Latest news with #ChrisO'Dowd
Business Wire
23-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
WIN Reality Acquires Blast Motion: A New Era in Swing Development
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WIN Reality, the leading virtual reality training and AI-powered swing analysis platform for baseball and softball, has acquired Blast Motion, the global leader in swing sensor and motion analysis technology across baseball, softball and golf. The future of swing development is here: WIN + Blast. 500M+ swings. One powerful ecosystem. Together, WIN Reality and Blast Motion have powered over 500 million swings across virtual, sensor, and AI-powered training, forming the largest swing dataset in sports. This strategic acquisition brings together two of the most trusted technologies in player development, creating the most complete hitter development ecosystem in the game. By combining WIN's immersive VR training (TrainVR) and video-based AI swing analysis (SwingAI) with Blast's patented motion sensor and biomechanics platform, the companies will deliver the most comprehensive and data-rich training environment in the sport, and will help athletes improve faster by unifying game-speed reps, swing feedback, and real-time performance insights. 'This is a defining moment for player development,' said Chris O'Dowd, CEO of WIN Reality. 'Blast Motion is one of the most respected brands in our industry, and we've admired what they've built for a long time. This acquisition allows us to expand our mission, not by changing what people love about Blast, but by amplifying it through our shared commitment to player development." Read more from Chris O'Dowd in his blog post: Why We Acquired Blast Motion Blast Motion is used by 36 professional baseball teams, over 300 college programs, and thousands of high school and youth athletes. Its platform is also trusted by elite softball players and more than 200 golf tour pros, making it a leader across multiple sports. 'Joining forces with WIN Reality allows us to scale our original vision of real-time motion data, fundamentally changing how athletes train and improve,' said Michael Fitzpatrick, CEO of Blast Motion. 'Together, we're creating a next generation athlete development network that will continue to shape the future of sports development.' In the near term, both platforms will continue operating independently, with no disruption for current customers. Blast's baseball, softball, and golf users will continue receiving the same trusted performance insights they rely on today. The acquisition underscores WIN Reality's continued investment in innovation, athlete development, and expanding access to elite training tools previously reserved for professionals. About WIN Reality WIN Reality is a baseball and softball player development company combining game-speed VR training, swing decision reps, and AI-powered mechanics analysis. Trusted by MLB organizations, top colleges, and travel and youth programs nationwide, WIN helps hitters build confidence, sharpen decision-making, and develop elite skills at every level. About Blast Motion Blast Motion is the industry's leading motion sensor and swing analysis platform, providing real-time feedback and performance insights to athletes, coaches, and scouts. Trusted by top-tier organizations across baseball, softball, and golf, Blast's patented technology helps athletes across sports measure, understand, and improve swing performance.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WIN Reality Acquires Blast Motion: A New Era in Swing Development
AUSTIN, Texas, June 23, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WIN Reality, the leading virtual reality training and AI-powered swing analysis platform for baseball and softball, has acquired Blast Motion, the global leader in swing sensor and motion analysis technology across baseball, softball and golf. Together, WIN Reality and Blast Motion have powered over 500 million swings across virtual, sensor, and AI-powered training, forming the largest swing dataset in sports. This strategic acquisition brings together two of the most trusted technologies in player development, creating the most complete hitter development ecosystem in the game. By combining WIN's immersive VR training (TrainVR) and video-based AI swing analysis (SwingAI) with Blast's patented motion sensor and biomechanics platform, the companies will deliver the most comprehensive and data-rich training environment in the sport, and will help athletes improve faster by unifying game-speed reps, swing feedback, and real-time performance insights. "This is a defining moment for player development," said Chris O'Dowd, CEO of WIN Reality. "Blast Motion is one of the most respected brands in our industry, and we've admired what they've built for a long time. This acquisition allows us to expand our mission, not by changing what people love about Blast, but by amplifying it through our shared commitment to player development." Read more from Chris O'Dowd in his blog post: Why We Acquired Blast Motion Blast Motion is used by 36 professional baseball teams, over 300 college programs, and thousands of high school and youth athletes. Its platform is also trusted by elite softball players and more than 200 golf tour pros, making it a leader across multiple sports. "Joining forces with WIN Reality allows us to scale our original vision of real-time motion data, fundamentally changing how athletes train and improve," said Michael Fitzpatrick, CEO of Blast Motion. "Together, we're creating a next generation athlete development network that will continue to shape the future of sports development." In the near term, both platforms will continue operating independently, with no disruption for current customers. Blast's baseball, softball, and golf users will continue receiving the same trusted performance insights they rely on today. The acquisition underscores WIN Reality's continued investment in innovation, athlete development, and expanding access to elite training tools previously reserved for professionals. About WIN Reality WIN Reality is a baseball and softball player development company combining game-speed VR training, swing decision reps, and AI-powered mechanics analysis. Trusted by MLB organizations, top colleges, and travel and youth programs nationwide, WIN helps hitters build confidence, sharpen decision-making, and develop elite skills at every level. About Blast Motion Blast Motion is the industry's leading motion sensor and swing analysis platform, providing real-time feedback and performance insights to athletes, coaches, and scouts. Trusted by top-tier organizations across baseball, softball, and golf, Blast's patented technology helps athletes across sports measure, understand, and improve swing performance. View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Luke 608-485-0431 Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Giamatti, Chris O'Dowd, Rashida Jones, Cristin Milioti, Jimmi Simpson, and every ‘Black Mirror' Emmy acting submission
Netflix will submit eight cast members from Black Mirror for Emmy consideration, Gold Derby has learned. and Chris O'Dowd will be submitted for Limited Series/TV Movie Actor and Rashida Jones will be submitted for Limited Series/TV Movie Actress. More from GoldDerby 'The Four Seasons' co-creators explain their decision to kill [spoiler] - and Tina Fey's remarkable performance in response: 'She's really good' 'Awards Magnet': 'The Four Seasons' enters Emmy season and category moves No, Conan O'Brien is not dead in the 'Hacks' world - and he has an 'open invite' to join Season 5 Netflix who stepped back into the role of Walton for Black Mirror's "USS Callister: Into Infinity," the sequel to the Emmy-winning episode that originally aired in 2017, will be submitted for Limited Series/TV Movie Supporting Actor. Likewise, his costar Cristin Milioti, who similarly reprised her role for "Into Infinity," is being submitted as Limited Series/TV Movie Supporting Actress. The decision would potentially make her eligible for two Emmy nominations, since she is planning on going in the lead category for The Penguin. Emma Corrin, Issa Rae, and Tracee Ellis Ross will also be submitted for supporting actress. Giamatti starred in the Black Mirror episode titled "Eulogy," about a man who can step into old photographs to relive certain moments with a former love. While O'Dowd and Jones play a couple looking to start a family when the wife falls into a coma and her husband moves forward with an unusual life-saving procedure in the episode titled "Common People," which also stars Ross. Below is the list of Netflix's official Black Mirror acting submissions for Emmy consideration. Please note that because actors are allowed to submit on their own, meaning actors not on this list could still appear on the Emmy ballot. Limited Series/TV Movie Actor: Paul Giamatti, Chris O'Dowd Limited Series/TV Movie Actress: Rashida Jones Limited Series/TV Movie Supporting Actor: Jimmi Simpson Limited Series/TV Movie Supporting Actress: Emma Corrin, Cristin Milioti, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross Best of GoldDerby 'The Pitt' star Shawn Hatosy loves 'ER cowboy' Dr. Abbot as much as you do Everything to know about Ryan Coogler's 'The X-Files' reboot: Gillian Anderson finally weighs in 'I just wanted to make her feel seen': Imogen Faith Reid on portraying Natalia Grace in Hulu's 'Good American Family' Click here to read the full article.
Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Black Mirror season 7 amazes, but falls short on tech-driven storytelling; did the episodes live up to expectations?
When a sci-fi fan sits down to watch Black Mirror, they expect a certain level of technological intrigue. However, season seven, while rich in psychological depth, did not quite deliver what matters most: groundbreaking technology. Over time, Black Mirror's sharp focus on the dark side of technological development seems to have been dialled down. Instead of showcasing tech evolution, the latest season often felt like a collection of recycled ideas, familiar narratives, and only average innovation. Here's a breakdown of all the episodes of Black Mirror season 7 and why I felt it missed the mark in many places: Episode 1: Common people The season opener Common People had plenty of potential, striking the right emotional chord from the beginning. The premise—a husband using high-tech means to save his wife's life—was intriguing. Yet, the execution felt predictable, echoing themes explored in previous seasons, without enough technological twists to keep it fresh. Chris O'Dowd and Rashida Jones delivered convincing performances, but the climax did not do justice to the setup. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO Siena Kelly and Rosy McEwen's second episode is a psychological thriller about a culinary researcher whose reality shifts after an old schoolmate joins her workplace. However, the story lacked impact and clear explanation. The technological metaphor—hinting at the Mandela effect—felt underdeveloped and unsatisfying. Instead of focusing on a novel tech invention, the episode leaned more heavily into psychological manipulation, missing the essence of Black Mirror's tech-driven storytelling. Episode 3: Hotel Reverie Set in 40s Hollywood, the black-and-white episode explored the use of AI-based virtual production to recreate films in the modern world. Emma Corrin impressed as Dorothy, but Issa Rae's performance as Brandy felt less convincing. While the episode succeeded in evoking emotions, the technology served more as a background detail than a core focus. Compared to the early seasons, the episode lacked the sharp technological commentary that once defined the show. ALSO READ | Episode 4: Plaything This episode offered beautiful storytelling but left me confused by the climax. The ending did not fully justify the episode's emotional buildup. Peter Capaldi's chilling performance brought back memories of Bandersnatch and elevated the narrative. A video game journalist becomes obsessed with an unusual game populated by artificial lifeforms, leading to the end of humanity. If I had to rank all the season seven episodes, Plaything would likely take first place for its storytelling quality, even if its tech innovation was modest. Are the makers running out of fresh ideas? Eulogy felt like a rehash of concepts explored in earlier seasons, similar to Common People. It followed a lonely man revisiting memories and photographs of a deceased ex-girlfriend using a system that allows users to relive moments inside images. Sound familiar? While the emotional angle was powerful, thanks largely to Paul Giamatti's gut-wrenching performance, the technological element took a back seat. Again. Episode 6: USS Callister: Into Infinity The most anticipated episode, USS Callister: Into Infinity, a sequel to the beloved season four episode USS Callister, finally delivered. In my opinion, it had the most satisfying climax out of all the episodes. Revisiting the digital realm adventure of the office peers with even more high stakes to save their lives, the narrative served tech value and character development with a familiar backdrop. The theme of digital consciousness lives up to the expectations in the episode. Black Mirror season 7 shines when it comes to storytelling, emotional depth and character development. But, it surely lacks in presenting new, high-end and fresh technological concepts. It touches the deep psychological string, but leaves you wanting more of the show's sci-fi trademark.
Metro
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Netflix fans have just hours to binge 'funniest British TV show ever'
Every day, Netflix adds more and more incredible TV shows and movies to its lineup. Sadly, though, nothing lasts forever (not even Netflix licensing deals), and occasionally we have to wave goodbye to an incredible show. So, it's with a heavy heart that I write this, but on April 25, The IT Crowd – one of the best British comedies of the 21st century – will leave the streaming service. Set in the fictional Reynholm Industries, this sensational sitcom followed the company's IT department staffed by the 'standard nerds'. That included the brilliant but boring Maurice Moss (Richard Ayoade), the lazy Roy Trenneman (Chris O'Dowd), and their manager, Jen Barber (Katherine Parkinson), the nominally normal one. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. If you've never seen it, it's probably best described as The Office's more extraverted sibling. While Ricky Gervais's TV baby captured the mind-numbing tedium of working life (sorry to my boss if you're reading this), The IT Crowd was lively and surreal. Episodes would deal with strange ideas, like a goth living behind a secret office door, convincing colleagues that they'd destroyed the internet, or your co-workers appearing on Countdown ('that's a nice tnetennba'). It was deliberately weird and wonderful, and while you could probably fit the number of people who watched the first episode in a reasonably sized cupboard – the BBC described the viewing figures as 'disappointing' – the show slowly developed a cult following. Over the course of its run, The IT Crowd went from a secret hit to a phenomenon, picking up multiple award nominations and even a few wins, while Roy's catchphrase 'Have you tried turning it on and off again' became the bane of real-life IT workers across the UK. The IT Crowd Peep Show The Inbetweeners The Office Mr Bean The Thick of It Outnumbered Friday Night Dinner My Family This Country In fact, The IT Crowd was such a success that it was crowned 'the funniest British sitcom ever' in a study conducted by [via According to the study, The IT Crowd makes a person laugh on average for one minute and 44 seconds every episode, that's a whole eight seconds more than the second funniest show, Peep Show. Perhaps the most obvious sign of the show's success, though, was when America tried and failed to make their own version of the show, not once but twice. Afterall, are you really a hit UK sitcom if there hasn't been a worse US remake? Like Netflix licensing deals, though, all good things must come to an end, and after four seasons and a one-off special, the IT Crowd made their final bows. Since then, the cast has gone on to even more success. Chris O'Dowd has become a Hollywood star, appearing in huge comedy movies like Bridesmaids and the most recent season of Black Mirror. Katherine Parkinson has dazzled on screen and stage, starring in hit TV shows like Inside Number 9, Rivals, and Humans (we'll ignore her embarrassing Taskmaster performance for her sake). Richard Ayoade, meanwhile, has, fittingly, had the most eccentric career. Along with directing critically acclaimed movies like Submarine, he's presented his own travel show for nine seasons, been on what feels like every UK panel show going, and even lent his voice to an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. Most recently, Richard made it to the final two in the brilliant Last One Laughing, where he went head-to-head with Bob Mortimer before inevitably losing to a well-timed joke. Arguably, though, for all the success of the core three cast members, it's Matt Berry who played their insane boss Douglas Reynholm who's gone on to enjoy the most success. More Trending Since The IT Crowd ended, he's gone on to lead not one but two hit shows – Toast of London and What We Do in the Shadows – and made guest appearances on The Mandalorian, Fallout, and The Simpsons (plus he was also in the SpongeBob movie which is clearly better than one episode). So, if you've never given The IT Crowd a chance, why not give it a go? There are only 25 episodes to get through. That's plenty of time for a quick TV binge before the show logs off Netflix. View More » The IT Crowd is available to stream on Netflix. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix quietly adds 'striking' movie about beloved author MORE: 'Most influential movie of the 21st century' now streaming for free MORE: Prison drama that's 'as good as the Godfather' has Netflix viewers hooked
