It really is your last chance to see anything at Cineworld for quite some time, and this big-screen bork speaks volumes
- Reference: 1602057784
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/10/07/bork/
- Source link:
Spotted by Register reader Rob at a Cineworld branch in Ashton-under-Lyne, England, the display above the deserted concessions counter would normally serve up information or teasers for coming attractions.
With society having long passed the 200th day of March, those "coming attractions" seem further away than ever. Indeed, this might be the final glimpse of borkage in this chain of cinemas for quite a some time.
Having little more than a generic IMAX advert to show, and an uncertain future ahead, it looks like the poor thing has gone for a final, widescreen bork.
[1]
Or maybe some sort of restart has been attempted, with mixed results.
The PC in question looks to have been connected to a wired network, and the engineer responsible for setting things up is likely blissfully unaware that punters are being treated to a rare show alongside their regular programming.
Windows Defender is obscuring the all-important IMAX message with a warning that MarsServerProvider has been blocked, perhaps from a communication attempt with whatever is accessible on Network 3. The result is a screen full of bork above where once one might have queued to grumble about the price of popcorn or carbonated beverages.
MarsServerProvider itself is a bit of software associated (in this instance) with NovaStar, based in Xi'an, China, who lurk behind an awful lot of the world's LED display controls. Founded in 2008, the same year the company was chosen to provide the LED display tech for the Beijing Olympic Games, NovaStar's products also include cloud-based content publishing and management systems.
Oddly, the [2]company's catalog [PDF] does not include the flinging of bork when services seek to go places that the Windows Firewall would prefer they did not.
Things [3]aren't looking too good for the Cineworld chain at the moment. Bond has been booted to 2021, and other crowdpleasers have similarly been pushed back.
As such, those wishing to catch a showing of Borknado: The Final BSOD or family favourite Honey, I Misconfigured the Firewall would be advised to pay a visit [4]before the lights are turned off from Friday . ®
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[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2020/10/06/cinebork.jpg
[2] https://oss.novastar.tech/uploads/2020/01/NovaStar-Catalog-2020.pdf
[3] https://twitter.com/cineworld/status/1313148757035409413
[4] https://www.cineworld.co.uk/static/en/uk/blog/cineworld-cinemas-closure-faq-coronavirus-covid-19
[5] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Kiosk Mode
Given that there are loads of Local Policies and/or GPOs for Kiosk-mode PCs, even if Windows is after some attention, it's not difficult to prevent it from splurging it all over the main output monitor!
Cinemas in their current form are an artefact of the limited availability of reels of film
The need won't go away but I'd expect their reinvention. Maybe, as small, high-street store screening rooms, with good refreshments, and a massive repertoire of movies - basically a social, shared second living room.
Re: Cinemas in their current form are an artefact of the limited availability of reels of film
It is very weird that Cineworld haven't made more of an effort to get films in. My local one has gone to the back catalogue to show all the Rocky films, Empire Strikes Back and the 3 Back to the Futures. I've been looking every week to see what's on, as if we don't go out, then a whole bunch of places are going to go bust. So I did my bit by seeing Tenet twice, with dinner beforehand. And I went to see Empire in July - but there are so many old films they could have shown. They've now got digital projection and a network to download films to the cinema's servers - so I don't see why they haven't made a bit more effort. I'd love to see 2001 on a proper big screen, or Jaws maybe. All sorts of films from the 60s and 70s that I'm too young to have seen first time round.
I suppose I did miss out on the opportunity to see Flash Gordon projected on a massive screen, I've just remembered they showed that on one day in July.
Obviously it's the studios fault too. Tenet had taken $250m globally, as of 2 weeks ago - which is less than I'm sure they were hoping, but still pretty reasonable. And it's still running - obviously you can't pack the cinemas out in the first weekend to get the stupid numbers - but I'd imagine they were expecting $500m up by the time it closes. So it's at least in the right area.
And if studios are worried that they'll make less by just selling to streaming services, that's what they'll be left with anyway - if they bankrupt the cinemas by not releasing stuff for them to show.
Re: Cinemas in their current form are an artefact of the limited availability of reels of film
The small cinemas are the hardest hit. My local one has closed permanently, and the others in the small chain are looking doubtful.
The makers of Bond say they want people to have the full cinema experience, but come April, there may not be any left.
Looks to be working better than usual!
Windows firewall prevented it from connecting to the network! Presto! it works now! At least that's what I can read in the pic...