Sphero Announces Plans to Build Star Wars BB-8 Toys
In the wake of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens new teaser trailer and the love for the small droid BB-8, robotics company Sphero has announced they are building an official toy based on the character.
It's just a tease at the moment; nothing much more than one web page reading "This is the Droid You're Looking For" and a silhouette of BB-8 on a black background. There's been no mention of release dates, prices, or any additional information. However, fans who are interested are invited to enter their email address to stay tuned for updates.
Sphero is the technology behind the BB-8 droid used in The Force Awakens, who initially captured attention when it was revealed the droid was a practical effect instead of computer-generated.
7 Things to Watch This Week
A bit of a lighter load this week as we've come to the time of year when many network (and midseason) shows are ending their seasons. That means Season 3 closers for both History's Vikings and FX's The Americans, along with the freshman year finale for CBS' Scorpion.
As far as new seasons go, Showtime's blasting out their new midlife crisis comedy Happyish (literally all Sunday night - it's the reason Penny Dreadful was pushed back a week) and Comedy Central's launching the third season of their critically acclaimed Inside Amy Schumer.
In geekier TV news, The Flash will delve deeper into Dr. Harrison Wells' car crash "transformation" and screen veteran Jonathan Pryce will debut as "High Sparrow" on Game of Thrones.
Google’s Balloon-Powered Internet Nearly Ready to Take Off
Google has released a new video showcasing the latest advances in Project Loon.
The internet-providing balloons are able to be kept afloat for up to 100 days at a time now, and the balloons can now be built in hours instead of days. Having thousands of balloons afloat at a time can push signal into areas that can't easily access internet services.
The behind-the-scenes video features project lead Mike Cassidy explaining the challenges faced during the project, as well as how Google has overcome them to help making balloon-powdered internet for all a reality.
"When we launched Project Loon in 2013 we hoped to answer a single question - could balloons be used to connect people to the Internet?" Google said of its update video. "Proving that this was possible in our New Zealand launch then led the team to start asking a much larger question - how can we make this work for everyone, no matter where they are in the world? How do you manufacture enough balloons to be able to provide coverage anywhere in the world and then launch them and control them so that there is always a balloon overhead to provide connection to the user on the ground?"
Sony’s New 4K TV Arrives This Summer
Sony's new Ultra HD line of TVs is coming in May, followed this summer by the X900C, reportedly the thinnest TV in the world.
The Ultra HD sets are all HDR-compatible, resulting in more exaggerated hues and vibrant colors –– services such as Amazon and Netflix are planning to roll out HDR content sometime this year, so compatible sets should have suitable shows to watch. The Ultra HD sets also utilize Triluminos technology, allowing for a wider color range and dynamic color correction, according to Sony.
See Luke and Leia Reunited with Their Dad
Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia have apparently searched their feelings and decided to forgive their father, Darth Vader.
A Mark Hamill fan page on Facebook posted a picture (seen below) of the actor and his co-star Carrie Fisher together with the Sith Lord. Families stick together, even after they've imprisoned, kissed and dismembered each other.
Courtesy of Its Mark Hamill Facebook page
LEGO Movie Sequel, Batman and Ninjago Spin-Offs Dated
The next three LEGO films have been given release dates.
Variety reports that the first will be the spin-off LEGO Batman movie on February 10, 2017. Will Arnett will reprise his role as a moody Dark Knight. Co-director Phil Lord said it will explore Batman's emotions, and have him trying to find happiness. That project is currently untitled.
The next to follow will be Ninjago on September 22, 2017. That was originally slated for fall 2016, but has been pushed back. Finally, the LEGO Movie Sequel will come on May 18, 2018.
Microsoft Announces Avatar App for Windows 10
Microsoft has announced that an Avatars app is coming to Windows 10.
As its name suggests, the app will let you change your Xbox avatar or create an entirely new one. You'll be able to access the store as well, allowing you to buy further digital upgrades to your avatar.
The app is linked to your gamercard, so once you hit "save" on the app the changes will appear on your Xbox console as well.
Here’s a Deeper Look Into the Development of Star Wars Battlefront
The first episode in DICE's four-part Star Wars Battlefront Developer Diary video series has been released.
"Our vision is to deliver what we consider the most authentic and realistic Star Wars universe ever created for a video game," the studio explained in the series' debut segment, which you can watch in its entirety below.
DICE really did its homework for its upcoming sci-fi shooter. In fact, the folks over at Lucasfilm gave the EA-owned studio access to the Star Wars archives, as well as the freedom to explore the original locations where the movies were shot.
For more on Star Wars Battlefront, be sure to check out our detailed breakdown of the new trailer, which EA released last week during Disney's grand Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California.
11 Star Wars Collectibles Revealed by ThinkGeek
Star Wars Fan Builds Homemade BB-8 Droid
Inspired by the events of last week's Star Wars Celebration and the fan-beloved BB-8 droid featured in The Force Awakens, industrial designer Christian Poulson decided to create his own version of the small, spherical robot.
To create it, Poulson split a Sphero toy in half, then attached a neodymium magnet to the toy's robotic stabilization arm. He then attached a head to it using a magnet, which would allow it to stay in place while the homemade replica moved around.
He then adorned the little robot with its signature white-and-orange decor, then showed off the little droid in action. See his whole process in the slideshow below.