the WIRED - June 2014 Issue Teaser - The Future of VR is Here By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 20 May 2014 10:00:00 +0000 We’ve long imagined a device that renders virtual reality that's indistinguishable from the outside world. In the June issue, Senior Editor Peter Rubin explores the Oculus Rift—a VR headset doing just that. Also this month: creating a museum from the ruins of 2,983 lives, the surprising science of the hangover, and the quantum computer that maybe isn’t. Music: "On Pagaie" Performed By: HUMANS (http://dashumans.com/) Full Article
the Angry Nerd - The Madness of the Timeline Mashup in the New X-Men By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 22 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Angry Nerd has been to the future and he brings back an important message: don’t see the new X-Men movie. With a scrambled timeline and inclusion of too many sub-franchises, the film adds a new dimension to the “days of future past” continuum: straight confusion. Full Article
the Design FX - Godzilla: Creating the Animalistic and Masculine Kaiju Monster By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 23 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 After Roland Emmerich missed the mark with Godzilla in 1998, we had reason to be skeptical of Gareth Edwards’ new remake. Fxguide’s Mike Seymour goes inside the special effects behind the latest incarnation, in which effects company MPC designed the largest Godzilla yet, featuring an animalistic appearance with anthropomorphized traits. Full Article
the RetroGrade - Before the i-Everything, There Was Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak & the Apple lle By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Remember when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were the new kids on the block? In the early ’80s they debuted the Apple IIe, blowing away the competition. RetroGrade takes a look at the “modern” technology that helped set the industry benchmark for personal computing. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - The Two-Minute Lightning Pitch By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The big day is finally here and the finalists only have 2 minutes to convince judges that they should be one of 20 to receive a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship. As the students take the stage, see who stands out—and who comes up short—in the final lightning pitches. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - The Thiel Fellowship Finalists Go One-on-One with the Mentors By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The lightning pitches are over, but the finalists continue to sweat in the mentor matches. Judges and industry head honchos meet with each of the 40 students to find out more about their projects. Can the fellowship finalists effectively articulate their concepts and business plans, or will the tough questions and high-pressure one-on-ones prove to be too much? Full Article
the Teen Technorati - 20 Teens Win $100K: Announcing the 2014 Thiel Fellows By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The deliberations are over and the judges are ready to notify the 2014 Thiel Fellowship winners via Skype. Find out which 20 kids will have their lives changed forever as they win a $100,000 grant and drop out of school to pursue their dreams. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - The Thiel Fellowship Finalists Leave S.F. & Head Back to Reality By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 After a weekend of activities and final pitches, the 40 students get ready to pack up their things and head back to reality until the 20 fellowships are awarded. In this episode, the students reflect back on what they’ve learned over the past few days, and what they’ll do if chosen as a 2014 Thiel Fellow. Full Article
the Angry Nerd - Why Edge of Tomorrow is of the Greatest Movie About Video Games, Ever By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000 The new sci-fi flick Edge of Tomorrow is basically a sci-fi rip-off of Groundhog Day, but with more Tom Cruise and less Bill Murray. And somehow, it manages to establish itself as one of the best movies about a video game, ever. Full Article
the RetroGrade - Why the Atari 2600 Is One of the Best Video Game Consoles, Ever By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Long before the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the Atari 2600 was heralded as the next generation of gaming. Look no further than the sweet joystick and the detailed graphics to see why it’s considered one of the holy grails of video game consoles. Full Article
the WIRED Live - eBay’s R.J. Pittman on the Future of Shopping By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000 WIRED senior writer Steven Levy talks with eBay’s R.J. Pittman on the future of shopping, the growth of mobile, and how to build an engaging experience in the digital marketplace. Full Article
the Design FX - X-Men: Days of Future Past: The Sentinels’ Complicated Follicle Animation By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 In X-Men: Days of Future Past, the mutant clan goes head-to-head with the Sentinels—a group of dystopian-era robots. Effects experts MPC created the Sentinels’ special effects using a follicle-like animation, comprised of tiny scales. Mike Seymour explains how they accomplished the technically complicated designs. Full Article
the Catch Vic Mignogna Behind the Scenes in the Series Star Trek Continues By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Intended to pick up where the original show left off, the web series “Star Trek Continues” has brought about a wave of nostalgic appreciation for the classic sci-fi show. After a successful Kickstarter campaign and now, with two full webisodes under its belt, the show, by producer/director/super fan/star Vic Mignogna, is ushering in brand-new voyages of the starship Enterprise. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - Meet Catherine Ray—A 2014 Thiel Fellow and Mathematics Wunderkind By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 20:59:41 +0000 Seventeen-year-old Catherine Ray just received a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship. Armed with a B.S. in computational physics, the mathematics whiz is planning to fix everything that’s wrong with wheelchairs. Get to know the teen technorati. Full Article
the WIRED Live - Tumblr’s David Karp on Why He Doesn’t Regret the Yahoo! Sale & Empowering Creators By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 At BizCon 2014, Tumblr CEO and co-founder David Karp sat down with WIRED senior writer Steven Levy to talk about why he doesn’t regret the Yahoo! sale, how his platform empowers creators, and the importance of enabling users. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - Say Hello to Rebecca Jolitz, the 19-year-old Thiel Fellow Who Wants to Disrupt the Satellite Industry By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 With degrees in mathematics and physics from U.C. Berkeley, 19-year-old Rebecca Jolitz is planning to revolutionize the satellite development industry. Get to know the 2014 Thiel Fellow and find out what first inspired her love of science. Full Article
the Angry Nerd - Why Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys” is Destined to Crash & Burn on the Big Screen By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Musicals. They’re great. But jukebox musicals? That’s an entirely different—and often terrible—story. Even with Clint Eastwood behind the camera of the new stage-to-film rendition of Jersey Boys, there’s only so much Dirty Harry can do for the destined-to-flop silver screen adaptation. Full Article
the Tour the USS Enterprise From Star Trek Continues w/Vic Mignogna By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 From the transporter room to the sick bay, take a full tour of the stage used in Star Trek Continues. Modeled after the original set used in the late '60s, Vic Mignogna takes us behind the painstakingly recreated USS Enterprise. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - Teens Move into One House to Pursue Their Dreams in Silicon Valley as the 2014 Thiel Fellows By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000 As the 2014 Thiel Fellows prepare to move to San Francisco for the summer, the reality of the fellowship starts to sink in. Having to drop out of school, dealing with parental judgment—is it all really worth it to pursue their ideas and projects in Silicon Valley? Full Article
the Teen Technorati - Are You an Adult or a Kid? The Thiel Fellows Gear Up for Orientation … and Adulthood By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The fellows who’ve moved into the campus house start to settle in—all the while gearing up for orientation. In this episode, the teens hear advice from current and past fellows on the challenges they'll face, including how to make the most of their $100,000 grants. Full Article
the WIRED - July 2014 Issue Teaser - The Code By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 A new generation of online experiences demands a new set of rules for stylish and proper behavior. Guest voice of reason Jerry Seinfeld guides us through Instagram, wearables, Tinder, Secret, and more in a quest to help you vanquish your inner glasshole. Also this month: one doctor’s controversial quest to save lives and three daring photographers risk arrest to preserve America’s Cold War legacy. Music - “Soft Gems Pt. 1” By: Mujeres Full Article
the Teen Technorati - Talking with Darby Schumacher, the 18-Year-Old Thiel Fellowship Finalist Who Wants to Prevent SIDS By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Eighteen-year-old Darby Schumacher is trying to create a safer and healthier world for newborns. The 2014 Thiel Fellowship finalist is working to develop an alert system that tracks vital signs in babies to help combat Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The Tennessee native explains what prompted her to start the project and why she wants to become an entrepreneur. Full Article
the Angry Nerd - Death to the Superhero Comic-Book Movie … But Not All Comic-Book Movies By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 It’s hard for him to admit, but Angry Nerd just doesn’t need anymore Marvel or DC comic book movies. Instead of another big budget flick with an oversaturated superhero, why not look elsewhere for solid source material? Case in point: The excellent, new comic-to-silver-screen adaptation, Snowpiercer. Full Article
the Meet the Cast & Crew of Star Trek Continues with Vic Mignogna By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Get to know the dedicated cast and crew that are bringing Star Trek Continues to life. Plus, find out which cast member spent time on set of the original series when his dad starred as Scotty. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - The Thiel Fellows Visit TechShop in SF & Gain Access to Innovative Equipment & Technology By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Back in San Francisco, fellows Shantanu Bala and Kaushik Tiwari visit the community workshop and prototyping studio TechShop. As they tour the space and check out equipment, Shantanu develops new ideas that he can apply to his project of building new computer interfaces that use a sense of touch to get information. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - The Thiel Fellows Get an Inside Look at Silicon Valley on a Field Trip to the Google Campus By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The Thiel fellows get a dose of Silicon Valley life as they visit Google’s collaborative workspace, The Garage. After a demo of Google Glass, the group gets hands-on with an innovation exercise to hone their creativity and team-building skills. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - Brilliant Teens Shack Up in the Bay Area to Bring Their $100K Ideas to Life By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 A bunch of talented teens all under 20 years old move in together. Sounds like the plot of a new MTV show, but for the winners of the $100,000 Thiel Fellowship, it’s reality. In this episode of Teen Technorati, the fellows give us a tour of their San Francisco and Oakland apartments, where they’re working on their projects and bringing their ideas to life. Full Article
the Angry Nerd - Why Andy Serkis is the Greatest Actor of His Generation By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 He's the maestro of motion capture performance. From Gollum in Lord of the Rings to Caesar in the new Planet of the Apes movies, Andy Serkis is the greatest actor you've never seen. So where is this man's Oscar? The Angry Nerd has words for the Academy—doesn't he, my Precious? Full Article
the Teen Technorati - To Infinity & Beyond: The Fellows Visit NASA & Learn About the Future of Life on the Moon By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 In this episode, Thiel fellow Rebecca Jolitz takes us on a tour of the NASA Ames Research Center, where she worked while attending UC Berkeley. The entire group also pays a visit to lunar transportation company Moon Express for lessons on space, technology, and how to turn the impossible into a reality. Full Article
the How to Survive a Real-Life "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" Situation By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Ever wonder what you'd do if a gang of genetically engineered apes took over the planet? Host Quinn Beswick talks to scientists, sociologists, and survivalists for tips on what to do if you find yourself in a real-life Dawn of the Planet of the Apes situation. Full Article
the Bonus Content: Could A "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" Disaster Actually Happen? By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 16:43:35 +0000 Now you know what to do if a Planet of the Apes situation occurs, but is an ape takeover actually plausible? Host Quinn Beswick breaks down the likelihood of a primate invasion. Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - It’s Back! Watch a Teaser of the Biggest, Baddest Creature Coming to Life for Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000 At San Diego Comic-Con 2013, WIRED debuted a giant robot mech. This year, a new version of the larger-than-life beast will be revealed at the ultimate fan convention. Watch a preview of what’s in store for the colossal creature, created in collaboration with the Stan Winston School, Legacy Effects, Stratasys, and WIRED. From design to tech and prototype to finished product, see how the ultimate cosplay creation came to life. Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - Watch FX Experts Build the Prototype of a 14-Foot Creature By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The design phase is over, and now it's time to prove that the 14-foot-tall creature can be built. As the team starts to build the prototype, challenges arise due to the creature's size and scale. Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - How Do You Scale Up the Design of a Giant Creature? By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Designer Greg Smith walks us through the process of scaling up the massive beast to see how much volume is needed to create it. After taking photos and videos of the rough frame and superimposing it onto an image of the creature, the team is able to get a better idea of what dimensions they'll need to bring it to life. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - Genius Teens Unite at the Thiel Foundation's Under 20 Summit By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:00:00 +0000 It's time for the bi-annual Under 20 Summit, where past, present, and future Thiel Fellows connect with one another and meet with mentors. In this Season 2 finale, the winners of this year's Thiel Fellowship reflect on their progress thus far, and share their goals for the future. Full Article
the Design FX - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Transforming Human Motion-Capture Performances Into Realistic-Looking Apes By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 14:00:00 +0000 In the latest incarnation of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbell deliver human motion-capture performances to help bring the realistic apes to life. Shot with a combination of high-speed cameras, Mike Seymour breaks down the tech behind shooting the motion-capture scenes on location versus on a sound stage. Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - Watch the Full-Body Mechanics of the 2,000-Pound Giant Creature in Action By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Catch a first-look at the giant creature in action as the team tests out the mechanics of the frame. Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - EXCLUSIVE: It’s Alive! Watch Jimmy Kimmel Take the Fully Formed Giant Creature for a Ride Down Hollywood Boulevard By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 02:24:30 +0000 Watch Matt Winston and the crew assemble the giant creature on Hollywood Boulevard before its big reveal on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Plus, watch Kimmel and his sidekick Guillermo take the nearly 14-foot tall, 2,000-pound creature for a ride. Watch the Kimmel segment here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plmBWOL5LBw Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - See the Giant Creature Get Ready for Jimmy Kimmel Live By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 15:46:24 +0000 How do you transport a 2,000-pound, 14-foot-tall beast? Find out, as the giant creature makes its way from the Stan Winston School facilities to Hollywood for its big debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - Watch the Giant Creature Crash Through San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 01:51:04 +0000 San Diego Comic-Con 2014 is underway and it's time for Bodock the Giant Creature to make his public debut. Catch a first-look at his #SDCC2014 reveal. Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - The Giant Creature vs. Angry Dogs at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 02:27:32 +0000 Bodock the Giant Creature tries to make some new friends at #SDCC2014, but ends up making a few enemies instead. Watch what happens when he faces off against two small dogs who aren't afraid of the colossal beast. Full Article
the The Giant Creature Destroys Angry Nerd in Movie Monster Trivia at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 20:25:09 +0000 Angry Nerd challenges Bodock the Giant Creature to a round of movie monster trivia. Despite Angry Nerd's best efforts to trick the massive beast, Bodock comes out ahead with a few tricks of his own. Full Article
the Angry Nerd Takes on the Avengers Cast, Cosplay Superheroes, and More at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:02:17 +0000 Angry Nerd is on location at #SDCC2014, and he's got a bone to pick with cosplay fans waiting to get into the coveted Hall H. Plus, he stops by a signing with the cast of Avengers: Age of Ultron to give Marvel a piece of his mind about the new Ant-Man movie. Full Article
the Angry Nerd - Chris Nolan's First Time at Comic-Con, the Interstellar Trailer & Elizabeth Olsen's Mutant Flub By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 18:00:00 +0000 Chris Nolan showed up to #SDCC2014 to promote his new sci-fi flick Interstellar and Angry Nerd has a few choice words for him. Watch as he gives Nolan a piece of his mind, talks to a few cosplay fans, and gives advice to the Marvel world. Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - How to Make Monster Sounds with the Click of a Button By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Wonder how Bodock the Giant Creature and his alien sidekick got their voices? In this episode, we take a trip to Anarchy Post to see how the creature's voice came to life with the help of voice actors and Dehumaniser—a real-time vocal processor for monster sound FX. Full Article
the How to Make a Giant Creature - Watch the Giant Creature Marry a Couple & More Highlights from San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 19:00:00 +0000 It's been an eight-week-long marathon to get the Bodock Giant Creature ready for #SDCC2014, and now that the convention is over, it's time to take a look back at the best moments from the event, including the marriage ceremony he officiated. Full Article
the Design FX - Game of Thrones: Combining CGI and Live Action to Create the Dragons & Fights Scenes in Season 4 By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 In season four of Game of Thrones a combination of CGI and live character action were used to create impressive fight scenes and stunning visual effects. Mike Seymour breaks down the tech behind the hit HBO show. Full Article
the Angry Nerd - What Makes "Doctor Who" Great Are the Sidekicks, Not the Time Lord By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Scripts for upcoming episodes of Doctor Who have leaked online, but should you read them before they air? It doesn't matter! The scripts aren't the secret to the Doctor's longevity. It's the companions that make or break any given episode, arc, or season, and Angry Nerd can prove it. Full Article
the Teen Technorati - Meet the Teens Who Are About the Change the World By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 They each won $100,000 to change the world. Find out how the 2014 Thiel Fellows are planning to do it—all in under 60 seconds. Full Article
the Angry Nerd - Why the Best Comic-Book-to-Film Adaptations Are Not Always the Most Faithful By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 When it comes to film adaptations of comic-books, the source material should always be treated as gospel, right? Wrong. Angry Nerd explains why, and shares his concerns for Frank Miller's upcoming Sin City: A Dame to Kill For—which could end up being too faithful for its own good. Full Article