The Flickcast

New Boingo Wi-Fi Finder App Makes Finding Wi-Fi Even Easier

Posted on March 23, 2011

Since last week I’ve been testing out the new Wi-Fi Finder App from Boingo. It’s been particularly handy the last day or so when, due to severe storms in LA and the apparently highly vulnerable Timer Warner infrastructure, my Internet went out and I was forced to seek alternative methods to connect and get my work done.

So, an application that’s purpose is to find and connect you to more than 325,000 hotspots (or more) should come in pretty handy in this situation. Not surprisingly, it did. The app was able to find several open Wi-Fi networks clost to my home that, if I wanted to, I could have connected to and used. It was also able to connect me quickly to a hotspot at a local Starbucks so I could get back online. All by launching one app and letting it do its thing.

But connecting you to hotspots isn’t the only thing this app does. It also boast these features:

• Connects to more than 325,000 hotspots from more than 125 network operators in 105 countries (I know, we covered that already, but its really cool)
• Connects to any open, free network that you may encounter
• Can determine the best available open network if more than one are present
• Can be configured to auto-connect to free networks

The Flickcast – Episode 92: The Dark Knight Rises

Posted on March 23, 2011

This week on The Flickcast Chris and Matt are joined by Joseph Dilworth of Pop Culture Zoo and, of course, hilarity and informative discussion ensues. During the show all manner of new and recurring topics are discussed, dissected and otherwise examined.

Some of those topics include Emerald City Comic Con, Tron Legacy and potential sequels, Star Trek old and new, the Wolverine sequel without Darren Aronofsky, the renewal of Community and Fringe‘s rating slump, casting for various films including Kevin Costner as Pa Kent in Superman, X-Men First Class, Martin Scorsese’s The Dark Night and a whole lot more. And again this week, no Charlie Sheen. You’re welcome.

Of course, your hosts and guest also made some picks this week including Joseph’s dual picks of the movie Sourcecode and the new comic Vampirella, Matt’s pick of the movie Rubber and Chris’ pick of the new movie Limitless, featuring Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro.

As always, if you have comments, questions, critiques, offers of sponsorship or whatever, feel free to hit us up in the comments, on Twitter, at Facebook and MySpace or via email.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | TuneIn | RSS

PAX East 2011: The Wrapup

Posted on March 23, 2011

One minute I was just arriving in Boston, and the next I was packing up my bags and saying goodbye to PAX East 2011. And what a weekend it was.

From sampling the finest in upcoming videogames, watching some amazing concerts, meeting and making new friends, and bonding with old ones, this convention has got to be the best weekend of my year. Penny Arcade really puts together an amazing show, and it’s amazing that they do it twice a year, once on this coast and then over on their home turf of Seattle.

Not only was this the best PAX East ever (In my opinion), it was also the biggest. Head hancho Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade said that this year’s PAX had 69,500 attendees, up from last year’s 52,290 at the much tinier Hynes Convention Center.

SXSW Film Review: ‘The Divide’

Posted on March 23, 2011

I caught (that verb seems appropriate) director Xavier Gens’ new film The Divide as a midnight screener at the Ritz theatre. By far the best thing I can say about the experience is that the volunteers running the show just let us in instead of making us wait in line and thus subjecting us to the depraved drunken antics of 6th Street on St. Patrick’s Day.

Of the two dozen films I saw at SXSW, this is easily the worst (beating out even the agonizing ponderousness of Silver Bullets—that at least had some laughs and exhibitionistic women). It starts out impressively enough, with a cold open that throws you straight into the onset of a nuclear apocalypse, with big, loud explosions, screaming viscera, panicking droves, and the like before slapping you in the face with the title screen.

But after that it settles in to devolving into a bargain-basement “people stuck in a shelter” psychological thriller, which is to say populated by the usual clichés—the crazy veteran (Michael Biehn), the flighty mother (Roseanna Arquette), the coward (Ivan Gonzalez), the budding psycho (Milo Ventimiglia)—and a host of others whose sole purpose is to scream and make stupid decisions—and yes, there’s a screamy child, too.

And oh, what stupid decisions they make: failing to attack the psycho when they have the chance; attacking the wrong guy when they do work up the “nerve”; neutralizing the only person who displays any sort of competence; killing the black guy first, and all other head-slapping tropes you can imagine. My father once criticized The Dark Knight because he reasoned that someone just should’ve shot the Joker.

Showtime to Pull Current Shows From Netflix

Posted on March 23, 2011

Well, I guess it was too good to last, right? If you’re a fan of Showtime original series like Dexter and Californication but like to watch them via Netflix’s Instant service, you better watch and enjoy them now because they won’t be there for long.

Showtime’s current deal with video streaming company Netflix is over in the summer and as part of its renegotiation, the pay cable network has informed Netflix that it will no longer make its current original series available for streaming. Right now, all Showtime series are accessible for Netflix subscribers.

However, Showtime CEO Matt Blank doesn’t want that to be the case any longer.“With all the options out there, we want to be sure people know they have to subscribe to see Dexter or The Borgias,” Blank said.

The network clarified that under the proposed new Netflix deal, series such The Tudors and Sleeper Cell, which no longer air original episodes on the premium cable newtork, will continue to be available to Netflix subscribers. As for current and past seasons of Showtime’s current original series, they “will be available to our authenticated subscribers via our TV Everywhere service Showtime Anytime.”

Well, I guess Showtime doesn’t like that Netflix is going to start developing and producing original programming for itself, including a new series featuring Kevin Spacey. Let’s hope this doesn’t start a trend with other cable networks and more deciding they don’t want their programming on Netflix. That would be a shame.

‘X-Men Destiny’ Screens & New Character Aimi Yoshida Gets a Bio

Posted on March 23, 2011

With 2011 flying by already, it is only a matter of time before Activision’s next big superhero release with X-Men Destiny. As we already discussed, X-Men Destiny will follow players as one of three new characters on their path to mutant destiny.

The first of these characters, Aimi Yoshida is profiled below. From the screens, Aimi looks to be a contemporary take on the classic Japanese school girl look. This seems very appropriate since some of the screens reveal villainous ninjas attacking Aimi and Colossus. It’s also interesting to note that Aimi’s mouth is covered, whether or not this is significant to the character or just a piece of cool character design remains to be seen.

Take a first look below at screens and the profile of Aimi Yoshida from our friends at Silicon Knights.

Continue Reading

TNT Renews ‘Southland’ for Another Season

Posted on March 23, 2011

Chalk one up for the good guys in blue as TNT has announced they will be giving cop drama Southland a fourth season on the network. The show, which wrapped up its third season March 8, stars Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King and Ben McKenzie.

According to TNT’s head of programming Michael Wright: “Southland has been acknowledged by many critics as one of the sharpest, most entertaining and most authentic dramas on television today,” Wright said. “We are extremely proud to have Southland on TNT and to bring it back for a fourth season.” Kudos Mr. Wright. Good call.

It’s done pretty well for TNT, after its move from NBC where it had been cancelled, and has averaged 2.9 million viewers per episode this season. That’s up 6% compared to Season 2. Don’t worry, although those numbers may seem small, remember that TNT is a basic cable network so those numbers are actually pretty good — especially considering NBC had completely written the show off.

Just goes to show that if you make a quality product, people may sometimes catch on and it will be given a chance to succeed. As a fan of this show from way back when I reviewed the pilot I, for one, am thrilled it will be returning for 10 all-new episodes. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, you should.

Syfy Announces New Schedule and Programming at Upfronts

Posted on March 23, 2011

At their upfront presentation late yesterday, Syfy mapped out their programming plans for the rest of 2011 and into 2012. Network President Dave Howe introduced the largest original programming slate in the channel’s 18-year history, highlighted by 14 new original series and events comprising more than 100 hours of programming.

In July, Syfy will launch four scripted series in the same month — for the first time ever — new drama Alphas and returning series Warehouse 13, Eureka and Haven. Hopefully, this will help the network which is coming off off a year marked by disappointing ratings for Caprica and Stargate: Universe, both of which were cancelled after shorter-than-hoped-for runs. However, new series Being Human and Face Off, which have both been renewed, are doing better than expected and look to elevate the network out of its slump.

Also announced during the event was the launch of a new Syfy publishing business of genre games under the “Syfy Games” banner. Here’s all the info on Syfy’s upcoming slate of programming and projects in development:

NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Alphas — Premiering in July — Alphas follows a team of ordinary citizens whose brain anomalies imbue them with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Taking the law into their own hands, the unlikely team, led by Dr. Leigh Rosen (Emmy Award-winner and Oscar nominee David Strathairn) investigates cases that suggest other Alpha activity to uncover what the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have not been able, or willing, to solve. These gifted individuals must balance their quirky personalities and disparate backgrounds with their not always visible powers as they work to solve crimes, stop the ticking time bomb and catch the enemy.

Alphas also stars Malik Yoba, Warren Christie, Laura Mennell, Ryan Cartwright and Azita Ghanizada, and is a production of Universal Cable Productions and BermanBraun Television. Executive Producers are Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein for BermanBraun, Zak Penn and Ira Steven Behr.

Older Posts

Newer Posts