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Source: Penske Media / Getty / Whoopi Goldberg
BLKFAM, another streaming service, is entering the chat, and this one is all Black, has a Black owner, strictly for Black folks, and boasts Whoopi Goldberg as an investor.
The movie and television streaming space got a bit more crowded with the launch of BLKFAM, a new free, ad-supported streaming service created by digital marketer Larry Adams.
The View host and legendary comedian/actress is on board as an equity partner in the streamer, boasting that it is “the first and only Black-owned, Black-focused family streaming platform.”
Coming out of the gate, BLKFAM is offering potential customers access to its content library containing 20+ syndicated series, 1,000+ hours of new animation titles, and introducing new animated characters of color plus diverse gender experiences.
For those into music, don’t worry. BLKFAM has got you with hundreds of hours of original music-driven content.
As for the content, Deadline reports ten new original live-action and animated series are currently in development that premiere on the streamer during its first year. There will also be investigative journalism and news shows, fitness and wellness series, reality shows, and a Black History program for customers to enjoy.
Per Deadline:
Black culture and content is so often stereotyped, siloed or written off – so I wanted to create a platform where my kids and I can be entertained without having to face those same daily biases,” said Adams.
Goldberg has signed on as equity partner alongside Tom Leonardis, president of her entertainment venture Whoop, Inc., and will be steering the creative development of various programming exclusive to the platform.
“I am honored to partner with BLKFAM to assist in the creative direction of curated diverse content – for Black culture to be brought to broader audiences,” the EGOT winner said.
Add BLKFAM to the list of entertainment hubs for Black television viewers, including names like BET+, Tubi, ALLBLK, and a particular one that will remain nameless.
Will you be giving BLKFAM a chance? Let us know.
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / PlayStation
You can add PlayStation to the still-growing list of companies in the gaming industry laying off workers.
While gamers will tell you the last three years in gaming have been phenomenal, thanks mainly to high-quality video games, the previous two years have not been great for people making them.
Heading into 2024, many hoped the video game layoffs would cool following 2023, but that’s not the case, and it seems this year is on pace to make 2023 blush.
PlayStation is laying off 900 Sony Interactive Entertainment employees, or 8% of PlayStation’s global workforce, a memo from outgoing PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan revealed.
The cuts will affect employees across the Americas, EMEA, Japan, and APAC regions and will see several studios shut down, including PlayStation’s London Studio.
“These are incredibly talented people who have been part of our success, and we are very grateful for their contributions,” Ryan said in the memo, shared by Variety. “However, the industry has changed immensely, and we need to future ready ourselves to set the business up for what lies ahead. We need to deliver on expectations from developers and gamers and continue to propel future technology in gaming, so we took a step back to ensure we are set up to continue bringing the best gaming experiences to the community.”
Social Media Reacts
As expected, social media is not feeling the news and is pointing to the massive game sales from the likes of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. However, the studio behind the game, Insomniac Games, is still experiencing layoffs.
One user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote, “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is PlayStation’s fastest-selling first-party game ever, and just crossed 10 million copies sold earlier this month…and yet, Insomniac Games is going through layoffs. This industry is not okay.”
Isabel Foley, the now former associate art manager for the now-shuttered London Studio, expressed her sadness after being a victim of the layoffs while putting out feelers in hopes of landing a new job.
“I have nothing to say. I’m in tears. I am looking for a new job I guess so please reach out. I’m numb and once settled I may have more to say.”
Foley continued, “I am really grateful for all your well wishes already, I will get back to you but my god this is fresh. I am looking for roles in external development/ art management and production. Thank you all. Me and LS will get through this.”
Damn.
Head here to read the “difficult news” about Sony’s workforce.
You can see more reactions to the horrible news in the gallery below.
1. So terrible
3. Some context
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / Elon Musk / XMail
Elon Musk, a.k.a. bootleg Phony Stark, isn’t done with dumb ideas. The Tesla chief now wants to compete with Google’s popular email client, Gmail, with a new product called XMail.
Musk seems to have a serious one-sided beef with Google, and we wonder if the folks there know about it. First, he drops his version of ChatGPT called “Grok.”
He has also been calling out the Alpahabet Inc. owned company’s search tool, calling its AI tool Gemini “insane” and “racist.” He claims he spoke with a “senior exec” who assured him the company will “take immediate action to fix the racial and gender bias in Gemini.”
Now, he claims he is dropping his own email client called XMail.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Musk revealed “it’s coming” when replying to X Engineer Nate McGrady asking, “When are we making XMail?”
We all know Musk is full of you-know-what and tends to make outlandish claims all the time, but he could be serious about this XMail thing.
If he thinks he will be able to compete with Google’s Gmail immediately, he’s definitely going to have some serious work cut out for him.
Demand Sage claims that Gmail currently has 1.8 billion active users globally, and we don’t see XMail coming anywhere near that.
Yeah, so good luck with peeling off longtime Gmail users and luring them to “XMail” if he decides to create it.
We truly believe Elon Musk is just talking out the side of his a** like he does with everything else.
You can see more reactions to the possibitly of XMail arriving in the gallery below.
1. Accurate
3. Howling
4. Sure Jan
5. This guy gets it.
6. Excellent question
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Sonos is making it easier to enjoy your favorite songs and playlists with a major tech deal on its Move smart […]
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Source: Variety / Getty / Eminem
Eminem isn’t team iPhone or Android. His allegiance still lies with the iconic Blackberry smartphone.
The iconic Detroit rapper isn’t on the scene much, and his presence on social media isn’t as active as most celebrities, possibly due to the device he is using.
DJ Whoo Kid shared a candid and very rare photo moment featuring Slim Shady, and in it, the “My Name Is” rapper can be seen using a Blackberry device.
Yup, that same Blackberry device that the company maker of the same name decided it was time to stop making in a world dominated by phones that no longer have keypads.
In the caption for the Thursday Instagram post featuring Eminem and Denaun Porter for the WHOO’s House Podcast, he confirmed the rapper still uses a Blackberry while making a joke about Mathers’ Mom’s Spaghetti restaurant.
“Eminem was trying to figure out who ate his last mom’s spaghetti box in the dressing room,” Whoo Kid wrote. “I was like @momsspaghettidetroit I told him it was @iamdenaun. and by the way yes. He still has a blackberry phone.”
Did Whoo Kid Respond To Mr. Chimetime?
Whoo Kid’s mention of Mom’s Spaghetti could be a response to popular food blogger Mr. Chimetime slamming Em’s restaurant.
“This is by far the worst spaghetti that I have ever had in my entire life of eating spaghetti,” Chime said in a video. His harsh critique of the spaghetti continues, “When I tasted this, it kinda reminds me of middle school cafeteria meat. But I’m a keep it 100 with you, middle school cafeteria meat is better than this bullsh*t, bruh.”
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Maybe Eminem was typing up a diss track for Mr. Chimetime on his Blackberry. We wonder if he has other raps on there as well.
One can only wonder.
We’re not mad at Eminem for being loyal to his Blackberry device because BBM was popping, the keypad was amazing, and the email app was exceptionally clutch.
So we get it.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. As your most-used device — and something people tend to check 96 times a day (or once every 10 minutes), according […]
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Source: Obsidian Entertainment / Xbox / Grounded / Nintendo Direct
The video game world, specifically the Xbox community, was in shambles after leaks about the company’s shift in business direction hit the timeline. Nintendo confirmed the first two games that were Xbox exclusives coming to the Nintendo Switch platform.
While many were still sleeping, a Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase focused on games from studios not under the Nintendo umbrella and finally confirmed Xbox’s worst-kept secret.
Obsidian Entertainment’s narrative adventure game Pentiment will be coming to the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 4 and PS5 on February 22.
Also coming from Obsidian Entertainment is the co-op survival adventure game that takes its cues from the film Honey I Shrunk The Kids is Grounded.
Since its launch on the Xbox consoles and PC, there have been over 20 million players, and that base will likely expand when Grounded launches on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation consoles on April 16 and will feature crossplay.
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There were plenty of other announcements from the Nintendo Direct as well.
Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection is also coming back, allowing fans of the franchise to play modernized versions of 2004’s Star Wars Battlefront and the 2005 sequel Star Wars Battlefront II both online and offline.
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Another game shown during the direct was Contra: Operation Gulaga, a complete reimaging of the 80s classic Nintendo game featuring co-op gameplay, arriving on the Nintendo Switch console on March 12.
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But wait, there’s more. You can see the other announcements, including Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, World of Goo 2, Penny’s Big Breakaway 2, and more, in the gallery below.
1. Suika Game – Multiplayer Mode
A new Multi-Player mode has been added to Suika Game! You can enjoy it right now with your nearby loved ones on Nintendo Switch!
2. Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!
The Pocket Card Jockey so well-received on Nintendo 3DS has galloped its way onto Nintendo Switch, and it’s more fun than ever! Easy to learn, but filled with surprising depth, you’ll put together the best hands you can to help your horses take home the gold!
Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! is available now on Nintendo Switch.
3. Pepper Grinder
Pepper Grinder, an action-packed drill-bit digventure from independent developer Ahr Ech and Devolver Digital, is coming to Nintendo Switch March 28. Play the free demo now!
Evoking classic platformers, Pepper – a seafaring soul with a passion for prospecting – must spin up her trusty sidearm to reclaim what nefarious Narlings stole. Armed with Grinder, Pepper burrows through terrain & water, controls machines, and pulverises all enemies blocking the way towards recovering her missing fortune – with interest!
4. Another Crab’s Treasure
Another Crab’s Treasure is a soulslike adventure set in a crumbling underwater world plagued by a mysterious curse. As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to defend yourself from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell, and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean.
This crabby soulslike washes ashore April 25.
5. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
Join Mickey Mouse on his magical quest and get ready to wield the power of paint and thinner once again.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is coming to Nintendo Switch later this year!
6. Another Crab’s Treasure
Another Crab’s Treasure is a soulslike adventure set in a crumbling underwater world plagued by a mysterious curse. As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to defend yourself from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell, and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean.
This crabby soulslike washes ashore April 25.
7. SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY!
Hey, New Kid! Grab up to three friends, in this four-player co-op, and battle your way through the snow-piled town of South Park to celebrate the most magical day in any young child’s life – a snow day!
Equip and upgrade devastating melee and ranged weapons. Deploy special abilities and powers that will bring hordes of enemies and epic bosses to their knees.
SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY! is coming to Nintendo Switch March 26.
8. Penny’s Big Breakaway
Ready, Set YO! – Join Penny & Yo-Yo for a kinetic 3D-platformer adventure like no other! Get ready to take the stage in Penny’s Big Breakaway!
Showcase your catalog of tricks in this easy-to-play, difficult-to-master 3-D platforming game.
Penny’s Big Breakaway is available now on Nintendo Switch!
9. World of Goo 2 – Trailer #1
World of Goo 2 is arriving for Nintendo Switch in 2024!
Now with more Goo! Use living liquid creatures to build bridges, grow towers, terraform terrain, and more in a beautiful, dangerous, and evolving world when World of Goo 2 arrives 5/23.
10. NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64 – February 2024 Game Updates
Five more classic games from Rare – including Killer Instinct and Blast Corps – are now available through Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack!
11. Endless Ocean Luminous – Announcement Trailer
Descend into an underwater world to explore and discover in Endless Ocean Luminous, arriving only on Nintendo Switch May 2nd.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Bringing your personality and creativity to social media (especially in the form of a vlog) requires more than just a great idea — you also have to make sure you have the right equipment, such as a recording booth or studio headphones. Investing in a quality camera for vlogging is just one of the ways you can help set yourself up for success, and with a slew of tech deals out there, you can even do it without breaking the bank.
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Digital content creation has become all the rage as influencers take over our social feeds. If you’re aspiring to create your own content or are looking to improve the equipment you already have, the best camera for vlogging will come with video-capturing features and more. You’ll want to consider what type of content you’re looking to capture, whether it’s travel, beauty, music or lifestyle, as it’ll determine what accessories and features you require.
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If you plan to shoot footage of yourself sitting and talking, it may be worth getting a bundle with a tripod to avoid having to hunt for a flat surface that’ll balance your camera as well as be tall enough to capture you in the frame.
No matter what your budget or needs are, Billboard Shopping went straight to the reviews to find the bestselling and most popular cameras for content creation. Rather than spend hours researching and comparing different models, we did the work for you and created a list of worthy cameras to get you crafting your next video.
Keep reading to check out our picks.
Best Cameras for Vlogging
Best Buy
DJI Osmo Action 4 4K Action Camera Adventure Bundle
$399.99
$499.99
20% off
Take advantage of $100 off the DJI Osmo Action 4 Adventure Combo Bundle that’ll help you save money while capturing your best content. The bundle includes a battery that’s deep-freeze proof and able to withstand temperatures as low as -4 degrees, a stabilizing rod and mount to keep your camera in place.
The bundle has built up a 4.8 star rating with one shopper raving about how “It’s become a very important tool in my bag of capturing footage that most normal cameras can’t without extra gear.”
Amazon
Sony ZV-1 Compact Digital Vlogging 4K Camera
$498
$499.99
This Sony digital camera may be more of a splurge, but it’s totally worth it as it comes with everything you could possibly need to get started — and for the lowest price its been in 30 days! Along with the camera, you’ll receive a compact tripod, carrying case, lens blower, lens and sensor brush, lens tissue paper, a microfiber cloth, Paint Pro Shop software, a 10 SDXC memory card and more. A directional 3-capsule microphone is also included and will help minimize background noise to capture only your voice. Plus, the image stabilization will help minimize any shakiness in your footage.
Verified Amazon reviewers are praising the camera’s beginner-friendly qualities — especially for first-time users. “This was my first ever camera and let me tell you, this one is amazing!” one shopper wrote. “I used this to record short videos and take pictures for my trip overseas and they all captured exactly how those moments felt in person. The best camera for taking on the go, is lightweight and easy to use. The automatic feature that adjusts the camera setting based on the environment (sunlight, darkness, etc) to take beautiful videos and pictures. Would recommend it for beginners starting vlogs or capturing memories!”
Best Buy
GoPro HERO11 Black Action Camera Bundle
Travel vloggers can take advantage of GoPro’s camera bundle, which comes almost everything your could need to take your content on the go. It’s designed with a front and back LCD camera to assist in framing your shots as well as stabilization capabilities and the ability create wide cinematic shots or extra-tall vertical shots.
Best Buy reviewers have given the device a 4.7 star rating and stating that “If you are looking for an action camera that can capture stunning videos and photos in any situation, and also share them easily on your favorite platforms, the GoPro HERO11 is the perfect choice for you.”
Walmart
NBD Digital Camera 48MP 4K Video Camera
$134.96
$499
73% off
If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly camera with all the bells and whistles of a luxe model, NBD’s digital camera is the one to go for. It comes with a full content creation kit including an attachable microphone, lens, batteries, carrying bag and more. The textured grip on the side of the camera will also decrease your risk of dropping it while the 4K resolution and wide-angle makes sure you capture every moment.
One reviewer even loves how durable it is, especially for travel, saying, “This camera is built to last with a sturdy body that can withstand drops and bumps. You can take it on all your adventures without worrying about damage.”
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best laptop deals, over-ear headphones and TV deals.
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Source: Sony / PlayStation 5 / PS5 Pro
Xbox Series S and X won’t be the only consoles possibly getting a refresh this year; the PS5 Pro could also arrive in 2024.
Analysts are telling CNBC that Sony will likely drop a console refresh this year after cutting the forecast for the flagship PS5 console.
The website claims the PS5 Pro could help boost interest in the console while also offering gamers a more powerful console before the arrival of Grand Theft Auto VI in 2025, which we all know will push consoles to the limit.
Per CNBC:
First released in November 2020, Sony’s PlayStation 5 is now more than 3 years old. The Japanese gaming giant cut its forecast last week for PS5 sales for the fiscal year ending in March from 25 million units to 21 million units. An executive said last week during the company’s earnings call that Sony is expecting a “gradual decline” in unit sales from the next fiscal year.
When this has happened in past console cycles, gaming firms have looked to bring out a refreshed piece of hardware to reinviograte sales. For example, Sony launched a “Pro” version of the PlayStation 4, the previous generation console, around three years after the PS4 was initially launched.
Analysts are now expecting a PlayStation 5 Pro from Sony.
Speaking with CNBC, Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based games consultancy Kantan Games said, “There seems to be a broad consensus in the game industry that Sony is indeed preparing a launch of a PS5 Pro in the second half of 2024. And Sony will want to make sure to have a great piece of hardware ready when GTA VI hits in 2025, a launch that will be a shot in the arm for the entire gaming industry.”
Other Console Refreshes Coming Soon
We shall see. Sony recently dropped PS5 Slim with some slightly improved specs, Nintendo’s Switch 2 is reportedly coming next year, and we could see a new Xbox Series X, code-named Brooklin, arriving sometime this year as well.
As always, HHW Gaming will keep you posted with any new developments.