Top Picks: The movie 'Jason Bourne,' the app Tollsmart, and more
'A Pentatonix Christmas Special' has new takes on holiday music classics, the app Workfrom gives you tips on where to settle with your laptop, and more top picks.
Courtesy of The Orchard
Holiday twist
Check out a new take on holiday music classics with A Pentatonix Christmas Special, which features the famous a cappella group (previously on NBC’s reality competition “The Sing-Off”) performing its versions of some of your favorite songs of the season and other tracks. Singers Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire will be dropping by, too. “A Pentatonix Christmas Special” will air on NBC on Dec. 14 at 8 p.m.
Workspace
Traveling for work and looking for a space to settle in with your laptop for a few hours? With the app Workfrom, users submit locations that could be good for the professional on the go, including information about how loud it is there, if you can get a snack, and access to outlets. There’s one less thing to worry about on that upcoming trip! The app is free for iOS and Android.
Bourne sequel
Jason Bourne is back. Matt Damon returns in one of his most famous roles for the new film, Jason Bourne, which also includes franchise veteran Paul Greengrass stepping behind the camera. In the movie, the protagonist is still trying to escape the government’s notice and looking for more information about his father. Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, and Julia Stiles costar. The film is available on DVD and Blu-ray.
Toll help
If you’re looking to save some money on your next road trip, the app Tollsmart will tell you how you can hang on to some change. On Tollsmart, users can submit their route and see how much tolls for tunnels, bridges, and roads will cost. The app also suggests alternative, cheaper routes. It’s $3.99 for iOS and $2.99 for Android.
Transporting music
The film The Music of Strangers centers on the Silk Road Ensemble, a musical group that was put together by famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Members hail from countries including Syria, Iran, and China; Monitor film critic Peter Rainer writes that “it is musicmaking that is the salvation of many of these performers.” “The Music of Strangers” is now available through iTunes and Amazon.