Back in March, Trek.fm brought you news that Google was looking to Trek-ify their search experience by letting you talk to the site, rather than having to type into the search box. Last night, the feature went live and is usable on the latest version of Google Chrome, Chrome 27.

To use the feature, click on the microphone icon and ask a question. Your words will appear and Google will respond with the answer. If your second query is related to the first, there is no need to clarify who or what you’re searching — the feature can intelligently link the two queries even if you use pronouns or other conversational shortcuts.

Source: Silicon Valley Business Journal

Attention U.S. Trek fans: If seeing Star Trek Into Darkness three or four times opening weekend wasn’t enough, Amazon now has various formats of the film available for pre-order, ensuring many happy re-watches in the future.

If you’re just looking for the DVD, here’s your chance to purchase it for $16.99, which is 43% off the $29.99 list price.

For just the Blu-ray, which includes a DVD and digital copy, you can preorder for the price of $19.99, which is 50% off the list price of $39.99.

Finally, if you want the whole shebang — that is, the Blu-ray in 3D, Blu-ray in 2D, DVD, and digital copy — the list price of $54.99 has been cut by 55% to $24.99.

Amazon is also offering a limited edition Blu-ray 3D gift set that comes with a Starfleet phaser. The list price on this is $99.99, but is currently 20% off at 79.99.

No word yet on the official release date.

QMx, the company that designed props for the newly-released Into Darkness, recently unveiled a number of collectibles from the movie that will be available for preorder in June on its website. Choose from the Starfleet class ring, the Starfleet phaser, the history of starflight model collection, Starfleet division badges, or a United Federation of Planets flag.

 Cubify, a 3D printing company, is giving Trek fans a chance to create a figure in their own likeness, wearing a TOS uniform. For the figure you can choose the gender, uniform, rank, height, weight and one of four different poses. The process to create the figure is simple. It took the folks at TrekNews.net about five minutes to make their selections and upload two pictures, a front and profile. For the pictures, Cubify asks that they be well-lit, taken from a digital camera (as opposed to a cell phone) and for the subject to maintain a neutral expression, as well as to remove glasses. The figure, which stands at 5.5” tall, is priced at $70.

Screen shot of Bing’s “beam me up” Star Trek feature

Bing, Microsoft’s search engine, jumped on the Star Trek bandwagon this week to coincide with the opening of Star Trek Into Darkness. In what Stephanie Horstmanshof, Bing’s senior lead managing editor, termed “a love letter to Star Trek fans,” when you type “beam me up” into the search engine, the page transforms into an interactive website complete with plenty of links to Star Trek content. There are four main “hotspots,” which lead to clips (such as a compilation video of Riker’s unique style of sitting down, or “Rikering”) and trivia, as well as easter eggs for fans to find.

This isn’t the only nod to Star Trek that Bing has made recently. Shortly before Into Darkness was released, Bing added Klingon to its language translator.

Information source: Mashable.

David C. Fein and David GerrodTrek fans know he’s the writer of the famous TOS episode The Trouble with Tribbles, but even more sci-fi fans probably recognize David Gerrold as the author of the bestselling series The Star Wolf. The series, which is about an ordinary starship crew caught up in an interplanetary war, is the subject of a Kickstarter campaign to bring the story to the small screen. Others involved with this project include Star Trek alums D.C. Fontana and David C. Fein.

The initial goal of the campaign is to raise $650,000 to fund the pilot. This sounds like a lot of money, but according to Fein, they will actually avoid the higher costs associated with working through networks and studios by producing independently. He explained in an interview with StarTrek.com that the money from networks and studios is more like a loan which has to be paid back. “Our focus is on spending every dollar on making the show a success, and our profits will be turned around to produce more episodes,” he said.

By contributing to the campaign, you will join the “Launch Crew” and receive a variety of perks, such as scripts, stickers, posters, set visits and more. Watch a video about the project below.

With Star Trek Into Darkness hitting theaters all around the world, Trekkies have enjoyed the perks that come with such hype — namely, reduced prices on Trek merchandise. Right now, Amazon has the TOS movie trilogy (The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, and The Voyage Home) on Blu-ray for only $27.78, down from the original price of $57.99.

Additionally, the TNG movie collection (First Contact, Generations, Insurrection, and Nemesis) on Blu-ray, originally $39.98, is being offered for $25.99. If all you need to complete your TNG Blu-ray collection is First Contact, Amazon has also slashed the price on this standalone feature, bringing it from $22.98 to $9.99.

Finally, now might also be the time to upgrade your 2009 Star Trek DVD to Blu-ray in preparation for Into Darkness. The price on this one has also dropped from $22.98 to 9.99.

Amazon doesn’t state how long this offer will last, so be sure to take advantage of these deals before prices go back up.

One of the largest collections of authentic Star Trek artifacts, Star Trek Exhibition, is on the move again. This summer and fall, the exhibition plans on making stops across the U.S. for a 2013 fair tour. The first stop will be the San Diego County Fair from June 8 to July 7. The exhibition will then move to the Los Angeles County Fair from August 30 to September 29. Finally, the mobile museum will be at the Arizona State Fair from October 11 to November 3. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to take photos in Captain Kirk’s chair, visit Dr. Crusher’s sickbay, and much more.

Source article: StarTrek.com

Impress (or worry) your family and friends with a personalized Star Trek email address. For only $15.00 a year (plus VAT, if applicable) you can purchase any one of the following three: yourname@toboldlygo.com, yourname@starfleet.com, or yourname@ussenterprise1701.com. Each address is renewable annually, can be used on your computer, smartphone, or tablet, and features unlimited email storage. Additionally, a voucher can be purchased if you would like to gift someone with their own address. The service is available via StarTrek.com.

Image credit: Mashable

Mark your calendars for May 10, folks. While this is still a week prior to the release of Star Trek Into Darkness in the U.S., on this date you’ll be able to join in on a Facebook live chat with J.J. Abrams and George Takei. Hosted by comedian Andy Samberg, the chat will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET, and Facebook users will be able to submit their questions to Samberg. Samberg will then moderate and relay the queries to the two Star Trek veterans.

“This is an exclusive opportunity for Facebook fans to ask anything about the Star Trek universe, and to boldly go where few have gone before,” Paramount said of the event.

Warning: Track titles could be potential spoilers. Scroll past the art for soundtrack info and track titles.

Varese Sarabande Records released a track list and album art for the Star Trek Into Darkness soundtrack. The music was composed by Michael Giacchino, who also composed the score for the 2009 Star Trek film. The soundtrack is due out on May 28. Listen to samples (and order in Europe) here and order your own copy at Varese Sarabande Records’ website.

(UPDATE: At the time of this article’s release, the Varese Sarabande Records’ website says they are out of stock. You can still pre-order at Amazon.)

Track List

1. Logos/Pranking The Natives (3:01)
2. Spock Drops, Kirk Jumps (1:43)
3. Sub Prime Directive* (2:23)
4. London Calling (2:09)
5. Meld-merized (2:40)
6. The Kronos Wartet (5:25)
7. Brigadoom (3:41)
8. Ship To Ship (2:50)
9. Earthbound And Down (2:37)
10. Warp Core Values (2:56)
11. Buying The Space Farm (3:17)
12. The San Fran Hustle (5:00)
13. Kirk Enterprises* (3:00)
14. Star Trek Main Theme* (3:25)

If the release of TNG season 3 on Blu-ray wasn’t enough for Trekkies today, fans in the US and the UK can now pre-order TNG season 4 on Blu-ray from Amazon. The scheduled release date for the US is July 30, with the UK release date coming a day earlier on July 29. Right now the US preorder price is $90.99, a 30% savings from the suggested $129.99. If the past is any indication, customers can expect that price to plunge even lower as the release date nears.

While on Amazon, US fans can also preorder their copy of Redemption on Blu-ray for $17.49, also a 30% savings from the suggested retail price of $24.99. For a closer look at the cover art and special features to be included on the Redemption discs, check out TrekCore.

Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot have teamed up to donate, for auction on CharityBuzz, four VIP passes to the Hollywood premiere of Star Trek Into Darkness on May 14. The experience will include walking the red carpet, meeting J.J. Abrams and the cast, as well as attending the after-party. The opening bid will be $2,500 and all proceeds will benefit The Mission Continues, an organization that helps post-9/11 veterans. In support, Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot will each match the winning bid up to $25,000.

Image credit: IMAX

IMAX has introduced a new program, IMAX FANFIX, formerly known as their IMAX 12:01 program. The point of this program is to “reward the most avid IMAX fans with limited edition, collectible prints for select films.” What does this mean for Star Trek fans? Those who go to select IMAX theaters for the 8pm showing of Into Darkness on May 15 will receive a unique print by artist Mark Englert. According to TrekMovie.com, this print also glows in the dark.

For the week of April 19-25, 2013

TrekCore Delves into Details of TNG Season 4 Blu-ray

Source: TrekCore

Although the TNG season 3 Blu-ray hasn’t yet been released (due out April 30), details are emerging about the TNG season 4 Blu-ray. According to TrekCore, the release is set for sometime in July and will include a multi-part documentary, gag reel, audio commentaries on several episodes, as well as deleted scenes.

Similar to Best of Both Worlds, there are plans to release TNG’s season 4 cliffhanger (and 100th episode) Redemption as a single feature, seamlessly edited together for a single-disc release. View the season 4 trailer below.

Abrams says directing third Trek film a “possibility”

Source: TrekMovie.com

Photo credit: TrekMovie.comDon’t take your bets off J.J. Abrams yet. According to an interview he did with Playboy magazine, Abrams still considers taking the role of director for the next Trek movie a “possibility.” He went on to say, “We’re trying to figure out the next step. But it’s like anything: It all begins with the story.”

While Abrams might be concerned with the story, fans seem obsessed with the timing. It only makes sense that Paramount might try to target a 2016 release date to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. To hit this anniversary with Abrams in the director’s chair, however, TrekMovie.com concludes that the third Trek film would have to aim for a holiday release, which would still likely overlap Star Wars post-production and Star Trek pre-production.

If Paramount decides to forgo the anniversary and indulge in another four-year gap, that sets the movie back to 2017, which should be plenty of time for Abrams to direct the film. Then again, no matter what the release date, there’s always the chance that another director will take the helm.

Win Into Darkness tickets from Esurance

Source: Esurance

Esurance is sponsoring a daily ticket giveaway for fans to see Star Trek Into Darkness. Winners receive two tickets to see Into Darkness in a regular or 3D cinema. All you have to do is “like” their page on Facebook and you’re entered to win in their independent, daily sweepstakes. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. The contest ends May 19.

A Love ballad…in Klingon

Source: Blastr

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to listen to a love ballad sung in Klingon, check out Jen Usellis, an actress and classically trained vocalist, in full cosplay belting out “HIchop!” You’ll recognize this song as the classic ’90s hit “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer. The best part is the inclusion of subtitles, which translate the Klingon verses back into English. Ah, Klingon love. Watch and listen below.

The Trek’s in the mail

Source: StarTrek.com

Image credit: StarTrek.comGive your bill-paying experience a personal touch with Star Trek-themed checks. The company, Checks in the Mail, is offering four sets of checks for purchase: classic (which features TOS), captains, ships, and colorful quogs (which features bold artwork of Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and McCoy). If you’re not satisfied with just checks, Trek-themed covers and address labels are also available. Click here to purchase.

If you’ve been looking for the perfect reason to start your TNG Blu-ray collection, or to complete your DVD set, look no further than the latest deal from Amazon. Seasons 1 and 2 of TNG on Blu-ray are each regularly priced at $129.99, but are currently being offered for $52.49 apiece, which is a 60% savings. TNG DVDs, which normally retail for $55.98, are also discounted 60% off for a price of $27.99 per season.

The promotion is effective through April 27.

While you’re there, Amazon also has the TNG season 3 Blu-ray available for pre-order at the sale price of $77.99. Season 3 is due out April 30.

For the week of April 12-18, 2013

New Into Darkness trailer and poster released

Source: StarTrek.com

On April 16, Paramount Pictures released a new Into Darkness trailer via iTunes Movie Trailers. This trailer contains previously unseen footage and dialogue. Watch the trailer below.

Also through iTunes Movie Trailers, Paramount has released another movie poster. This one features Kirk in action and takes place beside previously released one-sheets featuring Uhura, Spock, and John Harrison.

Post-Production on Star Trek Into Darkness is done

Source: TrekMovie.com

Eleven months, one week, and two days after wrapping principal photography, post-production on Star Trek Into Darkness was officially finished on April 17. On Monday, J.J. Abrams hinted that the task was near completion with a tweet on the Bad Robot Twitter account that said, “Almost done!!!! – JJ #StarTrekIntoDarkness” According to sources for TrekMovie.com, the final work on the film was dropping in all the sound effects and the sound mix.

CinemaCon Q&A with Into Darkness actors

Source: TrekMovie.com

Into Darkness producer Damon Lindelof brought Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Alice Eve, and John Cho to the CinemaCon trade show Tuesday to participate in a Q&A before showing footage from the movie. Highlights included Pine elaborating on the growth of Kirk and the differences in the character between the 2009 Star Trek and Into Darkness. “He is a man who has to learn to censor himself at times and our bad guy – John Harrison – basically levels this mirror in front of Kirk in which he sees all of his vulnerabilities and his fallibility and everything that is wrong with the way he leads his men and women into battle–and he brings him to his knees,” Pine said. Watch the full video below.

Pine, Quinto, and Saldana make dramatic entrance to MTV Movie Awards

Source: TrekMovie.com

Mimicking the Into Darkness image that shows John Harrison standing within the Star Trek emblem amidst rubble, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Zoe Saldana appeared onstage at the MTV Movie Awards on April 14. The trio was invited to present the award for Best Fight, which ended up going to The Avengers. Also during the MTV Movie Awards, was the debut of a new Into Darkness TV spot. Watch it below.

Star Trek Magazine movie special issue available for preorder

Source: Titan Magazines

Star Trek Magazine has made their Star Trek Into Darkness movie guide available for preorder. This issue, with 148 pages, will include interviews with cast and crew, including J.J. Abrams, Chris Pine, and Benedict Cumberbatch as well as behind-the-scenes looks at special effects, production design, make-up, and costumes. This issue will also feature regular Star Trek Magazine content with fiction, reviews, and contests.

Star Trek Craft Book available April 30

Source: StarTrek.com

Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books has teamed up with hardcore Trek fan and multi-crafter Angie Pederson to create The Star Trek Craft Book. The book will feature instructions and supply lists for 25 Star Trek-inspired crafts, including toys, accessories, and décor. Crafts include crocheting, sewing, embroidery, felting, and more. The book also includes photos from the episodes that inspired the crafts. At 176 pages, the book will sell for $19.99. Preorder your copy here.

Trekland, the website of the renowned authority on all things Trek, Larry Nemecek, is giving fans a chance to win a pair of tickets to a Fathom Events theatre screening of TNG’s Best of Both Worlds on April 25.

The five major cities chosen for this particular giveaway are: Phoenix, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Boston. If you don’t live near any of these areas and you enter, transportation to the screening is your responsibility.

How to enter:

• Visit Nemecek’s website, LarryNemecek.com, and click on the yellow “Newsletter” box at left.
• In the “First Name” box, ignore that label and write your FULL NAME and complete mailing address: street, city, state, zip code.
• In the “Last Name” box, ignore that label as well and type one of the five “TICKET CITY” listed that is proximate to you—Phoenix, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Cleveland, or Boston, followed by the two-word answer to the following question:

In “The Best of Both Worlds” (parts 1 and/or 2), what is the character name of the actor/actress who also played a senior member of the crew of the original Battlestar Galactica?

• (Example:  “Boston — Wil Wheaton”)*

The deadline to enter is 6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time/ 3 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, April 21. Only one entry per person.

Five winners will be announced Monday night, April 22, from entries that provided the correct answer to the trivia question, as well as a complete, useable mailing address; both are required in order to win. Fathom Events will be provided the five winners’ addresses, and will supply the prize tickets directly to them. Also, Fathom will award the specific theater passes as close as possible based on geography.

For any further information on this contest, please visit LarryNemecek.com.

*Wil Wheaton is not the correct answer.

For the week of April 5-11, 2013

Starlog Magazine now available through Internet Archive

Source: Subspace Communique

Image credit: Subspace CommuniqueBack in the days before the Internet, Trek fans had to get their fix through traditional media, better known as magazines. One of the best places to get the latest sci-fi updates was Starlog Magazine and, if you’re feeling nostalgic, you can now browse through 20 years of issues on The Internet Archive. The archive spans the years 1976-1996 and is a veritable treasure trove of sci-fi history. Although the magazine covered all sci-fi content, Starlog Magazine did more than its fair share of covering Star Trek news and happenings. In fact, it was in Starlog Magazine that Dan Madsen placed an ad to start a Star Trek fan club — a fan club that eventually evolved into the officially licensed Star Trek fan club. Starlog ceased operations in April 2009.

Rare Star Trek prop sold at auction 

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Photo credit: The Hollywood ReporterDo you remember the phaser rifle William Shatner used in Where No Man Has Gone Before? Now, do you remember ever seeing it used again? That’s because you didn’t. This prop, which was recently sold at an auction for $231,000, was created by toy designer Reuben Klamer and used by Shatner only once in the series. There are publicity photos of Shatner as Kirk which feature the rifle, as well as an early lunchbox, but the rifle was returned to Klamer after the episode was completed. Where No Man Has Gone Before was filmed as a second pilot but then used as the third episode of the show.

Into Darkness advance ticket sales crash website 

Source: Total Film

Photo credit: London-attractions.comOn Wednesday, UK Trek fans looking to purchase advance tickets to see Into Darkness at BFI IMAX in London crashed the website booking system. BFI and ODEON both tweeted reassurances that the system would be back up and running quickly, while Paramount’s tweet provided a phone number to call and buy tickets. The only other movie to generate more traffic than the site could handle (in the case of Into Darkness, ten times more traffic) was The Dark Knight Rises.

Best Buy offers Into Darkness sweepstakes

Source: Best Buy

Best Buy is offering their own Into Darkness sweepstakes for Reward Zone members. Three grand prize winners will receive two tickets to the L.A. premiere of Star Trek Into Darkness. The prize also includes airfare, hotel, and transportation for the winner and one guest.

Ten first prize winners will receive an Into Darkness fan pack, and three second prize winners will receive an Into Darkness movie poster signed by J.J. Abrams. Members can enter to win under their Reward Zone ID and can enter once per day during the entry period, which ends on April 21. Entrants must be 21 years of age and older to enter.

Second book announced for Rise of the Federation series 

Source: The Trek Collective

Image credit: “Federation: First 150 Years”Although the Enterprise novel Rise of the Federation: A Choice of Futures is still months from release, author Christopher L. Bennett has announced that he has already started the next novel in the series, Rise of the Federation: Tower of Babel. According to Bennett, the next book will move forward to the year 2164 and start laying the groundwork for the world of The Original Series. Tower of Babel has no release date yet, but look for the first book, A Choice of Futures, to hit shelves June 25.

Cumberbatch cast in Crimson Peak 

Source: Geeks of Doom

Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

If Star Trek Into Darkness and the hit series Sherlock on BBC aren’t enough to quench your need for Benedict Cumberbatch, stay tuned for Crimson Peak, a “haunted-house movie” directed by Guillermo Del Toros. Said to be a “Gothic horror about a woman whose husband may not be who he appears to be,” the movie will also star Emma Stone and Charlie Hunnam. Production is set to begin in February 2014, although no release date is set.

Real-life Porthos passes away 

Source: StarTrek.com

The real Porthos, who inspired Brannon Braga to give the same name to Captain Archer’s prized beagle, has passed away. Braga tweeted the news on Tuesday night. “The real life Porthos — my nephew’s dog — passed away last week.” We here at Trek.fm extend our condolences to Braga’s nephew and his family for their loss.

by Mariel Keeran

For the week of March 29 - April 4, 2013

Set Decorator James Mees dies at 57

Source: StarTrek.com

Photo credit: StarTrek.com

James Mees, who worked as a set decorator for The Next Generation, Voyager, and Enterprise, passed away March 29 at the age of 57. In 1990, Mees and Richard D. James won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Design for a Series for the TNG episode Sins of the Father. He received four other nominations, all for work on Star Trek.

Mees worked on many other shows during his career, including Who’s the Boss?, Perfect Strangers, Gilmore Girls, Private Practice, and his final series, Bones. Trek.fm wishes to extend condolences to Mees’ family and friends.

Marina Sirtis (finally) joins Twitter!

Source: Twitter

The whole TNG cast has now been assimilated by Twitter. Marina Sirtis, the last holdout, joined the Twitterverse on April 2 with her first tweet being, “Finally gave in to Twitter!” In two days she’s managed to amass nearly 20,000 followers and has made, at time of this writing, 39 tweets — several of which jumped into heavy political discussion.

On behalf of Trek.fm, we welcome you, Marina!

Update – AIA surpasses original crowdfunding goal

Source: Indiegogo

We reported last week that the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) of America was raising money to fund a NASA trailer to play in 50 theaters around the nation ahead of Into Darkness. In a mere six days, they surpassed their $33,000 goal. Now they’ve partnered with Challenger Center for Space Science Education to raise $94,000 —  the cost of placing the trailer in 750 theaters. Any additional funds raised will be used to grow Challenger Center programs.

Into Darkness medley (No Movie Spoilers)

Into Darkness will have an epilogue in comics

Source: ComicBookMovie.com

If you walk out of Into Darkness wanting more, you’ll be in luck. Star Trek writer Mike Johnson recently revealed that IDW is planning an epilogue to the film over two issues of their ongoing series. The issues, which will be #21 and #22, will be titled Star Trek: After Darkness.

Of the storyline, Johnson says, “[It] picks up a few days after the movie ends, then jumps ahead about a week. The storyline addresses the fallout from both the film and the prequel miniseries Countdown to Darkness. The hope is that the prequel, the movie and the ongoing series tell one big epic story that continues into the months to come.”

The storyline is being overseen by Into Darkness writer Bob Orci.

Alice Eve will read Star Trek Into Darkness audionovel

Source: StarTrek.com

Alice Eve, who plays  Dr. Carol Marcus in the upcoming Into Darkness, will also read the movie’s audionovel. The audionovel will be released on May 21 and will run 8 hours and 30 minutes. It will be available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and at the time of this writing, both sellers have the audio book listed at $20.24 — 32 percent off of the retail price of $29.99. Fans will also be able to purchase it through iTunes and audible.com. No word yet on whether Eve plans on recording the audio book in her underwear.

More Into Darkness music revealed

Source: TrekMovie.com

Photo credit: TrekMovie.comOn April 3, Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino tweeted videos from the March sessions spent recording music from the upcoming Into Darkness film. Although these clips present elements from the 2009 score, Giacchino confirmed via Twitter that they are indeed from the Into Darkness film.

Into Darkness premiere tickets giveaway

Source: Premiere Club

Star Trek Into Darkness will come to UK theaters on May 9, but Paramount is giving fans a chance to win two tickets to the London premiere on May 2. To enter, go to the sourced website above and watch the trailer, then just answer the question provided.

Saldana to star in Guardians of the Galaxy?

Source: TrekMovie.com

Photo credit: TrekMovie.com

Zoe Saldana is in talks to star in one of Marvel’s latest superhero movie projects, Guardians of the Galaxy. If negotiations pan out, Saldana will play the lead, Gamora, who is “the green-skinned humanoid who is the last of a species that was exterminated by a race known as the Badoon.”

Saldana seems to be getting around in the sci-fi world, having starred in Avatar and Star Trek, as well as recently expressing interest in obtaining a role in J.J Abrams’ upcoming Star Wars movie.

Transparent Enterprise coming this summer

Source: StarTrek.com

Photo credit: StarTrek.comDiamond Select Toys will release an 18-inch model of the Enterprise NCC-1701 this summer. The awesome part? It’s transparent. This means you’ll be able to see into the living quarters, as well as examine the machinery. The ship is plastic and fully painted with a metal display base. It is designed by Dragon’s Project Cutaway and will retail for approximately $174.99. Specific details about where to buy this model aren’t available yet, but it will be for sale both online and in local comic shops.

Mighty Fine releases four more TOS tees

Source: StarTrek.com

Photo credit: StarTrek.comMighty Fine has released April’s TOS t-shirts, representing The Doomsday Machine, Elaan of Troyius, The Paradise Syndrome, and Patterns of Force. The prints are designed by Juan Ortiz, who has set out to create a movie poster-esque print for every single TOS episode. Purchase your tee(s) here.

Originally announced during Sony’s keynote address at E3 in 2011, this officially licensed title for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC will be released on April 26. You can preorder at Amazon.com.

For the week of March 22-28, 2013

R.I.P. Peter Duryea, 1939-2013

Source: StarTrek.com

Photo credit: StarTrek.com

Star Trek fans mourn the passing of Peter Duryea this week. Best known for playing Lt. Jose Tyler in TOS’s The Cage (scenes from which were later reused for The Menagerie), Duryea also had credits from Daniel Boone, Bewitched, and Dr. Kildare, to name a few.

Duryea died on March 24, leaving behind his longtime partner Janice Bryan, daughter Star, and brother, Richard Duryea. Trek.fm wishes to extend its condolences to Duryea’s friends and family.

AIA wants to air space program trailer before Into Darkness

Source: Indiegogo

Photo credit: Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) of America

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) of America has launched a crowdfunding campaign in order to place a 30 second NASA spot into 50 theaters around the U.S., starting with the premiere of Star Trek Into Darkness.

The spot will be edited from a video released by NASA (see below) showing how our space program did not end when NASA retired the shuttle program. However, NASA is legally barred from purchasing advertising time for the video, so the AIA has stepped in to make the information available to interested audiences. Your donation, which is not tax-deductible, will go towards the total goal of $33,000. Once these funds are reached, the ad spot is guaranteed. If the goal is exceeded, the AIA plans to buy ad time in more theaters.

Watch the trailer below:

Win a Star Trek Into Darkness Costume

Source: TrekMovie.com

If you use the Paramount Pictures Star Trek app, you have until March 31 to enter to win a uniform used during the making of the Into Darkness movie. You can enter once a day by clicking the “Sweeps” button within the app.

Don’t have the app yet? You can download it through the App Store or Google play at www.StarTrekMovie.com/App

Borg, eh? The Best of Both Worlds feature comes to Canada

Source: StarTrek.com

Photo credit: StarTrek.comGreat news for Star Trek fans in Canada: The two-part TNG episode, The Best of Both Worlds, will also be playing in select theaters in Canada on April 25. The episodes have been edited into a seamless feature and digitally restored. The run time will be approximately two hours and will include parts from “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg,” a Blu-ray behind-the-scenes extra.

Congress doesn’t find IRS Star Trek parody funny

Source: TrekMovie.com

The IRS is in hot water with Congress. While attempting to “determine whether and to what extend taxpayer resources were devoted to activities unrelated” to the IRS “core functions,” Congress looked into IRS training videos, which are made in parody form. One video that raised a red flag due to the $60,000 production price tag was a Star Trek parody made in 2010 for a training and leadership conference.

At Congressman Charles Boustany’s request, the IRS released the video, along with a statement that indicated the video was a mistake to make because it “does not appear to have any training value.”

Marina Sirtis cast in NCIS

Source: TrekNews.net

Photo credit: TrekNews.netMarina Sirtis will be joining the cast of NCIS to play the role of Orli Elbaz, who will take over the Israeli intelligence organization Mossad, following the death of the character Eli David. According to showrunner Glasberg, “She’s everything I wanted for the role and then some. We are lucky to have her.” The first episode with Sirtis will air in April.

Ashley Judd decides against Senate Run in KY 

Source: The New York Times

Photo Credit: ET OnlineAfter careful consideration, Ashley Judd has decided against seeking the democratic nomination for a Senate run in 2014. She made the announcement via Twitter and followed with a statement on her official website saying, “It would be the greatest honor of my life to be entrusted as a public servant to our beloved Kentucky. Perhaps someday I will be. However, with the help of my pastors and mentors, I have thoughtfully and prayerfully concluded that I won’t run for the United States Senate at this time.”

Given that Judd had met with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and hired experienced campaign consultants, her decision comes as a surprise to her supporters.

J.J. Abrams decision to direct Star Wars explained (blame Spielberg!)

Source: TrekMovie.com

Photo credit: IMDB.comAccording to J.J. Abrams, his initial response to directing the next Star Wars movie was a “knee-jerk reaction” to turn it down, due to being in the middle of filming Star Trek. However, once the “heavy lifting” was through on Into Darkness, he had more time to consider the proposition and apparently had a voice whispering in his ear…Steven Spielberg. Abrams says, “I will say that Steven [Spielberg] was very encouraging of Star Wars. It’s funny because I talked to him about it and it turned out he knew all about what was going on.”

The ironic part is that according to Bob Orci, it was Spielberg’s s influence that caused Abrams to accept directing the 2009 Star Trek movie.

Regardless of whom ends up directing the third Star Trek movie, Abrams will still be involved since his company, Bad Robot, will be producing the movie.

Star Trek emblem flies over London to mark Earth Hour

Source: Wired.co.uk

Photo credit: Space.com

On March 23, thirty LED-carrying quadcopter drones flew in the formation of the Star Trek emblem over the Tower Bridge in London. The feat was carried out by Ars Electronica Futurelab in the moments leading up to Earth Hour. As the lights of the buildings went out around the city, so did the Star Trek emblem. 

Earth Hour is a yearly event to raise awareness of climate change.

by Mariel Keeran

Photo credit: Hulu

In honor of William Shatner’s birthday, Hulu made every Star Trek episode available for free on Friday, March 22. This “present” will last just a little more than a week, until March 31. Every episode of The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise adds up to well over 700 hours of Star Trek goodness, so whether you revisit old favorites or catch up on the series you didn’t watch in its entirety, now is the perfect time to get started.

What are you still doing here? Watch some Trek!

For the week of March 15-21, 2013

Paramount Releases New Into Darkness Trailer

Source: TrekMovie.com

Photo credit: DigitalspyParamount has released the fourth Star Trek Into Darkness trailer — the international version — with minute variations for some countries. In this trailer, the viewer is given a few more lines of dialogue and a few more seconds of scenery to add onto what we’ve already seen in previous trailers, all while still plausibly denying any answers to the questions fans have been asking since the movie started filming. It only serves to whet the appetite more, making the next two months seem interminable. If you’re interested in seeing a complete dissection of all the Into Darkness trailers, as well as a breakdown of differences between each version of the international trailer, head to TrekMovie.com.

If you haven’t watched it already, watch the UK trailer below.

Chris Pine to receive CinemaCon award 

Source: DigitalSpy

Photo credit: FanpopWe already knew Chris Pine was “hot and accomplished,” but CinemaCon wants to make it official. On April 18, CinemaCon will present Pine with their ‘Male Star of the Year’ award. With Star Trek Into Darkness due out in May and then the release of Jack Ryan (in which Pine will play the title character) towards the end of the year, CinemaCon Managing Director Mitch Neuhauser says Pine is “the ideal recipient” of the award.

BlackBerry inventor working to make tricorder a reality

Source: L.A. Times 

Mike Lazaridis, the inventor of the BlackBerry, is raising funds to support commercializing technology from quantum technology research. He hopes one of the end results will be a functioning medical tricorder, capable of doing blood tests and MRIs, among other things. According to Lazaridis, it may be “possible only because of the sensitivity, selectivity and resolution we can get from quantum sensors made with these quantum breakthroughs.”

Creating a tricorder is a goal that many technologists have already been working on, with the company Qualcomm sponsoring a $10 million global competition to create such a device. According to the competition website, the parameters require that “the device will be a tool capable of capturing key health metrics and diagnosing a set of 15 diseases.”

“Magneto” will marry Stewart and fiancee Ozell

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Photo credit: Entertainment WeeklyPatrick Stewart and fiancée Sunny Ozell are making wedding plans, and one thing they recently crossed off their to-do list is choose an officiant, because Ian McKellen has been given the honors. McKellen announced the news during his appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, saying, “I’m going to marry Patrick,” before clarifying, “How else do you put that? I’m going to officiate at his wedding.” Stewart and McKellen starred together as Professor X and Magneto, respectively, in X-Men.

John Cho to guest star in Sleepy Hollow

Source: TrekMovie.com

John Cho, who is currently on the NBC sitcom Go On, has signed on to guest star in the pilot episode of Sleepy Hollow on FOX. The pilot is being written and executive produced by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Cho will play Officer Andy Dunn, a character The Hollywood Reporter describes as “seemingly compassionate and helpful. However, there is more to him than meets the eye.”

Everyone needs a new Trek shirt once in a while, so the next time you’re in the market, consider checking out Don Meyers’ Trek tees on TShirtBordello.com.

A self-proclaimed nerd and graphic designer from Jacksonville, Florida, Don Myers has built TShirtBordello from the ground up. Started in 2006, the company printed tees from a manual press in a garage. Six years later, the website has a warehouse, a shop in which to print, and automatic printing equipment.

Although he spends much of his time on art-direction and color separation, nearly all the website’s designs have been dreamt up by Myers, including the infamous “Trek Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself” Spock tee (yes, they had it first). All the tees are screen-printed and kept in stock, so they are ready to go once your website order is received. Convention-goers can also find TShirtBordello tees from resellers at many fan shows.

In addition to Trek tees, TShirtBordello carries many other tees geared towards sci-fi fans, as well as horror fans. Since the website is always a work in progress, check back frequently for new items.

Here’s a sample of the Trek t-shirt designs you’ll see on TShirtBordello.com:

Looking to start, or finish out, some of your Star Trek DVD collections? On Amazon this week, the TV Deal of the Week is featuring seasons 2-4 of Enterprise, as well as all seasons of Star Trek: Voyager. At $33.99, this sale price is a 51% savings from the original price of $69.98. This deal will end next Saturday, March 23 at 11:59 Pacific time. Also, don’t forget that if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can stream Amazon’s catalogue of Star Trek episodes and movies at any time for no additional cost.

For the week of March 8-14, 2013

Sir Patrick Stewart calls on men to end violence against women

Source: Yahoo News

Photo credit: Teri Bloom/Breakthrough.tv“Violence against women is the single greatest human rights violation of our generation,” Sir Patrick Stewart said as he hosted the launch for Ring the Bell, a global campaign that calls on men to make “concrete, actionable promises” to end violence against women. Held on March 8 at the UN hotel in New York, the event featured many notable actors, musicians, athletes, and politicians who all want to stand together in this call to action.

Stewart shared his own experience as he recalled his childhood. “I became an expert. I knew exactly when to open a door and insert myself between my father’s fist and my mother’s body,” he said.

New projects underway for several Trek actors

Sources: StarTrek.com and TrekMovie.com

BakulaScott Bakula will be showing up in several projects in the near future. TNT is working on a pilot that will be based on the real life of bounty hunter/bail bondswoman Mackenzie Green (Geena Davis) in which Bakula will play Green’s former husband, Pete. Also on television, Bakula will appear in an episode of Two and a Half Men, as well as the HBO movie Behind the Candlelabra. In movies, Bakula will appear in two indie films, Snap and Elsa and Fred.

UrbanKarl Urban has been cast in J.J. Abrams’ Human, a futuristic cop show that will air on Fox. The show will focus on a pair of LAPD detectives, one human, and one a “highly evolved human-like android. Urban will be playing the human cop, John Kennex.

BillingsleyJohn Billingsley has been cast in a CBS pilot, Intelligence, as Dr. William Crispin, a computer neuroscientist. The show will focus on an agent for the U.S Cyber Command who can access the whole electromagnetic spectrum due to an implanted microchip.

Google wants its search to be like Star Trek

Source: ABC News

Google has plenty of projects underway to help advance the human race towards a more Star Trek-like future, but one of their current ventures is a Google search that you can talk to. According to Google Search Head Amit Singhal, “You can walk up to a computer and say, ‘hey, computer,’” forgoing the need to type in the search box. However, this technology will depend on improved voice control, touch, and sensory tech.

Malachi Throne dies at age 84

Source: TrekMovie.com

It was announced today that Malachi Throne, who played Commodore Mendez in the two part episode The Menagerie, has died at age 84. He was best known to Trekkers as Commodore Mendez in the TOS two-parter “The Menagerie.” We here at Trek.fm wish to extend our condolences to Throne’s family and friends.

Catch a Glimpse of the Enterprise S1 and S2 Blu-rays

Source: TrekCore | Article 1 | Article 2

If you’re anxiously awaiting Enterprise on Blu-ray and can’t wait to have a peek at what’s in store, then you’re in luck. TrekCore has released a review of the season 1 packaging and menus, as well as the season 2 cover art. Season 1 is set to be released on March 26.

 by Mariel Keeran

For the week of March 1-7, 2013

Green Girl Documentary is a go

Source: Kickstarter.com

Photo credit: George Pappy’s Kickstarter pageThe deadline for the Green Girl Documentary was Sunday, March 3, and with only hours left to contribute, the project still needed over $3,000 to meet its goal total of $80,000. Thankfully, last-minute contributors raised enough (plus $333 extra) to give the project a green light. George Pappy, independent director of this project, has already recorded several interviews with many of Oliver’s contemporaries. Now that he has accrued the means, he will be able to pay for the licensing of many of Oliver’s clips, as well as the hiring of a competent editor to weave the story together. If you would like to follow the film’s progress, go to the official movie website.

President Obama’s sci-fi faux pas

Source: StarTrek.com

Photo credit: StarTrek.com

President Obama, who has in the past admitted to being a Star Trek fan, made an apparent goof last week by mentioning a “Jedi mind meld” while addressing the press about the Congressional sequester. Most Americans laughed this comment off as a slip of the tongue by a man trying to be relatable and failing miserably. However, given that there is such a thing as a “Jedi meld,” a few people have jumped to the president’s defense — most notably, Chris Peterson of MIT who explains in a blog entry his belief that the president was indeed correct in his choice of words.

Star Trek Into Darkness: New release dates, music, and spoilers

Source: The Trek Collective (CONTAINS SPOILERS)

Photo credit: The Trek CollectiveIn many parts of the world, the release dates for Star Trek Into Darkness have been moved forward, and if you live in any of the following countries, you will be among the first to have access to the film on May 9: UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand.

Also in recent Into Darkness news, the music for the film has been recorded and composer Michael Giacchino tweeted several pictures of the process. You can also check out Giacchino’s website for more information.

Finally, if you’re ready for some spoilers on the new film, be sure to read to the end of the sourced article on The Trek Collective, which has details on thirty-eight minutes of Into Darkness that was screened in Sao Paulo.

Michael Dorn clarifies comments about Worf-centric film

Source: Blastr.com

…Or at least, he tries to. Last year, Dorn made comments alluding to a project he was working on that would bring about a film focused on Worf. He told Trek Movie he was writing the script himself and that it would feature Worf “out there in the front lines basically chasing terrorists.” He later went on to say that the project had gained traction, adding that “at this point, my agents and my manager are looking at all the avenues and trying to figure out which is the best one.”

However, in a recent interview with Huffington Post, Dorn indicated that the subject of a Worf-centric spinoff came up when a blogger asked a question about it and that “a lot of people read that and it’s taken on a life of its own.” So although Dorn had spoken about the project to other sources and admitted to writing a script, the “rumors” are not true — for the time being, at least. As Dorn said in his Huffington post interview, “You never know in this business, though, I gotta say.”

Zoe Saldana wants role in new Star Wars

Source: E! Online

Zoe Saldana doesn’t seem to mind sticking to sci-fi when it comes to her movie roles. Not only has the actress played Uhura in the new Star Trek reboot and Neytiri in the movie Avatar, but she has expressed interest in playing a role in J.J Abrams’ future project, Star Wars VII. “I’m getting ready to call them, I’ll tell you that,” Saldana told Marc Malkin from E! Online recently. “I want to be a sexy something, like a princess from another planet,” she concluded.

Takei, Hamill on season finale of The Neighbors

Source: StarTrek.com

Photo credit: StarTrek.comThe Neighbors, a sci-fi sitcom that airs on ABC, will end its first season with a nod to the two ultimate sci-fi fandoms: Star Trek and Star Wars. The episode will guest star George Takei as Grandpa and Mark Hamill as Commandant Bill. Despite often appearing at the same conventions, this is the first time Takei and Hamill have met. Hamill apologized to Takei for not being familiar with Star Trek, but Takei found it to be a “breath of fresh air.”

“I’m a doctor, not a cookie jar! Oh, wait…”

Source: StarTrek.com

Photo credit: StarTrek.comNo longer just a doctor, Dr. Leonard McCoy will be available this month from Westland Giftware to grace your countertop as a cookie jar. The ceramic bust, which measures at 10.25 inches high, will be offered through Hallmark, as well as several other online retailers. The retail price will be approximately 49.99.

by Mariel Keeran

For the week of February 22-28

Voters Name one of Pluto’s Moons “Vulcan”

Source: io9.com

Photo credit: io9.comWhen Pluto’s fourth and fifth moons needed names, SETI called on the public to complete the task by voting in their poll. In the end, the name “Vulcan” led the votes, especially as William Shatner himself gave continuous shout-outs to the subject on his Twitter, urging people to vote Vulcan. With “Cerberus” coming in second, all that’s left is for both names to be passed along to the International Astronomical Union, which will have the final say over accepting the names.

Star Trek Network Japan to launch in Japan

Source: StarTrek.com

Photo credit: StarTrek.com

In June, Star Trek fans living in Japan will have access to Star Trek Network Japan, a site that will offer both basic and paid accessibility to fans. For the basic accessibility, fans will be able to peruse information about ships, characters and languages. For the paid accessibility, fans will be able to delve deeper into Trek with episode guides, news, photos and video. Take a look at the site preview here.

Jay Chattaway donates music to alma mater

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Composer Jay ChattawayJay Chattaway, a Trek composer and graduate of West Virginia University, has donated twenty years worth of songs, scores and soundtracks to his alma mater. Having composed for over thirty films, this will equal a tremendous amount of music for the school, a donation of which officials have yet to assign a monetary value. Chattaway will also become a visiting artist for the school, and will be assisting students online, teaching them how to compose music for commercial use.

Chattaway has composed music for several Trek episodes, spanning from The Next Generation to Voyager. He was nominated for five Emmy Awards and won one for his work on the Voyager series finale “Endgame.”

Work Continues on Galileo Restoration

Source: The New Yorker

Photo credit: The New YorkerLast summer, the full-sized mockup of the Galileo shuttlecraft from the U.S.S Enterprise was offered in an online auction in Ohio. The winner, Adam Schneider, won the auction with a bid of $70,150. However, it’s not his intention to keep the shuttlecraft. With a house full of other memorabilia, he plans to donate it to a museum that can accommodate its size.

In the meantime, the Galileo is undergoing restoration at Master Shipwrights. After frequently passing hands and often being left exposed to the elements, the shuttlecraft is in major disrepair and needs a nearly complete overhaul. Schneider also has plans for the rebuilt inside. He wants “a control panel that will explode. Because in the TV show it always exploded.”

Digital Extremes unveils Star Trek video game preview

Source: Tech Digest

Photo credit: Tech DigestThe Star Trek video game tie-in to the Abrams reboot is getting special treatment. Not only has it gotten three year’s worth of development, but the minds behind the movies have been at the disposal of the game makers in order to place the video game perfectly within the movie universe. This includes the cast of the movie doing voice work for the game. Then, with a launch date of April 26, the incredible attention to detail will also serve the purpose of setting the events of the game canonically between the two movies.

Game play is cooperative, with Kirk and Spock always together, no matter which character you choose to control. Along with the usual action (shooting, fighting, etc.) there are also minigames and puzzles to work through to complete tasks. Finally, be sure to keep an eye out for Easter eggs.

Watch a video on the making of the video game here: