Autoblog

"Get some rest Pam, you look tired." I've been saying that line to my girlfriend ever since I saw The Bourne Ultimatum in the theater, and I can't wait to hear it again at home when I get the movie on DVD for Christmas. Are you afraid Santa or a disgruntled spouse won't let you watch Jason Bourne tear up the Big Apple on your flat screen this Christmas? We've got you covered. The prize for Day 2 of Autoblog's 2007 Holiday Sweepstakes is The Bourne Ultimatum DVD, and we've got 5 copies to give away. This movie is worth a watch for the car chase alone, and the DVD also includes a special feature on how the chase was done.

How to Enter: Just leave a single comment on this post (if you leave two or more, all will be disqualified).

Simple Rules:

• 5 winners will be randomly selected at 12:00PM EST Wednesday, 12/12/07
  
• You may enter today's sweepstakes only once
• Only residents of the United States are eligible
  
• You must be at least 18 to enter

Click here to view official rules and come back every day this week around noon to see what else we're giving away. Happy Holidays from your friendly neighborhood Autoblog!

NOTE: We have already randomly chosen 10 winners for yesterday's sweepstakes and will be in contact with them shortly. Feel free to enter today's sweepstakes if you're eligible, and if you happen to be one of yesterday's winners, your entry in today's sweepstakes will automatically not count.

Here's what you're doing tonight. You're going to your local big box retailer and walking out with a copy of Michael Bay's CG-extravaganza that was one of last summer's coolest ways to waste a couple hours: Transformers. We've all been inundated by the ad blitz, and now the DVD and HD-DVD are in stores now, still warm and offgassing from the pressing plant. You should do your homework to make sure you get the exclusive edition you want, though. Target's got the coolest, a DVD case that actually transforms into Optimus Prime, but Wal-Mart's got the prequel bundled with the film. If you're really hardcore and you need to have both, you'll end up with two copies of the feature. Or you could just go to Best Buy and get the two action figures and be done with it.

If you're in the Hollywood area, you can actually hang out with Bumblebee as he stands guard over the West Hollywood Gateway shopping center. It's an actual prop from the movie, and we think it's a brilliant idea to send Autobots out to promote their own DVD. After all, the life of unemployed Transformer can be tough (see video after the jump). The Hollywood Bumblebee is huge, you'd need Ironhide to tow it around, but you can also enter to win a Bumblebee Camaro when the model goes live in 2009.

[Source: Cinematical, Slashfilm, FilmSchoolRejects]

Well, there goes 20 bucks. On October 16, Transformers arrives on DVD, and multiple versions will hit retailers simultaneously. In addition to the single-disc release, a two-disc, extras-laden Special Edition and an even more special 2-disc HD-DVD Special Edition will go on sale.

In addition to director's commentary from Michael Bay (Bay's always entertaining in this regard), the second disc will be loaded with behind-the-scenes stuff, including a casting backgrounder, a doc on how the Bay worked with Hasbro to, ahem, transform the toy line into a live-action feature film, a piece on the military training the actors underwent to prepare for their roles and much more. We have a feeling that you won't be the least bit surprised to learn that theres also an informercial featurette on Bay's collaboration with Chevy and the GM design team as well.

Suffice to say, we'll be stopping at the local Wal-Get Circuit Buy Mart on the way home from work on 10/16. Maybe we should take the next day off, too. Follow the jump for the full specs on the release.

[Source: Ciinematical]

That there will be a Transformers 2 is a foregone conclusion. The film's $222,000,000 domestic box-office tally in under two weeks makes the sequel a lock to happen. Tack another $100,000,000 on if you want to factor in the foreign b/o, too. Before a sequel happens, however, there will be the DVD, and we expect the TF disc to be loaded with extras. (Bay's films in the past have spawned outstanding, content-laden special-edition home versions.) Our Weblogs, Inc. pals over at Cinematical report that Mark Ryan, who voices everyone's favorite Camaro, told an interviewer, "I recently recorded more material for the DVD release of the film. It has to do with the prequel that will set up the second film."

Speculation continues after the jump.

[Source: Cinematical]

It's better than Lee Iacocca saying something like "fo shizzle." Chrysler has joined up with Nickelodeon to shill their newly revamped minivans. With the addition of Sirius TV to beam content off the birds and into the backseat, it makes perfect sense for the two to team up. I'd rather interact with our child, but some parents just need a break from their little monsters, and video screens in the back seem to shut them up for a while. Cartoon characters have been used to sell cars before; even the Peanuts gang promoted Ford Falcons back in the '60s. Perhaps there will be some kind of Joe Camel effect, and the kids will specifically request that mom and pop take a ride at the Chrysler dealer when it's time for a new Wagon Queen Family Truckster. The new Chrysler minis are cool, with their video systems, flexible swivelly seats and if patriotism appeals to you, they're the last US brand in the game.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Click image to enlarge

If you follow the "read" link your eyes and ears will be under full assault as BMW hypes up a soon to be released gizmo. What is it? We're a bit baffled, but according to the trailer it has the ability to play MP3s, DVDs and CDs, has USB and Bluetooth connectivity, can recognize voice commands and has a 65,000 color LCD. But alas, no nav.

We're still a trifle confused as to why an automaker would begin producing personal electronics, but then again, BMW has a tendency to throw the occasional curve ball, with its products and marketing tactics.

Until it's released in Mid-January 2007, we're just going to call it the "Highend," since that's the only discernable thing we could see in the URL.

A few more images are posted after the jump.

The high-definition format wars are currently raging. HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray. The conflict reeks of Beta-Max vs. VHS, although at this point no one is sure which format will survive to become the standard. Regardless of which format prevails, it's only a matter of time before it ends up in a car, and Panasonic recently hinted that it's working on mobile entertainment applications for its Blu-ray technology.

The fact that Blu-ray can support 1080p resolution will be completely lost on the 7- to 10-inch LCD screens embedded in the backs of our headrests, but it will allow Blu-ray consumers to play their discs on the go, as well as record an obscene number of Sponge Bob episodes on one disc. Technoride suggests that before Blu-ray reaches car interiors, though, the hardware will need to be ruggedized to handle a jarring commute.

[Source: Technoride]

We know many Autoblog readers were among the 7,105 people who signed the petition to persuade Warner Home Video to release this classic movie on DVD. Well, we're a little late in posting this update, but in case you haven't heard, your efforts have been rewarded! Warner announced in April that a U.S. release for a two-disc 40th anniversary special edition of John Frankenheimer's Academy Award winning movie is scheduled for July 11.

The re-release is fully restored with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, in 16x9 widescreen format, and includes several special feature documentaries on the making of the movie.

The movie predates the era of computer-generated special effects, and all the racing footage was shot "live," with many of the cars driven by real-life grand prix racers. Many legendary racers also appear in cameo roles in the film, including Graham Hill, Richie Ginther, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, and Phil Hill, and hardcore fans will have fun playing "spot the famous racer" while watching the movie.

Kudos to The Motorsport Collector in Downers Grove, Illinois for spearheading the petition drive. Reward their efforts by pre-ordering the DVD at their website: www.PutGrandPrixonDVD.com. (Amazon is also accepting advance orders.) We're warming up the Autoblog Theatre and getting the popcorn ready!

[via the ekartingnews.com forum]

We feel Engadget's pain.

The Vique GPS sounds like the perfect multimedia entertainment system for a tech-oriented driver and his or her passengers. Got music? Vique supports MP3, WMA, and OGG formats. Same with DVDs and DivX if you're willing to risk watching movies and driving simultaneously. A USB port is also available to expand those options with, for example, a laptop. And GPS is available... but with a catch. The Vique GPS is marketed strictly for the South Korean market, so you need to be stalking the streets of Seoul with this thing.

[Source: Engadget]

Bill Howard, editor of TechnoRide, offers advice on either installing a iPod adapter, DVD players, etc., or having such devices installed in your vehicle. He points out that:

• Installations mean squeaks and rattles. Exception: Yugos, Fiats, and any British car older than an American Idol candidate - fit and finish can only be improved here.
• Keep your lines short or keep it digital.
• Is that how you'll really use it? You don't want that navigation monitor to swing in front of your vents when it's 100 degrees Fahrenheit inside the car.
• Get the best techs possible on your side. The cliche, 'you get what you pay for' applies in accessory installations.
• Hard-wire your satellite console. Spend the extra cash on a tech to hide all that wiring.
• Check with Crutchfield. This is not an advertisement.
• Get the best audio-in quality. See 'Get the best tech...' above.
• Line-in is good, radio display is better.
• Replace the radio. Remember, though, you probably won't be wearing those thick winter gloves again.

Finally, Howard reminds you that vehicle accessories, unlike home additions or improvements, do not  jack up that vehicle's value. Details on each step above can be found at the link. What additional pointers would you give to would-be mods?

[Source: TechnoRide]