Frank Oz provided Yoda's voice in each film and used his skills as a puppeteer in the original trilogy and Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. For the latter, in some walking scenes, Warwick Davis incarnated Yoda as well. For the radio dramatizations of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Yoda was voiced by John Lithgow, while Tom Kane voiced him in the Clone Wars animated series, several video games, and the new series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Continue reading for more.
Someone threw a banana at Dani Alves during Barcelona's 3-2 win over Villareal in La Liga action today. Alves, not missing a beat, picked up the banana, ate it, and went about his business.
Get off of Mike Miller, Kendrick! He isn't a chair. Ah, what the heck. You deserve a quick breather. Keep workin' hard out there, Perk.
As much as we enjoyed watching you deploy the Fling 'n Hide technique to perfection, you probably shouldn't do this again, Ken Mauer.
Alex Honnold is one of the best rock climbers in the world. Check out this van he calls home.
The 5Point Film Festival trailer has something for every outdoor sports lover.
The third and final Hobbit movie has a new name, and it’s not going back again.
Now titled The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Peter Jackson’s cinematic finale originally carried the full subtitle of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 book, The Hobbit: There and Back Again.
SEE ALSO: Elves Are the Mean Girls of Middle Earth
Jackson explained it in a Facebook post on Thursday:
There and Back Again felt like the right name for the second of a two-film telling … but with three movies, it suddenly felt misplaced—after all, Bilbo has already arrived “there” in the Desolation of Smaug.
Though he's spinning this as a purely creative choice, no doubt marketing is at play here: Battle of the Five Armies is certainly a more action-packed sounding title, as it references the epic siege of the Lonely Mountain, where the dwarves are holed up with their treasure following the death of the dragon Smaug. But the men of Dale and the elves join forces with the dwarves after discovering that they are being marched upon by a host of goblins and their wolf-like wargs. Read more...
More about Movies, Entertainment, Film, and Hobbit
Apparently Katy Perry is really great at birthday parties
The singer ditched her usual glam and sparkly routine for a more zany music video for her single "Birthday." In the video, Perry impersonates five distinctive characters, including a creepy clown, a geriatric female dancer and a ditzy princess, all of whom perform as party entertainment acts
Antics ensue, and party guests look horrified. (Just wonder what their faces looked like when they found out they were in a Katy Perry music video.)
Perry recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and discussed the video's concept, saying she was bored with her ultra-feminine videos and decided to embrace her inner prankster instead Read more...
More about Viral Videos, Music, Music Videos, Katy Perry, and Entertainment
Amazon is reportedly in the early phases of testing a new delivery service that would reduce the company's reliance on UPS and FedEx.
The company has been testing the service, supposedly called "Last Mile," in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco since late last year, The Wall Street Journal report says.
The exact logistics of the delivery service, or when it might roll out in other cities, aren't yet clear but it focuses on the so-called "last mile" of deliveries, the part that ends up at your doorstep and is typically handled by large carriers like UPS or the USPS. Read more...
More about Amazon, Delivery, Fedex, Ups, and Business
The fallout from a devastating avalanche on Mount Everest that ended the lives of 16 Nepalese guides on April 18 has caused expedition teams to cancel their summit attempt, ending or suspending the dreams of many who had hoped to reach the world's highest point.
An emotional hangover, safety concerns and a business climate that is suddenly unstable have all weighed heavily on the minds of expedition teams that have to balance the inherent risks of mountain climbing with the ambitions of clients who have paid sometimes upwards of $75,000 for a shot at Mount Everest's peak.
Many Nepalese guides, known as sherpas, have decided to walk away from the mountain this season to honor colleagues who lost their lives, and many have demanded higher compensation for the danger they face in preparing routes for mostly Western climbers. Without sherpas to set up routes and carry equipment, climbing Everest becomes much more difficult than it already is. Some expedition leaders are also unsure the route is safe; going ahead with an expedition would mean leading clients through the area where the avalanche happened. Read more...
More about Mountain, Mount Everest, Us World, World, and Travel Leisure
Google is reportedly interested in offering its own Wi-Fi networks in regions where it already has its Google Fiber Internet and TV service, a new report suggests.
According to PC World, Google has been circulating a document that discusses the possibility of a wireless service to 34 cities that are due to receive Google Fiber service in 2015.
The news of the document comes just a few weeks after reports first surfaced that Google was looking into its own wireless service in Google Fiber areas.
Although details related to a possible wireless service weren't included, the document said Google will be “discussing our Wi-Fi plans and related requirements with your city as we move forward with your city during this planning process.” Read more...
More about Google, Wi Fi, Google Fiber, Tech, and Apps SoftwareTalk about the OnePlus One at AndroidForums.com | Pricing and Availability | Are you buying?
It’s been a veeeery long and arguably frustrating wait, but the OnePlus One has finally been unveiled for the world to see. The beaut you see up above is the first device built specifically for CyanogenMod, and while the tactic of trickled specs kept us on the edge of our seats, there’s nothing quite like seeing a full spec listing.
Here’s everything that’ll be packed inside:
That last one is the big kicker, because it’s the software where OnePlus and CyanogenMod’s values truly shine. Their boisterous condemnation of carrier bloatware and unnecessary features were paramount to creating a device users would want. Well, that and a device that packs as much cutting edge silicon that it can inside a 5.5-inch frame.
CyanogenMod features all the key staples of the existing after-market ROM, except it has a different, special coat of pain designed specifically for the OnePlus One. A staggering thousand or so themes will be available for you to customize with thanks to the built-in themes engine.
Secure encrypted texting between other CyanogenMod or TextSecure users ensures privacy. Privacy Guard lets you control which apps get access to which data. We’ll even be treated to a feature that allows you to activate your phone’s voice commands without having to touch it.
It’s all part of CyanogenMod’s latest commitment — to be open, secure, and extremely customizable. Seems they hit all the marks on this one.
So when? Where? How much? And how to buy it? Thankfully they aren’t pussyfooting with that information. The device will be coming to
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States. The 16GB Silk White model will run you an absolutely insane $299/€269, while the 64GB Sandstone Black can be had for $349/€299.
We honestly thought they’d go with the $399.99 price point to stay under their goal of delivering a device that costs less than $400, but this is a whole different level of value. Unfortunately the “how” of it all is still based on an invite only system.
Aside from the handful of users who have already gotten an invite code through a recent OnePlus One forum contest, users will be able to get a chance to “smash” their phone. Dubbed the OnePlus One Phone Smash, the company will select 100 users — at random — to smash their phones and buy the OnePlus One.
Doesn’t make sense if you were planning to trade your current phone in to pay for the device, right? That’s why those same 100 people will be able to grab it for a mere dollar.
Anyone beyond that will need an invite for now, so you’d better make friends with one of those 100 lucky people as they’ll be the only ones with invite codes to buy the phone at full price. It’s not the most popular system among our readership, but hey — for what you’re getting at the cost you’re paying, there’s little else to complain about.
After almost 8 years with the company, Vic Gundotra — the man behind Google+ — is leaving Google. Gundotra announced the news via his Google+ profile minutes ago and while we don’t know where Vic is headed, is appears Google+ engineer David Besbris has been chosen to be his replacement. Google’s Larry Page chimed in on Vic’s going away post, saying:
“Vic- thank you for a tremendous almost eight years at Google. You cut your teeth on our mobile apps and developer relations, turning our disparate efforts into something great. When I first used turn-by-turn navigation, it blew me away. And, walking onto the stage at I/O last year, it was amazing to see developers so excited about Google. These were vintage Vic projects.
Then you built Google+ from nothing. There are few people with the courage and ability to start something like that and I am very grateful for all your hard work and passion. I really enjoy using Google+ on a daily basis, especially the auto awesome movies which I really love sharing with my family and friends.
Good luck with your next project after Google. In the meantime we’ll continue working hard to build great new experiences for the ever increasing number of Google+ fans.”
Gundotra’s exit is another recent high-level departure hitting Google in recent months. It wasn’t too long ago we saw Hugo Barra take a job offer in China to help with Xiamoi’s global division, and although he’s still with Google, Andy Rubin recently stepped down from his roll with Android.
Restructuring and departures are normal for any company, and we wish Vic the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Update: Google Says the link to purchase Glass is supposed to be for Explorers who were already waiting from last week when the device was out of stock. Still a bit odd that a public link was the best way Google could think of to do that. (Thanks, +Rafael Morales)
Apparently that one-day Glass event earlier this month was just a trial run for something much bigger – Google Glass is now public.
Google Glass Store Is Now Open To All – Get Your Own Face Computer For $1500 [Update: Or Not] was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Remember the girl who was given a ticket for driving with Google Glass? Ignorant observers have gotten the best of her again, this time in the world of aviation, where she got a less than pleasant greeting when boarding a United Airlines flight. The flight attendant made her remove Google Glass, citing “security concerns” as the reasoning, a misnomer from which we thought humanity had graduated.
She then proceeded to take the same picture she was planning on taking with Google Glass with her smartphone:
I’m taking a pic with my cellphone because I’m not allowed to take it with Google Glass. It had to be United the first plane that they asked me to take Glass off because of security concerns.
It raises the question: what sort of “security” is being compromised by the use of Google Glass? (spoiler: none)
Are they afraid that Mrs. Abadie is using her Glass’s front-facing camera to map out the innards of the airplane for use by some terrorist? Last we checked, airplane schematics were available online for anyone to view.
Another question — if they have a problem with Glass, where’s the uproar about the tons of tablets, smartphones, laptops and cameras that are even more powerful with even more functionality than Google Glass that are already approved for in-flight use? And furthermore, now pre-approved for pre-flight use?
It all sounds like another case of technophobia or ill-informed employees who are trained to exile anything that doesn’t resemble the shape of the aforementioned devices in their handbook. Come on, United, embrace technology… it’s all the rage.
Furthermore, what will they say once Google Glass becomes a necessity for the vision-impaired? Many folks are planning to replace their typical frames with the Glass Titanium collection, and at that point you’d be asking a person to compromise their safety and well being for the sake of making sure they aren’t taking some silly picture to post on Google+.
It doesn’t sound like all airlines are meeting Glass with as much resistance. In fact, a pilot from competitor US Airways was eager to try on Tim Moore of Rochester Optical’s pair just this morning:
And yes, he is holding that ancient corded telephone upside down.
This isn’t the first time Abadie’s name has been in the news for so-called “illegal” use of Google Glass. Her well-documented case against the city of San Diego for a ticket she received for wearing Glass while driving ended with a minor victory in what’s turning out to be a long war.
Abadie’s ticket was thrown out because the judge ruled that Google Glass is legal to drive with as long as the user isn’t actually using it (something which would be hard for any officer to prove or disprove). It might not be the hard legislature we seek to make sure Glass has a rightful place in today’s tech, but every little bit matters.
Some state representatives have already started lending their name to the cause of banning Google Glass for public use, whether that be due to safety concerns, privacy concerns, or all of the above paranoia-induced reasons they spew. A choice quote from Wyoming Senator Floyd Esquibel:
Common sense would tell you that you really don’t need to look at a little computer while driving, that it endangers you, your passengers and other drivers.
Apparently, GPS units and in-dash computers suddenly don’t fit in this category, but Google Glass does. Sensible thinking there, Mr. Senator.
Thankfully not all lawmakers feel this way, with one court ruling that using a monitor in the vehicle for purposes of GPS is not considered distracted driving and thus shouldn’t be considered an offense when citizens do it. Whether Google Glass fits into that category is still up in the air, and it’s something we hope will be worked out with an open mind in the months or years to come.
We also have to wonder what this will mean for smartwatches and other wearables. Most TSA agents and airline assistants probably wouldn’t take a second look at your smartwatch even though they have access to the same general features as your Google Glass, Android Phone, or Android Tablet. Perhaps it’s Google Glass’s “in your face” presence that adds an intimidation factor to the whole ordeal, but ignorance is not a good excuse for restricting what should be considered basic freedoms.
Unfortunately this has been going on since the day people stepped foot into private and public establishments with Google Glass on, and things aren’t expected to slow down anytime soon. Google Glass is considered emerging tech, and much of the world is still trying to figure it out. A lot of people have welcomed the technology and have been open to learning more, but for every interested soul there’s another who is just as quick to banish it.
That’s why we should be grateful for Glass Explorers like Cecilia Abadie and their willingness to evangelize, because it’s this early resistance that’s going to help Google break down these illogical taboos and continue moving technology forward. Keep fighting the good fight, Cecilia.
[via Google+]
Set your calendars, schedule time off from work and start saving for those hotel and airline tickets — the 2014 Big Android BBQ has officially been set for October 16th through the 18th. The fifth annual community BBQ is set in Hurst, Texas again, with the Hurst Conference Center playing host to this wonderful, geeky (or wonderfully geeky) affair.
Beyond hanging out with people just as enthusiastic as you and eating good food, the Big Android BBQ is a productive time where people discuss the mobile industry, development, Android and technology through panels and events. Parties, giveaways and more also add to the whole “you need to be there” factor.
Speakers from deep within the industry such as Noble Ackerson and Steve Kondik tend to make their presence known at the #BBQ, and many more will surely be on tap to spread their wisdom and have a good time. Just take a look at our recollection of 2013′s shindig to see how much fun there is to be had.
Much of the specifics about tickets, hotel and airline packages and more are still being worked out, but it shouldn’t be long before we hear about what 2014′s meetup will have to offer.
[via Google+]
The three Hollywood executives named in separate lawsuits by the man who accused director Bryan Singer of sexual assault have each made statements denying new abuse allegations, including a six-tweet burst from David Neuman, the former president of Disney TV.
Neuman fired off his tweets just a couple of hours after David Egan, his mother Bonnie and his lawyer Jeff Herman held a press conference announcing the new lawsuits. Egan, now 31, first accused Singer, the X-Men: Days of Future Past director, of plying him with drugs and alcohol and raping him at house parties in Los Angeles and Hawaii starting when he was 15. Read more...
We all have our own ideas for what makes a great vacation.
Many would consider relaxing on a tropical beach and catching some rays with a Mai Tai in hand to be the perfect getaway.
See also: How to Plan a Spontaneous Getaway
But for thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies, doing nothing but laying around on the sand, working on a tan and scoping out the sights is anything but relaxing.
So if jumping out of a plane or chasing deadly storms sounds better than hopping on a cruise to the Caribbean or backpacking across Europe, a blood-pumping, adrenaline-fueled vacation may be just what you need to step away from reality for a bit. Read more...
More about Travel, Lists, Vacation, Destinations, and Lifestyle
On April 23, 2005, Jawed Karim uploaded an 18-second video to a site called YouTube that he helped create. We'll get back to that video shortly, but let's take a minute to think about what nine years means in the digital age
The web was a very different place. The title of "social media maven/guru/ninja" was just a twinkle in some charlatan's eyeTwitter was still about a year away from existence, and an early iteration of the Facebook we now know was just gaining traction on college campuses
Heck, we had yet to meet the ubiquitous viral video back in April 2005. And online media had yet to suffer through many hard years before discovering the life-giving secrets of the listicle, heartwarming advertisement and fatuous cat video. In short, the social explosion had yet to make the web the — Epic! Unbelievable! Shocking! — look-at-me, click-on-this cacophony it is today Read more...
More about Youtube, Viral Video, Nyan Cat, Video, and Social Media
It's time to start getting back to nature. If you're an outdoorsy type, you're probably starting to plan your first big camping trip of the season. Who better to lend a tip or two than resident badass Bear Grylls?
Bitter cold, harsh winds and ravenous wildlife are no problem when you've got the ultimate Man vs. Wild survivalist to show you the way. Or you can at least pretend you're roughing it while roasting marshmallows.
See also: 13 Super Gross Things You Do Every Day
You may not be parachuting into barren deserts or trekking up dangerous mountains, but a few pointers couldn't hurt — especially when setting up your tent. Read more...
More about Discovery, Lists, Tips, Diy, and Comedy
More than a month after Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 disappeared, authorities say possible airplane debris has surfaced in Australia.
According to reports, Australian police have collected "material that has washed ashore" on the southwest coast of Australia. Officials in Australia and Malaysia are looking closely at images of the wreckage to determine whether it is related to the missing jetliner.
Officials were careful to stress that any connection to MH370 is still only a possibility at this point.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan said the object appears to be sheet metal with rivets, and calls it "sufficiently interesting" for investigation, CNN reports. Read more...
More about Us World, World, Malaysia Airlines, Flight 370, and Debris
Orange Is the New Black's sophomore season will begin with a seemingly delusional Piper Chapman in solitary confinement, facing punishment for pummeling fellow prison inmate Pennsatucky in the first season's finale. That scene, below, has arrived online.
The opening sequence, which debuted Wednesday on Entertainment Weekly, gives fans a sneak peek well before Netflix will premiere season two's 13 episodes on June 6.
The show's creator Jenji Kohan told EW the new season will be "a little darker, a little more fractured," admitting that season one was "getting a little summer-campy." Read more...
More about Entertainment, Netflix, Tv, Streaming Tv, and Orange Is The New Black
A daredevil duo set the the Guinness World Record for highest base jump from the tallest building by leaping off the Burj Khalifa.
The 4K YouTube video shows Soul Flyers World Champions Vince Reffet and Fred Fugen jumping from a custom-made platform at the very top of the spire.
Standing at 2,722 feet tall, the Burj Khalifa dwarfs the rest of Dubai's cityscapeEmirates247 reports that Reffet and Fugen had to endure an intense week of training in Switzerland, jumping off Lauterbeunnen mountain, which stands at a similar height. Read more...
More about Viral Videos, Watercooler, Videos, Base Jumping, and Dubai
Quality sound effects can make a great movie even greater
YouTube user Hudson Hongo redubbed Star Wars, replacing the original sound effects with his own onomatopoetic version. Now Star Wars fans can enjoy the battle between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi with plenty of beeps, boops and pew-pews filling in for the original sound
See also: 30 'Star Wars' Facts You Didn't Know
Even without its legendary sound effects, Star Wars is still entertaining to watch. After all, die-hard fans are probably making those noises when they're watching anyway.
More about Viral Videos, Movies, Star Wars, Darth Vader, and Watercooler
After months of brutal winter, the weather has finally taken a turn for the better. And with summer's sunny head peeking around the corner, your cramped up legs start itching for wanderlust
A relaxing week away might sound lovely — until you dust off your luggage and remember how awful cramming a week's worth of items into even the largest suitcases can be.
See also: How to Plan a Spontaneous Getaway
Whether you're planning a trip for a week or a weekend, the frustrations of packing seem endless. You can check every weather expert, measure your bags a million times, seal your shampoo in three Ziplock bags — and still end up standing in the rain with your bag full of suds. Read more...
More about Travel, Lists, Airports, Humor, and Gifs
This year's long, brutal winter may mean the country's headed for pollen eruption and a harsh allergy season in the spring, doctors say.
The freezing temperatures of the prolonged winter may have delayed the blooming of trees, and now that it's finally warming up, trees are expected to bloom at the same time as grasses, causing a dramatic rise in pollen, allergy experts said.
"People who may have both tree allergies and grass allergies are probably going be doubly impacted, because both of those things are going to be blooming at the same time," said Dr. Lolita McDavid, a pediatrician at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland, OhioSEE ALSO: The 5 Most Common Allergies
Read more...
Singer Paula Nelson, daughter of country music star and Austin icon Willie Nelson, was arrested by sheriff's deputies Sunday during a traffic stop in Menard County and charged with possession of less than two ounces of marijuana, Fort Worth Weekly reports.
Nelson is currently out on bond, according ...
