Sony Pictures CEO claims WarnerMedia's HBO Max move bolstered its movie business

Source: Sony Pictures

Directors like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve have decried WarnerMedia's decision to release all its 2021 movies on HBO Max. But a rival studio is reaping its benefits. Sony Pictures head Tony Vinciquerra told CNBC in an interview that its studio is enjoying "a bit of a boom" from Hollywood creators looking for a company that is still devoted to movie theatres. While he didn't name talents, he said Sony's role as a theatrical distributor had "worked very well."

Unlike WarnerMedia or Disney, Sony doesn't have a streaming service to support, so it can either sell films to third-party series or offer titles for rent earlier than expected. But while it doesn't have much of a choice when it comes to where it can release its films, Vinciquerra argues for greater flexibility in how long a movie stays in theatres, depending on whether the film does well or does not.

Click to read more ...

Bumble won't allow you to share bikini, bra photos indoors

Embed from Getty Images 

Dating app Bumble has a strange policy in place that we won't surprise you'll question. You can apparently take swimsuit and bra photos outdoors but not indoors. The app, which markets itself as empowering to women, took down pictures of artist Cali Rockowitz wearing a bralette indoors. If you took that or shirtless outdoors, then it's okay (but don't attempt to fake an outdoor shot).

According to the company, this policy took effect in 2016 after receiving complaints from users and research. According to the company, shirtless bathroom selfies were the "most swiped left on," so it decided to crack down on swimsuit and underwear shots, too. But if taken outdoors, these reflect a "natural setting" for bikinis. As Rockowitz commented on BuzzFeed News' story, "If they're going to enact the policy, they should assess it on a case by case basis. They can't just blanket this algorithm."

Source: Engadget

Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup – 12/20 – 12/26

KFConsole is a game console and chicken warmer in one

Google Photos introduces Location History-based travel 'Timeline' 

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro tipped to get Apple-like surround sound feature 

WhatsApp on desktop to get voice, video calls next year 

Apple rumoured to begin its EV production in 2024 

Adobe releases Premiere Pro beta for Apple Silicon 

Elon Musk says Apple, Tim Cook snubbed him when he tried to sell Tesla 

FCC listing confirms S Pen support for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 

OnePlus CEO teases smartwatch launch, coming 'early next year' 

Samsung takes down social media post mocking Apple's charger removal 

Apple tipped to launch gaming-focused Apple TV next year 

New 'Cyberpunk 2077' patch remedies save file limits on PC, console crashes 

Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag's design shown in new leak 

This AI bot judges your Spotify listening habits 

'Sons of the Forest' will get a 2021 release 

Daft Punk brings extended edition of 'Tron: Legacy' score to Spotify, Apple Music 

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro tipped to cost US$199 

CD Projekt gets sued by investor over buggy 'Cyberpunk 2077'

Gamers aren't the only ones angered by the many issues of the highly-anticipated game, Cyberpunk 2077. An investor in the game filed a lawsuit against developer CD Projekt, claiming it misled investors about the game's performance ahead of its release, which caused a significant stock price drop and losses. According to the lawsuit, the company allegedly failed to disclose that the game was "virtually unplayable." Instead, it marketed the title as a success with some issues players won't notice. Andrew Trampe, the plaintiff, is looking to include other investors in the lawsuit to turn it into a class-action suit.

Source: The Verge