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'Alba: A Wildlife Adventure' is a chill game about protecting nature
UsTwo Games continues to prove that it’s not a one-hit-wonder. The studio, best known for the award-winning Monument Valley, has pulled off an equally-creative sequel, a dreamy adventure in mobile VR, and a timed exclusive for Apple Arcade about fixing objects and fraying relationships. UsTwo’s latest project, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, hits the same creative heights.
'Monument Valley' studio reveals 'Alba: a Wildlife Adventure'
The independent studio, best known for the M. C. Escher-inspired Monument Valley puzzlers, is hard at work on a nature-focused title called Alba: a Wildlife Adventure. The virtual camera then passes over a sheet of paper titled 'Island clean up Initiative,' a bird-spotting book and DSLR, some photographs and, finally, a newspaper with the headline 'Girls start a wildlife league.'
Stack's smart light bulb responds to the world around you
Many smart light bulbs... well, aren't. You can control them, but they're often blissfully unaware of what's going on in your home. Stack aims to change that with its recently unveiled Alba bulb. This sensor-packed illuminator changes brightness and color based on the time of day, location and who's present in the room. It'll start with cooler, more natural white hues when you're just waking up, but will switch to relaxing warm colors when it's late. It will also dim or shut off the lights when there's a lot of ambient light, or if you've left for work; alternately, it will come to life when there's a big commotion. There's a mobile app if you need to tweak settings, but the goal is to avoid using it as much as possible. Much like a Nest thermostat, Alba will learn appropriate behavior and (hopefully) let you keep your phone in your pocket.
Cuba's undersea fiber cable potentially sees consumer internet use for first time
An underwater fiber cable linking Cuba and Venezuela has given the island a hard connection to the internet since 2011, but reports have said that only government bodies from both countries have used the line. According to internet and network analysis firm Renesys, the cable lit up with activity last week with data flowing through it between Telefonica and the nation's state telecom company, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (ETECSA). Presumably, this could signal use by the average joe. Traceroutes into Cuba through the new Telefonica path show markedly lower latencies than the Caribbean country's existing satellite-reliant connections, hinting that the cable has been flipped on -- at least in one direction. It appears that the ETECSA is using the line for inbound data while leaning on satellites for outbound traffic. Despite the clues, a GlobalPost correspondent in Cuba says there has been no perceptible improvement in internet speeds as of yet. Castro and Co. may not have said a peep about the development, but the new Telefonica path surfaced the very same day Cuba nixed the requirement of exit visas for citizens to travel outside its borders. Hit the source link for network stats and the nitty gritty details. [Image credit: Phil Guest, Flickr]
Furni's ALBA wood and acrylic fashion clock
Fashion clocks aren't necessarily the highest form of technology, but that's not to say we don't value them: alarm clocks are after all one of the first things you see in the morning, so why shouldn't it be an aesthetically attractive one? Furni's ALBA beech wood and acrylic clock definitely falls into the latter category, with its minimalist mix of old and new materials being particularly pleasing on the eye. At only $88, it's also happily on the affordable end of the fashion clock chart. As part of Furni's spring '07 range, the ALBA will be shipping on June 1, and you can pre-order now.[Via MoCoLoCo]
