Music Unlimited Powered by Qriocity

A new cloud based, digital music service called Music Unlimited has been announced and became available in the UK and Ireland, soon to debut in other select countries in “Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and [the] U.S…in due course during 2011.” Most of your might be familiar with Qriocity – Sony’s network platform for distributing video, now will be hosting music streaming. Once it becomes available PlayStation 3 users will also be treated to a new icon on their XMB interface. Also most TVs and Bluray players released in 2010 will be able to partake in this new music service. Expect also your 2011 VAIO models join the party as well.

Check out below Sony’s official press release as well as video walk through.

Sony Corporation (“Sony”) today announced the launch of “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity,” a new, cloud-based, digital music service which gives music lovers access at any time to millions of songs from major labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Music as well as leading independent labels and major publishers worldwide. The “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” catalogue will initially offer about six million songs and will continue to expand over time.

Through “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity,” users can play music any time on a wide variety of Internet-connected Sony devices including Sony’s 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc player, Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system as well as VAIO and other personal computers. It will also become available on a wide range of Sony’s portable devices, as well as on Android-based mobile devices and other portable devices.

“Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” is initially available in the U.K. and Ireland with service availability in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and U.S. to be announced in due course during 2011.

“Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” is the next extension of services ‘powered by Qriocity. Sony debuted “Video On Demand powered by Qriocity,” a premium video streaming service, in the U.S. in April 2010 and expanded the service to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. in November 2010. Through “Video on Demand powered by Qriocity” customers can instantly rent from a growing library of thousands of Hollywood blockbuster movies across Sony’s 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc player and Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system.

“As we continue to expand Qriocity globally, these services ‘powered by Qriocity’ offer a single ID log-in and wallet solution, and empower users to easily consume content including music and video across a growing number of integrated devices,” said Kazuo Hirai, President of Networked Products & Services Group, Sony Corporation. “Seamless accessibility to content through these fresh user experiences will enrich Sony,s network service offerings and continually add value to the unique aspects of Sony’s network-enabled products.”

Michael Jackson’s Upcoming Album Michael Already Available

Michael Jackson’s upcoming posthumous album, Michael, which are collected works from the past, is set for release on December 14th. Internet savages have already ripped the album and put it on file sharing networks. I was easily able to go to the popular torrent site thepiratebay.org and see many people sharing Michael. It’s unfortunate, but all popular music that comes out now faces this unavoidable reality.

Despite whatever piracy does to possible sales, it’s easily promised that troves of fans will purchase the album anyways. The release has been played in grand fashion with song premieres all over the place.

“Breaking News” was the first song from the album to be unveiled. On November 5, a video teaser for the song was released on Jackson’s official website. It opens with a montage of various television journalists reporting breaking news about Jackson, followed by the musical introduction of a song. The video refers to the tabloid stories and legal troubles that plagued Jackson in the years leading up to his death. On November 8, 2010, the full length version of the song was released, and made available on MichaelJackson.com for one week.

The album’s first single, “Hold My Hand”, was released on November 15, 2010. The filming for the official video of Hold My Hand began on Saturday, November 20 in Tustin, California. There was a casting call posted up on Jackson’s official website, saying that they were “looking for his fans of all ages who want to be a part of this iconic event.”

On November 30, the final version of “Much Too Soon” was unveiled (a mix without the accordion had leaked out in mid-November). It was announced that it would play on iTunes Ping for one week. On December 3, 2010, talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres premiered the song “Hollywood Tonight” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show while dancing throughout the audience. This is the first time this song has been featured on television. On December 6, talk show host Oprah Winfrey premiered songs “Keep Your Head Up”, and and “Monster” during her talk show. On December 7, the final version of “(I Can’t Make It) Another Day” was unveiled on iTunes Ping for one week.

The first few reviews that have popped up have been mixed.

Dan Martin of NME called the album “kind of enjoyable” but commented that “if this decent-enough album is the best of the bunch, things are going to get ugly from here on in.”

Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone thought the album was “not a Michael Jackson album“, and Jackson “would not have released anything like this compilation, a grab bag of outtakes and outlines,” but “it’s a testament to the man’s charisma that Michael can be compelling.” RS gave Michael 3 out of 5 stars.

Ghostbusters III Coming In 2012

Over the years various rumors have floated around about the film Ghostbusters III. The official press release regarding the movie has yet to be issued, but is expected within the next month.

Let’s take a look at the story so far this year with the anticipated movie.

In early January, Ivan Reitman confirmed that he will be directing the film. In March 2010, Bill Murray appeared on Late Show with David Letterman and talked about his return to Ghostbusters III, stating “I’d do it only if my character was killed off in the first reel”. In an interview with Coming Soon, Murray said: “You know, maybe I should just do it. Maybe it’d be fun to do.”. Aykroyd said a release is set for Christmas 2012.

In October 2010, Dan Aykroyd gave Vanity Fair an update on the status of the Ghostbusters 3 script, written by Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg: “I’m working on the script now and those two—Stupnitsky and Eisenberg, [writer-producers of The Office]—wrote Bill the comic role of a lifetime, and the new Ghostbusters and the old are all well represented in it…we have a strong first draft that Harold [Ramis] and I will take back, and I’m very excited about working on it.”

Shortly after that interview, at the Spike TV Scream Awards, Bill Murray appeared to accept an award for Zombieland. He appeared in full Ghostbusters gear, but gave no statements regarding the film.

In mid-October, a Sony Product Marketing Manager (Stefano Paganini) appeared at a Ghostbusters event in Rome and said “I spoke about this night with my boss from Los Angeles. She allowed me to let you know that the script of ‘Ghostbusters 3′ has been approved so the engine has been turned on!”

The original cast will return while casting is currently underway looking for young Ghostbusters. It has been reported Anna Farris has been cast as a young Ghostbuster and Will Forte and Bill Hader have be linked to unamed roles. Shooting will begin in May 2011.

The World Faces Apocalypse In Battle: Los Angeles Movie

Battle: Los Angeles, also known as World Invasion: Battle LA outside the U.S., is an upcoming 2011 science fiction film directed by filmmaker Jonathan Liebesman, and starring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Pena, and Bridget Moynahan. The film premise is inspired by the Battle of Los Angeles incident.

For years, there have been documented cases of UFO sightings around the world – Buenos Aires, Seoul, France, Germany, China. But in 2011, what were once just sightings will become a terrifying reality when Earth is attacked by unknown forces.

As people everywhere watch the world’s great cities fall, Los Angeles becomes the last stand for mankind in a battle no one expected. It’s up to a Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his new platoon to draw a line in the sand as they take on an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered before.

Sony Pictures Entertainment has been investigating the possibility of legal action against the filmmakers Greg and Colin Strause, who were hired to do visual effects work on Battle: Los Angeles through their special effects company Hydraulx. Sony Pictures suspects the Strause Brothers have created their own Los Angeles based alien invasion film Skyline, which will compete with Battle: Los Angeles release, by using resources they had gained while working on Battle: Los Angeles without the consent of Sony Pictures.

A spokesman for the Strauses has responded saying, “Any claims of impropriety are completely baseless. This is a blatant attempt by Sony to force these independent filmmakers to move a release date that has long been set by Universal and Relativity and is outside the filmmakers’ control.”

Filming took place from September 2009 through October 2009 in Shreveport and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Principal photography began in the second week of September in Shreveport with scenes depicting a destroyed interstate filled with cars, an overturned tanker truck, and a crashed helicopter. Special effects used, which were unfamiliar in the Shreveport area, included pyrotechnics. The most climactic of all was a large fireball producing explosion, which alarmed passers-by unfamiliar with the filming. Film crews implemented use of a large “green-screen” billboard at the base (end) of the “destroyed” interstate to use later for inserting CGI images of Los Angeles.

Marines of VMMT-204, Marine Corps Air Station New River North Carolina were present for filming in Baton Rouge from October 19 through October 22, 2009. During this period there were multiple shots filmed of the MV-22B Tiltrotor aircraft flying and turning while on the ground. There were also shots of Marines entering and exiting the aircraft.

Also included Marines and CH-46′s from HMM-774 (Medium Lift Helicopter Squadron) stationed in Norfolk, VA, as well as marines from 3D BN 23D Marine Regiment in Belle Chasse, LA.

Depp And Jolie Cross Paths In The Tourist Movie

The Tourist, set for release on December 10th, is a drama thriller film, distributed by Sony’s Columbia Pictures and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The biggest draw of the movie is undoubtedly the pairing of super celebrities Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. It is a remake of the French film Anthony Zimmer.

Johnny Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful dalliance with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger in The Tourist. During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank (Depp) unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise (Angelina Jolie), an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

The project went through a number of directorial changes. Originally the film was set with Lasse Hallström but he left over scheduling conflicts. Then Bharat Nalluri came on but later left. When Jolie accepted her role, so did Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck but he left over “creative differences” along with Sam Worthington. After many names were mooted, including Alfonso Cuarón, Donnersmarck returned. Tom Cruise was originally going to play the lead role but was replaced by Sam Worthington. Johnny Depp then replaced Worthington. Charlize Theron was, at one point, set to play Jolie’s role.

Michael’s First Official Single: “Hold My Hand” Featuring Akon

The first offical single from Michael Jackson’s upcoming Michael album was released today. The song, entitled “Hold My Hand” (recorded in 2007), is a duet with Akon. A handwritten note from Michael belonging to his Estate indicated his desire that “Hold My Hand” be the first single on his next project. However, in its unfinished state, the song leaked out in July 2008. Before the release, Akon stated that the final version would have more of Jackson’s vocals.

MTV.com has a very astute description of the song:

Unlike “Breaking News,” the beat-heavy anti-media screed that was streamed on the MJ site last week, the uplifting “Hold My Hand” is one of Jackson’s classic love ballads, a heart-stirring call to unity with a touch of a Caribbean lilt.

“This life don’t last forever,” Jackson sings in the opening lines in his signature quavering falsetto. “So tell me what we’re waiting for/ We’re better off being together/ Than being miserable alone.”

Then together, the men sing, ” ‘Cause I been there before and you’ve bee there before/ But together we can be all right/ ‘Cause when it gets dark and when it gets cold we hold each other till we see the sunlight.”

As the three-and-a-half-minute single comes to a close, the strings swell and a gospel choir comes in, clapping hands and giving the tune a majestic feel.

You can listen to the song in this official YouTube video for “Hold My Hand“:

The Michael album is set for release on December 14, 2010 in the United States.

Michael Jackson’s Latest Single “Breaking News” Debuts Amid Controversy

Michael is a posthumous album of unreleased tracks by Michael Jackson. Set to be released by Epic Records on December 14, 2010 in the United States, Michael features previously unreleased music. The first full track to be released by Sony Music is the song “Breaking News”, which was originally recorded in 2007 in New Jersey and completed after the singer’s death in 2009.

Ahead of the album’s release, lawyer Brian Oxman claiming to speak for Jackson’s father Joe said Jackson “would never have wanted his unfinished material to be released.” Will.i.am, who collaborated with Jackson for the album prior his death, also criticised the release, saying it was “disrespectful” to release the unfinished material because Jackson was not able to give it his blessing. Allegations by unnamed sources in the press, claim Katherine Jackson and Jackson’s two eldest children believe the vocals are not genuine, an allegation denied by Sony Music Entertainment. Jackson’s sister La Toya has said that the song “Breaking News” doesn’t sound like Michael.

What do you think of the song?

If the video above doesn’t work, check out the official Michael Jackson website to hear Breaking News.

New Michael Jackson Album “Michael” Drops December 14th

Sony Music just announced the greatly anticipated album of newly completed recordings from Michael Jackson, MICHAEL, will be released on December 14th. The album is being released by Epic Records in association with the Estate of Michael Jackson. Tomorrow, October 5th, an exclusive teaser for the project will appear on Michael’s official website; on Monday, November 8th the world premiere of “Breaking News,” a full track from the album recorded in 2007, will stream on the site for one week only.

The King of Pop recorded numerous songs in the years leading up to his death, including with a friend in New Jersey and studios in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

There has been great controversy regarding the legitimacy of several songs in the album, with TMZ reporting a rather scathing story about the matter called “Michael Jackson’s Kids: It’s Not Daddy’s Voice!“:

Sources tell us Paris and Prince now believe some of the songs on the album are fakes — not Michael’s voice. Sony, we’re told, is convinced all of the songs are the real deal. Howard Weitzman, lawyer for the estate, tells TMZ he had experts listen to the tracks and all of the experts concluded it’s Michael’s voice on all the tracks.

Other Jackson family members also believe some of the tracks are phony. There is a stalemate, although at this point no one is talking lawsuit.

Fans can pre-order the album MICHAEL on the offical website, with some interesting packages such as a MICHAEL CD + Exclusive T-Shirt Package for $24.98, a regular MICHAEL CD at only $12.99, or MICHAEL in downloadable MP3 format for $10.99.

Sony Launches a New Video Blog

Sony fans and followers, if you like to follow closely and see what Sony has in store, you are in luck. I just came across a new Sony video blog called SGNL Sony or in another words Signal by Sony. The video content is pretty much a close up look at Sony’s latest gadgets, games, music and movies.

The site currently features three video episodes discussing in detail Sony’s NEX-5 DSLR camera, they even take it for a spin with a local pro photographer. Other videos worth checking out are Sony’s Netbox SMP-S100 and the gaming PC headset we have covered before.

I thought the videos were very professionally mastered and can relate to the viewers on many levels. The hosts Melody Akhtari and Anthony Carboni are pretty entertaining too. There was no heavy marketing push either and comparison to other non-Sony products is a huge plus.

Looks like Sony is continuing to head in the right direction connecting with its fan base in many different ways via social networking, running blogs, etc. All they need to do is get some real support for their Forums, get some Sony tech reps behind the scenes there and things will get even better.

Sony Movie Channel Launches In USA

Sony Movie Channel, the first U.S. multi-platform television network from Sony Pictures Television (SPT), is now available on DISH Network, DIRECTV and AT&T U-verse TV on linear as well as on authenticated VOD and online platforms. Offering uncut and uninterrupted theatrical releases in stunning high definition, Sony Movie Channel showcases titles from Sony Pictures’ vast library, including award-winning features, cult favorites, family comedies and gripping dramas.

Programming is selected from more than 3,500 Sony Pictures films, which collectively have received 184 Academy Awards including 12 for Best Picture.

“We’re seeing a strong demand for high definition movie content,” said Andy Kaplan, president, networks, Sony Pictures Television. “In an effort to meet consumers’ needs, Sony Movie Channel was designed specifically for the Hollywood movie fan, bringing our high-quality catalogue of feature films directly to viewers.”

Through carriage deals with DISH Network, DIRECTV and AT&T U-verse TV, Sony Movie Channel will be available as part of HD programming lineups to subscribers nationwide. Sony Movie Channel is located in the HD Platinum package on DISH Network channel 386, in DIRECTV HD Xtra Pack on channel 563 and in the AT&T U-verse HD Premium Tier on channel 1791. DISH Network will offer Sony Movie Channel in free access for one month to all subscribers beginning Oct. 18. Sony Movie Channel will also be available on DishOnline.com and as VOD content to subscribers of its HD Platinum package.