movies - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Sony cranks up optical disc storage to 3.3TB

  Optical discs like Blu-ray are losing favor, but Sony and Panasonic don't seem to care. The companies have cranked up the storage capacity on optical media to a stunning 3.3TB.

• Australian media companies on notice: Here comes Netflix

  The imminent arrival of Netflix in Australia could give heart palpitations to the Australian media companies, according to an Australian analyst.

• Nine, Fairfax show hand on subscription video with StreamCo

  Amid continuing rumours of Netflix coming to Australia, here comes another video streaming subscription service.

• EFA lists movies pirates can't obtain legally

  Seven out of the 10 most pirated films this week are not legally available for digital purchase in Australia, according to a new website by Electronic Frontiers Australia.

• Remembering comedian/actor Robin Williams: His Siri schtick

  The sad news of comedian/actor Robin Williams' death on Monday at the age of 63 flooded social media and news sites online. While Williams is recalled mainly for has manic comedy routines, and funny and dramatic acting roles, some of his more recent appearances were dotted with technology-infused humor.

• Digital content owners list alternatives to piracy

  Content owners aim to curtail piracy in Australia with an online listing of services where consumers can legally obtain music, movies, video games and other material.

• UltraViolet wins 160,000 digital movie accounts in ANZ

  The film industry has declared Australian success for its play to keep DVD and Blu-ray sales alive amid a surge in legal and illegal digital watching.

• Chromecast beams into Australian media streaming race

  The arrival in Australia of Google Chromecast could shake the media landscape, according to an IBRS analyst.

• Can Foxtel pre-empt Netflix with Presto?

  A new subscription video offering from Foxtel appears to be a defensive move against new challengers coming into the Australian market, according to market analysts.

• The technology behind Captain America: The First Avenger

  Fuel VFX chief technology officer, Dylan Penhale, and co-founder and VFX supervisor, Dave Morley, spoke to Techworld Australia about creating some of the visual effects in Captain America: The First Avenger. The Sydney-based company delivered 120 shots in six sequences for the Marvel film.

• Hoyts signs with Remasys to monitor digital cinemas

  Cinema and entertainment company, Hoyts, continues its project to convert its cinemas to digital projection, signing Australian software services company, Remasys, to to monitor its digital cinema systems, corporate offices and trading websites.

• Why 3D will fail in 2010

  James Cameron's hotly anticipated 3D movie, "Avatar," hits theaters across the U.S. today. Besides stunning computer generated imagery and a predictable-but-appealing storyline, the movie will become well known for high-quality 3D.

• Grab PSP movies from Blu-ray discs

  Want to watch Blu-ray flicks on your Sony PlayStation Portable? Okay, you can't watch them natively on the handheld--the system tops out at 480x272 lines of resolution, after all. But according to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment America, now you can pull the PSP versions straight from the Blu-ray disc itself.

• Lights, camera, action: the Facebook movie

  You know you've made it big-time when a movie is made about you. Remember last year when we heard news of the story behind Facebook coming soon to cineplex near you? Today we are hearing that the movie, called The Social Network, is approaching production schedule, set for sometime at the end of this year.

• Movies coming soon to a mobile phone near you

  Offering movies is the latest thing some vendors are trying to lure users as the battle for mobile phone buyers becomes more challenging.