Microsoft To Give Away Windows 10 Free For First Year

Microsoft is planning a big push for Windows 10 and will be giving away the new operating system to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8 users in the first year of release.

“With Windows 10, we think of the operating system as ‘Windows as a service’,” said Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s VP of operating systems. “In next few years, you could think of Windows as one of the largest internet services on the planet. The question of ‘what version are you running’ will cease to make sense.”

The upgrade will only be free in the first 12 months after release and will last for the “supported lifetime of the device.” Microsoft said the new OS will run on PCs, tablets, phones, and a new device to be announced later today.

We already know that Microsoft is making sure just about everyone — from desktop owners to Windows Phone 8.1 aficionados — get a Windows 10 upgrade for free within the first year, and we’ve gotten a look at how Windows 10 has evolved since we last saw it. Now it’s time for the mobile nitty-gritty we were hoping for, as Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore demoed a version of Windows 10 for phones and tablets smaller than eight inches.

After Microsoft operating system chief Terry Myerson announced that crucial tidbit, Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore took the stage to run through some features coming to Windows 10 Preview that are designed to make using the operating system a smoother experience. More helpfully for everyday workflow, Windows 10 will condense the Control Panel and the modern UI PC Settings into a single interface, eliminating Windows 8’s maddening insistence on dumping crucial system tools into two separate locations.

Microsoft also announced that its Continuum feature, which dynamically shifts the Windows 10 interface from the Modern UI to the desktop depending on whether you’re using a traditional PC or a touchscreen device, will soon appear in Windows 10 Preview builds.

 

Michael Moore Clarifies His Controversial Sniper Tweets and Praises Bradley Cooper

The documentary filmmaker expands on his feelings about Clint Eastwood’s hit film American Sniper, highlighting its anti-war sentiment and praising Bradley Cooper’s performance.

The controversial tweet Sunday came as “American Sniper,” the Oscar-nominated biopic of a former Navy SEAL and sharpshooter, won the weekend box office.

“My uncle killed by sniper in WW2,” Moore tweeted. “We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren’t heroes. And invaders worse.”

Michael Moore went on to say quite a few words about the film:

“So here’s what I think about American Sniper: Awesome performance from Bradley Cooper. One of the best of the year. Great editing. Costumes, hair, makeup superb! Oh… and too bad Clint (Eastwood) gets Vietnam and Iraq confused in his storytelling. And that he has his characters calling Iraqis “savages” throughout the film. But there is also anti-war sentiment expressed in the movie.

The US comic and actor Seth Rogen said on Twitter that American Sniper reminded him of the Nazi propaganda movie seen in the final part of Quentin Tarantino’s second world war romp Inglourious Basterds, but later also denied explicit criticism of Eastwood’s film.

“I just said something ‘kinda reminded’ me of something else,” he wrote. “I actually liked American Sniper. It just reminded me of the Tarantino scene… But if you were having a slow news day, you’re welcome for me giving you the opportunity to blow something completely out of proportion.” “American Sniper” is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by Chris Kyle. Kyle served four tours in Iraq with the Navy SEALs and is lauded as “America’s deadliest sniper.”

He was not without controversy of his own, including disputed claims in his book that he punched former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and killed two armed carjackers.

Kyle was shot and killed by a former Marine in 2013.

Oscars 2015: Common, ‘Lego Movie,’ Glen Campbell Lead Song Nominations

The Oscar nominations are in, Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel lead with nine nominations each, followed closely by The Imitation Game with eight. Speaking of eight, this year, eight films will compete for Best Picture:

American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper, based on the memoir of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.

Boyhood, Richard Linklater’s 12-year chronicle of the life of a boy from kindergarten to college.

Birdman, starring Michael Keaton as an actor who once played a superhero and attempts a comeback on Broadway.

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson’s offbeat but meticulously drawn story of a concierge played by Ralph Fiennes and his young protege.The Imitation Game, liberally adapted from the actual life of Alan Turing, the mathematician who broke Germany’s Enigma Code during World War II and was later prosecuted for homosexuality.

The Theory of Everything, about the marriage and early career of scientist Stephen Hawking.

Whiplash, the tense tale of a drummer played by Miles Teller facing off against a teacher played by veteran actor J.K. Simmons.

Selma, Ava DuVernay’s dramatization of the events surrounding the Selma civil rights marches of 1964 and the development of the Voting Rights Act.

Oscar 2015: Academy criticised as no black or Asian actors nominated.

Instead this year 20 white actors dominate all four acting categories Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. The last time no non-white actors were nominated was in 1998. Halle Berry famously became the first black woman to win a Best Actress Oscar in 2002.

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Gwyneth Paltrow Breaks Her Silence on Jennifer Lawrence’s Relationship with Chris Martin

When it comes to Jennifer Lawrence dating her ex Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow has stayed pretty mum on the topic, always wishing Martin well but never really discussing his rumored new girlfriend.

That’s right, the Goop creator decided to open up on Howard Stern‘s radio show on SiriusXM to slam reports that say she’s not pleased about her ex’s new girlfriend.

“Who says I don’t approve of Jennifer Lawrence?” she asked on today’s program. “I respect him as the father of my children…It’s his decision…He wouldn’t be with someone who isn’t great.”

During an interview on Howard Stern‘s Sirius XM radio show today, Paltrow slammed any sort of reports that suggest she dislikes Lawrence. “Who says I don’t approve of Jennifer Lawrence?” she asked on the live show. “I respect [Chris] as the father of my children…It’s his decision…He wouldn’t be with someone who isn’t great.”

The mother-of-two also wanted the world to know that she and Martin “actually have a really strong friendship.” She adds, “We have kids, we’re always going to be a family,” saying that their decision to “consciously uncouple” was about “finding the positives” in their history in order to create a drama-free future for their children.

“We laugh and we have fun but there are times when it’s really difficult,” Paltrow admitted. “Things happen and you’re like, I’m sure he doesn’t want to hang out with me and I don’t want to hang out with him but for the sake of the kids, you do it. But you also don’t do it all tense. You say, ‘I really want to find the love for you and I want to forgive you and I want you to forgive me and let’s have some fun as a family.'”

Last March, the two announced that they were separating after 10 years of marriage.

Bonnaroo 2015 : Billy Joel, Mumford and Sons, Deadmau5 Lead Lineup

Bonnaroo 2015 headliners include hit-making singer/pianist Billy Joel, English folk-rock group Mumford & Sons, mask-wearing electronic-dance-music star Deadmau5 and rapper Kendrick Lamar.

Billy Joel and Mumford and Sons will both be playing Bonnaroo 2015. Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and multiplatinum icon Billy Joel will be headlining the 2015 edition of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Bonnaroo 2015 will be held June 11 – 14 on a 700-acre farm, called Great Stage Park, in Manchester, Tenn., about a 90 minute drive from Huntsville. Tickets ($300 general admission, $1,500-plus for VIP) to go on sale 11 a.m. CST Jan. 17 at bonnaroo.com.

Bonnaroovian’s cool off under the water fountain at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival as the heat index rose into the ’90s on Sunday, June 15, 2014, in Manchester, Tenn. The festival announced its 2015 lineup Tuesday night via social media.

Also performing at Bonnaroo 2015 is Kendrick Lamar, Florence and the Machine, Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters, My Morning Jacket, Bassnectar, Alabama Shakes, Childish Gambino, Hozier, Ben Folds and more. The festival let fans incrementally announce the lineup by asking people to call a hotline and listen for the name of an artist. Fans were then encouraged to share that name on social media with the hashtag #bonnaroo.

More than 125 bands will play on 12 stages. For a full list, check out Bonnaroo’s website.  www.bonnaroo.com .

Ronaldo Wins Third Ballon d’Or Award

Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Lionel Messi to the Ballon d’Or for the second successive year.The 29-year-old was voted best player in the world ahead of the Argentina and Barcelona forward and German international and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at a FIFA ceremony held in Zurich, Switzerland.

Ronaldo received the most votes from a panel made up of captains and coaches of national teams and a selection of the world’s media.  “I would like to thank all of those who voted for me,” Ronaldo said after receiving the award.

The trio were all included in the FIFPro World Team of the Year which is selected by their peers.

Ronaldo celebrates with his son Cristiano Jnr on stage after winning the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014.

The maverick forward poses with his award with FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Nadine Kessler.

Messi (right), who finished second, arrived on the red carpet with his partner Antonella Roccuzzo.

Ronaldo, who picked up his first world player of the year award in 2008 and repeated the feat in 2013, was hotly tipped to scoop the title for the third time after completing another spectacular season at Real Madrid.

 

Golden Globes 2015: Politics Only Go So Far

The Golden Globes have taken place in Beverly Hills, the first major ceremony in the awards calendar.

Indie films and quirky TV dramas won big at the Golden Globes Sunday night, as some of the biggest risks that film and television producers have taken in recent years were rewarded. Director Richard Linklater’s life drama Boyhood took home three trophies, while nuanced television series like Transparent, The Affair and Fargo also won multiple awards.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who hosted the Golden Globes on Sunday for their third and last time, set the tone right off the bat. In their opener, they alluded to drug and sexual assault accusations against the man who was until recently one of America’s most beloved and respected comedians, joking that in the movie “Into the Woods,” Sleeping Beauty “just thought she was getting coffee with Bill Cosby.”

Jeremy Renner Jokes About Jennifer Lopez’s Breasts at the Golden Globes 2015.

Gone Girl’s Rosamund Pike Is Glowing at Golden Globes 2015. And there was plenty for us to love or hate, including a daring white Vera Wang Collection gown for “Gone Girl” co-star Rosamund Pike. She showed off midriff cutouts, a strappy barely there back and plunging neckline soon after giving birth.

Stars Kevin Connolly and Emmanuelle Chriqui, who play Eric and Sloan on the series, were pretty resourceful as instead of creating a fake awards show for the scenes, they used one that was already set up.

 

 

 

 

 

‘Taken 3’ Enjoys Big Friday, Targets $35M Weekend

Liam Neeson‘s Taken 3 is scoring big numbers at the North American box office, where the franchise installment is on course to gross $14 million on Friday from 3,593 theaters for a weekend debut in the $35 million range, or higher.

In many ways the success of Taken and in turn the resurgence of Liam Neeson’s career are both happy accidents. Taken was originally thought to go straight to  DVD, but then ended up slated for a theatrical run where it  made $24.7 million its first weekend… $300,000 shy of its production budget.

Late night Friday estimates show Liam Neeson’s third outing as former CIA cop Bryan Mills shooting down $14.7M – a figure that if it sticks into the AM will rank as the third highest opening day for a film in January behind 2008’s Cloverfield ($17.16M) and 2012’sThe Devil Inside ($16.8M).

Taken 3 won’t match the $49.5 million debut of Taken 2 in October 2012, but that film faced less competition.

Soon after Fox (NASDAQ: FOXA) began to realize it had something in the film and greenlight a sequel, which cleared close  to $50 million its opening weekend… so of course that meant get ready for Taken 3.

Taken 3 (Fox), 3,594 theaters /$14.7M Fri. / 3-Day: $38.6M /Total cume: $38.6M/ Wk

 

Elvis Presley’s First Record Sells For $300,000 at 80th Birthday Auction

The late and great “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley, would have celebrated his 80th birthday today. Had he not died at age 42 from cardiac arrhythmia on August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley would have turned 80 years old today.To commemorate the occasion, Legacy Recordings has released Elvis’s Complete ’60s Albums Collection Vol. 1 on iTunes, reports Rolling Stone. A brand-new site entitled ElvisTheMusic.com, with the King’s extensive discography and upcoming news, went live today. Superfans with chunks of change can also bid on one of his former private planes in an auction starting in February, but you can’t fly them anywhere.

It’s been 38 years since Elvis Presley permanently left the building. But the legacy of the man once hailed as the King lives on.

“Elvis is my man,” Paul McCartney said. “He was a big influence on the Beatles and he just was great.”

To mark the great musician’s birthday, hundreds of fans joined Presley’s family in Memphis, Tennessee, with Presley’s former wife Priscilla and their child Lisa Marie, along with Elvis’ grandchildren, slicing an eight-tier cake to celebrate.

The rockabilly renegade died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1977, reportedly from a drug-induced cardiac arrhythmia, but many believe this isn’t the whole story. The autopsy report was sealed by the King’s father, Vernon Presley, until 2027 (on the 50-year anniversary of his death). In 2010, his friend and former personal physician, Dr. George Nichopoulous, said he believed chronic constipation, not a cardiac arrhythmia, is what dethroned the King.

A collection of songs written by the likes of Willie Nelson (“Funny How Time Slips Away”), Bob Wills (“Faded Love,” made famous by Patsy Cline) and Monroe and Lester Flatt (“Little Cabin on the Hill”), Elvis Country also included Presley’s take on Hank Cochran’s “Make the World Go Away.”

Bidding began at $50,000 (£330,68) on 8 January and it was purchased by an undisclosed buyer at Presley’s former home Graceland, now also a museum and tourist attraction.

Other items on sale at the auction include an autographed copy of That’s All Right, a custom designed watch featuring a Star of David design, his first driver’s license and the jacket he wore in the Viva Las Vegas film.

First Impressions of Coachella 2015: Disconnects, Surprises and More

With Tuesday’s announcement that AC/DC, Drake and Jack White are headlining the Coachella Music and Arts Festival, the annual two-weekend gathering in the desert offers more than enough cultural dissonance to go around.

No-frills hard rock band AC/DC will anchor the first night of the three-day Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the annual party in the desert city of Indio that’s held over two consecutive weekends each April. The festival, long known for its marriage of dance and independent music, will then put away the devil horns for its second and third nights, as promoters Goldenvoice have tapped bluesy rocker Jack White and earnest rapper Drake as fellow headliners.

The three-day event — which kicks off the festival season on two consecutive weekends with identical lineups on April 10-12 and 17-19 — includes Drake, Jack White and AC/DC as headliners.

AC/DC, which is globally touring Rock or Bust, is now headlining one of the biggest music festivals in the world.

This year, Coachella will be featuring artists such as AC/DC, Interpol, Steely Dan, Alesso, NERO, Flying Lotus, Porter Robinson, DJ Snake, Jack White, Axwell /\ Ingrosso, Ratatat, Drake, Kaskade, David Guetta and many many more.

Still, there’s no shortage of challenging acts on this year’s bill, at least for those willing to arrive at festival grounds long before sundown. Chicago rapper Vic Mensa, scruffy rock band Parquet Courts and Danish should-be dance star MØ are among just a few of the lesser known highlights.

But a leading American music website is amongst many to question AC/DC’s position as the designated opening night headliner for the huge Californian event, which will be held over consecutive three-day weekends in April and last year drew nearly 580,000 fans.

The bulk of tickets were sold in a presale that began in May. A three-day pass starts at $375, although general admission wristbands are listed as sold out. For both weekends a ticket/shuttle combo is available for $435. A VIP wristband is $899 (VIP parking is $150 and sold separately).

In 2012 the festival responded to years of sellout attendance by doubling capacity, showcasing the same musical lineup on back-to-back weekends. Goldenvoice introduced Stagecoach in 2008, hosting such country all-stars as Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift, and expanded that festival from two days to three in 2012.

Last year Coachella hosted a reunited OutKast, a reunited Replacements and orchestral indie rockers the Arcade Fire.