• MoviePass owner Helios and Matheson Analytics was trading below $0.07 on Friday, an all-time low for the company.
• Last Wednesday it was at $14 following a 1-for-250 reverse stock split.
• A lot has happened since then.

Though MoviePass and its parent company, Helios and Matheson Analytics (HMNY), claim everything is fine, the market begs to differ.

On Friday, stock for HMNY was trading below $0.07, an all-time low for the company that acquired the movie-theater subscription service last August. 

The crash by the HMNY stock follows an awful week and a half for the company. In late July, HMNY CEO Ted Farnsworth expressed optimism to Business Insider that the stock price would stabilize after a reverse split. That didn't happen. The 1-for-250 reverse stock split got the stock from $0.09 to around $14 last Wednesday. But it has been falling since. 

With the stock trading above a dollar last week, it only had to stay at $1 or above for 10 days (and have a market cap of at least $50 million) to stave off the possibility of being delisted from the Nasdaq in mid-December. But HMNY was below a dollar days later as a string of misfortune hit MoviePass.

By the end of last week, the app temporarily shut down, leading to HMNY having to borrow $5 million cash to get it back up and running. Customers also complained that the biggest movie of the weekend, "Mission: Impossible - Fallout," was not available on the app and that there was across-the-board surge pricing for most of the screening times for available movies.

Following another service interruption to the app over the weekend, this Monday MoviePass CEO, Mitch Lowe, announced in an all-hands meeting that the company was drastically changing how subscribers could use the app as no major blockbusters would be available on the service going forward. On Tuesday, the company revealed that it would be changing its monthly subscription price from $9.95 a month to $14.95.

Throughout, MoviePass has tried to put on a brave face. On Thursday it released a press release with the header "We're Still Standing," boasting how important it had been to this year's impressive domestic box office (which is up around 8% from last year). 

But you only have to glance at what Wall Street is saying Friday to realize the situation is dire.

SEE ALSO: 7 great movies you can watch on Netflix this weekend

Join the conversation about this story »

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• MoviePass' e-ticketing feature allows users to purchase tickets on the app without being at the theater.
• Users can also see big movies with e-ticketing that are now otherwise restricted.
• But it's only offered at a select group of participating theater chains.

As movie-theater subscription service MoviePass overhauls its business model, one feature has gone untouched: e-ticketing.

MoviePass' e-ticketing is a way to purchase movie tickets through the app without using the MoviePass card. You can reserve seating when available, and MoviePass says "you can check in from anywhere, like work or home."

But it only works at a select group of participating theater chains.

For those MoviePass users who are near participating e-ticketing theaters, it's one of the worthwhile perks of a service that is undergoing drastic changes, many of which are perceived negatively by frustrated subscribers.

MoviePass recently decided that it would not offer big movies on its service in their first couple weeks of release for the foreseeable future to try and control its cash burn. But MoviePass confirmed to Business Insider that the restriction doesn't apply to e-ticketing, so customers can still enjoy big releases if they are close to a participating theater.

The participating theaters includeGoodrich Quality Theaters, Studio Movie Grill, and MJR Theatres. In March, it struck a partnership with the Mark Cuban-owned  theater chain Landmark Theatres for e-ticketing and other perks.

These theaters are few and far between. Goodrich has 30 theaters throughout Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. SMG has 30 theaters throughout Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas (13 out of the 30 are in Texas). MJR has 10 locations, all in Michigan. And Landmark has 52 locations in 27 markets.

In an email to customers in May, MoviePass announced additions to its e-ticketing feature, such as: QR code support to "speed up the ticketing process at the kiosk or counter because now you only have to scan your phone"; sofa seating integration, so "theaters with different seating options are now supported and integrated" into the app; and accessibility messaging, in which "seats designated for wheelchair accessibility will now include pop-up messaging to ensure that these seats are not selected by those who do not need them."

Available e-ticketing theaters in your area will appear at the top in the list view of theaters on the app, and with a red and white ticket symbol in the map view. You'll receive a confirmation code with your check-in, and then can head to the box office or kiosk at the theater to pick up your ticket.

For more of Business Insider's MoviePass coverage, click here.

SEE ALSO: MoviePass' owner is trading at an all-time low, days after a drastic 1-for-250 reverse stock split

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why the World Cup soccer ball looks so different

• Trebel is a music app that lets you download music for free — but there are some tradeoffs.
• You have to listen to multiple ads to download a song, and there are 'credits' that get consumed by offline listening — these credits are earned by watching ads. 
• However, Trebel is aimed at people that wouldn't be paying for a streaming subscription in the first place, and by choosing Trebel instead of torrenting or other free downloads, listeners are helping artists receive compensation for their work. 
• The app is similar in some respect to Spotify's free app — but there are  a few big differences.

Not everyone can afford to dish out the $10 per month for a Spotify or Apple Music subscription. They're both convenient and great apps, but there's certainly incentive for younger, lower-income people to simply torrent their music or download it for free elsewhere. 

This is the demographic that Trebel, a music app, hopes to reel in. Trebel boasts that it allows free offline listening — and that artists are compensated, too. It seems like a win-win: you don't have to pay for the music you download, and the artists you enjoy listening to are getting paid at the same time.

There are some tradeoffs, however. To highlight how the app compares with other 'free' alternatives, we chose to put Trebel head to head with the free version of Spotify's mobile app.

SEE ALSO: This $610 million real estate company doesn't have an office for its 13,000 agents and staff — instead, everybody works from this completely virtual island

Trebel allows you to download music for offline listening, while Spotify's free app only lets you listen when connected to WiFi or data plans.

Right off the bat, this is the biggest difference between the two apps. Trebel allows you to download music for offline listening, while Spotify requires a subscription for that feature. Each time you want to download a song on Trebel, however, you wil have to watch a video ad. While downloading one song, I was presented with three different ads before the process was finished. It's a mild annoyance, but you are getting these songs for free, after all. 

Spotify's free app doesn't allow offline listening — and you can only 'shuffle' through the playlists you have saved. In this regard, Trebel gives you a little more control over what you listen to and when you listen to it. You can listen to songs in any order on Trebel, and you can listen to them offline. However, offline plays requires the use of credits, which are earned by watching ads in the app or by inviting friends. Once you're out of credits, you're limited to online listening only. 

Spotify has a better song selection — some artists and songs are missing from Trebel.

This is where Spotify regains the upper hand. While Trebel allows you to actually download the songs you want for free, you probably won't be able to find every song you're looking for — especially if you're into obscure or eclectic stuff. Spotify, by contrast, has a wide variety of songs to choose from, ranging from major artists to the less-popular ones. But of course, you can only listen to all that free Spotify music when you have an internet connection. 

Advertisements are a big part of both apps.

As with any free app, you're going to have to deal with ads. This is definitely the case with Trebel, as you'll need to watch ads every time you download a song, and there are banner ads throughout the app as well. It's not a huge price to pay for free music downloads, though, and most of the ads are skippable. There's also the added benefit of knowing that your listening habits are providing some revenue for your favorite artists. 

Spotify's ads feel less frequent, but they can be pretty intrusive. You can't skip them, and they play in between songs — usually trying to convince you to switch to Spotify Premium. You also don't get anything out of listening to Spotify's ads, while watching ads on Trebel provides you with credits that are used for offline listening. 

Former President Barack Obama has been living the dream ever since he left office more than a year ago.

From vacationing in exotic locations, to dancing at a Beyoncé-Jay Z concert, to negotiating a Netflix deal, Obama has been making the most of his post-presidency — and it's hard not to feel a little nostalgic for the eight years he was in office.

Here's a glimpse at the moments that made people love Obama, and show why many miss him now.

SEE ALSO: The White House photographer has taken more than 2 million photos during Obama's presidency — here are the best

DON'T MISS: 39 photos that show why everyone misses George W. Bush

He was just the best with kids.

From the littlest toddlers ...

... to the tallest teenagers.

Netflix's catalog just got a whole lot better.

In recent weeks, a slew of A24 films quietly became available on the streaming service. A24, which got off to a small start in 2013 with movies including "Spring Breakers" and "The Spectacular Now," started gaining some momentum in 2015 with the release of the groundbreaking sci-fi thriller "Ex Machina" starring Oscar Isaac, Domnhall Gleeson, and Alicia Vikander. 

Now, A24 boasts a poetic 24 Academy Awards.

Its first came in 2016 with Brie Larson's best actress win for "Room." A year later, it dominated the 2017 ceremony with multiple awards including best picture and best director for "Moonlight." In 2018, Greta Gerwig's "Lady Bird" was nominated in major categories including best picture, but did not win. While these aren't on Netflix (they're exclusive to Amazon Prime), the A24 films on Netflix show how the company got so good at what its doing in such a short period. 

2018 is still a hot year for A24, with the recent release of the critically acclaimed "Eighth Grade" directed by comedian Bo Burnham. Later this year, it will release "Mid90s," Jonah Hill's directorial debut. 

Here is a list of all 26 A24 movies you can watch on Netflix, including "Spring Breakers" and "Ex Machina," along with their Rotten Tomatoes scores:

SEE ALSO: 7 great movies you can watch on Netflix this weekend

"Spring Breakers" (2013)

Netflix Description: After four college girls rob a restaurant to fund their spring break in Florida, they get entangled with a weird dude with his own criminal agenda.

Audience Score: 67%

Critic Score: 38%

"The Spectacular Now" (2013)

Netflix Description: A charismatic, hard-partying young man strikes up an unlikely romance with a smart and focused young woman during their last year of high school.

Audience Score: 92%

Critic Score: 76%

"Enemy" (2014)

Netflix Description: When a humdrum academic spots his double in a movie, he launches a search that leads him to a small-time actor who looks exactly like him.

Critic Score: 74%

Audience Score: 63%

• Epic Games announced Friday that it won't distribute the upcoming Android version of its "Fortnite: Battle Royale" game through Google's Play Store.
• The decision caused a stir, because it was so unusual and potentially opens Android "Fortnite" users to security threats.
• But the reaction to the decision shows how much we've all bought into the app-store model.
• Though that model has made getting apps easy and more secure, it's also limited choice and further empowered the big operating system makers.
• Epic's move could potentially lead to more choices for consumers and developers — and better apps.

Epic Games' decision to release the Android version of "Fortnite" through its website rather than through the Google Play app store drew headlines and much debate in the tech world on Friday.

But the fact that anyone thought the move was notable at all shows just how skewed our perspectives have become in the age of the smartphone.

Ten years ago, it would have been completely unremarkable for a software company to distribute its latest program or game through its own website.

These days, though, that's the exception, not the rule.

Now, when US consumers install software for their most-used computers — their smartphones — they almost always get the programs from application stores run by the same company that made their operating system.

The app-store model has arguably made things easier and more secure for consumers. But it's come at a significant price. The model has empowered the same giant companies that control the major operating systems, made it more difficult for developers to find viable business models, limited consumer choice, and, in some cases, made using apps more difficult, convoluted, or pricey than it would otherwise be.

There are other ways of distributing software than through the app-store model. That model predominates because maintaining it is the the interests of the operating system providers. But Epic's decision offers hope that there may be ways to challenge it from the outside — and maybe make things better for consumers and developers alike.

Epic's powerful enough to challenge the app-store model

If any developer has the power to challenge the established order, it's Epic. "Fortnite: Battle Royale" is the world's most popular game, and Epic has had great success distributing it on multiple computing and gaming platforms. Just about the only major system that doesn't have its own version is Android. That pairing would seem an ideal match, given that Android is the dominant operating system on the most popular computing device on the planet.

Epic could have just decided to go the route of most developers and release "Fortnite" through the Google Play store, the primary way Android apps are distributed in the US and other countries. But the company objected to paying Google's fees.

Google, like Apple, takes a 30% cut of most transactions made through its application store. Epic offers "Fortnite" for free and makes money by selling in-game upgrades, such as skins, or costumes through the app. It was loath to give 30% of the revenue from such sales to Google if it didn't have to.

So when it releases the Android version of the game later this summer, Epic will offer it through its own website. That way, it doesn't have to abide by the terms of the Google Play store — and can avoid those fees.

Epic isn't the first developer to distribute Android software outside of Google Play.

Unlike with Apple's iOS software, which underlies the iPhone, consumers can install apps on Android devices from places other than the primary app store devices without making major changes to the operating system. That feature is critical in places like China, where Google doesn't have a presence. There, consumers can choose from numerous app stores, and sideloading — the process of installing apps via a web site, rather than through a built-in store app — is much more common.

We can thank Apple for app stores

Here in the US, by contrast, sideloading, especially on smartphones, is unusual. That's because we have essentially acquiesced to Apple's way of doing business.

When Apple launched the original iPhone, it configured the device so users couldn't install any full applications. The company relented a year later, opening the device up to third-party applications, but with a couple of catches. Users could only install apps through the App Store app Apple released, and apps offered in that store would have to adhere to the company's rules.

Apple had some justifiable reasons for setting up its app store in this fashion. Malware was proliferating in the PC world, where users can download and install software from anywhere. By preventing iPhone users from downloading apps anywhere but through its store, Apple could safeguard their phones from malicious software and keep them more secure.

The app store also offered a convenience for both consumers and developers. It was easy for consumers to find new apps — they just shopped in the App Store. And the store allowed developers to reach every iPhone owner, because every iPhone had the App Store app.

App stores offer security — and fees and limitations

But even from the beginning, it was clear that the app-store model had its downsides. Apple was curating apps and wouldn't let in any that violated its guidelines, such as those that featured pornography. It also barred developers from offering apps that included features it didn't officially support. Even though the camera in the first iPhones could technically shoot video, for example, developers weren't allowed to offer video-taking apps, because Apple didn't yet support that feature on the devices.

For developers, the app-store trade-off became more problematic after Apple added support for in-app purchases and subscriptions inside apps. Once it did so, the company insisted that not only did all apps have to be purchased or downloaded from its store, but any transactions made inside those apps — except for the purchase of physical goods through e-commerce storefronts — had to be made through Apple as well.

If developers wanted to offer customers the ability to rent digital movies through their apps or to sell a virtual weapon in their games or to offer a subscription inside their magazine app, they had to route those transactions through Apple and pay it a commission on them. Developers were left with the choice of either paying Apple's tax or degrading the customer experience inside their apps.

Many developers chose the latter, deciding to to either not include in-app purchases or to charge extra for transactions made through their apps than they did through their own websites. So while the App Store made it easier for consumer to find and install apps, it encouraged developers to make those apps more difficult and frustrating to use.

Others copied Apple's model

The app-store model also made Apple much more powerful than it would otherwise have been.

Apple's control over the iPhone's operating system gave it control over the App Store, which has given it control over — and the ability to tax — the apps users can run on their own devices.

Apple has profited off that power; one of the fastest growing parts of its operations these days is its services business, which includes the commissions it gets off of App Store sales. Many developers have benefitted from the arrangement too, but others have struggled to build sustainable businesses for their apps or have found their apps unceremoniously blocked or removed from the store.

Despite those shortcomings for consumers and developers, Apple's app store model became hugely successful, thanks to the popularity of the iPhone. And Apple's success helped to spread the model. It's now been widely copied by everyone from Microsoft to Google to Apple itself, when it tried to set up the Mac App Store.

Thanks to the omnipresence of app stores these days, it can be hard to remember that there are other ways of getting software on our devices. But there are. You only need to look to your PC or Mac to see one. Despite Apple and Microsoft's best efforts to promote their app stores for the desktop computers, consumers can still sideload apps for them from websites or from other, non-affiliated software sites and stores.

Epic's move carries security risks — but they're manageable

That freedom does come with risks. You don't have the operating system maker screening apps. So when you download software for your PC from a website, you're taking the chance that you might install some kind of malware.

Epic's move raised similar worries. In order to install "Fortnite," users will have to turn off a feature in Android that bars them from installing apps outside of Google Play. If users forget to turn that feature back on after installing the game, they could open themselves up to inadvertently installing malicious apps.

And that's not just a theoretical threat. The amount of malicious software targeting mobile devices is growing rapidly. The vast majority targets Android devices, and frequently gets installed via sideloading.

But there are ways to allow users to have more choice in where they get their apps and still protect them from malware. Android and other contemporary smartphone operating systems already protect users from malicious applications — usually by forcing apps to get users' permission before accessing sensitive data or features, as Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney pointed out in an email to CNET.

Ironically, Apple itself offers another model for allowing users to sideload software safely, via the Mac. Users can configure their Macs so they can install software from outside the Mac App Store. When they do, their computer will warn them that the app was downloaded from elsewhere and ask them if they really want to run it. In some cases, the computer will even block the app completely. Users can approve the app, but it's on a one-off basis. Just because they approve one app doesn't mean they will be giving free rein to all future apps they may download.

In other words, there are other ways to protect devices from malware than by forcing consumers to get all their software from a single app store. Epic's decision to distribute "Fortnite" through its website doesn't have to be the super security risk that some critics are making it out to be.

Yes, it likely will increase risks. But it also brings with it new opportunities. If Epic can show that it works with minimal risk, other developers may follow its lead. As a result, consumers could find a broader selection of apps available for their devices, potentially at lower prices and designed in ways that make them less frustrating to use.

There's nothing ostensibly wrong with an app store. But consumers and developers should use them because the stores work for them — not because they're forced to.

SEE ALSO: Europe's competition czar is wrong — it's long past time to break up Google

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Many of the notable lists that rank the greatest movies of all time — like the American Film Institute's "100 Years ... 100 Movies" from 1998 — have enlisted thousands of movie-industry names to come up with a consensus on established classics.

When film critics are the only factor taken into account for such a list, however, the results skew in unexpected directions.

To find out which films have been the most critically acclaimed over time, we turned to the reviews aggregator Metacritic for this ranking, which scores films by their composite critical reception. 

The resulting list includes modern masterpieces, like "Moonlight" and "Pan's Labyrinth," in contention with classics like "The Godfather."

Here are the 50 best movies of all time, according to the critics on Metacritic:

SEE ALSO: The 73 best action movies of all time, according to critics

50. "Pulp Fiction" (1994)

Critic score: 94/100

User score: 9.1/10

Plot summary: "The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption."

49. "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962)

Critic score: 94/100

User score: 8.3/10

Plot summary: "A former prisoner of war is brainwashed as an unwitting assassin for an international Communist conspiracy."

48. "Taxi Driver" (1976)

Critic score: 94/100

User score: 7.0/10

Plot summary: "A mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action, while attempting to liberate a twelve-year-old prostitute."

Netflix has begun to cancel shows, but that doesn't mean it's getting rid of your favorites.

38 Netflix original series will be returning with new seasons in the near future.

Only a few of the series have official release dates, including the upcoming season premieres of "Marvel's Iron Fist" and "Ozark."

Last week, Netflix announced the renewal of its original sci-fi series "Altered Carbon." 

Other hit shows that have been renewed by the streaming service, like "Stranger Things" and "Black Mirror," are either in production or awaiting release.

For this list, we have included only renewed Netflix series that are yet to air, and we've included official release dates if applicable. We've excluded children's shows and reality series.

Here are the 38 Netflix original series that are coming back for another season:

SEE ALSO: All 73 of Netflix's notable original shows, ranked from worst to best

"Ozark" (Season 2) — Premieres August 31

Date renewed:August 17, 2017

"Marvel's Iron Fist" (Season 2) — Premieres September 7

Date renewed: July 22, 2017

"BoJack Horseman" (Season 5) — Premieres September 14

Date renewed: September 21, 2017

• Meghan Markle became an instant fashion icon after her engagement to Prince Harry. 
• Her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, has been hugely influential in shaping fashion over the past decade.
• The two have very different styles. As the royal wedding has now come and gone — and with Meghan Markle turning 37 — we took a look at how they match up.

Meghan Markle is celebrating her first birthday as Duchess of Sussex on Saturday. 

Since news broke that Markle was dating Prince Harry, her profile skyrocketed, and she became an international fashion icon. It's a role that only one other woman in recent memory can directly identify with — her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton. 

It's rare for the royals to speak their minds in public. That goes double for Middleton and Markle. As women in the spotlight, anything they do can spark backlash. As a result, fashion can provide a way for them to express themselves.

As Markle prepared to marry Harry, we found ourselves wondering how she would compare to Middleton when it comes to fashion. And, with the wedding in the rearview mirror, our fascination with figuring out how Markle will both compare and differentiate herself has only grown.

Here's how Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, measures up to Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge:

SEE ALSO: Brands like Burger King, KFC, and Velveeta are doing everything they can to cash in on the royal wedding's $1.4 billion goldmine

Let's start with a Markle specialty: movie premieres. As an actress, she has plenty of experience dressing for the red carpet.

It's a pretty simple look — a little black dress with strappy heels. Cute, but nothing groundbreaking.

As a duchess, Middleton also attends plenty of premieres. Here she is in 2012, at the premiere of "War Horse."

A few months back, I made a major life change: I've been using Apple Music for about two years, but decided to make the switch to Spotify's premium service. 

It wasn't because I found an issue with Apple Music, but because I bought a few Google Home Mini devices for my new apartment. Apple Music doesn't work on any Google Home, or the Amazon Echo, for that matter — you need an Apple HomePod if you want an Apple Music-compatible smart speaker.

Google's smart speakers do allow you to play music from Apple Music, just as you would with a Bluetooth speaker — by pairing your phone and controlling everything on there. 

But if I was going to spend the money on Google Home Minis — which cost $50 apiece or $78 if you buy two, which I did — I wanted to get my money's worth. Plus, I've been using a Google Home Max at my house for the last six months. Altogether, I currently have a nice little Google Home ecosystem, and I wanted to get the most out of it. 

I naively thought that making the switch would be an easy one. Both apps offer access to a massive music library, provide personalized, curated playlists, and allow you to do things like listen to podcasts and radio. While Apple Music has gotten a few artist exclusives in the past, both apps currently offer most of the music I want to listen to. 

Now, two months into using Spotify, I'm longing for my old life as an Apple Music user. 

My issues with Spotify center around my personal preferences, and they're extremely specific to the way I use the app. Still, I can't help feeling like Spotify just isn't the app for me. 

Here are five reasons why:

SEE ALSO: We compared Google News and Apple's built-in News app for the iPhone to see which one is better — and there's a clear winner

First and foremost, I'm not really a "dark mode" kind of gal.

Whenever possible, I like to leave my apps set to light mode — somehow, my brain seems to comprehend a white background better than a black one. Whenever I look at content on a black background, it's confusing for me and I have trouble knowing what to look at first.

But Spotify is only available with a black background, and that has been the No. 1 issue for me. Of course, the reverse could be true for people who prefer a dark mode, since Apple Music is only available with a white background. 

In general, I find that the interface is busier and more difficult to navigate than Apple Music.

Maybe it's Apple Music's big, bubbly headings and extra-large font, but I find the app more appealing and easier to use than Spotify. 

Don't get me wrong, Spotify is a beautiful app, particularly when it comes to the playlist covers. But it also feels cluttered and over-designed to my eye — the font is too small, and there are too many icons for my taste. 

When I was an Apple Music user, I felt as though I most often just scrolled up and down, or Force Touched on a song or album to pull up a menu of options. On Spotify, there are so many carousels and menus that I feel like I'm constantly swiping vertically, then horizontally, then vertically again every time I navigate the app. 

Of course, this is all about personal preference, and I've realized that I prefer a cleaner, more minimalist app.

My downloaded music isn't all stored in one place on Spotify.

I don't have an unlimited data plan, and I spend a good portion of my life underground on the subway. Therefore, being able to download music is very important to me — as is being able to easily access that downloaded music. 

While Apple Music makes that incredibly easy, Spotify...doesn't. Apple Music has a separate tab that houses all of the music you already have downloaded, while Spotify just mixes it in with the rest of your library.

Not only that, but the app places all this other stuff ahead of your list of music, like tabs for podcasts (I don't listen to them) and videos (I don't watch them on Spotify). Despite all those tabs, Spotify strangely doesn't have a "Downloaded Music" tab, and that's all I really want.

I should point out that if you click on the "Songs" tab, you should see your downloaded songs there. However, they're not organized by album like on Apple Music, they're just displayed in a long list. And for me, a few non-downloaded songs snuck in there as well.  

• 78-year-old English actor Patrick Stewart is making a return to "Star Trek."
• He will continue the story of character Jean-Luc Picard in a new CBS All Access series.
• The title and release date is not yet known.

Patrick Stewart is returning to "Star Trek" — and he'll continue the story of Jean-Luc Picard.

The 78-year-old English actor, also known for his role in the X-Men franchise, is set to take the character's story further in a new CBS All Access series, which does not yet have a title or release date.

Stewart announced the news when he made a surprise appearance at the annual "Star Trek" convention in Las Vegas, according to The Guardian.

"I will always be very proud to have been a part of the 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' but when we wrapped that final movie in the spring of 2002, I truly felt my time with Star Trek had run its natural course," he said.

"It is, therefore, an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him. Seeking out new life for him, when I thought that life was over."

The character of Jean-Luc Picard has appeared in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and four feature films: "Star Trek Generations," "Star Trek: First Contact," "Star Trek: Insurrection," and "Star Trek: Nemesis."

Stewart went on: "During these past years, it has been humbling to hear stories about how 'The Next Generation' brought people comfort, saw them through difficult periods in their lives or how the example of Jean-Luc inspired so many to follow in his footsteps, pursuing science, exploration and leadership.

"I feel I’m ready to return to what comforting and reforming light he might shine on these often very dark times. I look forward to working with our brilliant creative team as we endeavour to bring a fresh, unexpected and pertinent story to life once more."

The executive producer will be Alex Kurtzman, showrunner of "Star Trek: Discover," which is set to return in January.

Of the new project, Kurtzman said: "For over 20 years, fans have hoped for the return of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and that day is finally here. We can’t wait to forge new ground, surprise people, and honour generations both new and old."

SEE ALSO: Sacha Baron Cohen convinced a 'Bachelor' reality star that he was a photographer who wanted to shoot her for an Ebola aid campaign — and what happened will make you cringe

Join the conversation about this story »

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Elon Musk may be the CEO of two different companies, but he still makes time to game.

As the head of Tesla Motors, Musk is leading the rebirth of all-electric vehicles. At SpaceX, he's steering a company whose mission is to "revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets." And that's not to mention that he oversees SolarCity, a company focused on making solar energy commonplace that Tesla bought last year.

But when he's not busy transforming transportation, space travel, and energy use, Musk plays video games. Well, he does lots of other things, but video games are one of those things. Heck, he's even putting video games into Tesla's cars!

As it turns out, Musk has excellent taste in games. Here are some of his favorites, which we gleaned from a Reddit AMA and Musk's Twitter account:

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk wants to let people play video games on the dashboard screen of Tesla cars

DON'T MISS: After weeks of bugging him on Twitter, Elon Musk finally told me his 'dark secret'

"Overwatch"

"Overwatch" isn't just a good game — it's the best game that came out in 2016, folks. Musk was quick to get hip to the game. His first tweet about it was in June 2016, a month after the game launched.

Showing how he's a man of taste, Musk has been playing the PC version of the game. Not only is that the prettiest version of "Overwatch," but a PC would give him the most control over the game's performance. And if we know anything about Musk, it's that he has a thing for being in control. 

BONUS: The main character he uses in the game is Soldier 76, which I'd personally call a bit on the boring side. Soldier 76 is a good character, no doubt, but as a main? Come on, Elon. You're more sophisticated than that.

"BioShock"

On paper, "BioShock" isn't anything special. It's a first-person shooter set in an underwater city that has fallen into disrepair. 

In reality, "BioShock" is a genre-pushing, narrative-driven shooting game that raises questions about our basic concepts of how video games work. If I said any more, I'd ruin the game. 

That said, it's not a huge surprise that Musk is a fan: The game is an Ayn Rand-inspired exploration of objectivism, capitalism, and power. It's also a tremendously stylish, innovative game.

The "Mass Effect" series

Moving to a subject that's near and dear to Musk's heart, the "Mass Effect" series focuses on space travel, interstellar diplomacy, and the future of the human race. The second game in the series is "one of the best games ever," Musk has said.

He's not alone in that sentiment — many video fans agree that "Mass Effect 2" ranks among the best games ever made.

• Pandora announced plans earlier this year to establish a second major campus in Atlanta.
• The internet radio giant is filling positions in Atlanta quicker than it expected and now anticipates employing many more people there than it previously planned, CEO Roger Lynch said.
• The company's move is part of a growing tech scene in Atlanta, which has attracted firms with its low cost of living and major universities.

You may not think of Atlanta as a high-tech hub.

Silicon Valley? Of course. Seattle, New York, and Boston. Sure. But Atlanta?

Well, believe it. The city's got a fast-growing tech sector. It's become a major player in businesses like financial technology and cybersecurity.

And earlier this year, when internet radio giant Pandora went looking for a place to set up a second campus that promised lower costs for the company and a better quality of life for employees than its home base in Oakland, it picked Atlanta. The company has been so impressed with the city so far, that it's accelerating its expansion plans there and now expects to employ many more people there than it did originally, CEO Roger Lynch told Business Insider in a recent interview.

"It's a really great music town," Lynch said. "It has a very diverse workforce, strong technology, great universities — and it's affordable."

Pandora announced earlier this year that it planned to expand its team in Atlanta from the 30 ad sales people it had there previously to about 250 people total over the next three years. The new hires were expected to include engineers, which had previously been based solely in Oakland.

Pandora is bullish on Atlanta

But the company will hit that 250-person target much sooner than it previously expected, Lynch said. And its total Atlanta headcount could eventually far exceed that amount, he said.

"Frankly, I think we'll end up hiring far more than that, because we're just seeing such strong success with our hiring there already," Lynch said.

Since announcing plans to bulk up its Atlanta office, Pandora decided to allow all of its hiring managers to list and fill positions in Atlanta as well as Oakland. When they list both locations as possibilities, "inevitably they fill them in Atlanta much faster," he said.

Pandora's move was spurred in part by the high cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area. According to the latest study from the Department of Housing and Urban Development families of four in the area qualify as low income if they earn $117,400 or less.

By contrast, HUD defines low income in Atlanta as a family of four earning $59,850 or less. As a result, Pandora can pay engineers who work there a little less, but they can actually live better, Lynch said.

"An engineer there, on good salary, can live extremely well," he said. In the Bay Area, by contrast, "you pay a lot of money, and you live in like a little box."

Pandora has an incentive to try to economize. The internet radio company has never posted a full-year profit since becoming a public company in 2011. Meanwhile, its revenue growth has been slowing as its ad sales have slumped. In January, the company announced it was laying off 5% of its workforce.

Pandora is only a part of a burgeoning Georgia tech scene

But Pandora's not the only tech company that's bought into the promise of Atlanta. With more than 195,000 tech workers, metropolitan Atlanta is now the sixth largest tech employment hub in the country, according to a report from the Technology Association of Georgia, a trade group. And tech employment there grew 3.2% last year, a faster pace than even in Silicon Valley, according to TAG. 

Financial technology firms Global Payments and First Data are based in the Atlanta area. So too are the technology solutions group of healthcare giant McKesson and cybersecurity companies Ionic and NexDefense.

Besides its low cost of living, another attraction of Atlanta is its universities, which include Georgia Tech, Emory, Georgia State, Spelman, and Morehouse. Georgia Tech in particular is one of the top-ranked in the country and produces a large class of engineers each year. What's more, it graduates more women engineers and more engineers who are members of under-represented minority groups than any other US college.

"It's the talent that's really attracting people," said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. George Tech, specifically, offers "that built-in diversity that many of these tech companies are looking for."

But Atlanta has other attractions, she said. Among them the country's most traveled airport, nearby natural attractions in the form of mountains and lakes, and a thriving music scene, she said.

"We have a lot to recommend," Moddelmog said. "It's a great place to live."

SEE ALSO: Pandora is still alive after getting run over by Spotify and Apple, and the CEO says his comeback plan will open up another big business in music

SEE ALSO: Sling TV's ex-CEO is still a believer in pay TV 'skinny bundles' — but too many services are doing it wrong

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• The HALO jump in "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" almost had to be faked.
• The Royal Air Force would only allow Cruise to do the stunt from 12,000 feet, not 25,000 feet, which would be a true HALO jump.
• However, after Cruise broke his ankle while attempting a stunt for the movie, everything changed, according to Allan Hewitt, the "Fallout" skydiving coordinator.

The HALO jump in "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" took a year to execute, and required special equipment, building the world's largest wind tunnel for training, and over 106 jumps out of a plane to get it in the film.

However, all of that would have been wasted if Tom Cruise hadn't broken his ankle.

In a movie filled with thrilling moments, one of its most dazzling is in the beginning of the movie when Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and CIA agent August Walker (Henry Cavill) do a high-altitude, low-open (HALO) skydive into Paris. Though a stunt double did the jump in Cavill's place, Cruise did the entire thing — jumping out of a C-17 plane from 25,000 feet and playing out the scene in free fall. 

According to Allan Hewitt, the "Fallout" skydiving coordinator, the plan to do a true HALO jump was almost thwarted by the Royal Air Force. 

Because the production's home base was in England, the plan was to shoot the HALO scenes with the RAF's planes and crew. However, the RAF refused to fly the "Fallout" team to an extremely high altitude. They would only let Cruise jump from 12,000 feet. 

"Tom didn't want to fake it — he wanted to do it for real at 25,000 feet," Hewitt told Business Insider. "But the producers said they weren't going to another country. It really looked like we were going to fake it with the RAF."

But all that changed when Cruise broke his ankle while attempting a stunt for the movie. 

Because production was halted, they missed its scheduled time to jump with the RAF. With the wait time, everyone regrouped and agreed that the HALO jump would happen at the end of filming in Abu Dhabi, where Cruise would be allowed to jump from 25,000 feet.

"If Tom didn't break his ankle, we would have ended up faking it, which nobody wanted," Hewitt said.

SEE ALSO: A "Star Wars" actor explains why the movies keep flopping in China

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• "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" wins the weekend box office for a second-straight weekend.
• It had an estimated $35 million in its second frame.
• Coming in second place was Disney's "Christopher Robin."

Things are going exactly as Paramount planned.

Placing "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" in August, the studio knew its big money-making franchise had the potential to be atop the domestic box office for multiple weeks, and they have certainly accomplished that mission (sorry).

The latest movie in the franchise took in an estimated $35 million over the weekend, easily winning the weekend box office for a second straight week and putting its domestic total over the $120 million mark.

It turns out more people were interested in seeing Tom Cruise do insane stunts for over two hours than take a journey back to the Hundred Acre Wood. Disney's "Christopher Robin" came in a distant second place with around $25 million. 

Disney was never intending "Robin" to make a huge dent in the box office, with its more dramatic tone it can be compared to its 2016 August release, "Pete's Dragon."

With a more recognizable IP and Ewan McGregor as its main star (no disrespect, Pooh Bear), "Robin" performed better its opening weekend than the $21.5 million take that "Dragon" had.

But with the summer movie season winding down, Paramount is taking full advantage of Tom Cruise's star power.

"Fallout" had a better second weekend than the previous "Mission," 2015's "Rogue Nation," which took in $28.5 million in its second frame.

Cruise's next mission: Fight off Jason Statham and a prehistoric shark in "The Meg" next weekend to keep the box office crown.

SEE ALSO: 106 skydives with a broken ankle: Inside how Tom Cruise pulled off the thrilling HALO jump in "Mission: Impossible - Fallout"

DON'T MISS: The surprising reason Tom Cruise almost had to fake the HALO jump in 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout'

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Steven Anthony Lawrence is an Los Angeles-based actor who you might recognize for his role as Beans on Disney Channel's "Even Stevens." Since the show ended in 2003, Lawrence has continued acting with roles in "Kicking and Screaming," "That's So Raven," and "Weeds." He also offers acting classes for all ages. For more information contact Lawrence directly at findmychin@gmail.com. Following is a transcript of the video.

Steven Anthony Lawrence: Hi guys, my name is Steven Anthony Lawrence I was Beans on "Even Stevens." Everybody has a Beans in their life or they are the Beans. If you can't think of one you are.

"Even Stevens" aired on Disney Channel from 2000-2003.

You know you work five days a week with people for four years and it's a set like that, you become very, very, very, very close to people. You know, it was like a family. There was not a dry eye in the studio on the last finale.

Shia has a wacky side. Maybe I like him because I kind of have a wacky side too, I guess. But, you know, he has a huge heart, he'd literally give you the shirt off of his back. I still lived in Fresno, actually, when I was shooting the show. My dad was driving me back and forth, you know, putting a lot of miles on cars. Shia one day just kind of surprised me with an Xbox on Christmas.

The audition process was pretty cool, actually. You know, you have pre-reads and then you have your call backs. My thing, my personal thing that I always did as an actor, as a kid at least, was I kind of feel out the room, see if they were kind of in a rush or not, if they were kind of connecting. Then I'd ask if they wanted to hear a joke. So, I told this pirate joke.

Lawrence liked to do his own stunts.

It was the first kind of stunt thing I had to do, they lowered me down like "Mission: Impossible" while the girls were sleeping. It was the most jerry-rigged stunt ever. It was like one of those pulley systems. All this grip needed to do was for me to just piss him off one day or something.

Lawrence's other roles include appearances in "Kicking and Screaming," "That's So Raven," and "Weeds." He recently appeared in a music video for Marshmello & Lil Peep. Lawrence also offers acting classes for all ages. 

I am still doing classes. I do only charge 40 bucks a week. I teach kids, I teach all ages. Anybody that's hungry. I think it's a big, big, big blessing to get kids to start learning technique at an early age instead of just making faces in front of the camera. We underestimate kids. Kids can be pretty darn smart at times.

Any chance of an "Even Stevens" reunion?

Maybe. Maybe, I can't actually say anything right now about that.

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• Joe Arpaio is the latest victim of Sacha Baron Cohen's satirical "Who is America?" prank show.
• The former Arizona sheriff was tricked into believing he was appearing on a Finnish YouTuber's video.
• Baron Cohen, posing as the YouTuber, asked Arpaio whether he would receive a blowjob from President Donald Trump, to which the sheriff replied: "I may have to say yes."
• The sheriff, who is a close ally of the president, also said he wouldn't be surprised if Trump had participated in the most salacious claim made by the infamous dossier.
• Arpaio is the latest in a string of prominent Republicans to be deceived by Baron Cohen on his TV series.

Sacha Baron Cohen's ritual humiliation of prominent Republicans has once again borne fruit — and this time it's in the form of Joe Arpaio.

In the latest episode of Baron Cohen's satirical sensation "Who is America?" the actor posed as a Finnish YouTuber called OMGWhizzBoyOMG (real name: Ladislas Kekkonen) who invites the self-styled "toughest sheriff in America" on his show.

In reference to an unverified claim in the explosive Trump dossier, Baron Cohen asked Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff who is a close ally of President Donald Trump, whether the president might have had a golden shower, to which the sheriff replied: "Wouldn't surprise me."

Baron Cohen then asked the sheriff: "If Donald Trump calls you up after this and says, 'Sheriff Joe, I want to offer you an amazing blow job,' would you say yes?"

"I may have to say yes," Arpaio replied.

The show also features Arpaio arguing with a plastic Shopkins toy — specifically, an anti-firearms D'lish Donut.

"Delicious doughnut, you have to understand that you have to follow the Constitution and the law and allow people to have guns," he's seen telling the doughnut.

Baron Cohen tells Arpaio that unlike D'lish Donut, he is a staunch gun advocate, boasting a collection of more than 43.

"Oh yes, I've been collecting them for the upcoming race war," Baron Cohen says.

He also gives "Finnish" addresses to the camera throughout the segment, which are clearly gibberish.

The former sheriff responded to being duped by Baron Cohen back in July, saying, "I was kind of mad at myself."

"I started to get a little angry, a little sad, but I went through it," he said.

Arpaio is best known for illegally detaining Latinos and keeping inmates in brutal jail conditions during his 24-year tenure as sheriff of Arizona's Maricopa County. His aggressive tactics ultimately led to a criminal conviction after he violated a court order in a racial-profiling case. He was let off the hook when Trump issued his first presidential pardon to Arpaio last August.

The former lawman announced in January that he intended to run for US Senate. He is the latest in a string of prominent Republicans to be deceived by Baron Cohen as part of "Who Is America?"

Former Vice President Dick Cheney signed a "waterboard kit" for Baron Cohen, and the Georgia state lawmaker Jason Spencer resigned after screaming the N-word and exposing himself on the show.

SEE ALSO: All the notable people and politicians Sacha Baron Cohen has 'duped' for his new TV series, 'Who Is America?'

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• "Guardians of the Galaxy" actor Dave Bautista continued to voice his displeasure with director James Gunn's firing over the weekend.
• Bautista tweeted that it was "nauseating" to work for Disney, which he said empowered "fascists."
• He also said that he would do what he was "legally obligated" to do for the third film, but "Guardians" without Gunn was not what he signed up for.
• Kurt Russell, who played the villain Ego in last year's sequel, also broke his silence and told Variety, "we’re getting a little too sensitive on maybe some of the wrong people."

"Guardians of the Galaxy" actor Dave Bautista, who plays Drax, has been the most outspoken of the entire cast since Disney fired director James Gunn from the third movie. Bautista continued to voice his displeasure over the weekend, and called out Disney.

Bautista said he would return for the third movie, but that he wasn't happy about it. He tweeted on Sunday that he'd "do what I'm legally obligated to do" but that "Guardians" without Gunn was "not what I signed up for."

He added, "Its also pretty nauseating to work for someone who’d empower a smear campaign by fascists," referring to the conservative personalities who uncovered the old tweets that got Gunn fired.

Disney fired Gunn last month after a series of offensive tweets resurfaced in which Gunn joked about rape and pedophilia.

The entire main cast of the "Guardians" movies released an open letter in support of Gunn last week, and many of the actors called for him to be reinstated. Despite this, Disney will reportedly stick to its decision and not rehire him, according to Variety, which cited anonymous sources.

Kurt Russell, who played the villain Ego in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" last year, also broke his silence recently. The actor told Variety, "It’s sad. But it’s a part of our fabric now, and I get it. But I do think we’re getting a little too sensitive on maybe some of the wrong people."

SEE ALSO: 'Christopher Robin' has been banned in China, and it's reportedly because Winnie the Pooh memes have been used to criticize its leader Xi Jinping

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• KFC's newest Colonel Sanders is Jason Alexander, the actor and comedian. 
• Alexander, best known for playing George Costanza on Seinfeld, is the latest of a long list of celebrities — including Billy Zane, Darrell Hammond, and Reba McEntire — to star in KFC commercials as Colonel Sanders. 
• Alexander will help promote the chain's $20 Fill Ups, KFC's bucket-centric takeout bundle intended to feed a group.

KFC has a new Colonel Sanders. 

The fried-chicken chain announced on Monday that the newest celebrity Colonel is Jason Alexander, the actor and comedian best known for playing George Costanza on the television show "Seinfeld."

Alexander will help promote the chain's $20 Fill Ups, KFC's bucket-centric takeout bundle intended to feed a group. KFC is now offering four varieties of the $20 Fill Up, with buckets of original recipe chicken, extra crispy chicken, crispy tenders, or filet. 

"With four chicken meals to choose from and each at only $20, we are continuing KFC's tradition of providing an easy dinnertime solution for families at a great value — and there's no better person to spread the word about our new 'family of four' in a sitcom setting than comedy extraordinaire Jason Alexander!" Andrea Zahumensky, KFC's US CMO, said in a statement. 

KFC has cast a wide range of stars to play Colonel Sanders in recent years, including Billy Zane, Darrell Hammond, and Reba McEntire, who served as the chain's first female Colonel earlier this year. 

The chain debuted its Colonel Sanders-centric marketing campaign in 2015.

Despite initial backlash, the campaign has sparked somewhat of a turnaround at KFC, which has seen moderate sales growth over the last three years in the US. Last week, KFC reported that US same-store sales were flat in the most recent quarter. 

Here's the first KFC ad starring Jason Alexander as Colonel Sanders: 

SEE ALSO: KFC is debuting a bizarre, pickle-flavored fried chicken. Here's the verdict.

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• MoviePass announced Monday that it would limit the number of movies subscribers could see to three a month.
• The new plan erases newly announced changes including increased "peak" pricing, a higher monthly fee, and a ban on major releases such as "Mission: Impossible — Fallout."
• The change is meant to control the company's cash burn, which has soared to an estimated $45 million a month.

More changes are coming if you have a MoviePass subscription, but this time they may actually be good for you.

On Monday, the movie-ticket subscription service announced that its service would allow users to see only three movies a month starting August 15. Customers who see more than three movies in a month will get discounts of $2 to $5 a ticket if they book through the MoviePass app, the company says.

This may sound bad at first blush, as subscribers today can see one movie a day with the service, but MoviePass is also rolling back several recent changes that enraged many subscribers. Among them were added pricing for certain movies and showtimes, no access to major releases like "Mission: Impossible — Fallout," and a higher monthly fee of $14.95 a month. This new plan reverses all of those measures.

MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe told The Wall Street Journal that this change would reduce the company's rate of cash burn by more than 60% and make its attempt to become profitable "more manageable." But with an estimated cash-burn rate of $45 million last month, the company would still have an uphill climb toward profitability.

"I should have accelerated the process of reducing the burn faster in hindsight," Lowe told The Journal.

This new option is meant to strike a balance between making MoviePass economically viable and appeasing customers, who complained about peak pricing and not being able to see major releases. While the new change is sure to anger some users, Lowe said only 15% of MoviePass subscribers saw more than three movies a month.

SEE ALSO: Despite drastic changes, MoviePass lost money on me for the month after only one day — and it shows why the service is in a death spiral

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