Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:

The Mandalorian reinvented film production

TechCrunch • Enter the Volume

This one blew my mind. Like most people, I binged The Mandalorian shortly after it was released on Disney+. Here’s the cool part, though: instead of green screens or front-projected video, their team used massive digital displays that covered the walls and ceiling of the stage. This allowed actors and objects in the foreground to be real, but everything else to be virtual.

The indoor and outdoor environments are all 3D-rendered in real time while being synchronized with camera motion, thanks to a robust video game engine and one hell of a computer setup. And because of that, you can do fun video-game things like move a mountain around for better composition. The screens are also bright enough to light actors in a natural way, reducing the need for visual effects in post.

Sweaty tech

The Verge • Robots learn to sweat

Robots are becoming more like humans every day, but this is one feature I could do without. Just like us meatbags, robots can now sweat to prevent overheating.

What I want to know is, who’s going to be the first to create robot deodorant?

⭐️️️️️⭐️️️️️⭐️️️️️⭐️️️️️⭐️️️️ Would do again

Amazon Dating • Hot singles near you

Amazon is getting into the dating game with yet another delivery service. Now you can order a date with both free one-day delivery and free returns.

I like how you can filter by height and read reviews before you buy. Trust Amazon to think of the small details like that.

Return of the ‘Roos

NY times • Dunkaroos Are Back

I can’t stress how important this is for 2020 and beyond. The absolute top-tier lunch snack is returning from the grave, thanks to Betty Crocker.

My mechanical revolution

OlKB • Planck EZ keyboard

This ortholinear mechanical keyboard has drastically changed my workflow for the better. Less-used keys and functions are moved into ‘layers,’ accessed by the raise and lower modifier keys flanking the space bar. You can also move or change any key, keycap, switch, and RGB light to suit your use case.

My favourite part is that instead of contorting my hands into weird yoga poses just to execute keyboard shortcuts, now I can have multiple keys mapped to one. It’s a noticeable difference after a full day at work.

This tumbler makes drinks taste better

Glassblower Ben • Classic Medium Dombey Glass

There’s nothing worse than drinking a quality whisky in a completely average glass. It ruins the whole experience.

These one-of-a-kind tumblers are handblown in Ben’s New Orleans studio, and they’re about twice the weight of anything you’d find in stores. It just feels good to have a drink out of this glass.

Access your computer from anywhere

Edovia • Screens for Mac

This is my favourite remote access tool, now that Back to My Mac has been killed off. It replicates the same functionality (and more) and it has a great mobile app.

It’s also the smoothest and most performant of the remote tools I’ve tried, but it comes at a price: $30. That said, the number of times I’ve had a need to remotely access files or queue up a completely legal download have made it all worth it.

The Rundown

Remote computer access

The lingo

VNC — Virtual Network Computing. It’s the standard tech protocol behind remote access that transmits the keyboard, mouse, and screen updates over a network connection.

SSH — Secure Shell. You’ll see this mentioned as a way of securing your remote connections and file transfers. It’s best to always use this option when available.

The gist

Even though it seems all fancy pants to remotely access your computer, it’s really not. You can use it for simple file transfers, controlling your computer from your phone, or even helping someone out with remote tech support.

There used to be a simple version in macOS called Back to My Mac, but, for some reason, Apple killed that off. Check out the two options above and below this section for my favourite alternatives: Screens ↑ (premium) or Chrome Remote Desktop ↓ (free).

Chrome away from home

Google • Chrome Remote Desktop

This is the best free option I’ve found for remote control of your computer. It’s made by Google themselves, so you know you can (mostly) trust it.

Just add the extension to Chrome and then create profiles for your computers. There’s also an Android and iOS app for mobile access. It definitely isn’t as smooth or full-featured as Screens (above), though.

Every Seinfeld episode had a completely unique theme song

YouTube • Jonathan Wolff on E! News

This is pretty cool. Jonathan Wolff, the composer behind the iconic Seinfeld theme song, describes how it came to be. I had no idea it was custom to each episode, paced around the timing of Jerry’s monologue. But it totally makes sense.

Praise HBO

YouTube • The Righteous Gemstones trailer

If you missed out on The Righteous Gemstones, I highly recommend giving it a shot. It follows a famous yet dysfunctional family of televangelists and boasts and all-star comedic cast. John Goodman plays the unholy father, while Danny McBride, Edi Patterson, and Adam Devine are his children.

Fresh to death

YouTube • The Moldy Whopper

Burger King definitely got the media's attention with their new Whopper campaign, but I can’t say it’s done much for my appetite.

Nextworld

YouTube • Westworld Season 3 Trailer

Another top-notch TV show. If you’re behind, there are two amazing seasons of HBO’s Westworld to catch up on before the third season drops on March 15.

Fun fact: the composer is the same as on Game of Thrones. The score takes modern day songs and plays them through an old-school saloon piano.

An Audi for every moment

YouTube • Marc Lichte on the four Audi concept cars

Audi recently debuted four new concept cars as part of its AI: family. They envision a sort of Uber-meets-car2go future where you can book a car for every type of adventure—from city to slopes—and choose whether you want to drive, or, let the car do it for you.

My favourite of the bunch is the AI:TRAIL SUV, mainly because it has a pair of drones that light up the path ahead. That’s an instant win in my books.