you’re done, Scrivener, made by the fine folks at Literature & Latte, can help you get your work done. The multi-featured program excels at helping you collect research, bring order to fragmented ideas and avoid shuffling index cards in search of that elusive structure.
Scrivener can help you from the moment an idea comes into your imagination until the final finished pages are output. In short, it pretty much does everything for you except the actual writing.
Unfortunately, that will still be up to you. The rest you can leave to Scrivener.
As someone who uses this app daily (the Mac version) I can safely say it really helps me get my work done. Without it, I would be back to posting index cards to cork boards and trying to make things work that way. I like the 21st Century’s technological advancements and I like Scrivener.
Scrivener requires Windows XP, Vista, or 7 (32 or 64 bit). 1GB RAM; 1ghz Processor; 100mb disk space; 1064 x 786 screen.
Posted in: News · Software · Tech · Writers · Writing
Tagged: Literature & Latte, Mac, National Novel Writing Month, Novel Writing, OS X, Script Writing, Scrivener, Software, Windows, Windows 7, Windows XP, Writers, Writing