Mobile device customization is a rarity. Manufacturers might offer a few different colors and there are a plethora of cases, but you're probably carrying the same black or white rectangle in your pocket that everyone else is. But if you have a Samsung Galaxy S8, there's a DIY option that is sure to make you stand out in the crowd — JerryRigEverything's tutorial on making the back of the phone totally clear. Although it voids your warranty, it's also a call back to one of the best handheld gaming systems of all time. If you're brave enough to try it yourself, check ou the full walkthrough here.
It's a lesson nearly as old as film itself: Show the audience what you want them to know instead of explicitly telling them. Like the saying "actions speak louder than words", how a character reacts to situations gives a much sharper definition to the role than reeling off chunks of dialogue. In this video essay, Lessons from the Screenplay takes on the touchy subject of critiquing Rogue One and The Force Awakens, contrasting the character of Jin with Rey, and how Rey's far more active role in shaping the story makes her a more engaging character.
Elon Musk hates Los Angeles' infamously terrible traffic as much as anyone. While you might think his electric car company Tesla and his dream of fully autonomous cars might solve that problem, there isn't much that satisfies a supervillain. Now he wants to disrupt the construction industry with The Boring Company and build tunnels underneath cities to transport cars on electric sleds at speeds of up to 124 MPH. This demonstration video shows Elon's idea to relieve congestion in cities once and for all.
Performance comfort gets an upgrade with the Nike Ava Rover. Engineered for the city and built for the daily hustle, the silhouette stacks responsive ReactX foam underfoot for all-day energy return and comfort, while a sleek, breathable upper is wrapped in durable mudguards for a locked-in feel. Lightweight, city-minded, and designed to move, the Ava Rover is the go-anywhere answer for those who don't stop moving, even on their days off.
Cord-free clean, no compromises. The Dyson V11 Plus packs 185 AW of suction, smart root-cyclone tech, full-machine HEPA filtration, and a bright LCD that counts down runtime and alerts you to maintenance needs. It adapts on the fly with three power modes and an anti-tangle Motorbar head that eats hair and pet fur. Flip it into handheld mode in a second to reach tight spots — and enjoy up to 60 minutes of battery life at your command. Save $180 now during Best Buy's Labor Day sale.
Close-ups, medium shots, long shots, panning shots, tracking shots, zooms, dolly zooms — there are a million different ways to shoot a scene. That makes trying to categorize and then pick the best of each a monumental task, one which Cinefix is up too. In the first part of their Best Shots of All Time, they work through the close-up, medium, long, extreme close-up, and extreme long shots in their search.
Mathematics and art are two things that aren't usually thought of as going together. The geometric spirals of Stanford professor John Edmark combine the two in animated sculptures that seem to bloom and fade and bloom again — a never-ending cycle of life captured in a time-lapse. SciFri visited John to discuss his process, inspiration and the role of math in his art.
Make frozen drinks a cinch—no ice, no blender required. The CyberChill Slushie Machine chills any beverage into slush in about 30 minutes, serving up to 68 oz (five 9-oz portions) via five one-touch presets. It keeps your concoctions icy for hours, includes a 24-hour delay-start, touchscreen control lock, and even a 4-minute self-cleaning cycle. Enjoy $150 off during Best Buy's Labor Day sale.
Upgrade your travel with a luxe four-piece travel set built for style and endurance. This bundle includes a carry-on, check-in suitcase, duffle, and backpack — each crafted from durable polycarbonate, rolling on 360° spinners, and outfitted with smart extras like a portable USB charger, built-in digital scale, and GPS tracker. Enjoy 50% off the bundle now.
From its base in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii's inactive volcano Mauna Kea rises over 33,000 feet, with 14,000 of that above sea level. Atop the mountain is the Mauna Kea Observatories that form some of the most important astronomical observation sites in the world. The dry atmosphere and subsequent lack of clouds make it a perfect place to watch the stars. The light pollution project Sky Glow Project spent a day on the mountain, capturing this incredible time lapse of the crystal-clear skies above Hawaii.
The annual Activision cash cow is returning from space and getting back to its roots. The 14th entry in the venerable first-person shooter franchise takes us to the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion. The hyper-realistic CGI sequences are nearly Saving Private Ryan-worthy, but the actual gameplay remains to be seen. Call of Duty: WWII is planned to release later this year on multiple platforms.
