I’m old enough to remember video stores and rentals. You had to wait months after the movie’s theater run ended. Then, it might make the store shelf. But now, you can get your movies in weeks, if Apple has anything to say about it. Can Hollywood and Apple take out movie theaters?
Because some Hollywood studios might blatantly forget about cinema protocol and offer digital rentals within weeks after the movies. In fact, Apple and Comcast are in talks with Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures to make this happen. Both Hollywood and Apple agree to put together a movie download system. This system will cost us $30-$50 a month.
Furthermore, they could come to a deal by early 2018. Also, they could have us downloading movies just two weeks after they come out of theaters. But what about movie theater chains? Well, from what I hear, all they will get is a choice. That choice is agree to a deal or be left out in the cold altogether. Some movie theaters talk of boycotting films that you can download so quickly. Don’t think is going to push theaters in decline. They’re already there. Movie tickets went down 10 percent this summer. Most major film companies are in on this. Except for one.
Disney won’t take part. Because they believe their movies, especially the small handful (like Star Wars series) mega money makers, totally depend on the big screen. But nobody can deny that more people are staying home than going to the movies. So far this summer, the only real box-office winner has been Wonder Woman. So Disney depend on a few major, mega hits per year. However, most studios aren’t that lucky. Something needs to be done because the movie theater is dying a slow death. Personally, I’d tell them to lower prices a bit, but hey, what do I know? Maybe it’s time for this Hollywood and Apple experiment. Can it hurt?
I remember a time when we only had four channels: ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS (public television). But wow, things change. Because today, you can watch TV on Netflix, Hulu, even on Amazon TV. So Apple wants in. Let’s talk about Apple, a billion dollars and Hollywood.
Sources say Apple has a billion dollars budget for the next year. That budget is to produce it’s own shows, whether it be TV or movies. In fact, Apple can produce, even buy out, as many as 10 shows in the near future. We’re not talking about second rate shows they do in mama’s basement, either. Because they expect these shows to be as good as the hit show Game of Thrones.
Apple is also bringing in the Hollywood heavy hitters.?Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg will lead this charge. They just came from Sony, and went right to work. They immediately hired. WGN President Matt Cherniss to oversee this new and daunting project. Furthermore, these three are meeting with Hollywood agencies about which shows Apple could buy out. One billion may seem like a lot, but in Hollywood production, it’s really not. Game of Thrones can costs up to $10 million an episode to make. ?If that’s what kind of shows they want to produce, then they really have to go some.
Money isn’t the only obstacle. Competition is. Amazon and Netflix has a big piece of the pie. And they make around $25 billion in revenue. This might be a good omen for Apple. Here in our Boston computer service shop, we talk about Netflix and Hulu, and HBO shows even more than the original channels. So this provides an ample opportunity for Apple. And they’re bringing in the right people for it. If you want to be the best, I guess you need to recruit the best. Apple, A billion dollars and Hollywood is a huge gamble. Will it pay off?
It finally happened. Because you knew Disney couldn’t share the goods for that long. This has to be one of the craziest moves in ? But now, Disney and Netflix part ways.
So the deal began in 2012, but it really didn’t take off until last year. However, by 2019, Netflix will lose all rights to show all Disney movies and TV shows. This includes all ABC shows, because Disney now owns ABC. Also, Disney announced it’s own streaming service, which should be ready by 2019. Yes, this includes all Star Wars movies, because Disney owns Star Wars now. If you’re an ESPN fan, this will affect you too, because Disney owns ESPN. Next year, Disney will create a streaming network for ESPN. So I guess that means no more ’30 for 30′ shows on Netflix.
Disney’s upcoming streaming service will use BAMTech, a digital media company Disney already owns shares in. ?But I almost forgot…today, Disney intends to own 75% of BAMTech. Talk about perfect timing. Disney is already the hardest company to stream movies from. For example, you have to purchase a movie, not rent it. And you know Disney’s streaming will be successful. Because they own Disney, ESPN, Star Wars, Marvel, ABC Productions, and…well, you get my drift. Now where does this leave Netflix?
It leaves them in quite a hole. That means Netflix are going to miss out on a lot of entertainment. However, Netflix executives assure the public that Disney and Netflix will work together. For example, they have an ongoing deal with Marvel. Forgive my cynicism, but I don’t see this happening. Look at Disney’s track record. A few years ago, when Disney’s first cartoon, Steamboat Willie, ?was about to go to public domain. But it never will. Because Disney moved Heaven and Earth to make sure that never happens. Disney is never going to lose any money, or share in any profits, if they can help. They don’t mind buying companies out, but they won’t dare share the spoils. Look at how many companies Disney owns. Disney and Netflix part ways. How will Neflix bounce back?
Are you flying out of Boston on Jet Blue in the near future? You may not need a ticket/boarding pass. That’s because Jet Blue facial recognition is near.
So for people flying from Boston Logan Airport to Aruba, they can opt to take a picture. Then, they check that picture with your passport photo. Note they have your passport photo on file at Customs and Border Protection, also on their computer. If these two photos match, you can board the plane. However, eventually, this won’t be a one time special. At least according to Jet Blue VP Joanna?Geraghty. She seems to want facial recognition checks all through your flying process. Garaghty believes this will make it easy for customers. We’ll see.
Joanna Gerathy also believes this will reduce tempers flare ups and makes our airport experience more enjoyable. Furthermore, Jet Blue facial recognition could improve airport security. Let’s face it. That’s their main concern. But Jet Blue isn’t the only one. Delta Airlines wants biometric technology to take center stage. Their SkyMile customers can check in with fingerprints at DC’s Reagan National Airport. Furthermore, even whole airports want in. The Minneapolis-St. Paul airport already uses facial recognition to check people’s passports and a bag check-in kiosk.
So IT support and technology are changing. That is obvious. Let’s say they are right. For instance, let’s say this reduces tensions and make air travel safer. But at what cost? Once they take your fingerprints and facial scans, they can track you everywhere you go. They have your DNA on file, and they will keep it on file for the rest of your life. This means if you’re protesting, or speaking out against ‘the powers that be’ they know about it. And they can make your life miserable. Also, what if a hacker breaks in these databases? So now you have cyber criminals, maybe even terrorists, tracking your every move. Do we really want that? Jet Blue facial recognition is near. But will it do more harm than good?
I am a kid of the 1980s. So I took part in the video arcade era. My grandfather chastised me about it. Because he said it was a waste of quarters, time, and even compared it to gambling. Thirty years later, here is how video games provide benefits part one.
Did you know video games can help you overcome learning disabilities? Studies are still new, but these studies show video games force you to concentrate. Then, you have to focus to the game’s changes. Also, you have to read and follow instructions and listen to voices. This focus changes your brain. Will these studies lead to treatment for learning disabilities?
Then there are physical benefits. Being a product of the 1980s and ’90s, even I find this hard to conceive. Because at the arcade, we stood up and played. At home, we sat down and played. But now, thanks to Guitar Hero and Nintendo Wii games, video games help you be physically active. Are you familiar with the weight loss show The Biggest Loser? Well, even they have video game to get you in shape. And the whole family can play. Games like Biggest Loser helps people exercise, builds muscles, and burn fat. Guitar Hero is also a physically active game. Then there are many sports based games that make you get up and moving. Can today’s video games help fight obesity?
These are just some of reasons video games provide benefits, part one. In our Boston computer service shop, some obsess over the next video game. Others, like myself, only play occasionally. But kids, boyfriends, and other game enthusiasts: ?We’re arming you with great info. And this is just the beginning. These are just two ways video games provide benefits part one. Before I come out with part two, can you think of any others?
Apple and Amazon never got along that well. But that was probably a good thing. Because that bred competition. They competed for our business and our loyalty. However, note how I’m using past tense. Amazon and Apple team up: What about competitors?
So here’s how Amazon and Apple team up. They agree to bring the Amazon video app to the Apple TV box. Do you know what this means? This means Amazon Prime subscribers can watch their favorite shows using their Apple TV. But before this, Amazon Prime users had to resort to trickery to watch their shows on Apple TV. And such trickery included connecting other Apple products using a WiFi connection.
However, it’s going to be a lot easier now. Well, maybe not now. These Amazon services will be available on Apple TV sometime in fall 2017. It will probably happen just in time for the new fall 2017-18 TV lineup. Again, let me make this clear. No deal is official. But according to tech journalists and speculators, this deal would have to come from the very top. Hence, it would have to meet approval from Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. But why do this? Because they want to dominate the entertainment world at any costs.
So if that means merging their services, they will do it. Of course, nobody from Amazon nor Apple is talking. However, if Amazon and Apple team up like this, then what about competitors? Now I could play the cross-examiner. This could be a good thing for Apple TV watchers and Amazon Prime subscribers. Both have millions. So why should Amazon Prime people have to jump through hoops just to watch TV programs on Apple TV? Nobody else has to do that. And they would have a point. But still, what about competitors? And what about those, even in IT support and computer repair, who don’t care about Amazon Prime or Apple TV? Is this merger (let’s call if for what it really is) even worth it?
