Blomkamp's next

After DISTRICT 9 went on to gross over $100 million, creating a new sci-fi franchise from an original concept, writer/director Neill Blomkamp had his choice of projects to work on next. Would it be a DISTRICT 10? A superhero movie? An adaptation of a once famous TV series? None of the above. Blomkamp has signed a deal to direct, get this, another original concept. Who is this guy and where is he getting all these original ideas from?!

Details on the project are being kept under wraps but Media Rights Capital has committed to finance the untitled sci-fi pic. Blomkamp will be given complete creative control over the film, which is expected to cost more than D-9's $30 million but otherwise modest by sci-fi standards. MRC will shop the project to distributors as production begins. At this point, Peter Jackson is not expected to be involved.

Said Blomkamp of the deal, "MRC is letting me make the film I want to make and that is by far the most important thing here. The film will hopefully be commercial, but it is very much a singular film, that comes directly from me." He'll immediately begin writing the project and doing early FX tests. I should note that Blomkamp WILL do a sequel to DISTRICT 9 for Sony but this untitled project will be his next effort and D-10 will have to wait.

Introducing the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV – fast, powerful, high resolution performance for professional photographers

Looks like Canon isn't skipping the number "four" after all. While initially unveiling what looked to be a half-complete website with two teaser videos, the company has now gone official with the EOS-1D Mark IV. So what's new to the table? For starter's there's a 16.1 megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor, ISO range of100 to 12,800 native, up to 102,400 (hello, Nikon), 45-point area customizable autofocus with 39 high-precision cross-type focusing points, dual Digic 4 processors, 1080p HD video, and an option WFT-E2 IIA wireless file transmitter for connectivity over 802.11a/b/g and ethernet. Launch date is sometime in December, and body-only price is estimated at about $4,999 but subject to change.

Developed incorporating feedback from professional photographers, the EOS-1D Mark IV features a new Canon 16.1MP APS-H CMOS sensor and a brand new 45-point Auto Focus (AF) system with 39 f/2.8 sensitive cross-type points, providing a wide selection of precise focus areas across the frame. Dual “DIGIC 4” processors provide the power to shoot continuous, high-resolution images at up to 10 frames per second (fps), as well as delivering the widest ISO range ever to feature in a Canon camera.

“Throughout the EOS-1D Mark IV’s development, we’ve carefully studied feedback from our photographers and developed a camera to meet their specific requirements” said Mr. Shinbori, Senior General Manager of Camera Development Center, Canon Inc. “With a brand new, high-quality CMOS sensor and Dual “DIGIC 4” processors, the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV allows photographers to be the first to get the highest quality images to picture desks in what is becoming an increasingly competitive market.”

Heroes to Kill Off a Major Character?

First there was last night's same-sex kiss and now it seems that the producers of Heroes are shaking things up some more. According to E! Online, an important character will be killed off on Heroes sometime this season. While the site wouldn't offer the exact character, a few hints were dropped, including a cryptic picture that might or might not feature the killed-off character.

However, I will tell you that this leading character is a male, and he is not necessarily pictured above. (He might be, he might not be.) And he is one of the original cast.
And you thought Hayden's same-sex kiss was surprising, eh?

Clearly the producers are pulling out all the stops this season in an effort to ramp up storylines and pull out a big watercooler-worthy surprise.

Although he isn't pictured, it seems possible that either Zachary Quinto's Sylar or Adrian Pasdar's Nathan Petrelli (even though he's technically dead...) could either meet their fate, due to the bizarre circumstances that are currently playing out this season.

Dell's $2,000 Adamo XPS launching October 22 with heat-sensing open latch

Dell has been teasing its ultrathin Adamo XPS for weeks now, but all that goofing off will come to a solemn end next Thursday. On the same day that we sit down with Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer (and a little OS by the name of Windows 7 hits store shelves), Dell will also fully reveal the planet's slimmest laptop. The 0.39-inch Adamo XPS will cost $2,000, and while the nitty-gritty details are still under wraps, a new Business Week article notes that it'll boast a "heat-sensing strip on the lip that, when swiped with a finger, glows white and automatically opens the aluminum lid." The glamorous machine is part of a larger effort within the Round Rock powerhouse to revitalize itself and get people talking once again, and while this particular slab will obviously not be a high volume product, it could very well get a few more eyes pointed in its direction

Argentina qualifies for World Cup with victory over Uruguay

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Argentina ended an embarrassing campaign by qualifying for the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Uruguay on Wednesday.

Argentina would have missed its first World Cup since 1970 if it had lost at packed Centenario Stadium.

But moments after Uruguay defender Martin Caceres was ejected for his second yellow card, substitute Mario Bolatti scored amid a goalmouth scramble in the 84th minute to send a relieved Argentina to the finals in South Africa next year.

Argentina claimed the fourth and final automatic berth in South America, while Uruguay finished fifth and earned another chance to qualify through the playoffs next month.

MELVILLE, N.Y. (Oct. 14, 2009) – Today, Nikon Inc. announced the FX-format D3S D-SLR, providing professional photographers with a powerful tool that redefines the boundaries of digital SLR versatility, while maintaining the strength of superior image quality and high speed performance inherited from the ground breaking D3. The D3S enables not only new opportunities in low-light photography, but also provides photographers with added shutter speed and aperture freedom with a base ISO sensitivity range from ISO 200 to a remarkable 12,800. Additionally, expanded ISO equivalent settings up to a staggering 102,400 are available, enabling photographers to create images previously thought impossible.


The Nikon D3S builds upon the success of the Nikon D3-the professional digital SLR that set new standards for D-SLR performance and utilizes a newly designed, Nikon original 12.1-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor that also integrates its amazing low-light ability to High Definition (HD) video, creating a uniquely capable multi-media tool to meet the needs of a changing imaging landscape.

"When the Nikon D3 was released, it ushered in a new era of professional digital imaging. Today, the D3S will further reinforce Nikon's leadership role in the photographic industry as a pioneer in performance-driven technologies that will again break once-rigid picture-taking barriers," said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products at Nikon Inc. "The ruggedly constructed D3S was engineered to address the real-world needs of professional photographers and provides them with a tool that, when combined with their skills, delivers stunning images in a broad range of shooting conditions and assignment requirements."

BlackBerry Bold 2 to be announced October 21

T-Mobile and AT&T both currently plan on announcing the Bold 2 -- also known as the Onyx -- on October 21. As a refresher, this would be the touchpad-driven piece with model number 9700 that's been making the rounds on the leak circuit the past few months, a fitting successor to a device that virtually every celebrity this side of Merle Haggard has been photographed carrying at once point or another.

Heroes Will Feature Claire and Gretchen Kissing

Things will be heating up in next week's episode of Heroes, entitled Hysterical Blindness, which will air on Monday, October 12 at 8 PM ET on NBC, and we have a new image to prove it. Take a look at Hayden Panettiere's Claire and guest star Madeline Zima's Gretchen locked in their first kiss.



The episode will also feature guest-starring stints from Ernie Hudson and Oscar-winning actress Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest). Take a look at the new synopsis for the episode below.

Samuel (Robert Knepper) prepares for new additions to his family, while Lydia (guest star Dawn Olivieri) warns him of the consequences. Claire (Hayden Panettiere) discovers that her roommate Gretchen (guest star Madeline Zima) may have a hidden agenda. Meanwhile, Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) finds an unexpected way to connect with Emma (guest star Deanne Bray), who would prefer to stay distant. Elsewhere, a different side of Sylar (Zachary Quinto) emerges as he desperately tries to remember the person he used to be.

Michael Bay Confirms Transformers 3 for 2011

October 1st, 2009

The director of an immensely popular action franchise has confirmed we won't have to wait as long for the third film in the series. Director Michael Bay annnounced on his official website that Transformers 3 has now been confirmed for a summer 2011 release. Here's the director's statement on his website, which included a note to Megan Fox as well.

Well its official: We have a great Transformers 3 story. The release date is now July 1st 2011. Not 2012.

Today is Day One. This morning started with an ILM meeting for five hours in San Francisco. Currently I'm flying with writer Ehren Kruger to Rhode Island to talk to Hasbro about new characters.

P.S. Megan Fox, welcome back. I promise no alien robots will harm you in any way during the production of this motion picture. Please consult your Physician when working under my direction because some side effects can occur, such as mild dizziness, intense nausea, suicidal tendencies, depression, minor chest hair growth, random internal hemorrhaging and inability to sleep. As some directors may be hazardous to your health, please consult your Doctor to determine if this is right for you.

Pain and Gain is right after shooting of Trans 3.

Michael

It was reported earlier this year that Bay had planned to take a break in between Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Transformers 3, originally stating that he would prep for a 2012 release of Transformers 3.