Inside The Mill’s mind-bending alternate reality art showcase

I stepped inside a small, dark room in a large, airy loft space in New York’s Soho district early Wednesday morning. Our host fitted me with an HTC Vive and told to explore the world around me. Within moments, I was trapped in a glass box, surrounded by other people, also wearing VR headsets, also trapped in glass boxes, one of whom continued to claw at the glass until both of our headsets were consumed by our own flesh. We were one with the machines.

Over the next two hours I watched semi-autonomous robots run in circles, randomly scribbling on large sheets of butcher paper; pulled the virtual puppet strings of a CGI llama that lip synced to Mariah Carey; watched as Reeps One, a world-famous dubstep beatboxer, created unique digital sculptures with the incredibly nuanced tones of his voice; and floated through a VR dreamscape using my breathing and brain waves to propel me upward.

And all of this before I’d finished my first cup of coffee.

This was the scene at The Mill’s first big open studio exploring the connection between technology and humanity, titled Move Me. That day, the Technicolor-owned “creative content and technology studio” (a fancy way of saying “we make visual effects”) expected to see just shy of 1,000 special guests move through its doors and experience the outer limits of its in-house technology and creativity. The Oscar and Emmy award-winning studio, has been around since 1990, and is responsible for the visual effects on the first two Harry Potter films, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and the latest reboot of Doctor Who. You might also remember The Mill from “Project Raven” Epic Games’ Unreal Engine augmented reality demo, which utilized the studio’s in-house technology to combine real time visual effects with live-action footage at GDC 2017.

Not all of the projects on display at Move Me had the same polish as a Ridley Scott production or an Epic Game’s demo — many of the experiences were built in the space of just a few weeks — but it was by far the most concentrated mix of truly creative applications for emerging technologies I’d ever seen.

Pop Llama, the most complicated and seemingly convoluted project also turned out to be the most engaging. The augmented reality karaoke puppet show, used graphics that felt like the design love child of Lisa Frank and Jeff Koons and pop ballads like Mariah Carey’s Emotions to show how a combination of Epic’s Unreal Engine and The Mill’s in-house production kit, Cyclops, can bring the real-world and CG together in real-time. (Cyclops was the same system used by Epic at GDC.)

A member of the crew aimed his camera at a black-and-white checkered box on an empty set, covered in multi-colored cones as lights faded in and out overhead. Just out of frame, I waved my hand above a Leap Motion controller, opening and closing my fingers to the lyrics. A hyper-glossy, metallic digital llama mimicked my movements on a monitor in front of me, replacing the black and white box on the soundstage to my left. Every shift in the light, every subtle shadow was rendered in near real-time as the lama rolled along on a digital disco ball that reflected the very real light bouncing off of its many tiny mirrors. It was a ridiculous scenario, yes, but one can imagine how being able to render CG objects on set in real-time could be boon to big budget action and scifi films.

Other installations lacked Pop Llama’s polish, but delivered on concept. Neon Knights, billed as an “augmented reality snythwave battle,” utilized Microsoft’s Hololens for a social AR video game experience. The game, which “pits you against the cosmic forces trying to thwart your awesome journey through multiple dimensions to spread sexy peace across the universe,” was essentially a proof of concept used to show how otherwise isolating mediums like AR and VR can be used in a cooperative environment.

Once my partner, Engadget’s director of video, Olivia Kristiansen, and I had our headsets in place and Rock Band controllers in hand, we were told to shoot at the bad vibes coming toward us in the neon-lit, 1980s-inspired virtual arcade world just in front of us. The game felt like a combination of Rock Band and Galaga wrapped in my middle school Trapper Keeper and set to the tunes of Electric Six. It took me a while to figure out how to shoot with a small plastic guitar, and Olivia never did get the hang of it, but it was, honestly, the first time my heart rate moved above sleep-mode while wearing a Hololens. Technical difficulties and user errors aside, Neon Knights, was, if anything, a promising look at the potential of multiplayer AR gaming.

The other projects on display varied in their thoughtfulness and execution but in nearly every instance, I was forced to face my own techno-skepticism. Virtual reality has yet to really take hold as many have predicted and while Pokemon Go may have brought augmented reality into the mainstream consciousness, we’re still nowhere near realizing its potential. It’s going to take more than a lip-syncing llama to sell me, but it’s refreshing to see groups like The Mill pushing the limits of how these technologies are used.

Watch EA’s E3 2017 event live right here at 3PM ET

The big names aren’t waiting until next week to reveal what they have for us at E3 2017. EA is kicking things off today with its event at 3PM ET/12PM PT. We’re expecting details on games like Star Wars: Battlefront II, FIFA 18, Madden 18, NBA Live 18, Need for Speed: Payback and much more. We’ll be there to bring you all of the breaking news as it happens, but if you want to following along live you can do so via Twitch and YouTube streams. Being the kind folks that we are, we’ve embedded the stream down below so you can watch right here when the time comes.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

‘Madden 18’ story mode looks a lot like ‘Friday Night Lights’

The rumors were true: EA is bringing FIFA 17’s story mode to the realm of American football. EA has revealed that Madden 18 will include a Longshot campaign that sees you fill the cleats of Devin Wade, a “forgotten prospect” hoping to make the cut in the NFL draft. From the early glimpse, it’s akin to every football movie and TV show you’ve ever seen, complete with big name actors — there’s fatherly drama (Moonlight’s Mahershala Ali), the loyal best friend (appropriately, Friday Night Lights’ Scott Porter) and even real-world legend Dan Marino serving as a mentor.

EA has yet to dive into the specifics of how the story will work, although FIFA will likely serve as a good benchmark. However it works, it’s safe to say that EA sees the story mode as a way of keeping its sports titles relevant. Even if you’re not interested in roster updates or gameplay mechanic tweaks, you might be more likely to snap up the next game in a series just to see the next plot twist.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Source: EA Sports, YouTube

‘FIFA 18’ will continue ‘The Journey’ of Alex Hunter

One of the best additions to FIFA 17 was ‘The Journey’, a mode that put players in the shoes of a fictional young star called Alex Hunter. Today at EA’s E3 press conference, it was confirmed that FIFA 18 will pick up his story after the events of the last game. A brief trailer teaser shows a wealth of real-life stars including former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand speculating on Hunter’s future and a possible transfer. Presumably, you’ll be taking the up-and-comer to a new club, in the hope of impressing more managers and earning silverware. We can’t wait.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

‘A Way Out’ is a splitscreen-only prison break game

It’s been a while since we heard anything about Hazelight, the Stockholm-based studio led by Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons’ director Josef Fares. The team broke cover at The Game Awards in 2014, a brief teaser trailer in tow that showed two men travelling on a train by moonlight. Today, at EA’s E3 press conference, the project has been re-introduced as A Way Out. It’s about two inmates who forge an unlikely alliance to bust out of prison. The game is splitscreen-only (local and online multiplayer will be supported), meaning you’ll need a friend in order to break out and escape the law.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons won plenty of praise in 2013 for its unique control scheme and puzzle design, which required players to control each sibling with a different analog stick. A Way Out is clearly the continuation of that idea, forcing two distinct characters to work together and, as a result, slowly forge a close bond. Because it’s splitscreen-only, there’s no way to play it on your own, or using a conventional drop-in, drop-out matchmaking system. The puzzles require two people, so you’ll need someone, whether that’s a friend or a stranger, to be with you at all times.

Fares is promising a “ton of variation” in the moment-to-moment gameplay. Head-scratching puzzles will be broken up with driving, exploration and tense combat sequences. Think of it like Uncharted 4, but if your buddy could fight alongside you as Sam, Elena or Sully. Missions will also have multiple solutions, rather like a Hitman or Deus Ex title. To sneak out of the laundry room, you might start a fight with Leo, or claim a machine isn’t working with Vincent — it’s entirely up to you. If nothing else, it’s a unique and ambitious idea. We’ll find out if it delivers in “early 2018,” when the game releases on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

‘Anthem’ is BioWare’s brand-new open world

The team behind Mass Effect has something new up its sleeves. BioWare today revealed Anthem, a new open-world franchise seemingly set in a futuristic, jungle-ridden universe. The teaser shows a mech of some kind and a big beastie screeching into the lush wilderness. It definitely has Destiny, Star Wars and Far Cry vibes.

“It is vast, dangerous, beautiful and unexpected,” EA executive vice president Patrick Soderlund said.

BioWare will reveal more details about Anthem tomorrow during the Xbox press conference. We’ll be live from the show with all the news then, so stay tuned.

The latest Mass Effect game, Andromeda, came out in March to middling reception. It was riddled with technical issues and simply didn’t live up to many fans’ expectations. BioWare promised to fix the game’s most egregious issues in a series of patches coming out over the coming months. This means there’s a lot riding on Anthem — with this brand new IP, BioWare can either redeem its reputation or further flush it down the drain.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Google reveals when it’ll stop supporting Pixel and Nexus phones

Wondering when you should upgrade your Nexus or Pixel? Google has updated its support page to reflect when it will no longer offer telephone and online support for the devices, and you can use that info to make a decision. In the past, the big G promised that its phones will get Android updates for at least two years and security updates for at least three years after they’re released. Once it security updates stop, phone and online support stop, as well.

Based on the info Google listed on its support page, it’s staying true to its word. The Pixel and the Pixel XL, which were released in 2016, will get the latest Android updates until October 2018. They’ll get security updates until October 2019, the same month Google will stop providing customer service for them.

Mountain View will also stop supporting the Huawei-made Nexus 6P and the LG-made 5X in September 2018, a year after they stop getting new OS updates. If you still own a Nexus 6 or a 9, you’ll only get security updates until October this year — after that, you can’t call or chat with Google anymore in case you encounter issues with your device.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: Google Support

‘Star Wars Battlefront II’ campaign looks like a spin-off movie

Star Wars Battlefront II is definitely much bigger than its predecessor — but we know that. EA’s E3 presentation did its best to balance new multiplayer tid-bits (Chewbacca, the planet Naboo, Yoda, Darth Maul, Rey and more) with the highly-anticipated campaign mode, which appears to centre on the ‘good’ Imperials fight to beat the upstart Rebel Alliance. The sequel will focus on its story more than pretty much any Star Wars game that’s come before it. As Janina Gavankar, who plays Inferno Squad Commander Iden Versio, puts it herself, it’s all about “in-depth cinema-caliber stories in a game”. Battlefront II will apparently bridge the story gap between Return of the Jedi and the The Force Awakens, similar to how spin-off movie Rogue One connected older Star Wars chapters. And it’ll all look a little bit like this:

Importantly EA is promising free themed seasons, adding new content (including extra heroes, weapons, maps and more) in the future. It’ll help to ensure anyone that buys into the game will be able to play every part of the game, a year down the line. Those that preorder Battlefront II will also get early access to beta tests, too. Now, we just need to try it out.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Crossover yacht blends explorer and flybridge yacht features for a win

Why it matters to you

As superyacht designers step away from rigid style definitions, the better chance to build or find yacht done your way.

Changes are afoot in the world of superyacht design. Hull and superstructure designs set physical limits but within that framework, there’s plenty of room for interpretation. Sanlorenzo’s SX88 is the first of a new line described as “a Copernican revolution,” according to Boat International.

A crossover integrating features of smaller explorers and flybridge yachts, the SX88’s exterior design and styling are the responsibility of Officina Italiana Design. Interior work is under the direction of Piero Lissoni. If you think “a superyacht that feels like an open loft,” that’s the design aesthetic driving the shipbuilder and designers.

According to Sanlorenzo CEO Massimo Perotti, the SX88 was conceived and designed to interest a new generation of buyers. The first public outing will be at the 2017 Cannes Yachting Festival in September, but the new line’s details were presented in May at a design museum in Milan.

The 27-meter full displacement superyacht will be powered by Volvo Penta, but specifics have not been revealed beyond an expected maximum speed of 23 knots.

The SX88’s design elements tend toward open spaces for expansive views and flexible use. An open transom has space for a tender and personal watercraft. Much of the main deck is left open to allow easy access with plenty of natural light. There’s a noticeable and intentional lack of interior walls and furniture.

Interior designer Lissoni, explained the concept: “I keep picturing boats, even very large ones as if they were lofts — that is very open, highly liveable spaces, which make it possible to be in contact with what’s around us.”

The top deck skylounge has a fixed front windshield and roof. The side windows are nearly 10 feet long and can be left up for more protection and a closed in space with views, or lowered for more exposure and air. Directly behind the covered space, an open lounge area can be defined by furniture.

Six SX88 hulls have already been spoken for. The superstructure design is offered with three different layouts. Depending on the buyer’s preference, the owner’s suite can be located amidships on the lower deck or forward on the main deck.

Sanlorenzo will have two additional sizes in the line. The first SX72 will launch in 2018 and the SX104 in 2019. All of the yachts in the SX line will have glass-reinforced-plastic (GRP) hulls and carbon fiber superstructure for strength and rigidity without weight.

Best Universal Car Mounts

Keep your phone safely in sight and secure with a car mount.

Update June 2017: Added the Nite Ize Steelie to the list and added a note about windshield mounts.

When you’re on the go, your phone is more than just a tool for keeping in touch. It’s your road trip playlist and your GPS, too. For safety’s sake, mounting your phone to your dashboard, windshield, or air vents is the best way to keep it in view while keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. We’ve gathered up a list of some excellent options for universal car mounts, and trust us, there’s no shortage of choices out there.

Note: Before you consider a windshield mount for your phone, you should make and check that windshield mounts are allowed in the states you’ll be driving most frequently in. As it stands, most states outlaw windshield mounted GPS or phone holders due to visibility and safety concerns.

• iDoo Qi Car Charger Mount
• Affordable Universal Car Mount
• New Trent Arcadia Magnetic Mount
• Koomus Eco-CD One Touch Car Mount
• iOttie Easy One Touch XL Car Mount
• WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Mount
• Spigen Style Ring
• Nite Ize Steelie

iDoo Qi Car Charger Mount

The car mount from iDoo is one fantastic multitasker. It offers wireless charging for your Qi-enabled phone, or space for a charging cable if you need to plug in.

You have three installation options: dashboard mount, air vent clips, or windshield mount. Take the time to experiment a little with the best sight lines for your phone when you’re ready to get set up so you’ll know which variation works for you. The cradle arm is completely adjustable, so you can avoid glare, and the frame rotates 360 degrees. No matter where you put it, the mount will be an essential part of your commute.

See at Amazon

Affordable Universal Car Mount

This offering from Affordable is as minimalist as they come, and you know what that means: no obstructed view. It’s ideal for dashboard or windshield installation.

It’s simple to install and remove when you’re switching vehicles. Bonus points are also awarded to this mount for living up to the name Affordable. It’s also been favorably reviewed for some time now; it won’t drop your phone when you’re travelling bumpy roads, and potholes won’t shake it’s grip.

See at Amazon

Koomus CD-Eco Car Mount

Remember when you kept stacks of CDs in the backseat so that you’d always have your favorite tunes close by? Well, your phone takes care of the songs these days, but your CD player can still be put to good use. The Koomus mount uses it to hold your phone in a very convenient place.

The low-profile mount is easy to install, and your CD player won’t be damaged or even recognize that it’s in use. The flexible clamps hold your phone securely with or without its case. You can also rotate your phone 360 degrees for easier viewing.

See at Amazon

iOttie Easy One Touch XL Car Mount

iOttie’s car mount is available in a few different versions, but we’re going to spotlight the XL. The suction cup is tough, and won’t budge from your dashboard or windshield. If you favor dashboard mounts, you can choose to add their Sticky Gel Pad for some extra grip, although most users say they don’t need it. The windshield mount won’t obstruct your view, either.

The XL is an especially solid choice if your phone case adds a little extra bulk, since the cradle is designed to hold larger phones to begin with. Your phone can rotate 360 degrees, and if you need to remove the mount and put it in a different vehicle, a quick rinse and dry of the suction cup makes it good as new again.

See at Amazon

New Trent Arcadia Magnetic Mount

For something completely different, check out the mount from New Trent. It holds your phone with a strong magnet, and installs onto your air vents. You don’t have to worry about snapping your phone into a cradle, just stick it to the magnetic pad and you’re on your way.

The base mount is available in black or blue, and comes with two magnetic plates you can stick to the back of two devices, especially handy if you share your car with other family members. The magnetic plates are thin enough to fit into your phone’s case, and strong enough to adhere to the base without having to constantly removing the case every time you get in the car.

See at Amazon

WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Mount

Wizgear produces another magnetic car mount we’re a fan of.. The magnet is strong on this one, and if you take the mount out of the car, it doubles as a kickstand for your phone. The magnet can be concealed inside most phone cases, so you won’t have to constantly remove the case before sticking your phone to the mount.

The air vent clips keep your phone highly visible without obstructing your view. The base swivels your phone into your preferred position and promises to keep it there until you move it, even when going over rougher terrain. It’s perfect if you just need to jump in the car and go with your phone at the ready.

See at Amazon

Spigen Style Ring

An inexpensive alternative for car mounts is the Style Ring. The mount is a tiny black hook that sticks to your dashboard, and the ring sticks to the back of your phone. If you’re not wild about sticking things to your car or device, this may not be the right choice for you, but it’s convenient.

The ring that attaches to your phone doubles as a kickstand in both portrait or landscape. It hooks to just about anything, so you might find yourself hanging your phone from a variety of places. Positioning the car mount might take some patience to get it just where you’d like it to stay, but it works well for hands-free calling and accessing music. Your phone snaps into place and swivels 360 degrees. It’s the smallest car mount you can find, so if space on your dashboard is at a premium, the Style Ring is a solid option.

See at Amazon

Nite Ize Steelie

This is definitely one of the coolest mounts on this list. The Steelie is a two-piece mounting system wherein a circular magnet adheres to the back of your phone, or its case, and a spherical magnetic base adheres to your car’s dashboard or console.

Hop in the car, and your phone mounts in a snap. This is about as minimalist as it gets in terms of car mounts. Making sharp turns and hitting potholes? No worries: The magnet is super strong and the magnetic ball moves with your phone to prevent it from falling off.

If you want a mounting system that barely noticeable, the Nite Ize Steelie is your slick solution.

See at Amazon

The bottom line

First and foremost, you need to know the details of your local laws, in terms of whether or not you are allowed to mount anything on your windshield. Next, you need to consider how often you’ll use a car mount and where in your vehicle it’s going to be. Each of these car mounts has distinct advantages all their own, but we think that versatility and durability are the most important qualities to look for.

Which universal car mount are you using these days? Tell us about it in the comments!