Surface Book: Hands-On with Microsoft"s "Ultimate Laptop"
Walking through the questionnaire at Microsofts Help me choose Surface microsite can result in the recommendation of a Surface Book with a 1TB SSD. Theres no real magic here: just select 1TB next to the How much storage do you think youll need built-in to your device question along with enough higher-end requirements, and voila!
The thing is; you cant yet order such a Surface Book. Your current options are limited to a 512GB option.
A quick chat with the Microsoft Store reveals thata 1TBoption isindeedplanned, but theres still no ETA.
You: I went through the questionnaire, and it recommended a 1TB version of theSurface Book. However, I dont see that listed on the Surface Book preorder page.You: Can you clarify if the Surface Book is or will be available with a 1TB SSD option?LaTonya S: We do not have the 1TB option on our site, Im afraid. We were not given information about when it would be available.You: But do you have information that it will be an option eventually?LaTonya S: I am showing that it is an option. So it would be available eventually.You: Excellent, thanks so much.
The moral of the story is: if you need the ultimate in storage in your Surface Book, youll want to wait a little while before pressing that preorder button. Well report back as soon as we receive word that you can get the full 1TB of ultra-fast PCI Express SSD storage.
Updated: It looks like more info is leaking regarding the pricing of the potential i7, 1TB storage, 16GB, dGPU. For anyone looking for a beefy Surface Book get ready to shell out over $3,000.
The Flash | Inside: The Man Who Saved Central City | The CW
Barry is speeding back to full force.(Photo: Dean Buscher)
Spoiler alert! The following contains spoilers for Tuesday night"s episode ofThe Flash.
The Flashis back after five long months, but it"s like it never left.Despite all the doom and gloom that Barry is struggling with in "The Man Who Saved Central City," he is still unequivocally the Flash, and the show is undeniably a happy, shiny comic book show. The season 2 premiere ran the gamut of comic book winks, joyful optimism for the heroism of the Flash itself and plenty of puppy-dog acting from Grant Gustin, who was just a pleasure to watch. Because when Barry cries, we cry. And I might have teared up once or twice in this episode.
Welcome backFlash. Looking forward to the future and even more comic book insanity.
Shinyhappy people
Professional scene-chewers Captain Cold and Heat Wave are back to battle Barry in a jarring opening to the episode, with Barry narrowly defeating them with the help of Firestorm. He"s applauded by Iris, Caitlyn, Cisco, Ronnie and Eddie (??) at the lab, but then Harrison Wells comes up and gives him the warmest compliment of all, and we cut back toBarry alonein the lab, imagining a parallel lifesix months after the "singularity" that almost destroyed Central City.
Lonelyand angsting (though Barry"s version of angsting is less broody and more wounded puppy)he might be --Barry"s still a hero and he"s working as the Flash by himself while Joe and Cisco work on an anti-metahuman task force with the police. For some reason, they and Iris talk openly about Barry"s identity in the middle of a police station, but all the people of Central City are apparently selectively deaf after the Flash saved their city, so it"s okay.
Iris tries to convince a dejected (butstill constructive) Barry to appear at Flash Day to accept his key to the city, but Barry"s having a severe case of guilt and won"t hear her reasoning. In a flashback to that fateful day, it turns out that Eddie wasn"t the only victim but Ronnie was as well -- dying after he merged with Martin as Firestorm to create a nuclear fission and stop the storm. So we can effectively call that the worst honeymoon ever.
Flash Day is adorable anda great callback to the comics and the city"s adulation of Flash. However, the festivities are mired in gloom as Barry is slightly late to accept the award and a withdrawnCaitlyn lingers on the fringes. Not to mention thehooded figure who ruinstheceremony with some flying debris, and who Barry spectacularly fails to defeat. We do get a hint ofCisco"sVibe powers as hegets flashes of the mysterious Bane lookalike.
Back in a Smash
Tumblr | @thecwflash
Looks like there"s a new big bad meta in...
Remember that dead guy from the beginning of the episode, Albert Rothstein? Well thank goodness for the powers of TV foreshadowing, because the new mysterious metahuman was this guy. Not so dead, but definitely radioactive, because after some sleuthing by the team that Barry refuses to recognize, they find out that Rothstein is nuclear, and is powered by absorbing radiation and morphing his own atomic structure. We get Iris being a pivotal part of the team (that X-ray reveal was important, guys!), Martin Stein naming Rothstein Atom Smasher, and Cisco hugging him out of the pure joy of having a partner-in-nicknaming. And Cisco even brings Caitlyn back to the team, despite her working at Mercury Labs and wanting to stay as far away from S.T.A.R. Labs as possible.
Speaking of S.T.A.R. Labs, if those unanswered bills weren"t sign enough, Barry is now the ownerof the labs after Harrison Wells passed it down to him. Barry gets a visit from an attorney who gives Barry Harrison"s living will, but before Barry can wrestle with the idea of watching it, he sees the team at the lab and rushes over.
They"ve solved the case but Barry is still unwilling to endanger them, going off to fight Atom Smasher on his own and nearly losing before Cisco taps into the alarms to distract Smasher and let Barry escape.Barry gets treated to another flashback and a pep talk from Joe, who puts on his protective father jacket and tries to help him move on. But it turns outthe only one who can help him truly move on isHarrison Wells himself, who records a confession to the murder of Barry"s mom, Nora Allen, thus freeing his dad from years of wrongful imprisonment.
Elated by the news,Barry finally assembles Team Flash toask them for help in defeating Atom Smasher. The plan is pretty simple -- lead Atom Smasher on a merry chase to a nuclear power plant and overload him with radiation to render him powerless -- but this plan offers us the best part of the episode: the Flash signal. (WhichCisco, our resident audience surrogate,apparently "saw in a comic book somewhere," and not in the newspapers of another embattled city.) But I don"t care, it was just another example of this show"s unadulterated joy in bringing its comic book vision to life -- besides, Batman can worry more aboutArrowstealing all of his villains rather thanFlashstealing his signature light show. But,in the midst of all our comic fan squealing, we do get a hint at our villain for the season: Zoom.
Moving forward
Barry would not have been able to move past his guilt if it weren"t for his visit toaskCaitlyn"sforgiveness and their watching of Harrison"s tape together -- they"ve long provided the emotional core of the team. But whileCaitlyn is easily forgiving,I feel like this could be sowing the seeds for Killer Frost, or at least laying the grounds for some animosity between Caitlyn and Barry. It"s too early to tell yet, but it would be a good way to shake up the dynamic of their already fractured team.
Of course, the waterworks really come during Henry and Barry"s entire reunion and the realization that they would have to ultimately live apart. Henry is the perfect self-sacrificial father who would let his son be the hero, while Barry is still not done growing up yet, despite Martin"s touchingly brief "graduation speech" on moving forward. At least we got that wonderfully meta moment when Henry told Barry, "I"ll race you."
Barry is stronger when he"s not alone though, and surrounded by his "family," he gets a new suit (the white crest, yes!)and a state-of-the-art security system that gets beaten by Jay Garrick two seconds later. Hello, Harrison 2.0.
This Is Not Happening - Steve Rannazzisi - Rock"n"Roll Ralphs - Uncensored
I Only Had 15 Seconds To Change My 9/11 Lie
10/6/2015 6:31 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
"League"star Steve Rannazzisi admits he did a "terrible" thing by lying about 9/11, but says the lie was not premeditated ... it started at an off the cuff quip at The Comedy Store.
Steve went on Howard Stern"s show Tuesday and explained his lie ... that he was in one of the Twin Towers during the attack and it became a life-changing moment that led him to pursue his career in comedy.
According to Steve, he was just asked by someone at the club where he was during the attack and the phony story just spilled out. He says once that happens you have 15 seconds to say it was BS or else you have to own it.
It"s a really good interview. He says he chose to talk about his lie on "Stern" because Howard personifies New York and felt it was the right venue.
This week"s array of games has action, adventure and intergalactic dogfights that are sure to awaken the couch potato in every PlayStation 4 gamer.
As listed on the official PlayStation blog site, these are the titles coming out for PS4 this week:
"Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance"
"Dragon Age: Inquisition - Game of the Year Edition"
"Onigiri"
"Ride"
"Rock Band 4"
"Saint Seiya Soldiers" Soul"
"Star Wars Battlefront" (Beta)
"Super Meat Boy"
"Transformers Devastation"
"Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection"
All aforementioned titles are now available on the PlayStation Store as well as on retail, except for "Onigiri," "Saint Seiya Soldiers" Soul" and "Star Wars Battlefront" (Beta). These three games are only accessible through digital download.
Furthermore, all games listed are exclusive for PlayStation 4 while "Ride," "Saint Seiya Soldiers" Soul," and "Transformers Devastation" are backward-compatible for PlayStation 3.
The list"s marquee attraction is "Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection" by Naughty Dog. The game sees the titular treasure hunter journeying through exotic locations in search for ancient artifacts. In his adventures, Drake is pitted against thieves, pirates and conspirators; yet, he also has a bevy of pals that will aid him in his travels.
The game includes three single-player campaigns of Drake"s prior albeit remastered adventures namely "Uncharted: Drake"s Fortune," "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" and "Uncharted 3: Drake"s Deception," as per IGN.
Naughty Dog joined forces with Bluepoint Games to let gamers experience the three titles in magnificent 1080p and 60fps with better models, textures and game lighting on PlayStation 4.
"Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection" will release on Friday, Oct. 9. It will include new trophies and a new feature called "Photo Mode."
Those looking for a more outer space-inclined game can test out the beta version of "Star Wars Battlefront" starting this week.
In EA DICE"s upcoming action game, gamers get to carve out their own destinies in the "Star Wars" universe. They can command AT-ATs or maneuver TIE fighters, X-Wings and even the Millennium Falcon while engaging in death-defying dogfights on iconic planets such as Hoth, Tatooine, Endor and the unexplored planet of Sullust, Meta Critic reported.
Gamers can take the role of Boba Fett, Darth Vader and other memorable characters from the original film trilogy. The game has a huge 40-person online multiplayer feature while those looking for solo action can craft their own missions in the game"s single-player campaign. Both campaigns can be played with a partner via the game"s support for split-screen coop.
The full "Star Wars Battlefront" game will be release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on Nov. 17.
TagsPS4, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, Star Wars Battlefront Beta
2015 Latin Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
FBI Agent Kate Mercer (Emily Blunt) leads a raid that, while unsuccessful in retrieving the supposed hostages, manages to unearth multiple corpses buried throughout the compound. This find and her expert handle of the situation brings her to the attention of Government Advisor Matt Graver (Josh Brolin). He informs Kate that the Mexican drug cartel is responsible for the murders and that a plan is in play to take down the cartel. Kate must volunteer to be part of this task force and after doing so she is paired up with Special Consultant Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro). Unbeknownst to her, the first mission sees them crossing the border into Mexico and totally disregarding U.S. legality.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, who also directed the excellent Prisoners, Sicario aims to examine whether ethics has a place within the anarchic world of drug cartels. Emily Blunts character Kate is the moral compass of the film. Even though Kates job has given her first row seats to the disturbing acts humans are capable of inflicting upon other people, she is still a firm believer and practitioner of the law. She does things by the book, which I think stems from her understanding that in her male dominated line of work she, more than the rest, must show not only extreme resilience but also extreme diligence. So when Kate decides to join the task force, it is a decision made on the bases that this will help her find the people responsible for all those corpses. In other words, she wants justice. The problem arises when she discovers justice takes different shapes depending on the situation one is in. If the enemy kidnaps, tortures and decapitates men, women and children and then proceeds to display them in public, sometimes justice can only be attained when you stoop down to the enemys level. But if that is the case, who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?
It is interesting to see how Kates black and white outlook progressively turns grey, and not to spoil too much but I really like the juxtaposition of Kate and Benicio Del Toros character Alenjandro. They seem like people on opposite sides of the spectrum, but as the film develops we begin to see similarities arise between them. I think even the characters see parts of themselves in each other, which has to be a frightening thought for Kate. At any case, Emily Blunts brilliant performance is one of the main reason why Kates dilemma is so compelling. I like that Emily Blunt hasnt had a defining role, it gives her the advantage of believably embodying different types characters. In Sicario, she has minimal dialogue and relies on expressions and body language to communicate both the history of Kate and what she is thinking. Blunt injects her character with a palpable sense of lived-experience and as such feels more like a real person. It is a quiet and effective performance that captures you. Similarly, Benicio Del Toro provides the other standout performance in Sicario. His character is an enigma for most of the film, but every time he is on screen the sense of foreboding and tension increase. He has even less dialogue than Emily Blunts character, but just like her he manages to convey a lot through body language. Sometimes, the strength of a character comes from what he or she doesnt say and that is true for Sicario.
If you have seen any other film by Denis Villeneuve, (segway to an excuse for me to plug Villeneuves Enemy and Polytechnique, which are two incredible films you should watch), then you might be aware of his knack for creating haunting imagery. With Sicario, Villeneuve creates a landscape of dread and tension where even a shot of an inanimate object, like an open window with its curtains gently moving from the breeze, feels destructive (it brings to mind the shot of the tree at the beginning of Prisoners). The camera sometimes linger on places with people just out of eye shot and combined with Jhann Jhannssons beautifully somber and atmospheric score, the results are eerie. While there are some instances of intense action, they occur sporadically since the film relies more on creating anticipation. Sicario is deliberately paced, opting to spend more time with the preludes to violence than the violence. And it is the preludes that prove to be the films greatest strength, because by providing the audience with concrete sense of who these characters are we can actually feel invested when their lives are in jeopardy. There is a palpable sense of danger in the action scenes, which I always say is a must in order for the action to be effective.
Sicario is an outstanding action thriller. Expertly directed by Denis Villeneuve with two outstanding performances from Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro, this is a film unlike any other film in theatres now. A different type of slow-burn with periodic bursts of action leading to an intense and unsettling closing twenty minutes. But as exhilarating as this film can be, it is the protagonists moral dilemma that provides the most engaging factor in my opinion. This question about ethics and whether one can remain morally just amidst a plague of inhumanity. Other films have dealt with these questions before, but Sicario does it in such a compelling and organic way that it opens up discussion, especially because the characters themselves demonstrate the inherited complexity of what is right or wrong, of what justice is and how life threatening situations tend to blur the lines.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, who grew up in a Habitat for Humanity home, joined more than 100 teammates at a home build for the organization on Tuesday in Anderson.(Photo: SCOTT KEEPFER/Staff)Buy Photo
ANDERSON Despite being limited by a neck brace courtesy of his collision with a goalpost in Clemsons season-opening football game Mike Williams still managed to drive home a few nails Tuesday afternoon as the Clemson football team lent a helping hand to Habitat for Humanity.
Williams, a preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference wide receiver, remains sidelined indefinitely, but became an active participant, if only momentarily, during the teams latest community service project.
He helped out just long enough to make his second reception of the season a barb lobbed his way by Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.
I gotta get something out of you this fall, Swinney said, laughing.
Williams notwithstanding, Swinney got plenty out of his team Tuesday as more than 100 players and coaches converged on the Melrose Place subdivision in Anderson to assist in the construction of two single-family homes.
The day was particularly rewarding for sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson, who grew up in a Habitat home and has emerged as an active advocate for Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, Christian ministry that helps build and provide affordable housing.
On Sunday Watson was presented with Habitat for Humanity Internationals inaugural Next Generation Award, which honors young people who grew up in a Habitat house and embody the qualities of determination, commitment, dedication and citizenship and for setting an example for other Habitat families.
On Tuesday, he was driving nails alongside his teammates.
The steady staccato of hammers in action and the whirr of saws provided a noisy and busy backdrop.
Buy Photo
Clemson players lend a helping hand at Habitat for Humanity site Tuesday afternoon.(Photo: SCOTT KEEPFER/Staff)
Were just giving back and being grateful and thankful for what we have, said Watson, who contends that moving into his Habitat home at the age of 11 inspired him to do great things.
Its great to see these families smiles and know that they have a brighter future.
For Tyeisha Wright-Charlot, her daughter, and their black Labrador retriever, Chi Town, that future is promising. Wright-Charlot moved from California to the Upstate four years ago and works as a detention officer at the Greenville County Detention Center.
She went to a Habitat for Humanity home dedication a few years ago and left impressed.
I was inspired by it and it sparked me to put in an application, Wright-Charlot said. I had lost my husband the first year we moved here due to natural causes, and we were on the verge of just making ends meet. This has really been a blessing and yesterday was a wow moment.
And Wright-Charlot, who was a Fresno State fan in California, now may find herself cheering for Tigers rather than Bulldogs.
They probably won a fan over, she said.
Swinney says his team simply embraced the opportunity.
Its a very busy time of year and weve got a big game coming up, but I also think its the perfect time to take a break and keep things in perspective and teach these guys the power that comes from giving to others, Swinney said. Thats one of the best parts of our program. When guys leave here, theyve all had opportunities to serve other people, theyve all had opportunities to give back, and this particular event is great because they can really see the fruits of their labor. When we leave here there are going to be walls up.
Bottom line? Tuesday was a practice day, Swinney said, but of a different ilk.
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Kevin Dodd of Greenville, a defensive end at Clemson, helps frame a wall Tuesday.(Photo: SCOTT KEEPFER/Staff)
Today is practice, but it is practice for life, Swinney said. We talk about developing leadership, and that servant leadership is what we really try to emphasize make a difference for other people. Today is a great lesson toward that.
And a big gain for Wright-Charlot and her family, which is expected to expand soon when she becomes a foster parent.
I do appreciate what theyve done, she said. Moving here and losing my husband has been a big transition for me. Now I feel like its my season. Im humble, yet grateful. G*d has opened up many doors for me.
And at least one more remains the front door of a four-bedroom, two bath home that is expected to be ready by years end, thanks to an assist from a bunch of football players.
You never know what type of impact these guys are having, Swinney said. And for them to really meet the people who theyre helping to change their lives thats powerful to put a name and a face with that.
They may drive by here years later and they can say, Man, I helped to build that. Its a powerful lesson for these guys.
Shark Tank is coming back with another new episode on Thursday, and one that apparently wanted to rum the gamut from food products to eyelash extensions. Also, it runs the gamut from products wed consider buying to ones that are just not for us in any way. This preview article, as is the case every week, is your introduction to all you are going to see.
For those wondering, the panel of Sharks is relatively back to normal this time around, with Kevin OLeary, Robert Herjavec, Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, and Lori Greiner aboard. No guests here! Lets start by giving you the synopsis:
A recent college graduate from Orlando, FLA takes the Sharks taste buds on a joy ride to flavor town with his twist on the traditional hummus; a passionate aesthetician from Los Angeles wants to convince the sharks they are just one wink away from investing in her eyelash extensions business; two friends from New York believe their edible cups are a delicious alternative to the disposable version while helping the environment; and two brothers from Paradise Valley, AZ donned tuxedos to show the Sharks how formally serious they are when it comes to pitching their solution to the dreaded, forgotten computer password.
Also, this episode is going to contain an update on Red Dress Boutique, which has remained super-successful since the show and was recently featured on Beyond the Tank. In other words, its kind of a big deal in this universe.
Without further ado, lets get to our pre-show take on the products.
LOLIWARE Apparently, they are edible cups. Certainly keeps you from having to find a trash can at a party. Its a fun idea! We suppose that the taste of these said cups will determine in part its success, along with the marketability of them. Wed go for a young, festive crowd similar to that of another show product in Beatbox Beverages. Hey, get Mark Cuban aboard here! On the surface, he seems like the perfect partner.
Splikity There is really not a whole lot of information out there about this brand, which seems to be a resource for password-related problems. Tech innovations do have a decent history of performing well both on the show and after it airs, but we are at the moment in a position where its too early to judge in this instance. We have to see the presentation.
ODang Hummus Love the name. Right now theyre selling hummus sauce in different flavors. In all honesty, were not a big hummus person; no offense to the stuff, but we just dont find it particularly appealing. Still, everything seems right here on the surface for it to turn into a success, other than the warning sign that comes witheverygrocery product on this show. How do you convince a grocery chain to give you shelf space, and if you do, how do you stand out? Its a challenge, and it can require a ton of inventory and a ton of cash. Were not sure the Sharks will take that jump.
Mikki Bey Eyelash Extensions We now nothing about eyelash extensions. Nothing. We have no idea what they cost, how they look, or if theres a good investment to be made here. What we can say is that Mikki has created a brand here and has an effective sales platform online. If we were investing, though, we are still not sure we want to be in the business of beauty brands, given just how competitive it is since there are very few things that qualify as proprietary.
If you missed it, you can check out our most-recent Shark Tank episode review over at the link here! Meanwhile, sign up now for some further TV updates on everything we cover, sent right to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)
