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How to livestream the majesty of nature from your couch
Just because you're sheltering in place during Earth Day doesn't mean you can't remotely tour the best zoos, aquariums, and nature preserves on the planet.
‘Sustainable seafood’ grows in a lab instead of the ocean
Taking a whiff of a tray of multiplied cells, made from the stem cells scraped off a dead fish, all I could detect was a faint aroma of something smelling 'off.' Fishy, even. The co-founders of Finless Foods are working every holiday and weekend to 'feed' the cells so they divide and grow well enough to construct a fish fillet of edible meat within a few months. The biotechnology startup is pinning all of its hopes on consumers choosing lab-made meat over the potentially overfished or antibiotic-laden pieces of fish they might be purchasing now.
App-controlled habitat grows just about anything in your home
You can already get smart gardening gear and smart aquariums, but wouldn't it be nice if you could get one box that handles just about anything you'd care to grow in or around your home? Jared Wolfe thinks so. His crowdfunded, internet-connected Biopod can nurture many kinds of plants and animals in its automatically controlled habitat. All you have to do is pick the kind of environment you want through a mobile app, and the Biopod can do the rest -- it regulates factors like the humidity, light, temperature and even artificial rainfall. While it won't feed your pets, a built-in camera lets you keep track of what your creatures are doing while you're away.
Scientists track fish health by 'finding Nemo'
While a Fitbit isn't much use to a flounder, a team at the University of Liverpool has figured out the next best thing. Dr Lynne Sneddon's team created a system that non-invasively monitors the welfare of our sub-aquatic friends. Two cameras monitor how healthy fish swim in three dimensions, while software picks out any critters showing irregular patterns. Any real-life Nemos get given a health score, alerting carers to which animals might need attention.
Chill out with this 'holographic' virtual aquarium
There's something inexplicably tranquil about gazing at fish in an aquarium as they swim back and forth, darting about rocks or that tacky plastic treasure chest sitting in the corner. But what if you could have one on your desk, without all the water changes, filter cleaning and general maintenance? That's probably a ways off, but Memukhin Oleg's "Fishing Day" explores such a (not entirely virtual) reality. As you'll see in the video below from The Creators Project, he's used a handful of different 3D modeling techniques to bring artificial fishies to life. They react to a handheld submarine, schooling and separating as they might in the real world, flitting through a gaudy shipwreck you'd find at a pet store's aquarium aisle. It's all really, really impressive and there's even a breakdown of how the effects shot came together. The only bad part? The video's a bit on the short side.
Rambo the octopus snags photography job at New Zealand aquarium
There's an unusual photographer working for Auckland's Sea Land Aquarium. His name is Rambo, and we doubt he personally manages the $2 per shot he earns taking pictures of tourists. That's because Rambo is an octopus -- a very smart one who learned how to press the shutter after three tries. "That's faster than a dog," said Mark Vette, his trainer. "Actually it's faster than a human in some instances." Rambo uses a Sony TX30 compact camera encased in transparent armor that's attached right outside his tank, clicking the red shutter extender whenever guests pose against the backdrop in front of his display. Sure, this is partly a Sony media stunt (all proceeds go to Sea Life's conservation programs, at least), but how often can you say you got your picture taken by an cephalopod? Unfortunately, we're not familiar with New Zealand's laws, so we can't say if Rambo owns the rights to the pictures he takes.
Aquarium of Boise gives the internet control of a tank-dwelling submarine
Maybe you like swimming. Maybe you like going to the aquarium. Maybe you'd like to do both without leaving your house. Now, you can: a new exhibit at the Aquarium of Boise allows anyone with an internet connection to take a virtual tour of one of its largest fish habitats using a remote controlled submarine. The telepresence sub can be controlled from the aquarium's webpage using either a computer keyboard or clicking on-screen controls. It works okay, but there's a noticeable delay: we had a hard time getting the LiveDiver sub to look at much else besides a wall. Part of this could be the tank's regular inhabitants: the aquarium says that Letterman, a gap-toothed mappa puffer fish, has taken to chewing the submarine's tether, disrupting service several times. Still, it's a neat exhibit and (provided Letterman hasn't fouled things up recently) you can try it out for yourself at the source link below.
Hampture underwater colony established for science, leads the way for future hamster space exploration
Animals have had a rough time of it, when it comes to scientific exploration. Look no further than Laika, the first animal to orbit Earth, soon becoming the first animal to die in orbit, not too long after achieving that earlier distinction. The dwarf hamsters that occupy Hampture seem to be considerably happier in their own scientific explorations than the Soviet mutt, at the moment. Bob Averill brought the project to our attention last week on our visit to Portland, Oregon. According to the official blog, the project is an attempt to "learn firsthand what is involved in designing and constructing a complete underwater habitat capable of sustaining complex organisms." It also may well be a gateway to sending the hamsternauts into space via Skystation Mk1. Averill is also looking to turn Hampture into a salable product, though Kickstarter, for one, has apparently balked at the idea. In the meantime, you can check out a streaming feed of the habitat after the break and read up on the making of the project in the source links below.
Stunning BioShock PC case mod proves utopia is not underwater
Most people who order 5 gallons of mineral oil are looking to help a constipated horse make a BM. Not this dude: He used the stuff to create one of the most impressive PC case mods we've ever seen.
ESRB: Hudson setting up 'My Aquarium' on PS3
My Aquarium, a $5 WiiWare app that allows players to design and populate a virtual fish tank, is headed to the PlayStation 3, according to an ESRB listing. The content description reveals such scintillating features as the option to "learn facts about a variety of different species," and the ability to "use rocks, plants, and coral formations to customize their tank." But it wasn't a hit on WiiWare for its engaging gameplay. My Aquarium's appeal is in its function as a sort of customizable screensaver, which would only be enhanced by an HD port. Meanwhile, My Aquarium 2 was released on WiiWare today. Kind of weird timing for a reveal of a ported version of the original, which, we suppose, is why we're seeing an ESRB "leak" today and not an official Hudson announcement.
Five apps I love on my iPad, and three that need more work
We've had the iPad available for the better part of a week now; here are a few apps that have risen to the top, along with a few more that have sunk to the bottom. 1. GoodReader. Despite Air Sharing going iPad (I had the iPhone version) and MobileStudio providing a nifty universal binary (so the app upscales nicely), I decided to give GoodReader a try. It now sits in my dock. MobileStudio requires FTP, and I wasn't in the mood to drop more cash on AirSharing Pro as I've already spent way too much on apps. I also tried MyPDFs and iPDF but felt they were too limited and rushed to be useful to me. GoodReader, however, hits the spot as a wonderful and capable PDF reader. Plus, it'll read text, image, audio and video files and anything that can be opened by Safari. I'm using GoodReader to manage some big PDF files, upwards of 200MB each, and it handles everything brilliantly. It also plays .mov files. Granted, this performance is thanks in part to the powerful processor in the iPad, but the speed boost in working with PDFs is a welcome change to my now-cramped iPhone readers. There are a few UI tweaks that could be made when managing files, it's true. Still, adding folders, moving things around, and so on, are all there like a little mini-Finder. Piling a bunch of data into your iPad is easy and will look good. %Gallery-89961%
Cool ways to reuse an old Mac
Most Mac users will be among the first to tell you that they can be a little overprotective about their hardware. Of course, Apple has a great recycling program for older computers. But for some, sending off their old Mac that way would be a little like sending off your old faithful car to cash for clunkers. Sure, there is a benefit, but the idea of what happens to that old reliable friend once it's out of its owners hands inspires shudders. Of course it would be entirely possible to make good use of your old Mac if something predictable, like a media center, or a server for extra storage. Heck, even a reliable little Mac that still works at 10 years old could be put to use as a kid-friendly Internet-free computer for your child's bedroom. Even more fun would be using the ROM disc from an old Apple II to run an emulator for those old classic games that you still love on your shiny modern Mac. And all of these would be good uses, and in the case of the latter a fairly fun one. But, in true Mac geek creative style, some users have put their old Apple computers to even better use -- or at least more creative use.
Halo: The Aquarium
Flickr user Tom "Givintats" Keller has created a Halo-themed aquarium fit for a squad of cosplaying goldfish wearing cod-pieces. The scene includes hunters, marines, a warthog and some pretty blue lights that bring the Forerunner architecture to life. The scene is maintained through the use of putty and wire. We're certainly impressed -- wonder if he does little fishbowl commissions? Check out the full set on Flickr. [Via Hawtymcbloggy]
BioShock cosplay recreates Rapture at the Aquarium
Sometimes an idea is just so good, you can hardly believe you came up with it. That must be how Harrison Krix felt after creating the elaborate and awesome Big Daddy costume you see above -- not since BioShock released have we been so eager to heap praise on something. Well, Mr. Krix, we hope you suffocate on our affection, because taking your costume to the Georgia Aquarium for some underwater snapshots has to be the best idea ever. If you're scratching your head, wondering just where you've seen these two before, let us help you: right here on our website. Krix's girlfriend (holding another of his creations in the pic above, the ADAM syringe) is quite the cosplayer, which initially got Krix into the game of making things from games. Take notes, gents! That's how you woo the ladies. [Via Geekologie]
MyReef 3D Aquarium puts a realistic aquarium in your pocket
I've always thought aquariums as screensavers were a no-brainer. Most are lacking, limiting themselves to small fish you'd find in just about any aquarium, freshwater or salt water. MyReef 3D Aquarium [iTunes Link] isn't going to shake up the genre, but it is certainly the most realistic, smoothest and most relaxing "fish simulator" I've used so far. It serves no purpose other than to completely mimic the function of a real aquarium: to sit there and look pretty and be relaxing. And it does a good job. You can add many types of fish, some aquarium decorations and plants, and feed the fish or tap on the glass. You can pinch to zoom in, seeing quite pretty 3D fish. These are not 2D sprites flopping around a flat screen, these are real, OpenGL graphics and they look terrific. In fact, something I love about this app is the attention to detail. Fish behave as their species would behave, including group behaviors and dorsal fin indicators. Those small touches will really appeal to any fish fans out there -- and there are plenty. If you're an aquarium hobbyist you will love this app. If you want a pretty thing to look at or mess around with or relax to, MyReef 3D Aquarium is quit nice. It doesn't "do" a lot, but what it does it does well. I think it's a fair value at $2.99. %Gallery-76412%
Found Footage: New & improved TankedCam, now with even more iPhone
Remember Pete's FishCam? Just before Christmas of 2008, we did a short post about Pete Raumann's web app that he developed that allowed him to watch his fish tank, turn the light on and off, and even open and close a treasure chest in the tank.Pete's now presenting the newly renamed TankedCam to the world, and you get to be in control! While he still won't let you feed his fish (he doesn't want them floating upside down in the tank), you can now get in on the fun of watching and annoying the tank population by heading to either http://www.tankedcam.com or the iPhone / iPod touch-friendly http://m.tankedcam.com. In his latest hit video, Pete uses an iPod touch and the latter link to control the tank that's in the background. I was playing with this last night while watching TV and trust me, the fish tank was much more interesting than the show. Pete has added an air stone that you can turn on and off, a dinosaur tank ornament with a mouth you can open and close, and one cam that you can pan left and right. A tap on your iPhone screen brings you to a stationary upper camera with a scuba diver that you can control in real time, another air stone controller, and a water pump that you can use to add water to the tank.If you think that the latter control is going to let you flood Pete's office from your iPhone, you're wrong -- the system is set up with a level controller so you won't be able to add water beyond a certain level in the tank. This is a fun demonstration of remote control via iPhone, so be sure to give it a try. I've included some screenshots from last night's eerily-lit iPhone fish-bothering session, as well as some shots in the light of day. Enjoy! %Gallery-74443%
Crapgadget: Dead Santa edition
Nothing celebrates excess like a holiday murder immortalized in 10 bucks of USB-powered plastic. The Mini X'mas Desktop Snowman USB Aquarium Office Gift (really, that's the name) features a built-in motor that keeps Santa's corpse and undelivered package in constant motion. Festive, sure, but only if you share The Snowman's contemptuous glee at becoming the number one pitch man for the holidays. Hurry, only two left.
Found Footage: Pete's FishCam
Remember the remote-controlled dog treat dispenser from a few weeks ago? Now Pete Raumann has come up with Pete's FishCam, which comes complete with an iPhone interface so that he can remotely watch his fish swimming around in a nicely appointed aquarium.It's more than just a webcam, though -- Pete can also turn the lights on and off (both tank and accent spotlights), pan the camera left and right, and open and close the "treasure chest" in the tank. Pete used the same equipment and web-based applet generator from ioBridge that was used to create the dog treat dispenser. Note to Pete: your next assignments are to build an aquarium-cleaning robot and fish feeder that you can control from the iPhone. The video below shows how the interface works on the iPhone, complete with narration by Mr. Raumann.What are your ideas for something you'd like to be able to watch and/or control from your iPhone? Put it in a comment, and please remember to keep it clean!
Don't tap the glass in Hudson's My Aquarium
Because you'd probably be scratching your television.As you can tell by the trailer above (and new screens below), Hudson's localized Blue Oasis (at E3 they announced it for North America under the name My Aquarium) doesn't require a rocket scientist to figure out. Hudson has gone ahead and basically crafted a virtual fish tank, allowing you to enjoy the serene company of aquatic life without having to clean a pump every month. If you already checked out the tour of the Japanese game, then you know the title is chock full of content. And, if it's priced the same as its Japanese counterpart (500 Wii Points), we won't have to shell out a lot of clams for it. Get it? Hey, where are you going? Hello?%Gallery-29482%[Via press release] Are you crazy about WiiWare? We are too! That's why we've been quick to review as many WiiWare games as possible. Check out all of our reviews on our WiiWare review page. Otherwise, just keep an eye on the WiiWare category for the latest on Nintendo's download service.
Blue Oasis footage is relaxing, blue
Blue Oasis looks like just the kind of thing we could use to contain our CONSTANT ATTACKS OF RAGE. A relaxed Josh from WiiFolder has carried out one of his excellent video tours of the game (we've slotted the video after the break, due to sizing issues), covering its impressively customizable aquariums, the decent range of fish (there are around fifty, some of which must be unlocked), and the ability to share your aquarium with friends via WiiConnect24. The one thing it's missing? Leonard Nimoy.Admittedly, Hudson's virtual aquarium lands squarely in "non-game" territory, but it is cheap -- just 500 Wii Points, or five bucks. As Josh sagely points out: "You can't even buy a fish sandwich for $5 nowadays." Fair point, that.%Gallery-19348%
