International rollout for Disney+

Disney+ launches 12th November in the US and the House of Mouse's nascent streaming service will also be available in selected international markets in fall 2019. Netherlands and Canada on 12th November and Australia and New Zealand 19th November.

That'll be great news for fellow Star Wars fans living in those countries as they'll get to see the exclusive 8-part live-action series The Mandalorian this holiday season.

Disney+ will be available on the following devices at launch:

Apple TV
Android mobile devices
Android TV
Chromecast
Desktop web browsers
iPad
iPhone
PlayStation 4 (PS4)
Roku streaming players
Roku TV
Xbox One

There's no news regarding a UK launch. Again, it's worth reiterating DisneyLife has been available since 2015, on a range of devices, and there's a pre-existing first-run deal with Sky that is possibly holding things up. However, there's speculation pointing to an early 2020 launch. So, Avengers: Endgame may be the last Marvel Studios' film to premiere on Sky Cinema on Christmas Day.

Do you intend to subscribe to Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Play the Star Wars Battlefront Beta this October

Publisher EA has announced a Star Wars Battlefront Beta for early October.

"Coming early October to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and on Origin for PC, the Star Wars Battlefront Beta* is a technical test and will feature Walker Assault on Hoth, a 40-player multiplayer battle featuring Rebels and the Empire. Walker Assault will also give you the chance to play as two of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars™ universe: Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The Beta will also feature our Survival Mission on Tatooine, where you and a Rebel friend must fight back waves of Imperial forces."

The multiplayer beta will be open to everyone.

A companion app for iOS and Android devices will be available prior to the release of Star Wars Battlefront on 17th November.

Excited for Star Wars Battlefront? Let me know in the comments below.

This is the app Star Wars fans are looking for...

All Star Wars, all the time, anywhere? There's an app for that.

The Star Wars app is your official mobile connection to a galaxy far, far away. With a dynamic interface, the Star Wars app immerses you in breaking news, rich media, social updates, special events, and interactive features.



The new app is available for Android and iOS devices. Download now.

NOW TV on Google Chromecast as ITV Encore debuts

NOW TV has quietly updated its iOS and Android apps with support for Google Chromecast. The first I learnt of this was when updating NOW TV for iPad earlier today.

This doesn't displace the NOW TV Box (based on a Roku LT) for streaming catch up services, but does add another option for subscribers who own a Chromecast device.

@blindpete has pointed out Chromecast will use one of only four device slots linked to your NOW TV account.

ITV Encore is now available to Entertainment Month Pass subscribers at no additional cost! You'll be able to watch Poirot, Prey, The Widower, Monroe, Mr. Selfridge S2 and the final series of Whitechapel.

Why not sign up for an Entertainment Month Pass and get a £5 Asda voucher? New subscribers only. Offer good through 30th September.

Star Wars: Tiny Death Star launches first in Oz

Disney has begun rolling out its first Star Wars game since acquiring Lucasfilm.

Tiny Death Star, by Tiny Tower developer Nimblebit, is available for Android and iOS devices in Australia. The game is similar to Tiny Tower in that you must earn coins (free-to-play with divisive, but optional, in-app purchases) in order to construct your very own Death Star as Darth Vader.

Hopefully it won't be too long before Tiny Death Star is launched internationally.

Join the Pork Side in Angry Birds Star Wars II

Rovio will demonstrate its first sequel to Angry Birds Star Wars during this week's Comic-Con. It's based on the prequels, but there's no confirmation on Jar Jar Binks making an appearance...

In a nod to Activision's Skylanders and the upcoming Disney Infinity. Rovio is joining forces with, fellow Star Wars licensee, Hasbro to bring interactive toys to the franchise following last year's standalone tie-in with the Pawtucket-based company.



Players will be able to buy playsets called Telepods, which can be scanned with your iOS and Android devices to "teleport" that character directly into the game.

"Some of the most amazing character additions are versions of young Anakin, Mace Windu and Darth Maul," said Rovio's executive vice president of games Jami Laes in a statement.

"Hasbro's Telepods technology also provides a great way to extend the experience beyond the app and bring a whole new dimension to the gameplay."

More than 30 toy characters will be available when the game launches on September 19th. Also, look out for Return of the Jedi in the original Angry Birds Star Wars! Excited?

Store Wars: Apple vs Android

This made me smile. Apple and Android locked in a deadly lightsabre duel for dominance of the mobile space. Darth Mac! Surely a mistake?

Hat tip @HokusBloke.

Xperia Play the PlayStation phone

February 13, 2011, Barcelona, Spain – Sony Ericsson today announced the game-changing Xperia Play, the latest phone in its Xperia range of Android-based smartphones.

Xperia Play delivers the smartphone functionality that the most serious power users could need, teamed with the immersive gaming experience that any gamer would want.

In portrait mode, the Android smartphone offers all the benefits that users have come to expect from Sony Ericsson’s existing range of Xperia smartphones with best-in-class entertainment experiences, a great 5 megapixel camera, a brilliant 4” multi-touch screen and great social networking features.

However, slide out the gaming control and users enter a new world of immersive mobile gaming. The slide out game pad reveals a digital D pad, two analogue touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation icons: circle, cross, square and triangle. Qualcomm’s optimized Snapdragon processor with a 1Ghz CPU and embedded Adreno GPU graphics processor deliver silky smooth 60fps play-back 3D mobile gaming and Web browsing with minimal power consumption so Xperia Play users can enjoy long hours of battery life and game time.

Android mini collectibles series 01

Vinyl artist Andrew Bell has teamed up with Google to produce this cool collection of vinyl figures based on the Android mobile platform.

Despite my Apple allegiance, an Android would look great, in ceramic white, on my desktop.

For further information on stockists and availability visit here.

3 mobile should consider a mascot too! MiFi from 3 looks like WALL-E!