PC Tech World: Thrones

Saturday, March 23, 2013

A Game of Thrones Android app guides you through the world of Westeros and beyond

Game of Thrones Android app guides you through the televised world of Westeros and beyond

Perhaps the second screen experience for HBO megahit show A Game of Thrones provided through Xbox 360's SmartGlass functionality and HBO Go's iPad app isn't enough for you? And maybe you want a bit more of a George R. R. Martin touch to your Game of Thrones book companions? This week's release of "A Game of Ice and Fire" for Android -- the previously iOS-only Game of Thrones app that acts as an "official guide" to the series and its myriad characters / relationships / political struggles / etc. -- is clearly for you. And yes, it goes beyond what just the show covers; it can even be customized for spoilers based around how far you are.

The initial cost to download is nothing and comes with several characters as well as a companion for the first book, but for books two through five you'll need to grab the upgrades: $1 apiece, or $5 for those four plus an additional "InfoPack" which would otherwise cost $2 by itself. Those $2 "InfoPacks" include, "new characters and places and additional data and background info" (whatever that means), and more are expected in the future. The third season of A Game of Thrones kicks off on March 31st, and wouldn't you know it, this app is perfectly timed to accompany it. That's what we call synergy. Head to the Google Play link in the source link and grab it for free, or risk *paying the iron price.

*Thankfully, in this case, that price is just potentially looking ignorant about A Game of Thrones. So ... not that big of a thing, actually.

Via: Mashable

Source: Google Play

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Game of Thrones tops illegal download charts in 2012

Tyrion Lannister's antics have proved popular among illegal downloaders

An episode of the epic, mythical drama Game of Thrones was the most torrented show of 2012, according to new figures compiled by Torrentfreak.

The site said that the episode, from season two of the HBO-produced show, had been illegally downloaded 4,280,000 times around the world on BitTorrent and across the various other torrent portals.

That figure is slightly higher than the estimated television viewing audience in the United States of 4,200,000.

Game of Thrones, based on the George R.R. Martin novels, takes the distinction from last year's winner Dexter, which was still in second place in 2012.

Family-friendly network TV comedies, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother were next and AMC's hugely acclaimed Breaking Bad rounded out the top five with 2,580,000 downloads.

The site claims that 80 per cent of all illegal downloads came from outside the United States as users struggle to wait the extra time it often takes to watch their favourite shows.

UK viewers are, in fact, able to watch Game of Thrones, just one day after it airs in the United States, while Australian viewers have to desperately avoid spoilers for an entire week.

However, the site pointed out that hundreds of thousands of US-based illegal downloads took place due to the extra expense of subscriptions to HBO (Game of Thrones) and Dexter (Showtime) beyond a regular cable TV subscription.

HBO Go allows users to catch up with the full range of shows at any time, but it is only available to those who're accessing the channels as part of their regular subscription package.

Via Torrent Freak