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CBS has launched their own subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, dubbed CBS All Access.

All Access costs $5.99 per month and will offer thousands of episodes of popular CBS shows, include back catalogs. Current season shows will have the episodes available the day after they air, and some shows will have past seasons. In addition, there is a library of "classic CBS series" and local CBS stations can be live streamed in 14 metro markets.

CBS says the service will be available through all major digital platforms, and will also be available on desktops and via mobile apps. CBS CEO Leslie Moonves added: "CBS All Access is another key step in the company's long-standing strategy of monetizing our local and national content in the ways that viewers want it."

The service will "complement" CBS's offerings on other streaming services, like Netflix, and the company also admits that the service is certainly not for everyone. "If you are interested in a large bundle of channels that has a lot of various things in it, you may not be a subscriber to this service. But if you're deeply interested in one, two or many of our shows, getting our content outside of your home or buying earlier access to our content on mobile devices, then you're one of our superfans and you're going to convert," added the media giant.

Apple released several updates to its product portfolio in yesterday's event. Here's a summary of what's new, what changed and what's important

5K iMac

Apple released an updated 27-inch iMac, boasting a massive 5K resolution (5120 x 2880), with a staggering $2'499 price tag. For two and a half grand, you'll get the 1TB "fusion drive" version with 8GB of memory -- pure SSD options and more memory will cost you more.

"Fusion drive" is Apple's name for hybrid SSD/HDD drives.

Faster Mac Mini

Mac mini, loved by many movie enthusiasts as the perfect HTPC for living room use, hasn't been updated in two years. But yesterday Apple finally gave the low-end Mac a much-needed upgrade. Now the basic model comes with 1.4GHz Intel i5 CPU, 500GB HDD, 4GB RAM and Intel HD 5000 GPU. Priciest option available for Mac mini comes with 2.8GHz CPU, 8GB RAM and 1TB Fusion drive. Prices start from $499.

iPad Air 2

Apple finally brings back version numbers to its iPads - a very much needed change, as identifying different iPad models has basically required one to google for SKU numbers to see which model each one is. As expected, the iPad Air 2 is thinner than its predecessor, at 6.1mm, with 40 percent faster CPU and better camera. Its rear camera is now 8Mpix, but lacks optical image stabilization and other goodies found from iPhone 6 Plus and likewise.

Not one to be outdone by rival Marvel, DC Comics has announced 10 new superhero films over the next 5 years, with the goal of creating an interconnected universe for their popular characters.

Marvel's Cinematic Universe has brought an almost overwhelming amount of films in the past half decade, with no end in sight.

Here is DC's lineup

2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Batfleck, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and the Suicide Squad)
2017: Wonder Woman and Justice League Part One
2018: The Flash and Aquaman
2019: Shazam and Justice League Part Two
2020: Cyborg and Green Lantern

Warner Bros., parent of DC Comics, also announced the LEGO Batman movie for 2017, although that won't count towards the DC universe.

Although unconfirmed on the dates, there are also two new standalone Superman and Batman films. Should be some interesting times for comic and superhero fans.

Source:
Warner Bros.

Yesterday, Google unveiled their new line of Nexus devices: The 6 smartphone, the 9 tablet and the Nexus Player for streaming media.

The search engine giant has also revealed the first official ads for the devices, keeping with the new "tag lines" for each individual hardware. The giant Nexus 6 smartphone will give consumers "space to explore" while the Nexus 9 was built for "movers and makers." The Nexus Player is "entertainment tailored for you."

Google will make the Nexus Player and Nexus 9 available for pre-order tomorrow, followed by the Nexus 6 on October 29th. Read more about each device at our dedicated posts: Nexus Player, Nexus 9 and Nexus 6

According to Netflix, streaming subscribers will soon have access to every episode of "Friends."

The popular show, which ended in 2004 after a 10 year run on NBC, followed a group of friends living in "NYC" and turned actors like Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox into household names.

Netflix says the episodes will be made available starting on January 1, 2015.

Earlier today, Google introduced its Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system, to be released soon on the new Nexus 6 and Nexus 9.

Motorola, a close partner of Google, was the first to announce which ones of their devices will get the update.

The devices are as follows:

It's finally happened.

Time Warner, parent company of HBO, has confirmed that the popular movie and show channel will offered as a standalone web-only streaming service starting next year, allowing cable cutters to get access without needing a cable/satellite TV subscription.

HBO CEO Richard Plepler said the company is preparing to launch a "standalone, over the top" version of HBO in 2015, but left consumers with little other details.

Reads the press statement: "So, in 2015, we will launch a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service in the United States. We will work with our current partners. And, we will explore models with new partners. All in, there are 80 million homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them."

Currently, HBO Go allows mobile, set-top and computers users to stream the popular original content and movies anywhere but it also requires them to have an HBO channel subscription. Having a premium channel subscription also means having a monthly TV package, which is never cheap.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings commented on the news, saying that HBO Go going standalone was "inevitable" and will not affect the streaming service's booming content library.

Android L is finally here, officially coined as Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The updated operating system has been long-awaited, ever since Google offered an in-depth preview of the new "Material Design" features at its I/O event over the summer. As always, Nexus owners will get the update first, and this includes the new Nexus 6 and 9, as well as the older Nexus 4, 5, 7, 10 and Google Play Edition devices.

Material Design is Google's way of unifying the operating system across phones, tablets, TV, and smartwatches and visually the interface has a cleaner more bold design, better colors, better animations, better multitasking abilities and better voice and gesture support.

Although it was relatively easy to do so before, Google says Lollipop will allow songs, photos, apps and recent searches to be seamlessly and effortlessly synced between all of your Android devices. The lock screen can be customized "so only certain people and notifications get through. When it's important, respond directly from your lockscreen." This is a great feature especially if you are working, and those emails from retailers can wait until later.

The dialer has been revamped, a much needed fix from Android 4.4 where it just frankly did not work well. Google says a new battery saver mode will give you 90 more minutes when you need it most, and Google has also activated multiple user accounts and guest user modes. From a security standpoint, you can now lock the device with a trusted paired device, like your watch and Android comes with a full kill switch, making the phone useless to thieves. Google has implemented "Factory Reset Protection," which requires a password before it can be reset, by anyone. When paired with remote lock and remote wipe, the phone is a brick when stolen. Additionally, as expected, Android L has full encryption by default, just like Apple's latest.

Google kept the hits coming today after announcing their new flagship tablet and smartphone, introducing a streaming set-top box that aims right at the heart of Amazon's Fire TV.

The new Nexus Player is built by partner Asus and will give Google ecosystem fans a chance to stream their favorite content, run Android apps and play Android-based games. Just like the Fire TV, Google's latest includes a remote with a built-in mic for voice control and search, and an optional $39 controller allows you to play hundreds of games on the big screen.

Perhaps most importantly, the device is Google Cast-ready, meaning you can mirror your desktop and "cast" movies and apps to the big screen from your mobile or computer. The device runs on Android TV, the first device to use the operating system first confirmed back at the Google I/O event in June.

Most of the standard apps you'd expect are available like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Plex but HBO Go is notably absent just like it is on Amazon's box.

The little, round device is also pretty powerful with a 64-bit 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal storage and Imagination PowerVR Series 6 graphics. It connects via HDMI for 1080p picture, and has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The set-top costs $99 and goes on pre-order October 17th with a launch date on November 3rd.

The largest of the trio of devices unveiled today by Google is the new Nexus 9 tablet, built by HTC.

HTC, which has struggled to make a hit Android device in the past years, has been given the reigns on Google's latest tablet, an 8.9-inch device that will fit snugly between the company's 7-inch and 10-inch models from 2013.

Somewhat strangely, the 8.9-in. IPS LCD display will have a 2048-x-1536 resolution (4:3 aspect ratio) which Google says is part of the company's "new focus on productivity." Under the hood is the crazy powerful Tegra K1 64-bit processor, and 2GB RAM. Having tested the K1 on the Nvidia gaming tablet, I can tell you that the processor flies and is very impressive.

HTC has added dual front-facing stereo speakers for improved audio playback, and added their own BoomSound audio software enhancements. The 6700 mAh battery should give you 9.5 hours of active use, lower than the Retina iPad Mini but much improved from the Nexus 7.

Running on the new Android 5.0 Lollipop and all its features, Google has included a "tap to wake" option that was seen in the past on LG's tablets as 'Knock On." You have to tap the screen twice to turn on the display without needing to hit the power button.

Google took the wrapping off their latest flagship device: the Nexus 6 built by Motorola.

Although most of its specs and even its design had been leaked in the past weeks, Google and Motorola still had a few tricks in store for what should easily be the most powerful smartphone ever created.

First, to the specs. The Nexus 6 features a massive 5.96" 1440x2560 display (493 ppi), nearly an inch larger than the Nexus 5, and is powered by the top of the line quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 CPU clocked at 2.7 GHz and an Adreno 420 GPU and 3GB RAM.

A huge 3220 mAh battery should give you juice for the day but Motorola has taken it a step further by including a Motorola Turbo Charger which promises to give you 6 hours of battery life with just a 15 minute charge.

Google has upgraded the camera from its predecessor Nexus, as well, going with the 13 MP + OIS + HDR+ camera found on the latest Moto X. For sound, Moto has added dual front-facing stereo speakers for much improved music and speaker phone playback. The design is similar to the Moto X and the colors available at launch are midnight blue and white.

Of course, the Nexus 6 will launch with the new Android 5.0 Lollipop with Material Design, for which we will have dedicated article up tonight.

Evan Blass, of the now retired @Evleaks Twitter account, has posted a supposed image of the upcoming Google Nexus 6.

The Motorola built Android reference device is expected to have a giant 5.92-inch QHD display and the image shows off much of what we have heard in the past few days about the device.

In the image, we see a slate metal band and the volume rocker and power buttons have been moved to midway down the device to make sure that people can actually use one hand to turn off their screen. The device is also running Android L, which is expected to launch the same day as the new phone.

Although there have been zero official confirmations for a release date, the Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet are expected to launch as soon as next Tuesday.

Not known for his subtlety, T-Mobile U.S. CEO John Legere has weighed in on Apple's recent 'Bendgate' scandal in which a handful of consumers complained that the new iPhone 6/6+ could be bent rather easily.

The scandal went viral although many had a hard time replicating the "bending" with normal use. Legere did not mince words, claiming that "bendgate" is utter "horse sh**."

He then went on to add: "The video of the guy that's [intentionally bending the iPhone 6 Plus]--and if you could have seen his face, he probably would have been purple. The thing moves a little bit? Are you s---ting me? I mean, when was the last time you took any other...this is an amazing supercomputer in your hand. What the f--- are you putting it in your pants and sitting on it for?"

Here is Legere's full video from his speech at GeekWire Summit 2014:

French startup carrier Iliad Group has ended their plans to try to acquire T-Mobile US.

In July, the carrier submitted an offer to become majority shareholder of the U.S.' fourth-largest wireless carrier, but was rejected outright by T-Mobile's board. Besides having a relatively inexperienced team, there were also questions about how Iliad could raise the funds necessary to acquire the stake.

Iliad says T-Mobile would not even entertain any new offers:

At the end of July 2014, Iliad confirmed its interest in the US market and that it had submitted to the T-Mobile US board of directors an indicative offer to purchase a 56.6% stake in the company. This offer was rejected by the T-Mobile US board despite the significant premium offered.

Following this offer rejection, Iliad put in place a consortium with two leading private equity funds and Tier-1 international banks allowing it to improve significantly the terms of its offer by enhancing the cash amount and increasing the share of T-Mobile US' capital to be acquired from 56.6% to 67%.

This new offer, at about USD 36 per share (cash + share of value creation), would have fitted into Iliad Group's strict financial policy in terms of indebtedness and dilution. Iliad had the ambition to accelerate T-Mobile US' transformation, notably by saving more than USD 2 billion of cost annually. This transaction would have created significant value for both Iliad's and T-Mobile US' shareholders.

Rumors started circulating an hour ago that well over 6 million Dropbox accounts have been hacked.

Hackers apparently have stated they'll release the hacked account info for the person who first pays them a specific amount of Bitcoins.

#Dropbox hacked ("surprise...") and hackers will release all 6,937,081 accounts if they get enough BTC.

-- Marko Polojärvi (@markopolojarvi) October 14, 2014

Dropbox has denied the claim and stated that yes, list of insecure accounts is circulating, but that those accounts have been lifted from previous leaks from other sites and tested to work to their respective Dropbox account too (essentially, people using the same username/password combo in multiple services).

#DROPBOX DENIES BEING HACKED: @Dropbox statement @ow http://t.co/jaFBYjrgEo @MarshaCollier pic.twitter.com/2N1ZfrZYHB

-- Uncle Bill (@UBtalkin) October 14, 2014