Top Comcast Headlines for 2014

Throughout 2014, Comcast has been busy unveiling new products and services as well as making notable upgrades to existing ones, much to the delight of all their subscribers. There has also been a series of announcements related to their community involvement and initiatives to strengthen that commitment.

Here is a look at some of Comcast’s most defining headlines of 2014:

 

The Launch of X1 DVR with Cloud Technology

 

In February, Comcast announced that new XFINITY TV customers in its Boston region would be the first to experience its highly anticipated platform – the X1 DVR with cloud technology and in-home streaming. With this, subscribers would be able to gain access to their DVR recordings as well as view their entire TV line-up via their Internet-enabled mobile devices, wherever they are. They would also have to option to download the recordings providing the ability to view these programs offline.

 

To coincide with the new service, they also launched a new XFINITY TV app for iOS smart devices, as well as an online portal for those who utilize the technology via their computers.

 

Internet Essentials extended indefinitely

 

In 2011, Comcast announced a three-year commitment for an adaption program titled Internet Essentials – an initiative that would allow low-income families to acquire Internet service for their homes at an affordable cost. It also included the option of subscribers purchasing an Internet-ready computer for less than $150, as well as digital literacy training for interested individuals. The program is accessible in 39 states and the District of Columbia and has been used by over 35,000 families across the US (totaling over 1.5 million citizens). As a result of its immeasurable success, the decision was taken in March to extend it indefinitely.

 

Utilizing technology as a tool to facilitate education is a rapidly growing phenomenon, but over the years a digital divide has been created, as not everyone has access to technology such as internet as readily as others. This project set out to try and bridge that gap, and with the achievements in a three-year span being highly commendable, things can only get better from here on out.

 

Record-setting Comcast Cares Day

 

The organization’s Comcast Cares Day was held back in April, and the response to event was even greater than they could have anticipated. The annual event – argued to be the largest corporate-organized day of volunteerism in the United States – saw over 95,000 individuals (a record feat) offer their services for the execution of over 820 projects. This was inclusive of renovating schools, building playgrounds and cleaning parks. The Civic 50 recognized Comcast as one of the most community-minded organizations in the United States. The list, which is comprised of both juggernauts and smaller business, listed Comcast as the top company within the telecommunications industry.

 

While the number of volunteers was commendable, the global reach of the initiative was also record setting. In addition to the United States, there were also Comcast Cares Day projects being undertaken in over 10 other countries. This list included England, Japan, Spain, and Singapore.

 

Comcast’s partnership for global Wi-Fi initiative

 

Having wireless Internet access on the go is a desire that millions of individuals possess, not just those who subscribe to Comcast’s service. For those who do subscribe, however, their range will soon extend across continents, following an announcement made by Comcast in September. The service provider reported an agreement with European-based Liberty Global for an initiative that will take effect in 2015.***

 

The initiative – signed by arguably the two largest providers in their corresponding regions (North America and Europe) – will allow their respective customers access to their wireless networks whenever they travel. This is mutually beneficial as Comcast is on a mission to hit 8 million Wi-Fi hotspots across the US, while Liberty Global is present in over 7 European countries. It is likely that this possibility will be a hit among both set of customers, especially when considering that in 2013 over 11 million traveled between the US and Europe.

 

Notably, via the Xfinity Connect App, customers are able to send and receive messages and make and receive phone calls without attracting a cost once they are connected to a wireless network, and soon this feature will be accessible to them in a host of countries.

 

The Launch of the Talking Guide

 

While there were a number of Comcast news releases towards the end of 2014, there was arguably none bigger than the launch of the talking guide – reported to be the first voice-guided TV interface in the industry. Made possible through the X1 platform that was launched earlier in the year, the talking guide is set to re-invent the way that the blind or visually impaired interact with their Xfinity TV service.

 

The talking guide operates by “speaking” whatever content is on the screen as the user navigates the X1 technology – making them aware of relevant information being listed on “Guide”, “On Demand”, “Settings” and similar sections, while also providing program descriptions and their ratings. It should be noted that there are plans in the works to make the talking guide functional with the “Search” option, as well as the ability to personalize certain aspects such as the rate of speech.

Top Comcast Headlines for 2014

The Colbert Report Headlines Multiple December Series Finales

In the earlier portion of 2014 – around April, to be more specific – the iconic David Letterman announced that he would be retiring from the CBS-aired The Late Show, bringing an end to the career of the longest-serving late night talk show host in the history of television. While the news was generating waves of reactions in many media arenas, the network was busy searching for someone to take over, and soon they revealed that David’s successor would be Stephen Colbert. This too created a buzz among the masses, as TV viewers realized that assuming this role would mean the end of another for Colbert.

 

The Colbert Report

 

After making his name on the popular Comedy Central series The Daily Show, working alongside Jon Stewart, Colbert was given his own spin-off in 2005 – The Colbert Report. The satirical late night program brought about great success for the host, as he made light of some of the more pressing political issues.

 

The critical acclaim of The Colbert Report among TV viewers made it one of the top shows, not only on Comedy Central but also across networks. While it wasn’t until 2013 that the series clinched its first major accolades (the Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series), this was quite a memorable feat as it upstaged The Daily Show to capture the honor. This brought an end to The Daily Show’s hold, as it had the longest winning streak in the history of the awards – running from 2003 to 2012.

 

The Colbert Report had its series finale on December 18, airing its 1,447 episode in its 10^th season. Among the many guests on the night were Jon Stewart (of course), Willie Nelson, Cookie Monster, James Franco and a tweet from President Bill Clinton.

 

White Collar

 

A couple hours before fans were waving goodbye to The Colbert Report, millions bid adieu to the USA Network original hit White Collar. While they were not excited to the see the series come to an end, they were still happy to have a proper conclusion, as reports of a six-episode final season brought about concerns that the show had possibly been on the cancellation chopping block.

 

Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) is a well dressed, charming, smooth-talking career criminal involved in a “cat and mouse” game with Special Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) of the FBI’s White Collar Division. After being captured by Burke following his third prison escape, Neal offers to work as a consultant with the division to bring down white-collar criminals, utilizing his skills as a forger, thief and con artist.

 

Though it started out as just a ploy to avoid more prison time, Neal gradually becomes more interested in the idea of leading an honest life. These feelings are often challenged, however, by his best friend and conspiracy theorist Mozzie (Willie Garson) who reminds him of how skilled a criminal he is – leaving him torn between the two worlds.

 

The final season is focused on Neal scheming his escape after being assured his freedom by the FBI and having that deal retracted. While helping the FBI to take down the highly sought after Pink Panthers (a band of thieves), he pulls of his biggest con by faking his death and relocating to Paris. Though being a thief and a con artist may not be highly celebrated professions, Neal Caffrey is sure to go down as one of the most interesting TV characters of the last decade.

 

Sons of Anarchy

 

A little over a week before the finale of The Colbert Report and White Collar, the Internet was being lit up by viewers who had just witnessed the conclusion of the popular crime drama series Sons of Anarchy. The December 9th  finale brought an end to what is arguably the most successful program ever aired on the FX cable network.

 

The series centered on the exploits of Jackson “Jax” Teller (played by Charlie Hunnam), a member of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original (SAMCRO), who served as both its vice president and president. The organization has both negative and positive traits, as it is involved in gun smuggling and other illegal activities, but also determined to keep “hard drugs” outside the borders of the fictional town of Charming.

 

Throughout the series, Jax struggles with trying to live up to the legacy of his father – the founder of SAMCRO – while working to preserve the affairs of the club both internally and externally. As the series wore on, it became riddled with lies and deceit, and of course more killing. The ensuing story lines saw the shows viewership numbers grow in each of its seven seasons, with the finale being watched by a live audience of approximately 9.3 million.

The Colbert Report Headlines Multiple December Series Finales

Popular Christmas Holiday Movies: Part 2

You read the first list of some of the best Christmas themed films of all time. Check out Part 2 of the most popular holiday movies:

 

 

 

A Christmas Carol

 

What would movie watching during the holidays be without A Christmas Carol – the production dedicated to highlighting the value of doing good, as well as indicating that it’s never too late to do so. The original version of A Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens and published in 1843, but the story still has significant impact more than a century later with over 20 film adaptations (the most recent being the 2009 production starring Jim Carrey).

 

The story is set in London and centered on Ebenezer Scrooge – the character everyone loves to hate, but eventually loves. Scrooge is an extremely bitter miser and businessman who dislikes everything associated with the holidays and seemingly goes above and beyond to ensure that he ruins it for everyone. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge’s deceased business partner Jacob Marley returns to warn him of his impending fate if he does not change his ways. The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmases Yet To Come all take him on a journey, showing him snippets of his life and impending future.

 

When he awakes on Christmas morning, Ebenezer is a new man, and he goes about the town spreading good cheer.

 

 

It’s a Wonderful Life

 

Another holiday film with immeasurable prestige is the 1946-released comedy drama It’s a Wonderful Life. Directed and produced by Frank Capra, it’s an adaptation of The Greatest Gift, a short story written by Phillip Van Doren Stern.

 

George Bailey (played by James Stewart) is a popular businessman and community member on the verge of committing suicide because a series of events have gone against him, and he believes that his family would be better served with his life insurance. Before he can leap to his death, his guardian angel Clarence (played by Henry Travers) arrives on the scene.

 

When George wishes that he had never been born, Clarence takes him on a journey and shows him what the town and its residents would be like without him. Good deeds he would have performed – such as saving his younger brother’s life, and preventing a druggist (pharmacist) from mistakenly giving a child poison – would not have taken place. All these events lead George to realize that despite the challenges, he has indeed lived a wonderful life.

 

In addition to generally being considered on of the greatest Christmas films of all time (aided by the message it spreads), the film ranked #11 on the American Film Institute’s greatest movies list.

 

 

 

A Christmas Story

 

A list comprising of some of the most popular films about the holidays would not be complete without what AOL (and many others consider) to be the #1 Christmas movie of all time – A Christmas Story. The works of Jean Shepherd in his book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash provided the inspiration for the 1983 comedy film.

 

In the film, Peter Billingsley plays a nine-year-old Ralphie Parker who has his sights set on a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Though his mother, schoolteacher, and the Santa Claus at the department store advise him against it, he is elated on Christmas Day when he discovers that his father got it for him. His father (referred to through the movie as The Old Man) did make him sweat, however, setting it aside from his other gifts, causing him to think that he wasn’t going to get it.

 

An excited Ralphie takes the BB gun outside for target practice, but is put on the spot when a BB ricochets of his brother and hits his glasses off his face. In trying to recover them, he steps on them and breaks them, before managing to convince his mother that a falling icicle had caused it. When he is ready for bed, the voice of an adult Ralphie is heard stating that the BB gun was the best gift he ever got.

 

 

Frosty the Snowman

 

Rounding off the list of classics – in the true sense of the word – is the beloved animation Frosty the Snowman. The 25-minute production was first aired on CBS on December 7, 1969, and its huge success has resulted in it becoming a staple among films associated with the holiday season.

 

In the holiday special, kids at an elementary school build a snowman and decide to call him Frosty. He is brought to life when they place the hat of Professor Hinkle – a magician – on his head. After temporarily losing the hat, Frosty expresses to the kids that unless he makes it to the North Pole he is going to melt.

 

To prevent this from happening, Frosty, a young girl named Karen and a rabbit named Hocus Pocus set off on their journey. After facing a number of obstacles (including Hinkle who tries to get rid of Frosty), Santa Claus steps in and saves the day. Frosty heads off to he North Pole with Santa, but promises to return every Christmas.

Popular Christmas Holiday Movies: Part 2

Comcast recognized for Community Involvement

It is oftentimes the case that corporations are ridiculed for focusing solely on their products and services (and by extension their bottom line), and not seeking out avenues through which they can make notable contributions in other facets as well. If there was ever a concern that telecommunications giant Comcast would fall into such a category, their recent accomplishment should put those thoughts to rest.

 

 

 

Comcast NBCUniversal and The Civic 50

 

 

Just over two weeks ago, it was announced that for the second year running, The Civic 50 would be recognizing Comcast NBCUniversal as one of the most community-minded organizations in the United States. Notably, the company was the top-ranked of all communications organizations that managed to make the list.

 

 

The Civic 50 initiative, conducted by Points of Light in partnership with Bloomberg LP, is determined annually via survey, where companies are evaluated based on their use of skills and similar resources to improve the communities within which they operate. Speaking on the announcement, Charisse Lillie, Vice President of Community Investment for Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast Foundation stated, “Giving back is a significant part of the Comcast NBCUniversal culture, and we strongly believe in fostering a civically-engaged workforce.”

 

 

Throughout the soon-to-be-concluded year, Comcast donated over $18 million specifically to non-profit organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), with whom they recently signed a five-year contract with the aim of expanding digital literacy and lessening the “digital divide”. There were also contributions made through local sponsorships, grants provided by the Comcast Foundation, and the airing of public service announcements. Aside from these, however, there are a couple of other notable programs that highlight that Comcast’s involvement and commitment to the community is not a fluke. Here’s a look at them both:

 

 

 

Comcast Cares Day

 

 

One of Comcast’s biggest days on the calendar is its annual Comcast Cares Day. The initiative began in 2001 with just over 6,000 volunteers, and since then has grown into what is arguably the largest corporate-organized one-day volunteer event in America.

 

 

This year’s staging of the event was in April, with over 95,000 volunteers contributing more than 570,000 hours of volunteer service. This time was spent cleaning parks, building playgrounds, renovating schools, removing graffiti, and similar exploits to enhance the comfort level within various communities. There was also the upgrading of facilities with both equipment (computers, televisions etc.) and the services that they provide.

 

The number of volunteers has increased each year – improving by some 10,000 from 2013’s turnout – and it is not impossible to imagine that figure breaching 100,000 in the coming year. Interestingly, the efforts on the day were not limited only to the United States, as some 14 additional countries were also involved, inclusive of England, India, Japan, New Zealand and Spain. This resulted in the successful execution of over 820 projects across the globe.

 

 

 

Internet Essentials

 

 

Bridging the digital divide is among the primary objectives of all who make contributions to community development, and for Comcast there is no greater demonstration of achieving this feat than their Internet Essentials initiative. The program was launched back in 2011, and though it should have ended in June of this year, in understanding its value they chose to extend it indefinitely.

 

 

Internet Essentials is an adoption program designed specifically for low-income families, and always them to acquire the much-coveted Internet service at a cost that they can afford. Recreation aside, one of the main reasons households desire web connectivity is to facilitate education, and as a result the program also makes it possible for those customers to acquire a laptop at a reduced cost. Ultimately, Comcast makes both the service and the equipment to utilize it more accessible.

 

 

In commending such efforts, it should be noted that the full extent of the initiative goes much further. Subscribers to the program who may not be as “Internet savvy” as they would want to be also have the option of receiving training via the web, through printed material or through face-to-face assistance. There is assistance provided in areas such as job search and the use of social media platforms, while there is online content that speaks to popular topics such as cyber bullying that parents can use to help educate their kids.

 

 

In terms of its reach, Internet Essentials is available in 39 states across the country (as well as the District of Columbia) and currently being accessed by over 350,000 families. This translates to over 1.5 million Americans.

 

 

Investment, integration and impact are three key areas of evaluation that are utilized by The Civic 50 when constructing their annual report. Initiatives such as the partnership with BGCA, Comcast Cares Day and Internet Essentials – which respectively associated with those three categories – are a big part of the reason that Comcast was recognized on their list of top contributors to community involvement.

 

 

 

Comcast recognized for Community Involvement

All The Tech They"ll Want For Christmas

‘Tis the season to be jolly, for eggnog, and for a white Christmas (unless you live in one of those cities that doesn’t experience snow. Or on an island). That being said, ‘tis also the season for lots and lots of gifts.

 

Here is a look at some of tech gifts you should be considering this holiday season, whether for family members or friends:

 

 

PlayStation 4/Xbox One

 

The holiday season brings about a highly desired break from school and work, and what better way to spend than time than being zoned in around a PlayStation 4/Xbox One console. It is true that there are other consoles on the market, but there is no denying that these two stand shoulders above.

 

In the event that the PlayStation 4/Xbox One was not purchased as a part of a package (with popular games included), it would certainly be nice to unwrap this gift and find Shadow of Mordor, FIFA 15 or Madden NFL 15 right there beside it.

 

 

Parrot Minidrone Rolling Spider

 

There is no denying that drones have grown in popularity throughout the year, and are being craved by just about anyone. One of the biggest reasons for this is the emergence of the “dronies” phenomenon, where the gadgets are used to capture aerial images of individuals or groups.

 

 

One of the most popular (and affordable) drones on the market is the Parrot Minidrone Rolling Spider. The device has a range of up to 20 meters, and is controlled via the use of FreeFlight 3 app – available for Android, iOS or Windows Phone devices. Interestingly, there are those that compare the appeal of drones now to remote-controlled cards during the 90’s – they are all the rave.

 

 

Pebble Steel

 

If you’ve spent the better part of 2014 listening to a loved one drop hints (intentionally or otherwise) about wanting a wrist-based companion for their smart phone, it would be nice to bring all those frustrations to rest with a Pebble Steel. In addition to an impressive battery life of up to 7 days, the ability to receive notifications are features that have attracted thousands, and will attract even more throughout the holiday season.

 

The biggest selling point of the Pebble Steel is that it is compatible with both Android and iOS devices – the two major mobile operating systems on the market.

 

 

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

 

Of all the items on the list, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is likely to be the most expensive, but it also likely to be the biggest investment that one can make. In 2014 (looking towards 2015 and beyond), what professional would not want a tablet that can replace their laptop?

 

The 12” Full High-Definition Plus screen of the Surface Pro 3 is greatly complemented by the processing power and functionality of the device. With a battery life of up to 9 hours for web browsing, and a fourth generation Intel Core processor, it is indeed better than a number of laptops on the market. Running the actual Windows 8.1 operating system is also a huge plus.

 

 

 

 

Powerbeats Earbuds

 

From the aspiring sports professional to those that simply have an interest in fitness, the Powerbeats Earbuds would be a pretty cool gift. Aside from the fact that NBA superstar LeBron James endorses them, the attraction lies in the obvious function – provide a medium for listening to music.

 

 

While it may not be documented, it is a common notion that many individuals listen to music to get them pumped, or help to keep them focused during activities. Not only does the Powerbeats produce a clear sound, but the flexible ear clips will ensure that they aren’t always falling out.  It also doesn’t hurt that they look good.

 

 

Perfect Drink: Smart Bartender

 

The Perfect Drink is as close to a perfect gift as you can get for those who like to entertain, and what better time to play “host” than during the holiday season. The complete set includes a smart scale, a stainless steel shaker, a stand for a smart phone/tablet, and best of all there is a free app for Android and iOS devices.

 

 

With a database of over 300 drink recipes, users of the Perfect Drink are almost guaranteed to find mixes that their guests will enjoy. All they have to do is place the container on the smart scale, and keep an eye on the app as it guides the portion of each item to be added.

 

 

Just a few days remain until our homes get a visit from Santa Claus, and there are sure to be some sad faces if there are no gifts under the Christmas tree. Sure, some of you would have already completed your gift shopping, but for those who haven’t, you now have a number of great ideas to choose from. Happy Shopping!

 

 

 

All The Tech They"ll Want For Christmas

2014’s Most Downloaded Apps

As we continue to take stock of all things “tech” in 2014, we take a look at another popular area – mobile applications (apps). While it would not be a surprise to imagine that there is indeed an app for everything, there were some apps that got more attention that others throughout the year, and not just domestically but internationally as well.

 

 

Here is a look at some of the most downloaded apps for the soon-to-be-concluded 2014:

 

 

Candy Crush

 

Who knew that clearing jelly and getting ingredients could be so fun? For yet another year, Candy Crush – from developers King Digital – was the most downloaded game app.

 

 

While the “match-three” puzzle game concept is not original – Bejeweled being another popular example – the features of Candy Crush have allowed it to rank among the very best. Impressively, some reports indicate that the game is being played more than a billion times daily, with individuals of all ages determined to advance to the next level. From this, it can easily be argued that Candy Crush is not only a popular game, but one of the most popular apps of all time.

 

 

 

Pandora

 

Transitioning to another form of entertainment, the much beloved music app Pandora was also among the year’s top downloads. One factor that contributed to this is the fact that it is available on two of the most popular mobile operating systems – Android and iOS, but in reality its impact stretches much further. Understandably, this is a factor that contributes to all the apps in the list.

 

 

The web radio platforms – birth from the Music Genome Project – is praised for its ability to analyze a vast collection of songs based on individual preferences and produce others based on their similarities.

 

 

Facebook

 

Surprise, surprise (not really) – Facebook is one of the most downloaded apps of 2014. The number of individuals who don’t have a smart phone continue to diminish, and considering that there are more than a billion monthly active users of Facebook, it is understandable that many would want to access their profiles via this medium.

 

 

It is reported that the Facebook app was the most downloaded social app on Google Play, and claimed fourth spot from the App Store – with its close friend the Facebook Messenger at #1. While it hasn’t been reported, it is not beyond reason that this was the most downloaded app across all categories.

 

 

WhatsApp Messenger

 

As far as “app prestige” goes, it can easily be argued that WhatsApp Messenger accumulated more of that than any other in 2014. As if the messaging software wasn’t popular enough before (aided by its availability on seven mobile operating systems), its profile received a major boost when it was announced in February that Facebook would be acquiring it for $19 billion.

 

 

It was recently reported that the instant messaging service had over 600 million active users worldwide, with over 100 million new users between the months of April and October alone. Unsurprisingly, it is the most popular app in that category.

 

 

 

 

Instagram

 

Rounding off the series of apps from the parent company Facebook Inc. is the popular photo-sharing social media platform Instagram, which was purchased by the Mark Zuckerburg-led company for $1 billion in 2012. The app started out as an iOS-exclusive, but ever since it opened its door to Android devices in 2012, the number of individuals downloading it has vastly increased.

 

 

As at December 2014, there were over 300 million monthly active users of the picture-centric mobile software, and many of those users downloaded the app this year. With Instagram recently introducing their first new set of filters since 2012, they are seemingly on a quest to not only maintain their loyal users but also attract more throughout 2015.

 

 

Duolingo

 

Venturing into another category, Duolingo enters the list as the most downloaded app related to education. This marks consecutive years that the app has had a commendable reception, having been awarded the “App of the Year” title by Apple in 2013.

 

 

The free language-learning platform offers both text materials and dictation to users of the app, and provides various lessons that can be used to determine ones progress. Impressively, the app now offers nine foreign languages to native English speakers – inclusive of Danish, Dutch, German, and Italian, while offering American English to over 15 other language speakers – Hungarian, Japanese, Russian and Turkish among that lot.

 

 

 

MyFitnessPal

 

As big as social media was throughout the year, there are those that would argue that fitness was all the rage. The surge was boosted by an influx of wearable tech – fitness bands in particular – but as far as apps go, MyFitnessPal was easily the most popular.

 

 

Rather than promoting a host of diets to undertake, MyFitnessPal instead promotes the practice of keeping a food journal so that individuals will have the knowledge that they can use to control their weight gain (or weight loss as it is for most).

 

 

 

 

2014’s Most Downloaded Apps

Popular Christmas Holiday Movies: Part 1

As the holiday season approaches its high point, individuals across the country will be partaking in their usual customs of gift shopping and eggnog making. In addition to these traditions, there is also the practice of watching films about the holiday with members of the family.

 

 

Here is a look at some of the more popular Christmas holiday movies that people will be watching:

 

 

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

 

 

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000), an adaptation of the 1957 book of the same name, is undoubtedly one of the greatest holiday films of all time. In fact, it is the highest-grossing film in that category, with over $260 million domestically (and over $345 million worldwide).

 

 

The film stars comedian extraordinaire, Jim Carrey as Grinch, a green creature who is anti-Christmas because of an incident that took place when he was eight. His classmates laughed at him. Six-year-old Cindy Lou (played by Taylor Momsen) is a resident of Whoville, but is not pleased with the town’s perception of Christmas being more about gifts than being amongst friends and family. She reaches out to the Grinch (who lives on Mt. Crumpit) to participate in the annual Whobilation, but the event takes a turn for the worse following another incident of him being laughed at.

 

 

Jim Carrey as The Gringe.

 

The Grinch steals the Christmas gifts from Whoville and plans to destroy them, but he suddenly feels his heart grow three times its original size when he hears the Whos singing, and realizes that Christmas is more than gifts. After managing to rescue Cindy who had come to visit him – as well as the gifts – the Grinch returns to the town, apologizes for his actions, and is forgiven.

 

 

Home Alone

 

While it may not be riddled with Christmas miracles, there are many who feel that their “binge-watching” of holiday movies cannot be complete without what is considered to be a family comedy classic – Home Alone (1990).

 

 

In Home Alone, childhood star actor Macaulay Culkin starred as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy who was accidentally left home by his parents and relatives for their Christmas holiday trip to Paris. He relishes the time he gets away from his family, but soon becomes its protector after uncovering that burglars are having their way with all the vacant houses in the neighborhood.

 

 

With his resourcefulness, he creates a bunch of booby traps throughout the house, and eventually – with the help of a neighbor – manages to contain the burglars until the police arrive. Feeling sad about being alone on Christmas, Kevin is soon all smiles again as his mother and family all return to be with him.

 

Home Alone

 

 

Miracle on 34^th Street

 

As far as Santa Claus movies go (and the belief that there is one), it really doesn’t get much better than Miracle on 34^th Street – the 1994 adaptation of the 1947 original film.

 

 

In the film, Kris Kringle (Richard Attenborough) is asked by Dory Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) to play Santa Claus for the Thanksgiving parade, after it was discovered that the individual contracted to do so was intoxicated and incapable of performing the task. Having done an excellent job, Dory uses her role as director of special events at Cole’s to hire Kris to be the store’s main Santa for the season.

 

 

Kris is a huge success at the store – especially among the kids – but he has not won over the affection of Dory’s daughter Susan (Mara Wilson) who was brought up not to believe in fairytales. He is arrested following a ploy by a rival store of Cole’s, and is ridiculed for stating that he is in fact, Santa Claus. Dorey’s boyfriend Bryan Bedford (Dylan McDermott) – who is a lawyer – steps in, and with the help of Susan manages to convince the judge to free Kris and declare him to be Santa.

 

 

Before taking his leave, Kris goes about delivering the three gifts Susan said would make her belief in Santa Claus. A father – Dorey and Bryan got married, a house – which Kris made provisions for the two to purchase, and a baby brother – which it would appear is on the way.

 

 

Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle.

 

 

The Santa Clause

 

2014 marks the 20^th anniversary of the 1994 classic The Santa Clause, but individuals all over are still drawn to the film as if it’s a present-day box office hit. Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, an advertising executive who accidentally causes Santa Claus to die after being awakened on Christmas Eve by sounds on the roof.

 

Charlie, Scott’s son, manages to convince him to put on Santa’s coat and complete the delivering of the gifts, after which they go to the North Pole. There, Scott is told that by entering the sleigh and completing the task, he has accepted the “Santa Clause” which makes him the new Saint Nick, and he has a year to get his affairs in order and report for duty.

 

Scott thinks it was just a dream, but throughout the year he begins to experience great weight gain and the change of his hair color that wears down his perception and causes him to realize he is indeed Santa. His new persona receives a lot of opposition from Charlie’s mother and stepfather – who took out a restraining order on him, but on Christmas Day manages to convince them after giving them gifts that they had wanted as children.

 

 

 

 

Popular Christmas Holiday Movies: Part 1

The NBA’s New Guards: Assessing the League"s Latest Stars

When anyone mentions the NBA and its players, the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are usually among the first to come to mind, and to a great extent are considered the faces of the league. This is due to the fact that thus far in their careers, they have performed at such a high standard that they are considered to be true superstars.

 

While there are a number of players in the league that are considered to be “good”, there is a much smaller list of those that individuals consider to be “superstars”. The three previously mentioned players certainly fall into the list, but there are others rapidly moving towards them.

 

Here is a look at some of the players who are establishing themselves as dominant forces in the league:

 

 

Anthony Davis (Power Forward/Center) – New Orleans Pelicans

 

Despite being only 21, Anthony Davis is already emerging as a true superstar in the NBA. He set the precedent for an impressive 2014-2015 season by being one block shy of a triple-double in the Pelicans’ opening game against the Orlando Magic, recording 26 points, 17 rebounds, 9 blocks, three steals and two assists on the day.

 

Anthony Davis

 

With an efficiency rating at 32.3 (well above that of the closest contender) Davis has his eyes set on a truly memorable season with contributions on both ends of the court. So far this season, he is one of two players to record multiple games of 30 points and 15 rebounds. His league best average of 25.2 points is strongly supported by 10.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.1 steals. Notably, Davis is on course to match “Hall of Famers” David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in league history to average 3 blocks and 2 steals for the season.

 

Though relatively early into the season, many think the real battle for MVP honors will be between Davis and Curry – especially if they continue in this rich vein of performance. Not LeBron James. Not reigning MVP Kevin Durant. Barring injuries, it’s hard to imagine that they won’t. Highly unlikely that anyone could have predicted that coming into the season.

 

 

Stephen Curry (Point Guard/Shooting Guard) – Golden State Warriors)

 

At the moment, the Warriors are boasting a league best 18-2 record, a 13-game winning streak, and arguably the league’s best point guard (and player) – Stephen Curry. After a couple of good seasons, Curry appears to have finally molded his play to be a truly efficient player. For the season, he is averaging 23.1 points, 7.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds, with an efficiency of 26.1 (third in the league) – a representation of the player’s overall performance and contribution on the court.

 

Heading into the season, there were a lot of people looking to Curry to keep the franchise on the “up and up”, particularly after head coach Mark Jackson was removed, (and he is yet to disappoint). While it is not a fully dependable representation, many sports fans assess a player’s season based on their ranking in fantasy leagues, and thus far only Anthony Davis is ahead of him.

 

 

 Demarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins

 

It can easily be argued that the current 11-10 Kings would be higher than their existing ninth place rank in the Western Conference were it not for the injury that sidelined star player DeMarcus Cousins. After developing something of a (bad) reputation in his three prior seasons in the league, he now appears to have matured and is ready to establish himself as a truly dominant player – not only in his position, but across the league.

 

For the games he has played, Cousins has averaged 23.5 points and 12.6 rebounds, which is sixth and first in the respective categories. His efficiency rating is 27.9 – placing him second only to Davis. The earlier bit that mentioned Davis as one of two players with more than one game with 30 points and 15 rebounds – Cousins was the first to do so.

 

If he is able to bounce back from his injury, the Kings will certainly be hopeful of challenging for a playoff spot in the hotly contested Western Conference.

 

 

John Wall (Point Guard) – Washington Wizards

 

There are some individuals with the type of personality to use disappointment to push them to do better for themselves, and the 24-year-old John Wall appears to be one such individual. After being passed over for the trip to the 2014 FIBA World Cup – an event that Wall himself wasn’t too happy about – he has been one of the stand-out guards in the league thus far.

 

In the Wizards’ recent 133-132 double overtime win against the Boston Celtics, Wall set a franchise record of five games with at least 12 assists. It would not be a surprise if this were one of the best assist streaks in NBA history. His average of 10.4 assists (second only to Rajon Rondo with 10.8), as well as 18 point, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals makes for a commendable all-round performance.

 

The 14-6 record of the Wizards is second only to that of the Toronto Raptors’ 16-5, and Wall is a big part of that. He achieved his first All-Star appearance last year, and it appears to be the first of many.

 

 

 

 

 

The NBA’s New Guards: Assessing the League"s Latest Stars

2014 Year in Review: Most Sought-After Gadgets

As the year 2014 draws to a close, there are a number of technology-related news and events that individuals will think on. The rapid emergence and seemingly saturated market of wearable tech is a major talking point, as well as the latest developments to the functionalities of mobile devices. Unsurprisingly, there were thousands of devices released throughout the year, garnering both positive and negative feedback.

 

 

Reflecting on the popularity of tech gadgets throughout 2014, here is a list compiled in no particular order of some of the most coveted devices for the 12-month span:

 

 

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

 

 

While it may not be as big as “there’s an app for that”, as far as 2014 goes there is arguably no tagline as popular as “the tablet that can replace your laptop”. Microsoft’s 12” tablet – the Surface Pro 3 – ranked right up there among the most in-demand tech products of the year.

 

 

The gadget is lightweight to say the least – weighing in the region of 2 pounds – but has the processing power to rival many laptops on the market, as it could be acquired with the fourth generation i3, i5 or i7 processors. With multiple kickstand positions the Surface Pro 3 can be adjusted to suit the most comfortable use in just about any environment – work or play. Additionally, with Windows 8.1 Pro the gadget supports an actual operating system, while being compatible with the desired apps.

 

 

In terms of accessories, a fully functional keyboard and the highly praised Surface Pen are just a few of the lot that more than justifies the tagline. Expectedly, it ranks as one of the best 2-in-1 selections on the market.

 

 

iPhone 6/ iPhone 6 Plus

 

 

It is quite possible that the iPhone 6 and its “big brother” the iPhone 6 Plus are gadgets that everyone would have expected to be a part of this list. In the hours leading up to it release, hundreds of individuals across the world were forming lines in front of Apple stores to be among the first to get their hands on the company’s latest smart phone.

 

 

Both devices were released on September 19, and they instantly went about setting new Apple records with relative ease. Within the first 24 hours of availability, there were more than 4 million units of the series sold, with the three-day sales figure standing at over 10 million. To add to that, the iPhone 6 was reported to be the most searched device for the year.

 

 

Among the many responses for the demand of the devices was the increased display size – iPhone 6 is 4.7” and the 6 Plus is 5.5”, and the improvement in the storage capacity – all of 128 GB.

 

 

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S5

 

 

Similar to just about every smart phone manufacturer, Samsung unveiled its latest generation – the Galaxy S5. With its February 24 launch, the device instantly ranked among the highest Android-operated options available on the market.

 

 

Among the number of new features introduced was a fingerprint scanner that grants the user access to the device. With the safeguarding of personal information increasing in importance with each day, such a feature goes a far way in growing consumers towards the product.

 

 

Pebble Steel

 

In a year that wearable devices were arguably the biggest phenomenon of the technology industry, it would have been difficult to produce such a list without mentioning a gadget from the lot. There were a number of fitness bands and smart watches that attracted attention, but it was the Pebble Steel that really stood out.

 

 

One of the most notable features of the Pebble Steel is that it is compatible with both Android and iOS operating systems, unlike other similar devices that were only functional with select gadgets from the respective tech companies. It also has an impressive 7-day battery life span with a full charge.

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, there are many who praised the device for its simplicity. It facilitated some of the more desired features such as receiving notifications, reading text messages and controlling music while leaving the more phone-suited functionalities to the phone – such as making phone calls.

 

 

Sony PlayStation 4

 

 

Also making its way into the 2014 “most wanted” list is the eighth generation gaming console from Japanese company Sony – the PlayStation 4. The gadget introduced a number of new features that helped it to stand out among its competitors, being the most sold console in each month since the start of the year.

 

 

An improved processing ability was among the upgrades of the device, but another feature that many raved about was the socially incorporating “share” button on the DualShock 4 controller. This feature allowed real-time game streaming from friends as well as the uploading of content to some of the more popular social media platforms.

 

 

In truth, there are a number of other gadgets that could have made this list. The FitBit for instance, was arguably the most popular fitness tracker throughout the year, and there was the Amazon Kindle Fire and the iPad tablets. It can hardly be argued, however, that the gadgets mentioned were not among those that individuals craved throughout 2014.

 

 

 

 

2014 Year in Review: Most Sought-After Gadgets

Popular TV Shows That Could Soon Get End Dates

There may be no statistics to prove this statement, but deciding when to close the curtains on a successful TV series must be one of the most difficult decisions any producer can face. The show still has the backing of the network, and the viewership numbers are still at an acceptable standard, so it’s easy to want to milk it for every drop it’s worth.

 

Having said all that, there is no denying that a number of popular TV shows could get end dates. Not only does this give its fans closure, but also prevents the show from “jumping the shark” – a phrase used to reference when the writers of a show have seemingly run out of creative ideas or a direction in which to take it.

 

Here are some popular shows that can get end dates sometime soon:

 

 

Supernatural

 

Many may not be aware of this, but the popular demon-slaying brothers Dean and Sam Winchester (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki) were supposed to be off the air a long time ago. Starring in Supernatural on The CW, series creator had initially planned a three-season series that he later extended to five, and what was to be the finale was well received. The CW – who was obviously loving the attention it drew – made the decision to renew the series for a sixth season in 2010, and it has been rolling on ever since.

 

 

Dean and Sam have endured just about everything throughout the show, including multiple deaths and trips to hell. They have vanquished many a demons and have had to make a number of sacrifices to get to what is now the 10^th season. Surely, they deserve a break from their supernatural battles in the near future.

 

 

Bones

 

Any fan of science, comedy, drama or any combination of the three is almost sure to be a fan of Bones. The series – which airs on Fox – recently entered into its 10^th season, and many will acknowledge that this is no easy feat.

 

Bones is centered on Dr. Temperance Brennan (played by Emily Deschanel) who is a world-renowned forensic anthropologist. With her team of specialists and interns at the Jeffersonian Institute, Dr. Brennan works with the FBI – Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) in particular – to examine the remains of victims and help them to close cases. He gives her the nickname “Bones” – which is where the title of the show came from – and though she was not a fan, like many other nicknames it would eventually stick.

 

As a fan of the show, there is no rush to see it go, but looking at the bigger picture such course of action may be wise. Science aside, there doesn’t seem to be much more that the show can offer. At one point, many fans were wondering whether or not Bones and Seeley would drop the charade and get together, but they now have a daughter (Christine, in Season 7) and even got married (Season 9).

 

With the couple – and many of the shows other popular characters – overcoming their respective personal issues, maybe it’s time that Fox decides to give fans closure, like the crime-solving duo have delivered to so many on the show. Based on recent chatter, however, it doesn’t seem likely to happen soon.

 

 

Revenge

 

Also included in this list is the ABC-aired Revenge. Despite being relatively young (it’s now in its fourth season) many fans of the series have voiced the sentiment that an end date might not be such a bad move.

 

The series focuses on the exploits of Amanda Clarke (Emily VanCamp), a woman who infiltrates the Hamptons as Emily Thorne with a single goal in mind – to seek revenge. In her early years, her father (David Clarke) was framed for treason and subsequently killed in prison, so she has returned to her old neighborhood to exact her own brand of justice on whoever did her father wrong, members of the Grayson Family in particular.

 

At the onset the show was (and to some extent still) captivating, but it is now threatening to enter the stage of irrelevance. Amanda/Emily has managed to pretty much ruin the lives of everyone who played a role in her father’s demise, but what appears to be her obsession with the Graysons has become a bit overwhelming.

 

 

On top of all that, we have discovered in Season 4 that David Clarke is actually alive. Doesn’t that negate the whole premise of the show? Sure, there is likely to be some more twists in the tale, but to what end considering her motive for revenge is living and breathing – quite well too.

 

 

“Honorable” Mentions

 

While the shows listed above are t the head of the line among those that could get a series finale, there are other shows that might come to mind. Despite being America’s longest running scripted prime time series, The Simpsons has been criticized for “jumping the shark” on seemingly countless occasions, and the ABC hit Grey’s Anatomy also appears to be heading in that direction.

 

 

 

It is understandably difficult to end a series that (after years) has managed to maintain a strong viewership base, but there are instances when an end date is what the show and its fan deserve.

 

 

 

Popular TV Shows That Could Soon Get End Dates

Video Ads and other Annoying Tech Occurrences

Once upon a time, an online user had the luxury of clicking play on a particular video hosted on a website and ended up watching just that. Now, such a time seems as fictional as a fairytale, as they have been forced to endure what has now become the annoying presence of video ads.

 

 

Whether it is some fast food chain talking up their latest combo deal or a car company highlighting their latest make and model, there is almost always something that demands our attention for even minutes before users actually get to see what they want. Admittedly, there are some that allow the user to advance directly to the desired video after five seconds, but why isn’t that an immediate option?

 

 

Evidently, it would appear as though being aware of the effects of video ads has caused advertisers to latch on to the promotional tool without an interest in letting go. “If a picture paints a thousand words then video paints a million and digital advertisers are wising up to how effective this form of online advertising can be,” Desere Orrill, CLO of Ole! Media Group said. Having said that, while we understand that advertising, marketing and all things associated are important, it that doesn’t stop us from being annoyed by the video ads ever so often.

 

 

Sadly, it is not only on video-sharing websites where such a phenomenon is experienced. The same goes for the standard websites as well, and sports fans will readily acknowledge that it is almost impossible to watch a series of sport videos on any of the major websites without having to watch at least one video ad in the process.

 

While video ads may be the more pronounced annoyance at the moment, the fact of the matter is that there is a number of other tech occurrences endured every day that online users aren’t too fond of. Here is a look at a few:

 

 

CAPTCHAs

 

To say that there is a strong dislike for CAPTCHAs among online users would be like saying that Katy Perry has a few Twitter followers – it is a gross understatement (she in fact has the most, with over 60 million). For those who don’t know, CAPTCHA is an acronym for “Completely Automated Public Turning test to tell Computers and Humans Apart”. You know, those jumbled letters and numbers that many websites require you to enter to prove that you aren’t a machine trying to infiltrate their network.

 

 

While there may be a justification for utilizing this mechanism, the real annoyance is in the fact that oftentimes the characters that are given are next to impossible to decipher. Whether there is a strikethrough, or the numbers and letters are contorted beyond recognition, what started out as a basic test has now become far too complex. Interestingly, it has been stated that some artificial intelligence technology now has the ability to solve these enigmas close to 100% of the time – so really their relevance is very questionable.

 

 

In understanding that online users are close to their breaking point (if it hasn’t been breached already), Google created a system to appease the frustration. With the use of images and a simple check box, all the unwanted emotions we feel when we’re trying to make sense of (what can be best described as) nonsense should soon escape us.

 

 

Pop-ups

 

It should be pretty safe to say that anyone who has spent more than a couple seconds on the Internet has had to deal with pop-ups, and they will all acknowledge that they are never happy to see them. Video ads may be the most recent unwanted form of online annoyance, but it still has a far way to go before it can be as bothersome as a pop-up, and the statistics are there to prove just how undesirable these things are. It isn’t aided by the fact that it is usually some individual or entity trying to sell some “get rich quick” scheme or something else that attempts to attract more seconds of attention than it takes to close the window.

 

 

Online users have been forced to deal with pop-ups for well over a decade now, but despite their best efforts they just can’t seem to shake them. Yes, there are many pop-up blocking software out there, but we would do anything to not have any at all, versus trying to figure out the best one to install. Maybe it’s about time we just give up on that dream.

 

 

Software installs/upgrades with add-ons

 

Gone are the days when upgrading a software meant just that. With many installations and upgrades, online users are now being greeted by third-party software that also wants to have its own space on the hard drive.

 

 

The consensus here – if there was an interest in such software then we would have gone out looking for it. While it might take less than a second to click the checkbox and turn down the add-on, you start thinking about who to talk to in order to get all those seconds back.

 

 

 

 

 

Video Ads and other Annoying Tech Occurrences

Tips to get the best from your Comcast Wi-Fi

Having made the decision to acquire a top-notch Internet service, there are very few things as frustrating as not having it perform at the desired standard. Whether it is the speed of the data transference, or the range of the wireless Internet, or something else altogether, there tends to be something we aren’t too happy about.

 

While it is generally easy for subscribers to blame the service provider for such an occurrence, it is sometimes the case that things we do (or don’t do) that have contributed to our own annoyance. For those who made the choice to acquire their Internet from Comcast – through their home services brand Xfinity – here are a few tips that you can employ to get the best of your Wi-Fi:

 

 

Find an ideal router location

 

It’s hard to believe that some individuals take the location of their wireless router for granted, but they do. The device’s location in the house could be the difference between being satisfied with the Wi-Fi or being irritated by it.

 

 

As best as possible, try to identify a central location in the house from which the wireless signal can best be disbursed. Be sure not to place it in a corner near a window, not unless you acquired it for your neighbors more than yourself.

 

 

 

Try not to be too friendly with the Wi-Fi

 

 

For the most part, everyone tries to get along well with his or her neighbors, but at some point or another a line has to be drawn. With an increasing number of devices now IP-enabled, chances are there will be enough competition within the house for the wireless web connectivity that you don’t need to invite any more.

 

 

In addition to prioritizing the location of the router, a strong password has to be in place to deter unwelcomed guests. Notably, there are some individuals who choose to turn off the option of broadcasting their service set identifier (SSID), so those on the look out for a signal to piggyback on wouldn’t even know theirs existed.

 

 

That aside, at this point everyone should be wary of having their IP address being associated with illegal activity or worse, having their identity stolen. No need to make it any easier for the criminals.

 

 

Try to control the usage within the house

 

 

As alluded to before, within each household there are a growing number of gadgets that have the functionality of being connected to the World Wide Web. Smart phones, tablets, televisions, coffee makers (and the list goes on) have joined personal computers as electronics that perform best when connected to the Internet.

 

While this may be true, there is no law that says they all have to be connected at the same time. Simply turning off the Wi-Fi feature of devices not in use can help to enhance the user experience with a device that is. By extension, try to curb the Internet usage of devices that demand a lot of speed – for example, gaming consoles.

 

 

 

Give the router freedom to operate

 

 

There may be suitable places in the home to put appliances, but that does not mean that they should form a welcoming party for the router that accompanies acquiring Xfinity Internet. Many may not be aware of this, but placing the device next to other household “must haves” such as a microwave, television, DVD player or cordless phone can all affect its wireless performance.

 

 

 

 

By allowing it to be in a suitable location all on its own, you are on course to receiving the best signal strength that the gadget has to offer.

 

 

 

Get the latest equipment offerings

 

It is somewhat easy to become complacent with the Wi-Fi signal being offered if it’s doing the basics that you require of it, but by upgrading the equipment you might be surprised at the enhanced service you experience. Approximately three months ago, the home services company launched their latest Xfinity Wireless Gateway, a router and modem combination capable of delivering in home Wi-Fi speeds in the region of 700 Mbps (megabits per second). This is estimated to be double the data transference speeds the previous best router was providing to subscribers. Who would want to deny themselves the opportunity to fully capitalize on such a premium offering?

 

 

Keep the software up to date

 

Similar to a number of software on your personal computers and similar devices, a lot of value can be gained by ensuring that the software critical to the transmitting of the wireless signal is also in tip-top shape. While it doesn’t have to be everyday, try to reboot the router (restarting it will do) regularly so as to capitalize on whatever upgrades may have been made to the technology. Having both hardware and software at their optimum is an integral component of a consistent and reliable wireless Internet connection.

 

 

Everyone loves being connected to the World Wide Web, and now more than ever, a wireless signal is the desired route. While there are other steps that can be taken, these tips are sure to help you get the best of your Comcast/Xfinity Wi-Fi.

 

 

Tips to get the best from your Comcast Wi-Fi