Hasta La Gadget!

The next-generation of video game consoles will usher in some amazing visuals, which we already caught a glimpse of during Sony’s PlayStation 4 unveiling. Activision’s R&D department took center stage yesterday during the company’s GDC panel called “next-generation character rendering,” which after you see their tech demo, will have you wondering if it’s creepy or super awesome.

The real-time character demo is a 2-minute long video that highlights a number of amazing improvements in regards to a character’s facial gestures. The demo, which is all running in real-time, captures the actor’s face, eye movements, skin imperfections and nearly every emotion the actor could think of. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Assassin’s Creed 4 First Gameplay Trailer Shows Off Underwater Exploration, Splinter Cell: Blacklist Video Highlights ‘Ghost’, ‘Panther’ and ‘Assault’ Play Styles,

We’re all waiting eagerly for Samsung’s new flagship smartphone to release into the ether, but it’s still a month away from its April 26 debut in the UK. However, Brits are now able to pre-order the GALAXY S 4 starting today at several wireless carriers and online retailers, including Amazon and Carphone Warehouse.

At Carphone Warehouse, you can pre-order the GALAXY S 4 off-contract for a steep £630. However, you can also grab the new phone from the retailer with a contract from either Orange, T-Mobile, or O2, which will obviously offset the cost of the device significantly, but you’ll have to sign away for a two-year contract in order to make that happen.

As for Amazon, you have your pick at a either a black or white version (same with Carphone Warehouse), both of which will cost the same £630 if you want to get it without a contract. With the pre-order, you’ll get £1 MP3 credit to use in Amazon’s MP3 Music Store. As for Unlocked Mobiles, you can grab a GALAXY S 4 for just £530, which is £100 cheaper than Amazon and Carphone Warehouse.

As for availability on other wireless carriers not mentioned, the GALAXY S 4 is available on EE, Vodafone, Three, and Virgin Mobile. EE seems like your best bet right now, as they’re the only carrier in the UK with a 4G LTE network. Of course, more wireless carriers in the UK will launch their own LTE network, but if you want LTE as soon as possible, EE is your only option right now.

[via The Next Web]

Samsung GALAXY S 4 pre-orders now live in the UK is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Samsung will reportedly be launching Samsung Stores in select Best Buy locations ahead of the Galaxy S4′s U.S. launch, a new report from Geek.com claims. The new sections, which will occupy spots close to the mobile department, will feature Samsung branding throughout and highlight a number of Samsung products, not just the upcoming Galaxy S4, though that flagship device will be the core focus.

The report from Geek.com says that at first the Samsung Stores will only be appearing at certain high-traffic locations, with training to begin for employees in the mobile departments at those stores soon. The store-within-a-store concept will roll out to other Best Buys following the launch later this year, with the ultimate goal of puting one in every U.S. location. We’ve reached to both Best Buy and Samsung for comment, but have yet to hear back at publication time.

Of course, there’s a good precedent for this sort of thing at Best Buy specifically, and it was set by a company that Samsung is generally keen to emulate: Apple. Apple’s dedicated mini-stores in Best Buy locations are unique in that they replicate almost exactly the in-store displays of Apple products in the company’s own standalone retail stores. It sounds like Samsung’s new in-store locations will resemble the Apple versions in both form and function, with the main intent being to have staff and space to properly demonstrate Samsung’s devices separate from those made by other OEMs.

If these Samsung Stores become a reality, it’s likely going to have the most effect on its fellow Android smartphone manufacturers, rather than Apple, however. Samsung is already setting itself apart from the competition in terms of market reach and global sales, but distinguishing itself on the physical retail floor will institutionalize a choice between Samsung and ‘all the rest’ for in-store shoppers.

Samsung is getting bolder in its marketing efforts, as was painfully apparent from its lavish, confusing Broadway spectacle earlier this month. If it wants to stand out, physically separating itself inside of Best Buy locations is another very good way to do so.

You might be a little confused because this looks strikingly similar to the snow fortress in Inception. But no need to watch out for skiing dream assassins—it’s an apartment complex in Lausanne, Switzerland. (As far as we know). More »

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics in Saarbrücken have developed a new type of motion capture system that doesn’t require the live action performers to wear those skintight body suits covered in cumbersome tracking markers. And the typical 360 degree array of infrared sensors capturing their movements can be reduced to just a handful of strategically placed video cameras. More »