Netflix teases first season of ‘The Umbrella Academy’

Netflix’s adaptation of Gabriel Ba and Gerard Way’s comic book series is coming to Netflix in the new year and we got our first look through a teaser for the 10-episode first season. The Umbrella Academy will be coming to the streaming service on February 15, 2019. It tells the story of six children and their adoptive father. What’s special about them is five out of the six have superpowers. While the comics were set at the start of 1977, the series is dated at around 1989. The story remains the same, though. Spontaneous, miraculous pregnancies brought these six into the world to save it. At the same time, they learn the truth about where they came from.

The Umbrella Academy stars Ellen Page as Vanya (The White Violin); Tom Hopper as Luther (Spaceboy); David Castaneda as Diego (The Kraken); Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison (The Rumor); Robert Sheehan as Klaus (The Seance) and Aidan Gallagher as Number Five (The Boy). Colm Feore stars as Sir Reginald Hargreeves (The Monocle).

Source: Polygon

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Apple acquires musician development platform Platoon

Apple launches Beddit sleep tracker

For the first time since Apple bought Beddit in 2017, Apple has released a product that makes use of its tech. The company released its first Beddit sleep tracker on the US Apple website for US $149.95 (around CA $200). The new Beddit Sleep Monitor features a thin sensor strip you place under your sheets. This can track sleep time, heart rate, breathing, and snoring of up to two people. The device can also monitor your bedroom’s temperature and humidity, so you’ll know what are the best conditions to get a good night’s sleep.

You can access all the stats through the Beddit app. Quick note, you’ll need to have iOS 12 installed on your iPhone so you can pair the new device with your app. Apple Watch users can get sleep report notifications and bedtime reminders as well.

Source: Engadget

Apple acquires musician development platform Platoon

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Apple continues to expand its media-related services and its latest acquisition hopes to grow its business in the music realm. Apple reportedly just bought Platoon, a London-based startup that works primarily with musicians (but also other creators like writers) to produce, distribute, and sell their work. The company makes use of analytics to source talent and figure out what’s the best way to market their talents, which TechCrunch likens to being a “modern-day tech equivalent of A&R services.”

Apple hasn’t officially confirmed the news nor what it plans to do with the company. But it can boost its Up Next platform, which focuses on working with up-and-coming artists. It’ll also help with music discovery for its users, perhaps even offer exclusives to its subscribers. From a creator’s perspective though, it could help Apple draw in lesser-known, unsigned artists and establish a long-term relationship with them. Platoon has worked with the likes of Billie Eilish and Jorja Smith before they got signed to big labels.

Source: The Verge