Video Briefly: Next-Gen Lighting, Chess: The Sequel, Flexible Smartwatch

Brief video items of note for Lifehacker readers, including: Battle of Endor recut, meet the guy who’s making a sequel to chess, the concept smartwatch that will blow your mind. Kick off your Friday night with the best online videos of the week!

  • Here’s an oldie but a goodie — some Ewok-hating video editor recut the battle of Endor from Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi VI so that it only includes the climactic space battle. Not a furry dwarf in sight! Watch it here.
  • Papin and Rouilly’s “Gyroptère” was a 1913 concept aircraft that never got off the ground. It had a single blade — the long wing you can see in white — which rotated to lift it to the skies. Fast-forward to 2014 and the machine is making a comeback.
  • The latest trend in robotics surrounds cake decoration. (Warning: It’s impossible not to crave cake after watching these videos.)
  • Peter Anthony Smith is an Australian musician. In his spare time he messes around with an EWI, an Electronic Wind Instrument, and records some terrifyingly accurate (and gorgeous) video game covers. Check out the cream of his oeuvre here.
  • Chess is getting a sequel. Yes, that Chess. Chess 2, which is available on Steam, adds multiple factions, a bidding mechanic and a whole new way to win. Click here for an overview of the rules.
  • Behold: It’s the world’s worst Grand Theft Auto V stunt montage.
  • The Nexus 360 is a new smartwatch concept that is essentially a flexible smartphone that transformed into a wrist-cuff. Once deployed, the 360 can wrap around your wrist and converts itself into watch mode, replacing the need for the smartwatch entirely. Click here to see it in action.
  • Nobumichi Asai has used projection mapping to put CGI onto cars, docks, building and more. His latest canvas? A real, live human face.
  • When Jaime King was home alone and thought she was about to give birth, she didn’t want to make a fuss. So instead of calling for an ambulance or getting a friend to give her a ride she… got an Uber.
  • Meet Popstel: Australia’s newest (satirical) and most awful Pay TV provider.
  • Think you’re strong? You’re not as strong as these guys — watch them walk up invisible walls in the air supported by nothing but their biceps.
  • Resolution and polygons aren’t the only things behind increasingly lifelike 3D worlds. Lighting plays a huge part as well. These astonishing videos were produced with Unreal Engine 4 showing how next-gen lighting is pushing the limits of realism.
  • Tim Tam Slams: The Snacktaku Review.
  • According to this video’s description on YouTube, it’s an attempt to “[mine] the depths of every aspect of the Australian stereotype…and asks us to visit that most Australian trait: to laugh at ourselves”. In short, it explains how to talk Australian. Swearing ensues, natch.
  • David Astle (AKA “DA”) has spent years designing cryptic crosswords for readers of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. This is his story.
  • If you think there’s too much violence and sex and awful human behaviour in Game of Thrones, you’ll enjoy this light hearted remix where all the sounds of the show are replaced with old school video game noises. Bless.
  • Honest Trailers has just nitpicked its way through Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It’s kind of what they do. (Contains spoilers.)

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