Category Archives: Video

HP Slate gets demoed, revels in Adobe Flash & AIR

Technology, Video, , , , ,

We caught a first glipse of the HP Slate revealed at CES 2010 by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.  Then we were told about the origins of the Slate in a short HP “special update” video.  Now we’ve got two new videos that shed a bit more light on HP’s iPad contender.  Since the Slate runs Windows 7, it’s not surprise that it will support Flash video.  HP is really going out of their way to show off Flash video and games, boasting a popular feature the popular iPad will likely never support (HTML 5, where are you?).  In the video above we also learn about the Adobe AIR apps the Slate will run, and we also get to see the on-screen keyboard it will display.  HP, these product teases are nice and all, but enough is enough–we want product details, price, a launch window at least!  Look after the break for a 30 second spot featuring the Slate.

[Via Engadget]

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Magazine stand of the future

Print Media, Technology, Video, , , , ,

Imagine this: In the future magazine stands will be interactive on the consumer-end and communicative with your portable tablet computer.  Cynergy’s magazine kiosk concept bring that future to life today.  Using a Microsoft Surface table and proprietary software, Cynergy created a highly intuitive and seemless way to preview and purchase magazines on the go.  As you can see in the video above, it’s as simple as this: You go up to one of these “public” tables and browse a full library of magazines and sort them by category, popularity, etc.  Once you find something you’re interested in, you tap the cover to view its table of contents and preview it.  When you’re ready to buy a digital version of it, you place down your tablet device (that’s running Cynergy’s “custom designed and built” software) onto the table and it’s instantly recognized.  Your name and credit amount pops up on screen.  To take the magazine with you, simply drag and drop the zine’s cover from the Surface to your tablet.  (The visuals during this part are very neat; the zine actually appears to move from the table to the tablet without hiccup).  And now you own the magazine; it’s sitting in your digital (print) media collection on your tablet.  I can totally see something like this being implemented for tablets like the iPad and (future) color screen e-readers.  Look after the break for a second demo.

[Via BusinessInsider; Gizmodo; Engadget]

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VIV Magazine’s interactive spread

Print Media, Technology, Video, , , ,

With the release of the iPad soon upon us, companies are scrambling to show off their latest content made specifically for the iPad and other tablet devices.  Here we have VIV Magazine giving us a sneak peek into how their zine spreads of the future will look like.  In the video above VIV examples how an article about ‘five common sex fears’ would look like on a tablet.  It’s full of stunning visuals and begs for user interactivity. [Looks like they took that video down.  It’s been replaced with the second video.] In the second video above, Alexx Henry Photography explains that VIV is a completely digital magazine, so they’re able to “put motion into print where we weren’t able to before.”  And don’t mix this up with what you see in the movies: “In the end we aren’t making moving pictures.  We’re creating pictures that move.”  Bring on the print media revolution!

[Via AlexxHenry; Gizmodo]

Papercraft Animation in stop motion

photography, Video, ,

AXA_EVOLUTION, created by Tronic Studio for French Insurance company AXA.

The spot highlights the rapid evolution of mankind by showcasing an origami man transforming himself into some of the most important inventions throughout history. Ending with a question mark and a resolve on the AXA logo, the spot informs the public that the future is uncertain…

[Via Likecool; Vimeo]

Music video: Module – “Amethyst Caverns” (from the video game Shatter)

Music, Video, , ,

A retro inspired, modern crafted audio journey from the critically acclaimed video game Shatter.  A rich soundscape that flows through electro rock and retro beats, epic guitar solos and spacey vibes. 

Crafted by artist Module in close collaboration with game production studio Sidhe, the music takes the listener on a hypnotic journey through the lush visuals and scenery of the game.  Inspired by classic video game titles, and reimagined for the modern era, the Shatter Soundtrack merges an eclectic mix of genres from Electro to Glam Rock.  Emotionally rich base lines are mixed with soaring guitar solos in 8-minute long tracks that are decadent and guilty pleasures for the ear.

The music video was shot with a Canon 5D MarkII.  iTunes has the full soundtrack for the game Shatter.  Click here for more information about Shatter; it’s available on the PlayStation Network and PC.

[Via Sidhe]

SNL Digital Short: The Lonely Island – “Boombox”

Hilarity, Music, Video, , , , , ,

The Loney Island is back with their latest music video off their debut album Incredibad.  “Boombox” adds to a growing list of SNL Digital Shorts that have been made featuing songs off the album; they include “Lazy Sunday,” “Dick in a Box,” “Natalie’s Rap,”  “We Like Sportz,” “Ras Trent,” “Space Olympics,” “Jizz In My Pants,” “I’m On a Boat,” and “Like a Boss.”  The Dudes (Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone) have made another hilarious video for another great song.  “Boombox” features vocals from The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas and is directed by Kiv.  Having listened to it many times, this video totally lived up to my imagination.

Interactive horror movie gives audience control over protagonist’s decisions, final outcome

Movies, Technology, Video, ,

Last Call is the first interactive horror movie in the world where the audience is able to communicate with the protagonist. A film controlled by a member of the audience, thus blurring the boundaries between game and film. Language recognition software transforms the participant’s answers via mobile phone into specific instructions. A specially developed software then processes these commands and launches an appropriate follow-up scene. The dialogue between the movie’s main actress and an audience member leads to a different film – and outcome – every time: sometimes with a happy end, sometimes with a more gruesome one.

Pretty neat, huh?  Here’s how it’s all set up: Beofre the movie starts, audience members submit their cell phone number to a speed dail database.  During the movie, the film’s software randomly selects one number from the database and calls it to begin the movie-audience member interaction.  It’s up the to audience member how the on-screen actions will play out.  Sounds (and looks) creepy, exciting, and fun.  Hopefully something like this will hit the States sometime soon.  With 3D and IMAX gaining popularity, now is the time Americans are open to new movie-watching experiences.

[Via Gizmodo; YouTube]

Largest house of cards makes Guinness World Record

Architecture, Design, Images, Video, , , ,

American architect and ‘cardstacker’ Bryan Berg broke eight past records (all held by him!) for constructing the largest house made of stacked playing cards.  Over the course of 44 days, Berg used 218,792 cards (4,051 decks) to create a replica of the Venetian Macau, a hotel located in China based on Vegas’ Venetian.  At 600 pounds and meauring 33 feet by just under 10 feet, the massive house of cards is made without the aid of tape, glue, or any other foreign substance.  Says Berg:

“This has been the most ambitious project I have undertaken to date.  It’s really like a real construction project because you have to engineer every single adjacency and every support that’s supporting everything above.”

A worthy induction into the Guinness World Record books.  Look in the gallery below for some more shots of the structure and after the break for a video news report.

[Via Likecool; DailyMail.co.uk]

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Happy Hour lets you pop ‘n’ chug with a watch

Design, Images, Video, ,

The Happy Hour Timepiece is a watch that doubles as a bottle opener.  The face of the watch features digital and analog time displays and the black leather strap includes the bottle opener contraption.  Says the manufactuer:

Happy Hour™ is built for those who want to have a little fun opening their beverage with a very stylized watch.  The patented buckle allows you to pop-open your favorite beverage with nothing more than a flick of the wrist—and without taking off your watch.

This ingenious invention is available for $49.95.  Images of the watch below, a video demonstration after the break.

[Via Engadget; HappyHourTimepieces]

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Illuminated Heels

Design, Fashion, Images, Technology, Video, ,

These light-up three inch heels come from the mind of Nicholas Kirkwood, made for design team Rodarte.  They were shown off at this year’s NY Fashion Week.  Whenever tech is embedded into fashion, that’s always a good thing, no?  Addtional shots in the gallery below, and a video of the heels in action after the break.

[Via Gizmodo; FashioningTech]

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