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Download Keepin' it Reel, Episode 311!
Welcome back to Keepin' It Reel, the IGN show where Jim Vejvoda, Terri Schwartz and -- in his final episode -- Chris Carle bring you the latest genre movie news.
First of all, we're giving a big shout out to Keepin' It Reel fan Russell Richardson for his awesome fan art above. We love it! Thanks!
We Suck At Drawing With the Pen of the Future
The AtmosFlare is a 3D-drawing pen. Think of a 3D printer, only you control the shapes with your hands rather than with the help of a much smarter, much steadier computer. We saw it on the floor of the Consumer Electronics Show this week and had to try it out.
As you can see from the video above, we are not good at using the AtmosFlare. At all.
The pen uses a UV-cured photopolymer to make paint dry in three-dimensional designs. You move the pen through space and it leaves behind a trail of hardened, dried "paint" wherever it travels.
In the demonstration we saw, AtmosFlare's Adrian Amjadi was working on an incredible jellyfish design, complete with delicate tendrils that he drew with an artist's incredible sense of finesse.
This Year’s Hottest Console Is For Dogs
At the Consumer Electronics Show this week, we saw all kinds of incredible tech. We also saw what is arguably 2016's hottest console.
This year's hottest gaming console isn't for humans, though. In fact, the CleverPet Hub is designed for dogs, which are like very lovable, stupid humans we invite into our homes to bring us the joy of companionship. You can see it in action in the video above.
The creator of the CleverPet Hub, Daniel Knudsen, says "a lot of dogs stay home all day with nothing to do," a fact any working pet-owner can attest to. While many bad dogs will take out their boredom by, say, tearing apart a bag of garbage or chewing the corners of furniture, Knudsen's CleverPet Hub gives dogs a constructive release for their energy.
Blade Runner’s Future Is Today
“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe…”
Actually, Roy, you’re about to see things we wouldn’t believe. Because as it turns out, today is the day you are going to be born. Happy Incept Day!
I’m talking, of course, about Roy Batty, the Replicant played by Rutger Hauer in the classic sci-fi film Blade Runner. Constructed by the Tyrell Corporation, whose motto was “More human than human,” Batty certainly fit that description. Harrison Ford’s boss in the Replicant-hunting police unit of Blade Runners explained the android’s specs like this: “NEXUS 6. Roy Batty. Incept date 2016. Combat model. Optimum self-sufficiency… Probably the leader.” That last part was said with a bit of a nervous chuckle, with the clear implication being that you don’t want to mess with Roy…
Apple Doesn’t Want Volkswagen Showing Off Wireless CarPlay
Apple has disallowed Volkswagen from showing off its new wireless CarPlay feature at CES 2016.
The exact reason why isn't clear. However, Car and Driver — to whom Volkswagen confirmed the block earlier today — theorizes that it's likely because the tech manufacturer wants to show off the new feature on its own terms. This is in spite of the fact that most iPhone users can already get a pretty good idea of how the system works for themselves.
NBC Orders Pilot for DC Comics Universe Comedy, Powerless
Powerless, a half-hour comedy set in the DC Comics universe, has been given a pilot order by NBC.
From Cars 2 scribe Ben Queen, the potential series -- which NBC gave a pilot production commitment to back in August -- focuses on the lives of ordinary, powerless insurance workers in a superhero-filled world. While the show is expected to feature superhero cameos, DC's bigger brands, such as Batman and Superman, reportedly won't be involved.
According to Entertainment Weekly, NBC ordered three additional pilots today: a self-titled Marlon Wayans comedy and two untitled projects from former 30 Rock writers Tracey Wigfield and Matt Hubbard.
We Played With the World’s Most Expensive Rubber Duck
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we got to see all sorts of crazy, cool, and expensive technology. What we didn't expect to find was the world's most expensive bath toy.
More than just a toy for tubby-time, Edwin the Duck is actually a waterproof, floating Bluetooth speaker, but it looks like an ordinary rubber duck. You can see it in action in the video above.
In fact, it seems as though it would be right at home in the basement apartment of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie.
But it's not just a clever little tub-time speaker, it also has apps. We live in an incredible era where even a child's rubber duck can contain the sort of high-tech electronic equipment that just 20 years ago would have been unthinkable.
Apple Reportedly Making Cordless Earbuds
Apple is reportedly working on a new wireless pair of Bluetooth earbuds to release this fall.
According to 9to5Mac, the cord-free earbuds don't even connect with the right and left pieces, as they're supposedly similar to the Motorola Hint headset. There will be another accessory for Siri communication and to make phone calls.
The cordless earbuds purportedly won't come with the iPhone 7. Instead, they'll most likely be available as a separate premium version of the packaged pair with the device.
The technology behind the new earbuds reportedly is courtesy of Beats, which Apple acquired in 2014 for $3 billion. To charge the wireless headphones, there will likely be a carrying case that also serves as a rechargeable battery.
Outlander Author on Not Having GRRM’s Writing Problem
Diana Gabaldon is not concerned that the Outlander TV series is going to catch up with her ongoing series of books any time soon like Game of Thrones recently did with George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels.
Following Martin's announcement that he would not release his new book, The Winds of Winter, before Season 6 of the HBO drama is released, thus meaning that the TV show would pass his published material, Gabaldon opened up about whether or not that would happen to her.
"Unlike George, I write no matter where I am or what else I'm doing," she said at the 2016 winter Television Critics Association press tour. "He admits it himself, he likes to travel and he can't write when he travels. That's just the way he works.
Modder Recreates Mirror’s Edge Prologue in Dying Light
Mirror's Edge is now playable inside Techland's zombie survival game Dying Light. Sort of.
Using Dying Light's mod creation tools, user Elimina (via Kotaku) has made what they claim to be a 1:1 scale version of the prologue map from Mirror's Edge. According to Elimina, "every corner and detail" is "almost identical" to the original stages of DICE's dystopic parkour game. Check it out in the slideshow below.
The project is still very much a work in progress, but those interested can download it on PC now via Dying Light's Steam Workshop page. Elimina has outlined a list of things they intend to add in via future updates, including added NPCs in the police chase section, an attempt to add a wall run, and more interior detail for the environments.