The Flickcast

Google Unveils Android 4.0 ‘Ice Cream Sandwich’

Posted on October 19, 2011

Even with all the hype and attention Apple gets for its product launches (yes, we love the iPhone 4S and iOS 5), we can’t forget the other smartphones out there. In fact, one of the most popular “other” operating systems, besides Apple’s iOS, powering some of the most innovative smartphones is, of course, Google’s Android platform.

Now Google has taken the wraps of of its brand new version of Android, known as Android 4.0 or “Ice Cream Sandwich” during a press event in Hong Kong yesterday. The software was revealed next to the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Nexus, a smartphone we’re looking forward to checking out.

Android 4.0 combines many of the tablet features already available in Android 3.x (Honeycomb) with the smartphone features available in Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). It will power both tablets and smartphones, and it offers several enhancements.

Some of these include the ability to unlock an Ice Cream Sandwich device using face recognition. Android 4.0 also has a new cleaner “Roboto” typeface and an extensive UI makeover.

The lock screen in Android 4.0 can be used to quickly unlock the phone or launch the camera, and users can also access notifications directly. “Back,” “Home” and “Menu” are now part of the Android virtual user interface and hardware buttons are no longer needed.

We could go on about the new OS but instead, we’ve gonna let Google’s own video tell the story. Click through for it after the break.

Check Out A Sneak Preview of Adult Swim’s Live-Action Miniseries ‘The Heart, She Holler’

Posted on October 19, 2011

Adult Swim has been on an absolute tangent with their slew of live-action parody series. It all started with Rob Corddry’s webseries Childrens Hospital which is now going into its fourth season on the network, then Chris Elliot took off in a Walker, Texas Ranger spoof titled Eagleheart. Their latest venture into the third dimension of funny has been in Paul Scheer’s NTSF:SD:SUV::, which just got picked up for a second season.

Now, the network is hoping to capitalize on the growing popularity of the creepy horror shows that are shrouded in mystery but as original as bad soap operas. That’s where The Heart, She Holler comes in. Here’s the rundown.

The Heart, She Holler is a new live-action series starring Patton Oswalt, Kristen Schaal and Heather Lawless. Boss Hoss Heartshe owns 98.5% of Heartshe Holler and keeps the other 1.5% in a hidey hole. Upon his death, the hole is opened to reveal a secret son, Hurlan. Watch as his blood grubbing heirs Hurshe, the coquettish daughter closest to Hoss’ heart and nether regions and Hambrosia, Hoss’ other only child with a fearsome ability to scorch eyeballs with her mental powers, wrestle for every sort of supremacy that power provides. Their miseries and mysteries collide in this first-ever Adult Swim six night miniseries event.

While Adult Swim may not be completely backing the idea with a full episode order, they are giving it a 6 episode miniseries run that will air every night starting on Sunday, November 6th at 12:30am and go through Friday, November 11th. Check out a preview of the series after the jump to see what awesomely random and horrifying stuff you’re in store for.

NYCC11: Con Floor Photo Gallery

Posted on October 19, 2011

As always, one of our favorite parts of any convention is the sights and NYCC was full of them this year so we had to share them with the Flickcast audience. The level of dedication by the men and women who attend the con every year is staggering.

Some are picture perfect renditions that rival movie quality costumes like the Anakin Skywalker we saw wandering the floor. Others come from careful collection of legitimate television costumes and props like the classic Power Rangers Green Ranger. Still others take their own imagination and run wild with custom Mandalorian battle armor for both human and giant chicken alike to life sized Castle Crashers.

One of the things this gallery sadly doesn’t do justice is give an idea on just how huge NYCC was this year. Though it is yet to overtake the surrounding neighborhood like SDCC does, the New York Comic Con feels every bit as big and as important as its west coast counterpart.

The entire Javitts Center was filled with every major comic company to movie studios and video game publishers in every corner. This year the Flickcast was only able to spend a day on the Con floor but if things keep looking up for NYCC, we may have to tackle this show the same way we do San Diego Comic Con or E3.

Take a look below to get just a glimpse of the many sights at this year’s convention. See you next year New York!

Trade Paperback Tuesday: ‘Green Lantern: Baptism of Fire’

Posted on October 18, 2011

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.

“When I was a kid growing up, I never could decide what I wanted to be when I grew up.” – Green Lantern #75

Some heroes are born, and others are made.

In the mid-90s, Green Lantern wasn’t selling well. So DC Comics did the unthinkable, they created a storyline where Hal Jordan went crazy, became a super villain named Parallax, and destroyed the Green Lantern Corps. While that story line was pretty bad, the issues that followed were pure gold.

We were introduced to Hal’s replacement, Kyle Rayner, a twenty-something graphic artist who couldn’t hold a steady job, and flirted with all the ladies, a screw-up. Kyle received his ring not because of his ability to overcome fear, but because he was in the right place at the right time. Kyle was more creative with his ring than any other Green Lantern because of his artistic mind. The only trouble was with no Green Lantern Corp around anymore, Kyle had no training. Here was Kyle Rayner, a screw up, in possession of the most powerful weapon in the universe, and he has no idea what to do with it.

Motorola Announces New ‘Droid RAZR’

Posted on October 18, 2011

Did any of you own a Motorola RAZR? I’m sure you did. Back in 2005 it was the coolest phone to own.

It was skinny. It was light. It had cool glowy blue buttons. It was on all the carriers. It was the phone to have. At least if you were a tech-crazed high schooler, like myself back then.

It seems that Motorola may not have done it again with the newest addition to the RAZR, but the new Motorola Droid RAZR, as it’s being dubbed, is still a really neat phone.

Sporting 4G, a 1.2 GhZ dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 32 GB of storage, 12.5 hours of talk time, an 8 megapixel camera with 1080p recording, a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display strengthened with Gorilla Glass and Kevlar fiber, and at only 7.1mm thick, the Droid RAZR is now the thinnest 4G phone on Verizon. And because of the kevlar, the phone will be protected against spills and other nasty accidents.

You know what else is made of kevlar? The Batsuit. I’m officially calling this one the Batphone. This thing is cool.

The phone will also be compatible with the rest of Motorola’s line of devices, including the Moto Webtop and the brand new MOTOACTIV, a pretty nifty fitness watch that was also announced today. Only downside to this phone seems to be that it’s running Gingerbread, and not the upcoming version of Android, dubbed Ice Cream Sandwich.

Motorola’s announcement comes just hours before Samsung announces their newest version of their Nexus line, which will be exclusive to Verizon AND will have Ice Cream Sandwich. So the Motorola Droid RAZR certainly has some competition.

You’ll be able to pick up your very own Batphone, I mean Motorola Droid RAZR, in early November exclusively for Verizon Wireless.

Get a Sneak Peek at Cartoon Network’s ‘Green Lantern: The Animated Series’

Posted on October 18, 2011

While New York Comic Con had tons of scoops and news hit over the weekend, one bit of news that both fans of comics AND animation were eager to hear about was more on Cartoon Network’s upcoming Green Lantern: The Animated Series.

Unlike the rest of the DC animated series to cross paths with Cartoon Network, this one is a bit different, as it’s animated using CG, rather than cell animation. Here’s info from the official release.

As Earth’s Green Lantern, Hal Jordan is used to being in dangerous situations — but he’s never faced anything like this! Set at the farthest reaches of deep space, Green Lantern: The Animated Series finds Hal on the Guardian Frontier, where he must face down an invasion by the Red Lantern Corps.

Powered by pure rage, the evil Red Lanterns have sworn to destroy the Green Lantern Corps and everything they stand for. Dispatched on the experimental spacecraft The Interceptor, Hal is soon joined by an all-new group of heroes on a mission to protect Guardian Space — and the Green Lantern Corps itself!

New Trailer for Alexander Payne’s ‘The Descendants’ with George Clooney Arrives

Posted on October 18, 2011

Here’s a new trailer for director Alexander Payne’s latest film The Descendants. It features George Clooney, who seems to be doing a movie every week these days, as an estranged father forced to question the events of his life.

The films also features a strong ensemble cast in addition to Clooney including Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Nick Krause, Amara Miller, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel and Patricia Hastie. That’s quite a few known and up-an-coming actors.

The film closed the New York Film Festival on Sunday night and has received a great deal of buzz, much like Payne’s previous film Sideways. It will hit theaters on November 18.

Until then, check out the latest trailer after the break.

NYCC11 Exclusive: ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Star Frankie Muniz Talks ‘Pizza Man’

Posted on October 18, 2011

You may know him best as Malcolm, you know from the middle. Or maybe even a few of our readers will remember him as Agent Cody Banks. But now, Frankie Muniz is taking on a new role on the silver screen as the Pizza Man. And he isn’t just your every day delivery man, he has super powers.

At NYCC, the world saw the debut trailer for Pizza Man starring Frankie Muniz alongside former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page who plays Pizza Man’s arch nemesis and other notable stars like Shelly Long and Corbin Bersen. Pizza Man is the tale of a kid who mistakenly falls into super powers and how he must deal with. Sort of like Spider-Man but with pepperoni.

Frankie talks with us about just what kind of super hero Pizza Man is, learns from us what the definition of a rogues gallery is and gives us some insight into Diamond Dallas Page’s villainous character. This family friendly super hero flick should be coming to theaters early next year.

Take a peek below at our full interview talking all things Pizza Man with Frankie Muniz below.

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