Samsung Soul promo video shows 10 optical illusions in 136 seconds

We'll be frank -- we really have no idea what Samsung's getting at with its freshest Soul promotional video, but it's certainly a fine piece of eye candy if nothing else. Put simply, the video shows a maniac darting about demonstrating ten optical illusions in just over two minutes, and in case you couldn't guess, the Soul is saved for last. Should we have prefaced that bit with a spoiler warning? Too bad -- vid's still waiting after the jump if you're interested, though.

[Thanks, Joel]

[mattclarkie @ May 17th 2008 8:51AM]

Even though I hate the one they have been showing lately the "Magic touch window" or something. It does look good in HD. This just sucks.

[nikola @ May 21st 2008 8:55PM]

im eating an orange right now. still a little rind on it though.

[Technex @ May 17th 2008 8:53AM]

I hate that idiot...

[Saad Rabia @ May 17th 2008 8:58AM]

I still don't get the point. Help guys!

[badqat @ May 17th 2008 9:11AM]

I think the point was that we all wasted two minutes of our life that we'll never get back.

[Richard Lai @ May 17th 2008 11:18AM]

@Saad Rabia: I think you meant "Where are the hot Korean models?".

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ May 17th 2008 2:04PM]

The point is " Not everything is as it seems" Sometimes something looks like one thing but is actually another. something that appears to be 2 dimensional can easily be in 3. Ahh yee of minuscule intellect. Einstein where are ya me buddy?

[Rebel6381 @ May 17th 2008 2:05PM]

@badqat

I really want those two minutes back. Can we file a lawsuit against Samsung for wasting our time. Heck, I'll settle for a T-shirt...but it can't say Soul or Samsung on it.

[Brian @ May 17th 2008 7:17PM]

Rebel, your time is the least-valuable commodity in the world.

[NG @ May 18th 2008 10:34AM]

Pointless commercial..
and the last illusion of their own mobile didn't even work. hahah

[Ben @ May 19th 2008 11:07AM]

@SOOPERGOOMAN: I'm right here

[Ben @ May 19th 2008 11:08AM]

LOL. My handle is usually einsteinx2. I didn't know it shows up on here as my first name. Now the joke makes no sense.

[Bob @ May 17th 2008 9:22AM]

Very cool!

[Joe @ May 18th 2008 10:18AM]

If by "cool" you mean "pointless", I agree!

[Mam00th @ May 17th 2008 9:35AM]

Stop looking at me stupid dino robot

[Bad Beaver @ May 17th 2008 9:36AM]

Rad illusions, nice music. No idea about the why either.

[nikster @ May 17th 2008 11:13PM]

++ agreed

it's a commercial. it's entertaining. good enough.

[Caroline Pai @ May 17th 2008 9:43AM]

I didn't get it on reddit and I don't get it here.

[mikejonas @ May 17th 2008 10:01AM]

The gimmick of the gizmo is that it has an OLED display on its d-pad, so that when you change modes (e.g. mp3 player to phone) the symbols on the d-pad change.

Anyway, some of the illusions were neat (the dino one was nice), others were the kind you'd find out of a Highlights magazine.

[kyle allen @ May 17th 2008 5:49PM]

goofis and galant rule!

[Solarix @ May 17th 2008 10:14AM]

If you liked the dragon illusion, you can easily make your own, on a smaller scale.

http://www.grand-illusions.com/opticalillusions/dragon_illusion/

[Esat Dedezade @ May 17th 2008 2:54PM]

Thanks for the link, I just made one, its awesome!

[Skry @ May 17th 2008 10:15AM]

I kinda liked it, some weren't great optical illusions but the dragon one was rather funny.

[therpham @ May 17th 2008 10:44AM]

I built one of those dragons in high school and people loved staring at it.

[joshky @ May 17th 2008 11:40AM]

as a canadian i am obligated to say:


...eh?

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ May 17th 2008 2:06PM]

As a Newfoundlander I am obligated to say, "Buddy Wah!"

[chimpoid @ May 17th 2008 6:55PM]

As a scotsman I am obligated to say "That's pish"

[Esat Dedezade @ May 18th 2008 6:47AM]

As a person that is from none of those cultures I am obligated to say:

What?

[Tim @ May 17th 2008 1:27PM]

i thought the bull was pretty cool; mount an electric motor instead of the bike and it'd make for a pretty interesting wall.

[Michael @ May 17th 2008 1:32PM]

Asked this over on EngadgetMobile as well... why are there only 8 illusions INCLUDING the Samsung one?

[Andrew Campbell @ May 17th 2008 6:44PM]

I love my companion cube.

[BuddyBoy @ May 18th 2008 1:21PM]

Two possible explanations.

Perhaps the advert is in itself an optical illusion, Because they said their was 10 people watch it, and believe they saw 10, but only really saw 9. The ninth being the advert?

Or.. Samsung can't count.

[WickedEast @ May 17th 2008 1:34PM]

Since when a commercial needs to have a "point"? Its purpose is to grab attention. Period.

Can't believe in this day and age, some people still don't get it about commercials...

[Joe @ May 18th 2008 10:22AM]

I think when people say they "don't get it" I think they mean that it just doesn't really do anything for them, including making people think. It just made me shut my brain down.

[Wwhat @ May 18th 2008 5:18PM]

Well you saw it, do you now feel like buying a samsung? And isn't that the purpose of advertising?

[Vault @ May 17th 2008 1:34PM]

The dragon was the only really cool thing.

[AlphaTeam @ May 17th 2008 2:47PM]

Love the illusions. Let me see:

- Dragon
- Checkerboard
- Big/Small
- Faces
- Spacecraft
- Tires
- Bull
- Phone

8 unique illusions, 10 if you count the dragon 3 times.

[Wwhat @ May 18th 2008 5:19PM]

Also it says the video lasts 2:15 not 2:00, it's magic!

[Carl M @ May 19th 2008 6:55PM]

I think that the gadget segment at the end was supposed to account for 3 illusions:
1 - buttons changing
2 - which way is the whole gadget spinning?
3 - SAMSUNG on drill; not sure about this one?

[jason @ May 17th 2008 3:14PM]

this fails on so many levels

[billedluh @ May 17th 2008 3:15PM]

i want that dragon. Go ahead and put that in my car.

[Travis May @ May 17th 2008 6:15PM]

Even worse, its two minutes and sixteen seconds!

[Ladderless @ May 17th 2008 7:48PM]

If anyone wants a mini version of the dragon, you can print out a free one here:

http://www.grand-illusions.com/opticalillusions/dragon_illusion/

It takes a few minutes of careful cutting, but it's worth it. I've had one sitting behind my desk for a few years. It can catch people off guard (Some people need a few minutes for it to work for them)

Enjoy!

[chris26 @ May 18th 2008 2:06AM]

Please explain the x-wing 'illusion'

[Carl M @ May 19th 2008 6:58PM]

I think it looks like the ship is spinning faster or slower, but really it's just the background that's changing.

[gary_7vn @ May 18th 2008 12:11PM]

Hardly pointless, as some have said. Engadget did a story, 10's of thousands of people will watch the video and then talk about it. Samsung, Samsung, Samsung, it's all about getting your name out there and it worked. Studies show that people are much more likely to buy your product if they "know" your name.