close

Blog

Your blog category

Blog

The latest Apple Watch ban – the Watch 9 and Ultra 2 may go off sale again shortly

by technovatica.com on

The Apple Watch 9 and Ultra 2 may be banned again because the US International Trade Commission (ITC) is not convinced by Apple’s position that the wearables should continue to be sold.

MacRumors has unearthed a memo filed by ITC counsel to the US Court of Appeals rejecting the tech giant’s efforts to delay the Apple Watch ban. Currently, the smartwatch creator is appealing the case. The lawyers contend that “Apple [is presenting] a weak and unconvincing case,” claiming that the company intends to “continue infringing [on] the asserted patents.”

If you’re not familiar with the story, the ITC determined in October that Apple had infringed on patents owned by health tech company Masimo. The patents are for blood oxygen monitoring sensors included on some Apple Watch models. As a result, the wearable devices could not be sold. The products were removed from physical shop shelves and the company’s online storefront for a few days in late December. However, Apple successfully appealed the court’s ruling and obtained a stay on the prohibition.

Apple’s Last Chance

It is worth noting that Masimo extended an olive branch several weeks ago. Masimo CEO Joe Kiani told Bloomberg that he is willing to talk things out with Apple, reach an agreement, and possibly even “work with [the company] to improve their product.” It is unclear how much money Kiani sought in the settlement.

Despite Masimo’s best efforts, the peace negotiations were met with complete silence from Apple. Instead, it appears that the brand would rather resolve the alleged violation on their own.

According to reports from last month, Apple developers were working on an upgrade to eliminate blood oxygen monitoring on smartwatches. These changes must be approved by the US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) before they are made available to users. This ruling should have been made by now. However, when we examined CBP’s recent Decisions page, there was no mention of the Apple Watch.

A potential ban is coming shortly

MacRumors adds that the Court of Appeals is currently taking replies from outside parties that agree with the ITC until Monday, January 15. On that date, both Apple Watch models could be banned for the second time. It’s difficult to say for sure. If you want to learn more about the situation, MacRumors has made the ITC paper available on Scribd for free.

read more
Blog

Google Chromecast is getting a significant upgrade—here’s what’s new

by technovatica.com on

Google makes some huge announcements at CES 2024.

Google is not missing out on the CES 2024 action, as it has unveiled some big new capabilities for Chromecast devices at the Las Vegas tech exhibition – TikTok aficionados will be especially intrigued.

According to Google’s Sameer Samat in a blog post, TikTok content may now be streamed from your phone to any Chromecast device, whether it’s a dongle inserted into the back of your TV or the Chromecast capabilities integrated into the TV itself. Support for live TikTok videos will also be added “soon”.

More Chromecast-enabled devices are on their way. LG’s 2024 TVs, as well as new models from Hisense and TCL, will include Chromecast capabilities, eliminating the need to plug anything into the back’s HDMI port.

Google says Chromecast functionality will be added to the LG Hospitality and Healthcare platform “later this year” – which means you’ll be able to show content from your phone on the big screen in your hotel room or from your hospital bed, as long as the place you’re in uses LG equipment.

From phone to tablet

Another innovation promised by Google for 2024 is the ability to transfer Spotify or YouTube Music playback from phone to tablet just by bringing the devices together.

The idea is that you can listen to something on your phone on the way home and then smoothly transfer your music or podcast to your Pixel Tablet and its speaker. If you think you’ve seen something similar before, you’re correct: iPhones and HomePods both have a similar function.

Google claims there are now over 220 million active devices running the older Android TV and newer Google TV software platforms, which can run streaming apps natively as well as play videos cast from connected devices.

It means that the Chromecast standard remains one of the most commonly supported and convenient ways to send music and video streams from a phone or tablet to a large-screen television. Even on the iPhone and iPad, many popular apps have Chromecast support, demonstrating how widespread it has become.

read more
Blog

Echo isn’t simply Marvel’s take on Netflix’s Daredevil—it’s a wild, anarchic Disney Plus show

by technovatica.com on

The success of Echo is the most difficult to predict among Marvel’s 2024 lineup. People who have grown tired of the studio’s increasingly frequent output will be relieved to learn that it plans to release only four projects this year. Echo is the clear outlier among that group.

Deadpool 3, Marvel’s single 2024 film release, appears to be a hilarious multiverse-spanning epic that honors the X-Men’s 20-plus-year cinematic legacy. Agatha: Darkhold Diaries’ ties to fellow Marvel program WandaVision offer it an advantage over the competition, while X-Men 97, a long-awaited sequel to the original X-Men: The Animated Series, could elicit lots of nostalgia.

After viewing Echo’s first three episodes, I’m certain that it’s a legitimate dark horse contender for the finest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) show of the year. Some may doubt the legitimacy of that opinion, given that Echo currently has no competitors to speak of. Nonetheless, with its superhero take on some of the 21st century’s best assassin and crime-based material, I was pleasantly impressed by what Echo has to offer.

The imitation game

Echo starts up after 2021’s Hawkeye, where Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is chased by Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) criminal enterprise. That’s a certainty after Maya shoots the mob boss in Hawkeye’s finale, but it’s her one-woman guerilla warfare campaign to destroy Fisk’s crime empire in her hometown of Tamaha, Oklahoma, that puts a mark on her back. However, Maya quickly discovers that violence breeds violence, forcing her to confront her previous transgressions and unresolved childhood trauma in order to determine the type of person she wants to be.

Echo is the first Marvel show to be released under the studio’s Spotlight banner, a new initiative that focuses on telling grounded, character-driven stories that audiences can enjoy without prior knowledge of other MCU projects. Consider 2022’s Moon Knight, a Marvel series free of larger universal ties. In Marvel’s increasingly complicated multimedia franchise, Echo’s accessibility to newbies is commendable.

It’s a gratifying approach to introduce Maya and the show’s supporting cast to new viewers, who will benefit from the expository information. However, long-time MCU fans may be irritated with the several sequences in episode 1’s opening 30 minutes that are lifted directly from Hawkeye and do not further Echo’s present-day plot.

The vicious action depicted in Echo’s first trailer, which is the MCU’s first R-rated TV show, is a heady mix of bone-crunching physical violence and cutthroat gun skirmishes reminiscent of conflicts in Netflix’s Daredevil and Lionsgate’s John Wick. Given Echo’s ties to the former, similarities between the two are unavoidable, but Echo’s resemblance to John Wick and Breaking Bad is what gives it its distinct style and visual flair.

Daredevil’s influence, however, cannot be exaggerated, particularly in Echo’s cold-blooded set-pieces. Echo isn’t afraid to match its genre sister in terms of ultraviolence, with a gory scene coming just 10 minutes into its debut. From then, things only grow more explicit, with neck-snapping, blood-splattering headshots, and other viscerally gruesome scenes demonstrating the series’ non-child-friendly tone.

However, I believe that the main ruckus in Episode 3 is significantly more brutal and spectacular. Maya’s cunning use of her surroundings, such as employing an arcade’s laser guns and skeet balls as weapons, as well as physical adaptability – her prosthetic leg comes in particularly handy – demonstrate her outstanding cold-blooded competence as she spars with Fisk’s thugs. Echo’s action is intense by MCU standards, which offers me hope for future adult-centric Marvel productions like Deadpool 3 and Daredevil: Born Again.

Character faults

Echo’s major issue, however, is its inability to present an engaging character-driven story.

With Hawkeye revealing that Fisk murdered Maya’s father during the Blip, or the five-year interval between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Echo’s protagonist is understandably seeking vengeance on her surrogate parent. Indeed, it is Maya’s constant struggle against Fisk that brings her back to her birthplace, where she strives to undermine his criminal empire by any means necessary.

It’s a plot element that propels Maya’s arc and drives her to confront her past, but in the first three episodes, her character development is little. Alaqua Cox is quite captivating as the moody, emotionally disturbed title character, and she does her best with the material. However, from what I’ve seen, Maya appears to be an aggressive one-note individual. Her ethically ambiguous persona deserved to be filled out by episode 3’s closing credits. Here’s hope that this issue is resolved in Echo’s final two entries, even if it is rushed.

Maya is not the only one whose character development falls short. Whether due to storytelling design or Echo’s abbreviated five-episode plan – episodes 2 and 3 feel like they were patched together from three separate entries – certain characters and their relationship with Maya bear the burden of the show’s shorter episodic count.

Indeed, Maya’s surprise entrance in Tamaha, along with her territorial war with Fisk’s vast empire, make her actions perfect for family drama. The burgeoning gangland war generates an undercurrent of stress in Tamaha’s group and among those closest to Maya – at least outside of her confidant-style relationship with Skully (Graham Greene). The duo’s humorous and genuine conversations stand apart from others. Aside from that dynamic, Maya’s potentially taut interactions with individuals caught in the crossfire, such as her uncle Henry (Chaske Spencer), who still has ties to Fisk’s business, lack the necessary tension.

My verdict

Echo is a fairly enjoyable Marvel show that sets a new standard for the Disney company. The first of its kind to be led by a character with anti-heroic/villainous tendencies, as well as a lead actor who is an amputee, deaf, and Native American, is a watershed moment for the MCU, not least because of the societal and cultural impact it will have on Marvel fans who already have a superhero of this type.

There will be Marvel fans who disapprove of Maya’s revised past and superhuman skills – I won’t ruin anything, but let’s just say her mimic-based talents aren’t the only ones she has – but they’re important to the story Marvel is presenting. I didn’t find them off-putting in the context of Echo’s other important challenges.

Is Echo worth streaming? Yes, for dedicated MCU and Daredevil fans. For everyone else, it depends. Anyone who only sometimes dips their toes into Marvel’s cinematic behemoth may probably skip it. However, if you’re looking for a series with a Netflix-style release that exposes you to the MCU without prior knowledge, or a thrilling and gratuitously cruel crime thriller with heist elements, reams of drama, and the occasional humor, Echo is exactly up your dark alley.

read more
Blog

New Netflix movies: the most anticipated films to be released in January 2024

by technovatica.com on

The year 2024 has here, and with it, a slew of new Netflix movies are slated to enter the streaming service’s back catalog. This year isn’t wasting any time, either, with five (!) new movies releasing on Netflix in the first week of 2024 (as long as you reside in the United States, that is).

So, which films have entered the ranks of the world’s most popular streaming service? Two new Netflix Originals from completely disparate genres, as well as the first three flicks in the John Wick franchise. The latter three are almost certainly going to be added to our list of the top Netflix movies in the near future, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out if the other two have a shot article.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. If you’re looking for the largest new Netflix movies to debut on the site since mid-December 2023, look no further. Continue reading to find out which films have been added to Netflix’s film catalog in the last four weeks.

NEW NETFLIX MOVIES AVAILABLE IN JANUARY 2024

Good Grief

The film will be released on January 5th.
Dan Levy is the director.
Dan Levy, Ruth Negga, Luke Evans, and Himesh Patel star.

Dan Levy, a Schitt’s Creek graduate, makes his feature film directorial debut with this tear-jerking love drama that puts a novel spin on the grief-laden film template.

Marc, played by Levy, has his entire existence turned upside down when his husband Oliver (Evans) dies unexpectedly. Marc embarks on a trip to Paris with closest friends Sophie (Negga) and Thomas (Patel) to try to heal, but their European adventure ends up revealing some unpleasant realities that none of them were prepared to hear.

Good Grief received favorable reviews from critics prior to its release, earning a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Viewers appear to have loved what’s on offer, judging by its 62% audience score, however others have questioned its schlocky plot and character development features.

Society of the Snow

The film will be released on January 4th.
J. A. Bayona is the director.
Enzo Vogrincic, Agustin Pardella, Esteban Bigliardi, Simon Hempe, and Rafael Federman are among the cast members.

Bayona’s latest film portrays the terrible true story of the passengers on Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571. The plane, which was chartered to transport a rugby team to a competition in Chile, crashes down in the Andes, forcing the 29 survivors (of 45 persons on board) to resort to desperate tactics to stay alive and wait for rescue.

Society of the Snow, with a 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating, is a devastatingly wonderful return to form for Bayona, whose most recent flicks – and critical disappointments – are Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Marrowbone. Society of the Snow is one of four Netflix movies with Rotten Tomatoes ratings of 90% or above that we recommend you see this month.

John Wick 1 to 3

Release date: January 1 (only in the United States).
Chad Stahelski (all three films) is the director.
Among the cast members are Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Lawrence Fishburne, and Halle Berry.

Everyone’s favorite dog-loving assassin has made it to Netflix US. The first three installments of the beloved John Wick film series will be available on the streaming giant in the United States as of New Year’s Day 2024, so if you’ve been sleeping on Lionsgate’s smash hit franchise, now’s the time to learn how to watch the John Wick movies in order and then, well, stream them.

For those unfamiliar, Keanu Reeves plays the title character, a retired assassin who is mourning the death of his recently murdered wife. To ensure he doesn’t spend the rest of his days alone, his late companion gives him a puppy as a farewell gift, only for the animal to be slaughtered in cold blood when Wick’s home is attacked (the thugs Mustang, take his pride and joy as well). The famed hitman begins on a journey for vengeance, realizing that doing so will drag him back into the life he left behind.

NEW NETFLIX MOVIES AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER 2023

Rebel Moon – Part 1: A Child of Fire

The release date is December 21.
Zack Snyder directed the film.
Among those in the cast are Sofia Boutella, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, Ray Fisher, Doona Bae, Star Nair, Anthony Hopkins, Fra Fee, and E. Duffy.

Zack Snyder, a fan favorite writer-director, made his long-awaited comeback with Rebel Moon, an epic space-fantasy Netflix franchise that the streaming service believes will stand alongside Marvel’s cinematic behemoth and Star Wars.

Rebel Moon – Part 1: A Child of Fire is the first installment in that developing franchise, and it follows the story of a band of freedom warriors attempting to prevent the oppressive Motherworld from destroying the peaceful moon-based farming colony of Veldt for opposing the latter.

Maestro

The film will be released on December 20th.
Bradley Cooper is the director.
Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, and Sarah Silverman star in the film.

Maestro, directed by Bradley Cooper and produced by Todd Phillips, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and leading man Leonard Bernstein (who also directs and stars in the film), centers on the life and legacy of West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein. We believe this entry in our new Netflix movies list to be a shoo-in for next year’s Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar, too, based on the prosthetics used to convert Cooper into the much older Bernstein.

Indeed, with Rotten Tomatoes critic and audience scores of 79% and 64%, respectively, Maestro might compete for a slew of accolades in 2024. Many have applauded Carey Mulligan’s towering performance as Bernstein’s wife Felicia Montealegre, so expect the acclaimed actress to win some awards for this film.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

The release date is December 15th.
Sam Fell is the director.
Among the cast members are Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Jane Horrocks, Miranda Richardson, Imelda Staunton, and Nick Mohammed.

Ginger (Newton) has finally discovered her ideal – a tranquil island sanctuary for the entire flock, free from the dangers of the human world – after pulling off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget in 2000.

Ginger’s happy ending appears to be complete when she and Rocky (Levi) have a baby daughter named Molly (Ramsey). Back on the mainland, however, all chickens face a new and terrifying menace. Instead of breaking out, they’re breaking in this time. That’s right, everyone’s favorite anthropomorphic chickens (and rats!) are about to ruffle some feathers with their own egg-cellent heist.

WHAT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX IN 2024?

These are the new Netflix movies for this year that have known release dates or launch windows. We’ll be updating this list in the coming weeks and months, so keep checking back for more information as it becomes available:

  • Lift (January 12)
  • From the Ashes (January 18)
  • The Kitchen (January 19)
  • Sixty Minutes (January 24)
  • Badland Hunters (January 26)
  • Orion and the Dark (February 2)
  • The Heartbreak Agency (February 14)
  • Through My Window: Looking at You (February 23)
  • Spaceman (March 1)
  • Damsel (March 8)
  • 24 Hours With Gaspar (March 14)
read more
Blog

This is the best month for VR ever: my top Quest 3 games and apps for December 2023

by technovatica.com on

The end of 2023 is quickly approaching, but I have just enough time to share my four favorite Meta Quest 3 games and applications from December 2023 with you. I’ve had a great blast with everything I’ve tried – I’d even go so far as to suggest that this month may have been VR’s best in years, providing some incredible experiences for your Meta Quest 3 VR headset.

This December, I explored a Meow Wolf virtual art experience in Walkabout Mini Golf, pressed a bunch of buttons I shouldn’t have in Please, Don’t Touch Anything: House Broken, and even became a god in the magnificent Asgard’s Wrath 2.

If you want additional suggestions, check out my top Quest 3 games and apps from November 2023, which included Ghostbusters VR and Out of Scale: A Kurzgesagt Adventure. Alternatively, you might purchase one of the games and apps on sale during the 2023 Meta Quest Holiday Sale.

DLC for Walkabout Mini Golf – Meow Wolf

I’m always excited to talk about Walkabout Mini Golf, and this month is no exception, thanks to the release of the VR game’s new course, which Mighty Coconut produced in collaboration with Meow Wolf, an extraordinarily brilliant arts production firm that specializes in immersive real-world art experiences.

Since witnessing Rooster Teeth’s The Weird Place collaboration in 2019, in which the Achievement Hunter crew investigated The House of Eternal Return, I’ve wanted to visit a Meow Wolf installation. Unfortunately, I live in the UK, and all of Meow Wolf’s permanent exhibitions are in the US, so I have yet to see one – though if I ever get the chance to attend CES, which is normally held in Las Vegas each year, I will make time to visit Omega Mart.

All of its exhibitions were solely in the United States; now one exists in VR, and I’ve been able to see it from the comfort of my own home across the pond. The mini golf course / virtual reality art exhibit not only met but exceeded my expectations.

Despite my love for this course, I don’t want to disclose too much about it; just know that it’s definitely tied with Upside Town as my favorite Walkabout course of all time, and it might even grab the top spot.

Every time I think I’ve figured out what’s going on in this delightfully unusual paradise, it becomes stranger, and frankly, I think it’s best experienced firsthand without me spoiling the surprises. If you own Walkabout Mini Golf (which should be everyone with a VR headset), please pick up this DLC expansion course – it’s well worth the low admission fee.

In addition, Walkabout received a Meta Quest 3 update this month, which enhances the VR game’s quality by 13% and allows it to run at 90FPS instead of just 80FPS on the Quest 2.

Wrath of Asgard 2

I had the opportunity to play Asgard’s Wrath 2 ahead of its December 15 release, and it’s a VR gaming marvel – an amazing must-play Meta Quest 3 title.

I’m not saying this because the game is free for anyone who purchased a new Quest 3 between its release date and January 27, 2024 – though that certainly helps – but because this product is actually a AAA VR experience.

The combat is the brilliant jewel amid many other treasures that await you on this Egyptian trip. Fights will feel chaotic at first, but as you improve your talents – both your virtual character’s skill tree and your reflexes – brawls will transform into dances of parrying, counterattacking, dodging, and exploiting vulnerability and environmental hazards.

However, because of the open-world nature of this title, I recommend going in with some adjusted expectations. It’s not as open-world as Skyrim or Tears of the Kingdom, where you can go almost anyplace. Instead, I’d compare it to God of War (2018): there’s a clear path to the next objective, but there are also lots of possible side routes and treasures to discover along the way that take you off the main track.

That said, I’d rather have Asgard Wrath 2’s kind of open-world – one loaded with hidden obstacles – than a larger territory that seems empty.

If Asgard’s Warth 2 seems fun but you’re put off by the prospect of playing a sequel, don’t worry. There’s an introductory cinematic that summarizes all of the main information from the first game – and while you might miss the occasional easter egg or allusion, you’ll never feel lost because you started with Asgard’s Wrath 2.

PianoVision

Inspired by the video for The Instrument Meta Quest 3 – which depicts a person learning to play the piano using a virtual keyboard – I decided to purchase PianoVision this month to see if it may help me hone the music talents I haven’t used since high school.

This Quest 3 mixed reality program displays a virtual keyboard in front of you, which you can play with your hands using hand tracking. If you’re already a piano genius, you can either jam freestyle or load up a tune you’re trying to learn. If you do, notes will fly toward the keys in a Guitar Hero-like fashion, indicating which ones to press.

While the program encourages you to play at full tempo, you may take as much time as you need with each note, and you can even practice tracks one hand at a time if you’re having trouble playing two-handed. Furthermore, if you prefer to learn your own songs rather than the ones given by default with the MR app, you can easily add your own. You only need a MIDI file and the free PianoVision desktop program to get started. The only tough part is locating MIDIs that are compatible. The program recommends Musescore for this, which is a terrific resource, but downloading tracks after your seven-day trial period is not free, so it will add to the expense of learning to play.

The hand tracking on the Meta Quest 3 is excellent, although it occasionally struggled to tell where my fingers were – registering presses I didn’t think I was doing and not counting others that I felt were apparent. It was fine for slower basic songs, but as you progress to faster tracks with more complex fingering, the app recommends using a Midi keyboard, and I can see why – while I haven’t used a real keyboard myself, I’ve seen reviews online from people saying it makes playing a lot less awkward, and apparently setting one up with the Quest 3 headset isn’t difficult.

Despite some of my troubles, I enjoyed using PianoVision; it felt like it was assisting me in getting back into the rhythm of playing piano after not having actively attempted it in over a decade. And, while I’m definitely considering acquiring a keyboard, you don’t have to get one right away. I’d recommend starting with PianoVision and then progressing to a real keyboard if you like it and want to get beyond the first couple of levels.

Don’t Touch Anything, Please: House Ruined

When I evaluated the Meta Quest 3, I was impressed by the quality of its mixed reality, and I was eager to see what experiences would make use of it. Please Don’t Touch Anything: House Broken is one of those MR experiences that I’ve been looking forward to. It brings the Please, Don’t Touch Anything series’ escape-room-style experience into your own house, and it’s a must-have for puzzle aficionados.

Please, Don’t Touch Anything: House Broken, like previous games – including a 3D version that was previously ported to VR – has you going against the title’s instructions to complete various escape room-like puzzles to find a wide variety of endings that result from your actions. Some are simple to locate, while others are more difficult others can be quite difficult to solve.

Best of all, the riddles in House Broken are (for the most part) brand new. A few legendary endings from the original game have been updated, but unlike the 3D remake of the 2D title House Broken seems very different from what’s come before – while yet retaining the Please, Don’t Touch Anything charm.

If you don’t have a Quest 3 and aren’t a fan of mixed reality, you can play the game in VR, but having tried both, I can say that it’s far more entertaining in MR. It just seems different when you notice fissures in your genuine floor or luminous handprints on your actual walls.

read more
Blog

Mercedes-AMG unveils the most powerful SL ever… It’s also a hybrid

by technovatica.com on

Who says hybrids have to be uninteresting? Mercedes-Benz obviously does not believe so, since it has now launched the most powerful version of its legendary SL model ever made, with all of that power coming from electricity.

It’s not all down to battery packs and electric motors, though, because there’s still a massive 4-litre Biturbo V8 engine under the hood that produces an amazing 603bhp. However, Mercedes-AMG has combined it with a 201bhp rear-axle motor for a total system output of 805bhp. We’re not sure where the German label acquired the additional horse, either.

The most powerful SL is also one of the fastest, with Mercedes boasting a 0-60mph time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 196mph, which is electronically limited. Because 200 mph would have been ridiculous.

Although hybrid in nature, the SL 63 S E Performance can only travel eight miles on electricity alone, thus the 6.1 kWh battery is primarily there for increased performance.

Everything is operational

In terms of driving experience, this is very much an AMG product, with a clever all-wheel-drive system that can deliver power to whichever axle needs it the most, and no fewer than seven different modes to choose from, ranging from pure electric (for eight miles, remember) to shouty RACE mode. There’s even rear-axle steering for improved handling.

To deal with the massive amount of power on offer, Mercedes-AMG has also designed an optional AMG Aerodynamics Package, which includes an active aerodynamic ‘element’ hidden in the underbody in front of the engine.

This lowers automatically at speeds of 50mph or above, creating a ‘Venturi effect’ that “sucks the car to the road and reduces front-axle lift,” according to Mercedes-AMG.

In addition, engineers decided to include a retractable rear spoiler that deploys and changes position based on the drive mode.

“In the Mercedes-Benz portfolio, the SL has always been an icon.” “The latest version of the legendary roadster carries this status forward,” stated Michael Schiebe, CEO of Mercedes-AMG.

For the time being, this is only a first look, so there’s no news on pricing, but given that the ‘regular’ SL63 costs over ₹170,76271.87 / $205,000 / AUS$375,000, you can bet it won’t be cheap

read more
Blog

Zack Snyder reveals 4 unexpected films that influenced his new Netflix film Rebel Moon

by technovatica.com on

Much has been said about Star Wars’ enormous influence on Rebel Moon. Zack Snyder’s latest big-budget feature, his second for Netflix, was first offered to Lucasfilm before Disney’s takeover of the entertainment firm in 2012 snuffed out the popular director’s dream of establishing his own film trilogy in that renowned galaxy far, far away.

Unfazed by a setback that would have disappointed many other filmmakers, Snyder turned his failed concept into Rebel Moon, an epic spacefaring team-up film that will generate a broad, multimedia series Netflix can call its own. Indeed, with plans for various spin-offs including an animated show, comic book series, and narrative podcast, the world’s best streaming service is fully behind Snyder’s brand-new project new IP, which might be the big sci-fi fantasy saga Netflix has been seeking.

Snyder, an avid consumer of entertainment-based media, is keen to emphasize that Rebel Moon is more than just Netflix’s take on Star Wars. When I interviewed Snyder at the UK junket for Rebel Moon Part 1: A Child of Fire, which will be released exclusively on Netflix on Thursday, December 21 in the United States (December 22 in the United Kingdom and Australia), the multi-talented creative emphasized Rebel Moon’s western and fantasy influences as much as – if not more than – its sci-fi roots.

So, according to the filmmaker himself, here are four unexpected and/or great movie ideas that shaped one of 2023’s most anticipated new Netflix movies.

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

With elements of swordplay and magic, it’s no wonder that Rebel Moon drew narrative and visual inspiration from 1982’s Conan the Barbarian. This epic fantasy film, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the main character, sees Conan embark on a journey for vengeance after Thulsa Doom (played, ironically, by Star Wars hero James Earl Jones) and his snake cult raiders murdered Conan’s parents when he was a youngster.

Hollywood legend John Milius co-wrote and directed Conan the Barbarian, as did Snyder on many of his films, while Ron Cobb’s production design work – another Star Wars alumnus who also contributed concept art for Alien, Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future, among other films – was also a key inspiration for Rebel Moon’s design.

“I’m a big John Milius and Ron Cobb fan,” Snyder said. “I love Ron as a production designer and his design work in Conan had a big impact on this one.”

Given the award-winning talent associated with Conan the Barbarian, perhaps we should consider including it on our list of the top Disney Plus movies.

Excalibur (1981)

The 1981 epic medieval fantasy film directed by John Boorman, which recreated the traditional Arthurian legend for the umpteenth time, helped launch the careers of actors such as Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, and Ciarán Hinds. It also left an indelible mark on the impressionable 15-year-old Snyder at the time – and, more than 40 years later, it played a major role in defining a key part of the Rebel Moon universe’s lore, particularly when it comes to the humanoid character Jimmy (voiced by Anthony Hopkins) and his namesakes.

“Excalibur is a big influence on all my movies,” Snyder explained. “But on this one especially, with the Jimmy soldiers themselves and what they represent – you know, this knight [of the roundtable] concept that they’re dedicated to their quest, which is an idea I really like.”

Heavy Metal (1981)

Heavy Metal’s 1981 film adaptation, based on the popular dark-fantasy, sci-fi, steampunk, and erotica magazine series of the same name (which also heavily inspired Netflix’s Love, Death & Robots animated anthology TV show), was as influential as any other form of media for Snyder’s fledgling concept for Rebel Moon – Snyder has previously revealed that he first conceived the idea for a fantasy sci-fi project during his college days.

“Heavy Metal’s animated movie, not just the magazines, tonally informed Rebel Moon,” he told me. “It’s this really strange thing that gave off a completely different, strange feeling than films of the time.” Looking at it now, it has an almost impossible retro vibe to it.

“I’ve actually just finished a poster for Rebel Moon’s 70mm projection [for its limited theatrical run from December 15 to 21] that’s inspired by Heavy Metal and makes you wonder, ‘Where did this movie [Rebel Moon] come from?” “What exactly is this?” When you find yourself referring to something you designed on the side, you know you’ve done your job of world building, even if it’s strangely self-referential or like an ouroboros, where the snake eats its own tail.”

The Fifth Element(1997)

Okay, Snyder didn’t explicitly reference The Fifth Element. However, he acknowledged that the work of French artist-writer Moebius – real name Jean Giraud – who was co-production designer on the sci-fi film starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman had a significant influence on Rebel Moon’s visual, style, and attitude.

Between 1979 and 2004, the late artist created concept art for films such as Alien (available on Hulu in the United States and Disney Plus internationally), Tron (Disney Plus worldwide), and Masters of the Universe (Prime Video in the United States and Australia, Amazon Freevee in the United Kingdom), among others.

“Beyond the movies I’ve mentioned, a lot of inspiration came from Moebius and Richard Calder’s ‘Frenzetta’,” Snyder said in a statement. “Like Heavy Metal, they’re tonally similar to what you’ll see and feel with Rebel Moon and, again, have this kind of bizarro flavor.

“Snyder was clearly inspired by the French illustrator’s outstanding sci-fi, fantasy, and western illustrations when it came to creating Rebel Moon’s unique appearance. So, while other great films like The Magnificent Seven and epic sci-fi like Star Wars and Dune impacted portions of Rebel Moon’s cosmos, Giraud’s influence cannot be underestimated.

read more
Blog

Everything we know about GTA 6 so far

by technovatica.com on

GTA 6 has been officially revealed, and a trailer will be released this week. The next Grand Theft Auto game appears to be nearing completion, and Rockstar may finally be ready to reveal it.

Last year, a massive amount of GTA 6 information was leaked, causing Rockstar to remove massive amounts of early-development footage from the internet. The gameplay in the leaks obviously showed GTA 6 in a pre-alpha condition, so aside from a few broad strokes, it’s still tough to predict what the game will be like when it launches. In terms of new games, it is without a doubt one of the most eagerly anticipated by gamers all over the world.

While we wait for additional information on GTA 6, here’s all we know thus far. This includes an examination of the initial announcement as well as everything we know so far regarding the impending GTA 6 trailer.

GTA 6: To the point

  • What exactly is it? When will the next mainline entry in the Grand
  • Theft Auto series be released? TBC
  • What platforms can I use to play it? TBC

GTA 6 RELEASE DATE SPECULATION AND PREDICTION

The release date for GTA 6 is presently unknown. While Rockstar Games has officially declared that it is working on GTA 6, it has not stated when the game would be released, much alone confirmed a date. According to a Bloomberg story released in June 2022, current and former Rockstar staff believed GTA 6 was still at least two years away from release, implying a 2024/2025 release. Take-Two reiterated in a recent earnings call that the following fiscal year (April 2024 – March 2025) will be a pivotal year for the company. This is almost certainly referring to GTA 6.

Similarly, there has been no word on which platforms GTA 6 will be released on. It’s safe to presume that it’ll launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but previous systems are far less likely, depending on when GTA 6 is released. In the past, PC ports for Rockstar titles came years after their console launches, and this could happen again with GTA 6. More information on GTA 6’s release date and platforms will have to wait.

WHEN WAS GTA 6 REVEALED?

GTA 6 was announced in the Tweet shown above on February 4, 2022. In general, this was just confirmation that Rockstar was working on GTA 6, with no additional information provided other than the fact that the game was in active development.

WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE THE FIRST GTA 6 TRAILER?

The GTA 6 trailer will now be shown on Tuesday, December 5 at 9am ET / 2pm GMT.

Following an update on November 8, 2023 that first revealed the news of a “early December” trailer release, Rockstar has now confirmed with a simple graphic on social media that ‘Trailer 1’ will air next week.

POSSIBLE GTA 6 SETTING: COULD IT BE VICE CITY?

Rockstar Games has not stated where GTA 6 will take us, but there are numerous speculations circulating that suggest a variety of game scenarios. Although every web tidbit and tasty rumor piece appears enticing, some are more credible than others.

GTA 6 appears to be set in Vice City, Rockstar’s fictional depiction of Miami, or at least a fictional version of Miami. According to the aforementioned Bloomberg report, a source “close to the matter” believes Vice City will appear in GTA 6, albeit Rockstar’s earlier intentions appear to have been more extensive. This is supported by leaked gameplay footage, including a “Vice City Metro” train. We’ve also seen some artwork for the first trailer. Date announcement that appears to be from Miami.

RUMORS ABOUT GTA 6’S STORY AND PLAYABLE CHARACTERS

Rockstar Games has yet to confirm GTA 6’s story or characters, but stories and rumors suggest what we might expect from the game’s storytelling.

According to Jason Schreier of Bloomberg, GTA 6 will include the series’ first female protagonist and revolve around a pair of characters modeled after the American crime combo Bonnie and Clyde. This is supported by leaked gaming footage, which depicts two distinct characters, both male and female.

According to Schreier’s source, “the woman, who is Latina, will be one of a pair of leading characters in a story inspired by bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde.” Rockstar developers are “being cautious not to ‘punch down’ by making jokes about marginalized groups,” in contrast to past editions in the series.

NEWS IN GTA 6

The first trailer is scheduled to be released in December.

Following reports, Rockstar Games has officially announced that the first look at Grand Theft Auto 6 would be revealed in December.

In a new Rockstar Newswire post published today (November 8), Sam Houser, president of Rockstar Games, reminded fans that next month will mark the 25th anniversary of Rockstar Games before revealing that the first trailer for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto game will be released the same month.

Rockstar has responded to the GTA 6 leak.
Rockstar Games has finally acknowledged that the GTA 6 leak in September 2022 was genuine. The company stated on Twitter that this includes “early development footage for the next Grand Theft Auto.” While they did not comment on specific elements revealed by the leak, the team stated that they are “extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared in this way.”

Importantly, Rockstar’s statement stated that “we do not anticipate any disruption to our live game services nor any long-term effect on the development of our ongoing projects.” Assuring that an official update to this upcoming game would be released “when it is ready.”

GTA 6 has a massive gameplay leak.
Last September, Grand Theft Auto 6 had one of the most significant leaks in gaming history. A poster dubbed teapotuberhacker posted approximately 90 videos on the official GTA Forums, showcasing early-stage gameplay footage. Rockstar and Take-Two have now removed these through copyright strikes since they went online. Teapottuberhacker updated their previous post (since deleted), claiming he was looking to make a deal with Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive, issuing the following statement:

read more
Blog

Best Netflix movies: the movies to watch in December 2023

by technovatica.com on

Welcome to Technovatica’s list of the finest Netflix movies. We’ve prepared a list of 41 of the best films to watch on the top streaming service, including a wide range of genres. So, no matter what kind of film you want to see, we’ve got you covered.

Netflix’s past catalog is jam-packed with both fantastic and mediocre movies, making it difficult to decide which ones are worth viewing. You no longer need to worry about choice paralysis, dear reader, because our entertainment specialists have worked tirelessly to compile a definitive list of the greatest Netflix movie available. Of course, we can’t include every film on our list, so you’ll have to make do with what’s available, but we routinely update this article with new additions, so check back in monthly for new releases.

If you’re looking for some newer genre fare, our new Netflix movies guide has plenty of interesting options for you. But, for now, read on for the best Netflix movies as we say farewell to 2023. Merry Christmas!

NETFLIX’S BEST ACTION MOVIES

Army of the Dead

Army of the Dead was Zack Snyder’s first feature after his increasingly acrimonious split with Warner Bros, and it’s everything his DC Extended Universe (DCEU) superhero movies weren’t: bright, colorful, action-packed, funny, and topical, even if its 45-minute intro is a little self-indulgent.

Dave Bautista leads a solid cast as Scott Ward, a former zombie-stomping combat hero who is approached by casino owner Bly Tanaka (Hiroyuki Sanada) with an intriguing idea. What is the task? Enter a zombie-infested Las Vegas, break into Tanaka’s casino vault, and escape with his $200 million assets, and Ward and his squad will receive $50 million to share.

Yes, the film is as chaotic as the plot suggests. Army of the Dead is a must-see for aficionados of gratuitous blood and gore, with a sequel film and TV spin-off on the way.

Army of the Dead
tt0993840

5.8/10

Extraction 1 and 2

Chris Hemsworth plays Tyler Rake, a black ops mercenary with a complicated history. Rake is hired in each film to save someone (or a group of people) from a seemingly insurmountable scenario. After obtaining the box, he attempts to bring them to safety while various thugs, gang members, and other people seek to kill Rake and those he has liberated.

Extraction 1 was a decent film, but its sequel is even better in our opinion, because to its 21-minute-long, heart-pounding, beautifully crafted, and deadly one-shot scenario. Check out our Extraction 2 review for more on why it’s one of the best Netflix movies around, and then read our exclusive interviews with director Sam Hargrave to see why the film’s one shot is so effective.The sequence took four hard months to film, and he credits Marvel for the unexpected cameo.

NETFLIX’S BEST ANIMATED MOVIES

Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood

If you’re looking for something different to watch on Netflix, go no further than Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood. Richard Linklater, the filmmaker of Boyhood, returns to filmmaking with an animated picture that portrays the narrative of the 1969 moon landing from various perspectives.

The film boasts the vocal talents of The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s Jack Black, Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Zachary Levi, and Top Gun: Maverick actor Glen Powell, and matches the visual flair of Linklater’s last animation, 2006’s A Scanner Darkly. Despite its overly long title, Apollo 10 1/2 is a really innovative take on one of history’s most memorable moments, and serves as more evidence of Netflix’s commitment to invest in cutting-edge storytelling.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Who thinks Netflix has lost its appetite for novelty? Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio reimagines Carlo Collodi’s popular 1883 fairytale about a wooden puppet that wishes to become a real kid.

Del Toro’s darker rendition is set in 1930s Italy during Mussolini’s fascist rule and has a star-studded voice cast that includes Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, and Cate Blanchett. It was shot entirely in stop-motion (similar to Netflix series The House). Easily one of the best Netflix movies in recent years.

NETFLIX’S BEST COMEDY MOVIES

Hustle

If you enjoyed 2019’s Uncut Gems, pay attention: Hustle, an unexpectedly engaging basketball drama, is full of Adam Sandler-sized surprises.

After uncovering a once-in-a-lifetime player with a tumultuous past abroad, Stanley Sugerman (Sandler), a down-on-his-luck Philadelphia 76ers scout, takes it upon himself to bring the young phenom to the United States without his team’s permission. Despite the odds, the pair must work hard to establish that they both deserve to play in the NBA.

The Nice Guys

The Nice Guys is one of the best buddy comedy ever made. Shane Black’s unappreciated action comedy stars Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as a private eye and a brutal enforcer who work together to find a missing girl (Margaret Qualley) in 1970s Los Angeles.

The film is fast-paced, properly adult, and a wonderful example of how to evoke chemistry between two big-time actors, similar to Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights in both location and black humor. Gosling, in particular, is amusing.

NETFLIX’S BEST CRIME MOVIES

The Irishman

The enormous effects work utilized to de-age its old stars drew attention to this threateningly long Scorsese film, and it’s a creative move that can be annoying at times. But there’s no doubting the allure of watching Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino in the same film for what will most likely be the final time, and this life-spanning, somewhat satisfying criminal epic is a fitting monument to their collective abilities.

Frank Sheeran (De Niro) recalls his long affiliation with the Bufalino mafia family and infamous union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino) in The Irishman. It’s a slow film, and it’s no Goodfellas, but it’s one of the best Netflix films the streaming giant has produced to yet.

read more
Blog

Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus are apparently contemplating a low-cost package proposal to compete with Netflix

by technovatica.com on

Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus may be about to join forces to take on Netflix in a move that will send shockwaves across the streaming business

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), two of the world’s most underappreciated streamers have discussed developing a low-cost bundle to challenge Netflix’s dominance of the streaming landscape.

According to those involved with the conversations, Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus aren’t simply seeking to dethrone Netflix as the world’s finest streaming service. According to the US outlet’s sources, the duo also wants to provide their services as a joint venture in order to save customers money. Indeed, the two businesses are thought to have had substantial discussions about delivering said bundle at a lower price than subscribing to both streams separately – a deal that would undoubtedly catch the interest of budget-conscious clients.

Another potentially significant change in the streaming landscape

If the WSJ’s report is right – and the publication is quick to emphasize that talks are still in the early stages – the combination of Paramount Plus and Apple TV Plus into a single bundle may have a significant influence on the streaming market as a whole.

For starters, the world’s eight largest streaming services have all upped their fees in the last 12 months, with some, such as Disney Plus and Max, doing so twice in less than a year in the United States. This has put excessive strain on those who subscribe to numerous services, with many being forced to select between one (or, at a stretch, two) to keep as the cost of living rises.

The combination of Paramount and Apple’s platforms would be regarded as a significant step. The pair, like its competitors, raised their membership costs in 2023 – Apple TV Plus’ significant price increase was particularly vexing to me – and, while each has some terrific material to offer users, their back libraries aren’t on pace with Netflix, Prime Video, or even Hulu. Apple TV Plus’ library contains solely of first-party (albeit mainly excellent) products, whereas Paramount Plus lacks the richness from both first and third-party perspectives to compete with the world’s most popular services.

To that end, it makes sense for Apple and Paramount to join together and offer their respective streaming services to consumers. Doing so at a lower cost would make the bundle even more appealing, as you’d be receiving two platforms for the price of one (possibly). An Apple TV Plus-Paramount Plus package seems like a no-brainer at an era when studios and entertainment businesses are looking to undercut each other in a fiercely competitive industry.

When similar mergers and bundles have already occurred, this isn’t such a daring plan. Disney presently provides a Disney Plus-Hulu package to US customers for less than the cost of subscribing to both streams separately. The entertainment conglomerate is anticipated to completely integrate Disney Plus by 2024 and Hulu into a super streamer in an attempt to compete with Netflix. This merger is all the more plausible following the Walt Disney Company’s full acquisition of Hulu from Comcast in early November.

Max, Warner Bros. Discovery’s own mega streamer, was born after Warner Bros. and Discovery also merged in mid-2022. Previously, HBO Max and Discovery Plus were independent businesses that combined in May 2023 to provide more options to audiences at a lower cost. That is, until the price of Max rose in October.

It remains to be seen if the combined might of Apple and Paramount will be sufficient to transform Netflix. Beaming the best Apple TV Plus shows and best Paramount Plus movies into more homes will be a success in its own right but, if the duo ever want to stand a chance of besting Netflix, it might take a concerted joint effort to do so first.

read more