BELLE

Last time we looked back at Nokia’s attempt to modernize Symbian with Anna, but that was only the first step. The next was called Belle, which brought the long-lived OS even closer to the modern design of its Android and iOS competitors. Belle brought important quality of life changes that made the interface much more pleasant and usable. However, there’s no escaping that Symbian was playing catch-up to its rivals. Let’s start with the basics and we do mean “basics”. First, the homescreen got a massive overhaul – you…

Can you please explain what exactly an “Arab strap” is ? Asking for a friend … LennonThe funny thing is I can’t! I know it’s something vaguely sexual, but the reference was to Arab Strap, the band. I gave the gold disc for it to my mum, who put it up in her living room. When the minister came round for tea, he was looking at the gold record and reading the label, so there was an awkward moment. After that, she gave it back to me.Are you worried about how only posh people have the time to make art now? Boredom is a key…

The very byword for British indiepop, Belle and Sebastian remain at the top of their game after nearly 30 years of charming songwriting. As they head out on a UK and Ireland tour from 2 July, frontman Stuart Murdoch will be answering your questions – post them in the comments below.From inauspicious beginnings in Glasgow – their debut album Tigermilk was assisted by a Scottish welfare programme for unemployed musicians – to Brit awards, cruise-ship festivals and the Hollywood Bowl, Belle and Sebastian have brought a fair…

Welcome back to Toy Aisle, io9's regular round-up of the coolest toy news. This week’s toys include Lego continuing to drop more Disney 100 treats, Hot Toys flexing for The Dark Knight movies, and a colossal Jurassic World dino. Check it out!A Transformer Is Headed to the MoonImage: LegoLego Disney 100 Years of Disney Animation IconsReminiscent of Lego’s Brick Sketches line, but on a smaller scale, this 1,022-piece Disney Animation Icons art set includes hundreds of tiny tile pieces and 12 8x8-stud plates that can be…

Ollie Hicks and Emma Oosterhous, a married couple, have teamed up for their debut graphic novel, Grand Slam Romance. Taking inspiration from real-life queer love stories, softball drama, and magical girl anime, the story follows hot-shot pitcher Mickey Monsoon as they come face to face with their ex, Astra, a softball wunderkind.As the two athletes circle each other on the field, Hicks’ delightful writing and Oosterhous’ charming and silly illustrations bring this over-the-top, anime-inspired story to life. Take a look at…

When Belle and Sebastian released A Bit of Previous in May, they didn’t let on that they’d recorded a second new album at the same time. Whereas last year’s effort was a little underwhelming, Late Developers – released with little in the way of fanfare – is far more pleasing, displaying a lightness of touch and genuine pop nous.Opener Juliet Naked recalls a more tuneful early Billy Bragg in its stripped-back urgency; Will I Tell You a Secret is the sort of gentle whimsy that Donovan made his own in the late 1960s. When We…

Regina Belle has released her new holiday album ‘My Colorful Christmas’. Available now through all digital outlets, the record is released by Belle’s label Tashi3 Entertainment and distributed through Altavoz Distribution. It features 10 tracks including classics such as ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ and ‘Away in the Manger’, along with new song ‘I Had to Leave (A Song From Bernie)’, that she co-wrote with her late brother Bernard. The album also features a duet between Belle and her daughter Sydni Battle on ‘A…

Even after all these years, Gaston still seems to be trying to “woo and marry Belle.” What I mean by this is, Luke Evans, who played Gaston in the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, posted a super cute video singing his bit in the opening song "Belle" referencing a Prada billboard with, Belle herself, Emma Watson on it. The live-action version of the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast came out in 2017, with a stacked cast that included Watson, Evans, Dan Stevens, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen and Emma…

Image: Epic InkAs Disney’s 100th year approaches, Disney Animation Studios is celebrating its fairytale lore with some major releases. Among them is author Emily Zemler’s Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara, a visual guide to the Disney Princesses, which will chronicle the impact Disney royalty has had on pop culture since 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Zemler sat down with io9 to share an exclusive look inside the book, chronicling the evolution of the Disney heroine, and to discuss the influence of their legacy…

La Belle Sauvage, the first volume in the Book of Dust trilogy – Philip Pullman’s prequel to the His Dark Materials series – begins with plucky 11-year-old Malcolm Polstead learning of the existence of six-month-old Lyra Belacqua, whose future as a thorn in the side of the church’s oppressive ruling body, the Magisterium, is foretold. The product of an affair between Mrs Coulter and Lord Asriel, Lyra has been left in the care of the nuns at an Oxford priory where Malcolm sporadically helps out with the cooking. When a…