- io9Television
Ultraman Is Coming to Netflix, Alongside the Return of Castlevania and Aggretsuko
Anime Expo is upon us, and Netflix is taking the opportunity to remind us that it has a metric buttload of anime and anime-adjacent shows on the way, with returning series like the bloody awesome Castlevania adaptation and the extremely cathartic return of Aggretsuko. But it’s also got a couple more surprises on the way, … Continued
- ReviewsPhonesHTC
I Really Hope HTC Doesn’t Go Out Like This
After years of declining sales, unloading $1 billion worth of patents and personnel to Google, and just recently slashing 25 percent of its global workforce, when it comes to HTC, I got one big question: So what’s left? Sure, HTC may have been able insulate its promising Vive VR business by spinning that department off … Continued
- io9TelevisionMorning Spoilers
Updates on Spider-Man: Far From Home, Child’s Play, and More
Don’t expect one Infinity War team up to make another appearance in Spider-Man: Far From Home. The new Child’s Play movie reboot won’t feature the classic voice of Chucky. There’s more casting rumors for DC Universe’s Titans and Doom Patrol shows. Plus, updates on the Doctor Who Christmas special, and what’s to come on Cloak … Continued
- Tech NewsNews
President Trump Sends North Korean Dictator a CD of Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’ Because Our World is Just One Big Joke [Update: State Department Denies the Story]
President Trump gave a speech at the United Nations in September of 2017 where he famously called Kim Jong Un, “rocket man.” Now, in one of the most bizarre stories we’ve heard this week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will deliver a CD of Elton John’s song “Rocket Man” to the North Korean dictator today. … Continued
By Matt Novak - ScienceHealth
Citizens of the EU Are Being Given the Chance to Vote Down Daylight Saving Time
The European Commission is giving citizens of the European Union the opportunity to cast their vote in a public poll that could lead to the elimination of the sleep-depriving practice of changing clocks twice a year for the sake of daylight saving time. The poll, spotted by The Verge, launched Thursday and running until August … Continued
By AJ Dellinger - Tech NewsGoogle
Google Is Reportedly Looking to Take Over Call Centers With Its Duplex AI Assistant
When Google introduced Google Duplex, its AI assistant designed to speak like a human, the company showed off how the average person could use the tech to save time making reservations and whatnot. What wasn’t touched on was the possibility that Duplex may have a use on the other side of the line, taking over … Continued
By AJ Dellinger - io9Movies
Frozone’s Wife and Kids Come to Life in This Incredibles Fan Art
So far Brad Bird and Pixar have made two Incredibles movies, and both have been great. But a character that never quite gets his due is Frozone, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson. Thankfully, some fantastic new fan art puts the spotlight on him and his family. Sure the man with the ice in his hands … Continued
- Tech NewsApple
Apple Probably Isn’t Releasing New Macs and iPads This Summer, But it Did Register Some
When it comes to product releases, Apple may be secretive but it’s also predictable. Software announcements come in the spring during WWDC (as was the case this year) and hardware typically comes in the fall. A new rumor, fueled by filings made with the Eurasian Economic Commission, has sparked some speculation of a summer release, … Continued
By AJ Dellinger - io9Television
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Showrunner Marti Noxon Also Thinks It Sucks That Tara Died
Why’d you have to go and do a thing like that, Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Over 15 years after one of the show’s most shocking deaths helped define the term “bury your gays,” showrunner Marti Noxon admits it was the wrong move. In an interview with Vulture, Noxon was asked whether Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s … Continued
- io9Movies
Even Thomas the Tank Engine Was a Digital Fake in Ant-Man
Visual effects studio DNEG just released a behind-the-scenes look at its post-production work on the original Ant-Man movie, ahead of the sequel’s delayed release in the UK in a few weeks. It’s no surprise that shrinking actors to the size of an ant requires extensive digital fakery, but even the film’s cameo by Thomas the … Continued
- Tech NewsNews
Hospital Evacuated After Tuberculosis Sample Accidentally Released
One of the world’s deadliest diseases—tuberculosis—made a rare stateside appearance Thursday. This afternoon, the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland reported that a small amount of the infectious germ was potentially released in its facilities while being transported. The incident initially prompted the evacuation of several buildings, but hospital officials now say no one is … Continued
By Ed Cara - EartherEnvironmental Justice
This Story About Lions Killing Poachers Is Brutal
I think we can all agree that hunting rhinos is a bad idea, but at least two suspected poachers learned that the hard way earlier this week. In a showcase of nature’s brutality, the BBC reports rangers at the Shibuya game reserve in South Africa stumbled on a pretty gruesome find on Tuesday: the mangled … Continued
- ScienceSpace
Report: NASA’s Policies to Protect the Solar System From Contamination Are Out of Date
Whether it’s rovers rolling about on Mars, probes drilling into asteroids, or Tesla Roadsters drifting through space, it’s clear that our activities in the Solar System are changing. Accordingly, methods and rules to prevent our germs from spreading beyond Earth need to be updated, according to a new report aimed squarely at NASA. Current NASA … Continued
- io9Movies
Here’s How Much MoviePass Surge Pricing Will Cost You
It’s that time again—time to relearn how your MoviePass subscription works. As the dirt-cheap theater-subscription service struggles to find a path to viability, it continues to tinker with its plan. On Thursday, customers were notified that surge pricing will now be applied to films at the most popular showtimes. In an example, MoviePass showed the … Continued
By Rhett Jones - io9Movies
A Live-Action Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Is Really Happening
Mobile Suit Gundam, one of the most influential giant robot sagas of all time, is heading to the big screen. Legendary has just announced a new collaboration with Sunrise at Anime Expo 2018 that will see Gundam get its first ever live-action movie. Details are scarce and a provided press release by the studio stresses … Continued
- Tech NewsGadgets
ZTE Dumps All Its Execs to Appease U.S. Regulators
With ZTE currently operating on a lifeline in the form of a temporary reprieve from the company’s seven-year ban on purchasing components made by U.S. companies, there’s absolutely no room for any sort of messing about. So, in the latest rush to comply with U.S. regulators, after dumping its entire C-suite including the company’s CEO, … Continued
- io9Movies
I’m More Confused Than Ever About The Incredibles‘ Legal System
Like many Americans, I used my Fourth of July holiday to perform my patriotic duty and watch a summer blockbuster, in this case, Pixar’s Incredibles 2. Overall, I found the movie to be an improvement over its (pretty good) predecessor, but I was left with some disturbing questions. First and foremost, just how, exactly, does … Continued
By Hudson Hongo - Tech NewsPrivacy and Security
Revenge Porn Offenders to Face Harsh Punishment Under New UK Guidelines
The council tasked with ensuring consistency in criminal sentences in England and Wales has provided instruction on how courts should handle revenge porn cases: harshly. The Sentencing Council published on Thursday new guidelines on how courts should handle perpetrators who non-consensually share photos of their ex-partners. It’s the first time the committee has addressed the … Continued
- EartherEnvironmental Justice
Why Washington’s Latest Carbon Fee Might Just Pass
In Washington state, a coalition has taken a variety of opinions and merged them into something extraordinary. The first “carbon fee” in the nation will be debated across the state as Washington voters decide what side of history they want to be on come November. Initiative Measure 1631, a proposal to charge businesses $15 for … Continued
- Tech NewsArtificial Intelligence
MIT’s New AI-Powered Software Can Extract Individual Instruments From Videos With a Single Click
An instructor of mine once compared mixing a song to baking a cake. The various tracks are the ingredients, and once everything is mixed and baked, as with a cake, those ingredients can’t be deconstructed. Or can they? AI researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have created an app that can isolate … Continued