Another day, another Tokyoflash watch. The Kisai 7 is a clever, fairly cool watch that looks like something Jeff Bridges picked out of his magisterial beard in the last Tron movie. Priced at $99 for the next 30 hours, you, too, can look like a Program just looking to get out of the CPU.
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The backstory of last year’s film Tron: Legacy picks up where the first film left off. Kevin Flynn teams up with Tron to create a new Grid, one meant for programs and users. But Flynn realizes that he can’t be in the system working on this constructed world all the time, so he creates another program, CLU, to help with the effort. Together, the three of them work on creating this new perfect system.
Then something happens.
I’m reminded of this story when reading Kevin Fox’s post last night entitled: Is Microsoft trying to end the reign of mobile carriers? (MSFT+Skype+Nokia). In it, he lays out a scenario in which Microsoft uses their acquisition of Skype alongside Windows Phone 7 and their new deep partnership with Nokia to disrupt the system that we’ve all been familiar with for far too long: carrier dominance. Their aim is to create a new Grid, if you will. And they’re not alone. Google and Apple are also working on this goal. Flynn. Tron. CLU. → Read More
Cycleblob, an addictive browser game created by Israeli developer Shy Shalom, went live today. The game ports light cycles, the futuristic vehicles from the legendary 1982 film Tron, to the browser. Nerd power! Of course, seeing as Tron was recently upgraded with a new sequel, it’s only fitting that light cycles should be given a more contemporary setting in which to compete — especially if that backdrop takes advantage of modern web standards and contexts.
In the original Tron, light cycles were matched against each other on a flat grid and were limited to making 90 degree turns, so Cycleblob has set its light cycles in motion on a rotating 3-dimensional field (really, a blob) that floats in space. Just as in the original, if you hit the wall of light left by your or your opponent’s vehicle, it’s game over. → Read More
Although playing on a board lacks the immediacy of actually being scanned into the Tron environment and piloting the lightcycle manually, it is less dangerous, and more portable. → Read More
Tron is getting animated and you know what, it doesn’t look that bad. I mean, it can’t be worse than the movies. Plus the animation format will likely allow for a deeper story line. Tron: Uprising is set to debut next summer on Disney’s XD channel. → Read More
Love it or hate it, Tron Legacy was a visual spectacle. And with Daft Punk’s score, many theater-goers left with their audio-visual cherries popped. Pre-orders have begun and there expects to be 5 versions available on Blu-ray. Luckily, Amazon is giving some discounts on the Tron and Tron Legacy pre-orders. There will also be a 2D combo pack of both the titles available for $39.99 each and 3D for $49.99 each. Finally, for the ultimate collectors, both titles in one package for $69.99 and the mega mega ultra limited collector’s edition for $99.99. What ever happened to one movie? → Read More
My special guest on this week’s Speaking Of is actress Cindy Morgan. Cindy is known in the film world for two iconic roles: as Lacey Underall in Caddyshack and as Lora/Yori in the original TRON.
I didn’t mention this in my original overview of TRON Legacy, because I didn’t want to spoil much of the movie for everyone, but I was very saddened by the fact that two of my favorite characters (Bit and Yori) from the original TRON didn’t make an appearance in the sequel, when so many other main actors did, including Bruce Boxleitner (shown holding Yori in the original TRON poster).
When I asked about this, Cindy admitted that she’d only seen the sequel two days prior to our interview, and that it was like going to the prom without a date. She made a small cameo in Sam Flynn’s room on his poster and that was about it. Cindy is incredibly gracious though, understanding that movie producers have to make difficult decisions. She hopes she’ll appear in the next sequel – and I’d love to see that happen too.
Video ahead. → Read More
It’s a DIY Tron-themed Segway made out of 3M reflective tape and some Christmas lights. What more do you want? Some Paul Blart Mall Cop jokes? No. That man took his job serious and deserves your respect. [via Gizmodo] → Read More
Even though the movies were, arguably, abysmal, like Boba Fett and Big Trouble In Little China, we geeks hold a special place in our hearts for all things Tron. To wit: modders have created Tron-based TF2 skins in red and blue, featuring electroluminescent piping, fancy smocks, and even a tasteful but unobtrusive mod to the Spy with a full jacket and tie with just the merest hint of a glow. Click through to see the red team. → Read More
Tron Legacy may have received mixed reviews from critics, but pretty much everyone agrees the visuals of the movie was great. We’ve listed up nine cool items inspired by the movie anyone can buy, but what about an LED-lit Tron suit? It blows the Tron shirt introduced earlier this year out of the water. → Read More
Tron Legacy pops up in your local movie theater today, and the question on everyone’s mind is: is it rubbish? If you ask the critics, then yeah: it’s really not that good at all. Shock. But when was the last time “the critics” saw eye-to-eye with the American people? Give Joe Public some cool special effects and you’re easily making $100 million. → Read More
Tron is here and it’s hard not to get excited about the sequel to one of the movies that defined the genre early on. Good thing Disney knows how to muck up a brand with merchandising and loose licensing agreements so there’s a world of Tron gear out there, just waiting for your credit card. So click through, fellow Tron-ite. There’s something here for nearly everyone including computer accessories, wearables, and so much more. Make the Tron Guy proud. → Read More
Okay, readers, here’s our holiday gift to you. Come see the coolest movie of the season, TRON LEGACY, with us in New York City or San Francisco on Thursday night. This might be your last chance to join our Tron-tourage. TRON LEGACY officially opens this Friday, December 17th, but we are inviting you to see it with us before the big release date. Buy a ticket for yourself, your friends, your family, and invite a co-worker or two. This is going to be a blast, right before Christmastime. Heck, if you are startup CEO, take the whole company out for drinks before, then bring everyone to the show and call it a holiday party.
Did we mention we are seeing in two of the biggest theaters in each city, with more than 400 seats each? We’ve already bought out the theaters. → Read More
Longtime TechCrunch readers know we like to have movie screenings on opening day for cool science fiction type blockbusters. Sometimes we get into legal trouble, but let us worry about that. It always works out in the end.
TRON LEGACY officially opens this Friday, December 17. We’ve reserved and prepaid two big theaters for the 3-D version of the movie, one in New York (470 seats) and one in San Francisco (404 seats). Movies in both locations start at 11:15 pm (EST or PST, depending on the theater) Thursday night, December 16.
Want to go? We’re releasing tickets starting right now. Click for details. → Read More
Here’s something I want for Christmas: Daft Punk edition TRON headphones! Made by Monster—I’m assuming quality similar to the Beats—these ear cans come with LED lights. A first for Monster, the LEDs will light up and mimic movements from the character’s costumes. → Read More
What we have here is Razer‘s official Tron mouse. It certainly looks like Tron. → Read More
Oakley and TRON, sitting in a tree, marketing synergistically. Oakley is “selling” $150 limited edition 3D glasses that are going to make your TRON:Legacy experience just about as amazing as it can be. That’s right: these are basically expensive versions of those cheap glasses you get at the theatre. Presumably the only time we’ll ever see these is when the stars wear them to the premiere on December 17 but it should be a fun cross-marketing opportunity. Presumably you could wear these again to upcoming Pixar films and maybe take it to Avatar 2 when it comes out in 2040. PR after the jump. → Read More
Prediction: Tron Legacy will be the best sci-fi movie of 2010 that doesn’t rhyme with preception. → Read More
The TRON gaming hardware we got exposed to at E3 are headed your way later this year, though you may be disappointed at the price. True TRON fanboys won’t buck at paying $150 for a keyboard and $100 for a mouse, but the average gamer might. → Read More
Ok, this is a couple of days old, but it’s too cool not to share. There’s a company that makes custom motorcycles, and they are currently building a total of 5 functioning TRON light cycles. They are expensive as hell because everything is custom of course, but you have to admit – pretty damn cool. → Read More
