Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition Straps On VR Goggles

Prothom-alo24.com Desk: For 2016, Time Inc.’s Sports Illustrated is taking its bikini franchise into an entirely new exotic location: virtual reality.

The SI Swimsuit edition this year will feature a selection of VR videos with three former cover models — Nina Agdal, Irina Shayk and Hannah Davis — shot on location in the Dominican Republic.

 

Beginning Monday, Feb. 15, the new issue will launch on newsstands nationwide in two versions: a premium edition that includes a pair of Google Cardboard-based VR googles priced at $9.99; and a regular edition for $7.99. At launch, the mag is offering 11 pieces of free and premium VR content with more to roll out over the next few weeks.

“Everybody wants to know what it’s like to be on the Swimsuit photo shoot. It’s the question I get all the time,” said Chris Hercik, SI Group’s creative director. “This year we are allowing everyone to be there in the Dominican Republic, with us and the models, to experience the Swimsuit issue in a completely immersive way.”

SI is distributing about 500,000 cardboard viewers in the newsstand copies (after the New York Times bundled about 1 million in a Sunday edition of the paper last October). SI’s subscribers can also order a pair of cardboard goggles for $2.99, but Hercik said the VR content will work with any Google Cardboard-based headset and mobile device.

In addition, the SI Swimsuit virtual-reality content will be viewable without any goggles, in a mobile 360-degree experience letting users see all angles of the video. “One problem with VR right now is scale,” Hercik acknowledged.

Sports Illustrated sees VR as more than just a gimmick: It’s betting that virtual reality will spur swimsuit fans to shell out a few extra bucks.

Home-delivery subscribers will have access to all the content as part of their subscription. Non-subscribers will have the option to purchase premium photo, video and VR packages for $1.99 each (which also eliminates ads) or buy all three for $4.99. At launch, the SI Swimsuit app will include five pieces of free VR content — an instructional video, a sizzle reel and one of each model. An additional six videos (two per model) will be available only to subscribers.

Lexus is the launch sponsor for SI Swimsuit’s foray into VR, but there are no ads in the virtual-reality experience itself. The magazine teamed with Wevr, a Venice, Calif.-based virtual-reality studio, to produce the VR content, in addition to the shoot’s still photography and video crews.

To promote the VR content, this week SI will host viewing stations at events in New York City and Miami. “We will have sand so they can feel like they are standing there on the beach,” Hercik said.

On Saturday, the mag revealed three different 2016 SI Swimsuit covers in a live special on TNT, produced in partnership with IMG. The three cover models are Hailey Clauson, Ashley Graham and UFC star Ronda Rousey.

The Swimsuit issue, which debuted in 1964, is completely unrelated to sports — but it remains Sports Illustrated’s single biggest and most lucrative property. Across all platforms, SI Swimsuit reaches more than 70 million adults, according to Time Inc. For the print edition, that includes 17 million men 18-34 and 16 million women (more than one-fourth of the total readership).

Source: Yahoo

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Chinese Movies Top Global Box Office Chart

Prothom-alo24.com Desk: Chinese-made films accounted for four of the world’s top five films over the past weekend as Middle Kingdom celebrated Chinese New Year by going to the movies.

While “Deadpool” took the global top spot according to Rentrak/Comscore, the following four slots were taken by “The Mermaid” with a $109 million weekend; “The Monkey King 2” with $38 million’ “From Vegas to Macau III” with $36.1 million and “Kung Fu Panda 3” with $34.2 million.

Over the 7 days to Sunday (Feb. 14) did even better. The Chinese quartet amassed more than half a billion in their home Chinese market – a total of $543 million that tops the North American 7 day record of $530 million set from Dec. 26 when “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was the top title.

In seven days since their head to head Monday (Feb. 8) release “The Mermaid” stunned with $275 million; “From Vegas to Macau III” hit the jackpot with $120 million; and “The Monkey King 2” climbed to $117 million, according to Chinese box office tracking service Ent Group.

The massive openings of the big three largely halted the progress of Chinese-U.S. co-production “Kung Fu Panda 3,” which had been released a ten days earlier (Jan. 29). After 17 days “Panda” stands on $127 million, just a shade ahead of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which pundits had expected “Panda” to soundly beat.

“The Monkey King 2” scored $10.7 million of its Chinese total on 279 IMAX screens, making it the highest opening week for a Chinese-language remastered film. (The previous record week had been $7.3 million by “Dragon Blade.”) It also enjoyed IMAX’s highest single day — $2.8 million — for a non-English-language film.

The Chinese New Year week was also a tremendous vindication of the the commercial film-making smarts of the Hong Kong film makers now working in mainland China. All three pictures were directed by Hong Kong talent and structured as co-ventures between China and Hong Kong.

Source: Yahoo

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Grammys 2016: Best, Worst, and Most Outrageously Dressed

Prothom-alo24.com Desk: Think of awards season as a family, and the Grammys would be the kooky aunt. 

While other red carpets see celebrities parading out their best, classiest looks, the Grammys pits stars against one another in a fight for the most outrageous ensemble. 

For attendees, the more naked your look is, the better (especially with Los Angeles currently experiencing a heat wave). 

 Add a crazy accessory, receive extra points. While it might not have been the chicest event, it was certainly exciting — from Taylor Swift in a crop top to Carrie Underwood’s bling, the Grammys brought the glam in the most original way possible.

Source: yahoo

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Justice Nozrul withdraws name from Mir Quasem's defence

 DHAKA:  Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, a recently retired judge of the High Court division, today withdrew his name from the defence team of convicted war criminal Mir Quasem Ali.

The appearance of Justice Nozrul, in favour of Jamaat leader against the state before the Apex Court on February 10, raised some eyebrows as after his retirement from the High Court on December 2015, he has been living in Judges' Complex and enjoying all the state facilities.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam drew attention of the Apex Court to the matter on that day, questioning his appearance against the state.

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha said Justice Nozrul took part in the hearing with his permission but "all, retired and current judges, should protect the dignity of the Judges' Complex."

Today, when the Appellate Division started hearing the appeal matter of Mir Quasem for the third days, Justice Nozrul said, "Two senior lawyers will conduct the case. I am sorry. I am withdrawing myself from the case."

Mir Quasem lodged appeal on November 30, 2014, challenging death sentence to him by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 for committing crimes against humanity in 1971.

The now defunct ICT-2 on November 2, 2014, sentenced Quasem to death as it found him guilty of 10 charges out of total 14.

Quasem, known as 'Bangali Khan' during 1971, in his appeal sought

acquittal from the charges citing 181 grounds.

Source: BSS

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75th birthday of Dr Wazed Miah tomorrow

DHAKA:  The 75th birthday of eminent nuclear scientist and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's husband Dr MA Wazed Miah tomorrow.

On February 16 in 1942, Wazed Miah popularly and affectionately called "Sudha Miah" was born at a respectable Muslim family of Laldighi Fatehpur village under Pirganj upazila in Rangpur district. He breathed his last on May 9 in 2009.

Different political parties and socio-cultural bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes in the capital city and Rangpur in observance of his birthday.

On the occasion, Dr MA Wazed Miah Memorial Foundation will organise a discussion at the VIP Lounge of the Jatiya Press Club at 3 pm tomorrow (Tuesday).

Awami League presidium member and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim will attend the function as the chief guest.

Besides, Sadhana Sangsad will organise a discussion followed by a cultural show at the auditorium of Biswa Sahitya Kendra at Bangla Motor in the city at 3 pm.

Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, Prime Minister's Health Affairs Adviser Dr Syed Modasser Ali and vice-president of the World Peace Council Mozaffar Hossain Paltu will attend the function as discussants, among others.

BSS Rangpur Correspondent reports: Dr Wazed Smriti Sangsad, Pirganj Upazila Awami League, allies in the grand alliance and Awami League's associate bodies have organised programmes including memorial meetings, recitation of Fateha, visit to his grave, milad mahfil and distribution of cooked foods among poor in Rangpur city and his birth place at Laldighi Fatehpur to mark his birthday.

The programmes include visit to his grave at Laldighi Fatehpur village and placing of wreaths at his grave at 9 am, milad mahfil at Karamatia Jame Mosque and offering of special prayers seeking eternal peace of his departed soul after Zohr prayers and holding of a discussion at Rangpur Town Hall and distribution of prizes among the winners of a child-juvenile competition at 6 pm.

Source: BSS

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PDPP ready for Dhaka-Mawa-Khulna four lane: Minister

Dhaka: The government has prepared the Preliminary Development Project Proforma (PDPP) to construct Dhaka-Mawa-Khulna highway into four lane on availability of foreign aid.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told this in the parliament, while replying to a starred question from opposition bench member Kazi Feroz Rashid today.

"The Feasibility Study and Detail Design under Technical Assistance for Sub-Regional Road Transport Project Preparatory Facility (SRTPPF) has been finalized," he said.

Besides, the government would upgrade 55-kilometre into four-lane from Jatrabari to Mawa approach road to the Padma Brdige and after approach road to the Padma Brdige to Bhanga at a cost of Taka 5,000 crore, the minister said.

He informed the House that the 55-kilometre four-lane project from Jatrabari to Bhanga is now awaiting for approval, adding, "The construction work would be done by the Bangladesh Army.

Source: BSS

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Campaign for biometric registration of SIM begins

DHAKA:- Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury today appealed to all to help biometric registration of all SIMs and RUIMs.

"There are 13 crore SIMs in the country and it will be difficult for the Post and Telecommunication Ministry alone to complete the task," she said, and added that if the biometric registration could be done it would reduce crimes to a large extent.

Considering the huge benefits to society, she called upon all legislators to help the ministry complete the task.

The speaker was speaking at a function at the Jatiya Sangsad to inaugurate the programme for biometric registration of SIMs.

The function was chaired by state minister for posts and telecommunication Tarana Halim.

Source: BSS

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