Wonders of Hans Zimmer in Inception!
Filed under Entertainment, Youtube/Vimeo/Videos
Call me crazy, this is yet another post on Inception, but this time on the awesome score from Zimmer.
Apparently, Zimmer appears to be using Edith Piaf’s song as a foundation for extrapolation, slowed down. Cool eh. Proof? This video below, by the guy who discovered it:
Tags: Hans Zimmer, Inception
Trailer: ‘Inception’ by Pixar
Filed under Entertainment, Youtube/Vimeo/Videos
Duhh, the title’s good enough to tell you that this is a spoof, albeit a good one!
If you haven’t watched Inception, spoilers alert. If you haven’t watched Up!, spoilers alert. For the rest of you, this Inception/Up! trailer mash-up will make you flip out. In the words of Mark Wilson: “holy shit that trailer is amazing.”
Tags: Inception, spoof trailers, Up!
Nokia N8′s Camera
Filed under Tech
I discussed on the iPhone 4‘s camera some time ago. And this time around, it’s time for the new king-to-be, the Nokia N8.
Damian Dinning, the mastermind behind the N8′s camera released a series of posts (a few weeks back) covering extensive range of discussion regarding mobile phone photography and what they’ve managed to improvise on the N8, which as a whole took up an entire 7 years of journey.
Nokia N8 Camera – 2,260 days in the making Part 1
Nokia N8 Camera – 2,260 days in the making Part 2
Nokia N8 photography – all the FAQs [This is very useful!]
Now, lets look at some sample pics from N8, which of course are jaw-dropping as you can tell. [Click to enlarge]
Gallery extracted from Nokia Conversations
Tags: Nokia, Nokia N8, Nokia N8 camera, Nokia N8 camera samples
Nokia E72′s 5MP Cam: How Good Is It?
Filed under Tech, Visual Graphics & Images
Everyone knows that the Nokia E72 has a not-so-bad camera for an enterprise phone, but I’ve not really seen a full gallery of pics taken from E72, at least those worthy of sharing. So I decided to set up one of my own, starting from this one. 
Full gallery’s available on Flickr.
Tags: Nokia, Nokia E72, Nokia E72's camera
Nokia Kinetic Concept
Filed under Tech
Were you impressed by Jeremy Innes-Hopkins’ Nokia Kinetic concept that has been making waves through the net? (Of course if you didn’t see it online you won’t know of what I speak).
Then take a good look at the image below. That’s the actual prototype of the device, which unfortunately doesn’t power on (or have anything to power on), but does look remarkably like the previous renders we’ve seen, and gives us a far better idea of the scale of the device. In case you missed it, the real hook of the concept is an electromagnet in the phone’s base that allows it to stand up on cue, and be flipped down to dismiss an action (like an alarm or a video call).
Too bad it’s a final year university project by Innes-Hopkins. It would nice to see a real Nokia phone looking like this, although I highly doubt seeing their backdated predictable designs.
Tags: Jeremy Innes-Hopkins, Nokia, Nokia Kinetic concept
Cracking Mona Lisa’s Smile
Filed under Arts & Crafts, Tech
Well not exactly on the idea behind, but more on how it was made to look so perfect.
We all know how everyone has long been baffled by how Leonardo da Vinci created such subtle shadows and light on the Mona Lisa. So much so that scientists X-rayed the painting to discover his technique.
Scientists have discovered that da Vinci used a well known renaissance painting technique known as sfumato. For the non art historians among us, Sfumato is the mixing of thin layers of pigment, glaze, and oil to create lifelike shadows. The difference with Da Vinci was just how intricate his layers were. Apparently, Da Vinci used 30 layers of paint that amazingly only added 40 micromemters of paint—that’s half the width of a human hair.
The X-ray fluorescence spectrometry used was noninvasive and allowed scientists to see each layer of paint. It’s a tool that’s so precise that it can determine the mix of pigments used by an artist. Philippe Walter, the man who X-rayed Mona Lisa:
In the case of “Mona Lisa”, Leonardo da Vinci used a mixture of maybe oil and resins, a binder with a very low amount of pigments. And with this mixture it was possible to create a very impressive aspect of the painting – a realistic, like a 3-D painting.”
But even with that fancy x-ray, scientists still say that finding brushstrokes on the Mona Lisa is impossible. No word on how hard it is to find hidden messages though.
Tags: Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa X-ray
Here comes Audi A7!
Filed under Automotive
The first official images of the all new Audi A7 Sportback are making the internet rounds today ahead of the sport saloon’s debut on Monday. These photos prove that the production car has stayed remarkably true to the 2009 Detroit Show concept’s appearance.
Most differences concern practical details such as the shape and size of the exterior mirrors, and the air-inlets on the front bumper. The car also keeps the show car’s five-door body style with a practical rear hatch.
In a similar fashion, the styling of the interior is almost identical to the concept, sans the colors and the decorative trim. From what we know, the just-under 5-meters long A7 Sportback will be strictly for four passengers.
No official details yet, so let’s not speculate other stuffs so soon.
Tags: Audi, Audi A7, Audi A7 Sportback, Audi Sportback concept
The Perfect Handshake: What does it Take?
Filed under People
Well, what if you could formulate equations for every feeling and thing happening around you? That’s what happened in this case. The scientists from University of Manchester (hired by Chevrolet) have revealed the formula for the perfect handshake!
So what does it take to be a perfect handshake?
PH = (e² + ve²)(d²) + (cg + dr)² + ?{(4< s >2)(4< p >2)}² + (vi + t + te)² + {(4< c >2)(4< du >2)}²
That’s all!
Didn’t get anything? Neither did I, until I read the explanatory notes.
Where (e) is eye contact (1=none; 5=direct) 5; (ve) is verbal greeting (1=totally inappropriate; 5=totally appropriate) 5; (d) is Duchenne smile – smiling in eyes and mouth, plus symmetry on both sides of face, and slower offset (1=totally non-Duchenne smile (false smile); 5=totally Duchenne) 5; (cg) completeness of grip (1=very incomplete; 5=full) 5; (dr) is dryness of hand (1=damp; 5=dry) 4; (s) is strength (1= weak; 5=strong) 3; (p) is position of hand (1=back towards own body; 5=other person’s bodily zone) 3; (vi) is vigour (1=too low/too high; 5=mid) 3; (t) is temperature of hands (1=too cold/too hot; 5=mid) 3; (te) is texture of hands (5=mid; 1=too rough/too smooth) 3; (c) is control (1=low; 5=high) 3; (du) is duration (1= brief; 5=long) 3.
World Peace FTW! LOL..
Tags: handshake, handshake formula
Nokia’s Ovi Services
Filed under Tech, Youtube/Vimeo/Videos
Ovi by Nokia is moving very slowly, I should say. Nonetheless, there are plenty of cool things to come. Some videos here to highlight these.
Oh, off the hook, Symbian^3 OS went official today!
Tags: Nokia, Nokia N8, Nokia Ovi, Ovi, Symbian^3
Review: Inception [Updated!]
Filed under Entertainment, Reviews
It’s been a long time since I actually reviewed a movie, the last being The Lovely Bones. I rarely do, unless I find it necessary to.
Well, truth be told. I honestly don’t know where to start from. I watched the movie yesterday, and I’m looking forward to watching it again, it’s simply astonishing. One of the best movies I’ve seen, ever, I could say. In the past year, something that came this close would be District 9, albeit being of a different genre of course.
I’ve been following with the development of the movie ever since it was announced some 18 months ago, and seriously, it is worth all the wait. A famous critic online says “In terms of sheer originality, ambition and achievement, Inception is the movie of the summer, the movie of the year and the movie of our dreams”, and I concur with him 100%. The movie is an almost-perfect epic, with such rare visuals and story. Acting was generally good, with Di Caprio showing his usual talents.
Some parts of the movie were obviously showing that the story was written some one decade ago (yes, Nolan has been writing and polishing the script for the past 10 years!), with the setting reference pointing to currency.
It is in fact very difficult to illustrate in words on how brilliant and complex or visually stunning the whole movie is, from start to the shocking finish! It’s really a piece of art, with the story fitting no one genre specifically. Above all, I was taken in by the unexpected ending, which is of course typical of Nolan. And I loved how half of the cinema was left confused towards the end! LOL.
In short, Mr. Christopher Nolan, you did it again! It’s an experience-based flick, and thus definitely not to be missed.
Rating
Visual-Sound-Technical: 9.5/10
Story: 9.2/10 (Very unique story, unseen before)
Acting: 8.5/10 (Good acting coupled with good dialogues)
Score-Music: 8.7/10 (Goes with saying, Mr Hans Zimmer!)
Directing-Cinematography-Screenplay: 9.2/10 (No unnecessary overblown effects, typically Nolan again)
Overall rating: 9/10
Verdict: Worth the hype
***
SPOILER ALERT!
The story: Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible—inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime. (Warner Bros. Pictures)
UPDATE!
Off the hook, the movie saw a unique premiere as well, with the company of live performance by Hans Zimmer (and his crew) and John Marr. Watch the recorded live stream below, where the concert starts at 7:30.
