The Review Blog

This week we’re completely overrun by season finales — if there’s a winter show that you watch that is still airing, it’s a safe bet that it will be wrapping up its run this week. Check after the break break for the dates and times on those as well as NBA and NHL playoffs action plus Blu-ray and videogame releases (we couldn’t ignore Diablo 3), but there’s just one finale we’re highlighting this week.

Community
Even with the good news that NBC has ordered up (at least) 13 more episodes for next season, we’ll be sad to see Greendale’s study group leave for the summer. Season three wraps up Thursday night with an oddly disjointed three episode finale broken up by 30 Rock in the middle. While the only thing we know for sure is that they’re never doing paintball again, it seems certain the finale will include healthy amounts of Officer Chang, a doppleDeaner, the appearance of Evil Troy, Jeff and Abed, and possibly a return trip to the Dreamatorium.
(May 17th, 8, 9 & 9:30PM, NBC)

Continue reading Must See HDTV (May 14th – 20th)

Must See HDTV (May 14th – 20th) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 18:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybe it was inspired by the other app’s most recent update, or perhaps by Zuck’s newly-minted commitment to mobile applications. Regardless, Facebook’s redesigned its iPhone / iPod and Android apps along with its pocket-sized site, clearly taking some design tips from none other than its fresh acquisition, Instagram. As you can see in the image above, the news feed is now showing one large post rather than the usual two or three (at least on the iPhone / iPod variant), this mainly due to pictures now being up to 3X larger than before. Facebook didn’t note any other major changes, and there was no mention on when, or if, this snap-driven design will make its way onto some of those not-so-mobile devices. Be sure to keep an eye out for the redesign, as it’s said to be rolling out as we speak.

Facebook redesigns mobile site and apps, takes a tip (or two) from Instagram originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s not the tantalizing bit of Windows 8 bait you’d expect in the lead up to that revolutionary OS’ official launch, but for a certain domestic segment, it’ll do. As part and parcel of its Release Preview — slated for a June bow– Microsoft’s making the busywork of keeping digital tabs on your household ankle biters an integrated and easily managed feature of the two-faced system, accessible via the “Family Safety” option. Once enabled on the account profile for an underage user, parents will have the ability to receive weekly activity reports detailing web usage, as well as set site / application restrictions, search filters and time limits for PC usage. Despite Redmond’s best efforts, there’s still one wall this virtual oversight won’t let you breach — your child’s Facebook account. For that, you’ll just have to make friends. Head on past the break for the company’s helpful how-to video.

Continue reading Windows 8 ‘Family Safety’ feature chaperones underage users through the World Wild Web

Windows 8 ‘Family Safety’ feature chaperones underage users through the World Wild Web originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 18:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We took Rdio through its redesigned paces a couple of months back, and now it looks like it’s finally ready for prime time. The streaming music service announced today that the new version is now available to everyone, featuring a speedier, cleaner, more socially-minded interface. More info on the redesign can be found in the source link below-dio.

Rdio redesign goes live for one and all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 18:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony might not have taken long to find a new date in the TV scene after breaking up with Samsung late last year: if you believe Nikkei, Panasonic is the belle of the ball. The two Japanese firms are reportedly hoping to speed up the development of cheap, mass-produced OLED TVs by sharing each other’s design techniques, including a Panasonic method for printing OLEDs on a scale that lets the company avoid $9,000 price tags. Neither Panasonic nor Sony has confirmed the talks, of course, and there’s no guarantee a partnership will emerge even if it truly gets hot and heavy. Still, if real, we’ll be on the lookout for a PanaSony OLED TV at CES in the future.

Panasonic, Sony purportedly entering into OLED TV team-up, torrid love affair originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 17:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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