The spectacular science-fiction concept art of Jupiter Ascending

The Wachowskis' latest science-fiction experience, Jupiter Ascending, may stumble as a film, but it's certainly a feast for the eyes. As we join Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) on her journey across the galaxy, we're treated to glimpses of far away worlds and space-age cities. Most of all, we become intimately familiar with the spectacularly intricate ships that whisk humans across space.

Many of those designs came from the mind of conceptual designer George Hull. Over the years, his work has helped shape the visual language of sci-fi films. He got his start at George Lucas' legendary visual effects studio, Industrial Light & Magic, and has had a hand in everything from the special edition of The Empire Strikes Back and The Matrix sequels to...

Continue reading…

from The Verge - All Posts http://ift.tt/1vbLGSp

via IFTTT

When bulletproof isn’t enough: Inkas drops a new version of its armored Mercedes G63 AMG

Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Inkas is launching an upgraded version of its Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG limo. The car features electroluminescent bulletproof glass, multiple security cameras, and costs $1,000,000.

The post When bulletproof isn’t enough: Inkas drops a new version of its armored Mercedes G63 AMG appeared first on Digital Trends.

from Digital Trends http://ift.tt/1zyxdFt

via IFTTT

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will not launch today

SpaceX was supposed to attempt to land its Falcon 9 rocket on a floating barge for the second time tonight, but the launch has been scrubbed because of a tracking issue. The launch has been postponed until tomorrow evening.

#DSCOVR. Today's launch attempt has been called off because of tracking issue. We will not be launching today. http://ift.tt/1zmxpmm

— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) February 8, 2015

A successful landing would mean SpaceX would be able to reuse the rocket in future missions, which could save millions of dollars over time.

Continue reading…

from The Verge - All Posts http://ift.tt/1zmxpmo

via IFTTT

Schools ban watches from exams to keep cheats off your wrist

via Engadget RSS Feed http://ift.tt/1DuvW41

Republicans Call Foul Play Over New Net Neutrality Proposal

Watch this supercut showing Quentin Tarantino's stylish use of sound

Quentin Tarantino is well known for making visual homages to the film styles he loves the most, particularly spaghetti westerns, martial arts epics, and '70s blaxploitation films. Part of that process means paying particular attention to sound design, capturing every swoosh and clang in just the right way. By now, Tarantino's made an art of using sound and visual flourishes to accentuate his scenes. So, in "Hearing Tarantino", Vimeo user Jacob T. Swinney decided to create a supercut of some of the director's most interesting use of sound in his films.

If you pay attention, you'll notice it's not just sound that's important here. When the action is high, close-ups, zooms, and pans are the scenes that get the really gripping sound...

Continue reading…

from The Verge - All Posts http://ift.tt/1xQ6bEl

via IFTTT

Little Caesar's laughs at cheesy Steve Jobs-style keynotes

Technically Incorrect: Because techies are patently absurd, Little Caesar's pizza chain offers them a poke in their techiness and a pie in their faces.

















from CNET http://ift.tt/1Iwa9xf

via IFTTT

This Guy Jumped Off a 10-Story Building While on Fire Because Why Not

I shouldn't have to say it, but I'm going to anyways — do not try to jump off a building while on fire.

Read more...

via Gizmodo http://ift.tt/16Y2Uxu

How Jason Snell podcasts

Jason Snell creates wonderful podcasts on popular culture for The Incomparable and technology for relay.fm. He's not only great at what he does, he's generous in sharing how he does it. First, Jason wrote about how he records podcasts, including multi-enders, where each person records their own audio separately. From Six Colors:

Another approach—and the one that I use—is to record conversations via the $30 Call Recorder for Skype by Ecamm Software. This plug-in for Skype records your own microphone input and the output of your Skype call as separate tracks in a single QuickTime movie. (An included utility app allows me to split that file into separate files for each track and convert them to various other formats.)

More recently, Jason wrote about how he edits podcasts. Also from Six Colors:

Then I use a Logic feature called Strip Silence, which takes a selected item—at this point a single block of one person's conversation for an entire hour or two—and removes all the silent bits, leaving behind dozens or hundreds of smaller blocks. Having described this technique to other people, I'm starting to get the impression that most people don't edit this way.

Jason also describes built-in options like using QuickTime to record audio and GarageBand to edit it. Whether you're interested in podcasting and want some tips on getting started, or you've been doing it for a while and looking for ways to improve your workflow, you'll find both of Jason's posts valuable.

I don't do everything exactly the way Jason does, but I'm totally taking some of his Logic tricks.

from iMore - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog http://ift.tt/1zlBoQ0

via IFTTT

Why do we call it spam? Blame spiced ham shoulder, Monty Python and Usenet

You know spam is the canned meat that clogs your arteries and the junk email messages that clog your inbox, but how did the term make it from the grocery store to the Internet? The earliest nerds really liked Monty Python.

The post Why do we call it spam? Blame spiced ham shoulder, Monty Python and Usenet appeared first on Digital Trends.

from Digital Trends http://ift.tt/1FmqJdq

via IFTTT

Volkswagen’s crossover offensive will include a Juke-fighting model

A Volkswagen executive has confirmed that the company is preparing to take on the Nissan Juke with a compact crossover inspired by the 2014 T-Roc concept. Designed largely for Europe and China, the yet-unnamed crossover will reportedly be offered only with front-wheel drive.

The post Volkswagen’s crossover offensive will include a Juke-fighting model appeared first on Digital Trends.

from Digital Trends http://ift.tt/18Zz5gy

via IFTTT

Anonymity is dead and other lessons from the Silk Road trial

via Engadget RSS Feed http://ift.tt/1zxf8rt

Cortana May Become Microsoft's New and Hopefully Less Annoying Clippy

Fifty Shades of Grey gets a steamy Lego mashup

If there’s one thing fans love more than movies about the stuff they care about its Lego versions of movies about the stuff they care about. But fandom isn’t just limited to video […]



from Geek.com http://ift.tt/1zx4QYk

via IFTTT

6 of the most annoying Android 5.0 Lollipop problems, and how to fix them

The latest Lollipop-flavored version of Android has plenty to offer, but there are always bugs and issues with new software. Here are the most common Android 5.0 Lollipop problems with advice on how to solve them.

The post 6 of the most annoying Android 5.0 Lollipop problems, and how to fix them appeared first on Digital Trends.

from Digital Trends http://ift.tt/1A21TRA

via IFTTT

How to type the  Apple symbol with your iPhone or iPad

How do you type the  Apple symbol on your iPhone or iPad? After posting the keyboard shortcuts roundup yesterday, I was flooded with requests (and suggestions!) for just exactly that. Some want to use it to save characters on Twitter, others to properly render Pay or Watch. Whatever the reason, the short answer is — you can't.

Unlike the Mac, where shift-option-k produces the  Apple symbol just fine, there's currently no special character alternative on the iOS keyboard. So, what can you do?

Right now the quickest and simplest way to enter the  Apple symbol with your iPhone or iPad is to set up a keyboard shortcut. That way, when you type a combination of letters, iOS will automatically replace them with the  Apple symbol. It should be short, so it doesn't take long to type, but it also needs to be unique, so you'll never type it as part of another word and trigger the replacement by accident. After some experimentation, I've settled on "aappll", but you'll need to find what works for you.

How to set up the  Apple symbol as a keyboard shortcut in iOS

1. Copy the  symbol from this post


2. Launch Settings


3. Tap General


4. Tap Keyboards


5. Tap Shortcuts


6. Tap + at the top right


7. Double tap next to Phrase to bring up the edit menu


8. Tap Paste to insert the  symbol


9. Enter your shortcut of choice


10. Tap Save

Now you'll be able to type your shortcut of choice on your iPhone or iPad and insert the  Apple symbol wherever and whenever you like. For the sake of Apple and the Internet, however, use your newfound powers wisely and sparingly. (Yes, that was meant to be humorous!)

Note: I've filed a feature request for the  Apple symbol to be added as an alternate character on the iOS keyboard: rdar://19759808

from iMore - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog http://ift.tt/1C7bQIu

via IFTTT

Ready for a robot smackdown? 'BattleBots' returns to TV

DIY metal machines fight to the death. Real-life rock 'em sock 'em competition "BattleBots" to air on ABC after a 12-year hiatus.

















from CNET http://ift.tt/1FmihLi

via IFTTT

Amazon's Discounting Kindles for Valentine's Day, Plus More Deals

What Life Is Like Inside Jabba the Hutt

Arguably the best thing about the original Star Wars trilogy are the puppets. As George Lucas was not yet visually unleashed by CGI, these films had to work with technical limitations to create the bold and ambitious scenes that the scrips demanded. And no puppet (except, maybe Yoda) was as memorable or complex as Jabba the Hutt.

Read more...

via Gizmodo http://ift.tt/1DSldhw