I’ve bought the BluRay Star Trek film today. The set I have is a three disk offering - the movie, a disk of extras and a disc containing the film in a format that I can watch on my iPod/Mac etc.. For a hair under £20, I thought that this was a pretty good deal. I like the computer useable option - this should be standard, as far as I am concerned.

But what is truly, truly fascinating is the Augmented Reality bit. You get given a URL to go to, download a bit of software and then hold up the box in front of your web cam. The box gets replaced in the picture with a model of the Enterprise. When you move the box, the model moves too. Even in a crappily lit room like the one I am in at the moment, it just works. I suspect that the bold lettering (in near black) on a white background is key enough to determine angles etc..

Anyway, however it work,s it’s pretty impressive.

So here is a crappy picture of me (in really rubbish lighting), holding the box in front of the camera. It’s been replaced by a starry background and the Enterprise.



and another:



OK - I’ve not watched the film yet. That’s for later on tonight. I’m just having fun with this.

That's possibly the most geeky thing I've seen in 2009. Well done

If I can, I’ll try grabbing a screen capture of this tomorrow.

Very

I can make it orbit my head. IT goes behind and in front of me!

Can't get this working on my machine.

I think I saw something similar with a box of cereal and a 'Night in the Museum 2' promo...

I'd buy it if it wasn't around £18

The disk of extras is well worth having. Aside from the rather self-congratulatory aspect of some of the footage there, I found a lot of insight into the making of the film, the approach and how the effects were put together. I find all that fascinating, and much to the annoyance of my other half, I find the process of maijg the film as fascinating as the end result. A good “making of” disc for me completes the experience.

Linux_User - if you are on a Mac, try Firefox - it doesn’t seem to work in Safari.

No video of it today - I was out auditioning TVs.

Find anything, or think you've found anything?

I’ve found a Samsung which looks like it’s going to fit the bill. I don’t need things like Freesat built in. The Panasonic I was looking at had Freesat as well, but the Samsung seems to offer a far better picture than the Panasonic for a slightly lower price. I need to ponder this before I hit the commit button. I also have to decide what to do with the current TV, which weighs a ton and isn’t going to get me much cash wise.

Be sure to have a good look around the net price-wise before purchasing, or get Team X404 on the case

My TV has gone up hundreds of pounds or dropped by about £30 depending on where you look

As promised, here is a YouTube video of the box in Action. Sadly, you have to look at me too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WXtYp7d0DU

Damn mobile BB, I'll check that out later...

EDIT - Very

Found this, though it may be spoiler-tastic for those who haven't seen the film yet (I haven't, so I didn't read it):

UPDATE!! If Shatner Were In Abrams' STAR TREK, This Is What It Would've Been Like..

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/43170

Tarantino's a Trek fan :

http://www.totalfilm.com/news/tarantino ... ms-of-2009

I'll try and get seeing this while I'm off, though I've a bunch of other stuff lined up...