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Virgin goes underwater with Necker Nymph aero submarine
Cor blimey! Sir Richard Branson sure is ambitious. Just when you thought conquering the final frontier was all that the Virgin empire was fixated upon, today it announces a new product for its Limited Edition retreats on Planet Earth -- the Necker Nymph aero submarine. As the 'aero' part implies, the vehicle relies on "downward 'lift' on the wings" to counteract its positive buoyancy during its two-hour dives, which probably means it can't remain stationary underwater while you grab nearby weeds or whatnot in those open cockpits. Still, given the chance, we suspect any mere mortal would be up for a spin if beached on Necker Island -- 'course, coming up with the $25,000 per week lease rate may prove to be an insurmountable task.
Underwater Scuba Mask Camera does photos and videos, lets you breathe
You know, having to lug a camera around while diving just spoils the fun, not to mention the slight chance that you'll also need your hands to fend off some underfed sharks. Chinavasion may have solved this problem with its $116.99 Underwater Scuba Mask Camera, which sports a snorkel plus 4GB of storage, and does 1280 x 960 for both still pictures and videos -- pretty impressive resolution for the latter, although picture quality and frame rate remain a secret. Operation is also seemingly easy -- rub the magnetic ring for one second for a picture or two seconds for a video, then the mask vibrates accordingly to confirm capture. You best be feeling photogenic, Flipper! %Gallery-82948%
H2O Audio case turns your iPod nano 5G into underwater camcorder
Bank account not mighty enough to handle an underwater EOS 5D Mark II? Fret not, 'cause H2O Audio just made underwater Terminator captures a reality for a comparative pittance. Said outfit has been cranking out waterproof shells for Apple's cash cows for awhile now, but the latest one is of particular interest due to the iPod nano 5G's integrated video recorder. The $79.99 case enables you to capture video clips while under the sea, and considering the multitude of wild and wacky scene modes, we'd say next summer just got a lot more interesting. Just ask that dude up there if you don't believe us.
Rutgers' underwater roboglider crosses the Atlantic, claims to be on business trip
The so-called Scarlet Knight robot has this week completed a 225-day journey from the shores of New Jersey to the sandy beaches of Baiona in Spain -- fittingly the same port Christopher Columbus returned to after his first visit to the Americas -- aided only by a battery, ocean currents and its innate intelligence. Built by Rutgers University, the youthful robotic trailblazer performed a number of data gathering tasks as it went along, furnishing climate change researchers with more info on temperature levels, water salination and currents within the Atlantic Ocean. Now that it has been handed back to the US, the machine will be put up on display in the Smithsonian, so if you want a peek at the future of globetrotting that'll be the place to go.
Fujifilm's Remora flash could save those underwater family portraits
Underwater photography is tough, and, when you're dealing with something less than Caribbean-clear blue seas, finding the right lighting can be near-impossible. Fujifilm's Remora looks to make things a little easier, offering a 60 degree beam of light with a guide number of 20, so it's bright enough even for nighttime cuttlefish documentaries but can be dimmed to save the retinas of sensitive cephalopods. Four AA batteries give you 240 flashes at a depth of up to 180 feet, but at £229 (about $370) only the most serious rebreathers need apply.
LG GD900 Crystal submerged in a fish tank
It's really a shame this isn't an out of box feature, but some ingenious modder has graced LG's GD900 Crystal phone -- you know, the one with the gesture-based transparent keypad -- with a custom water-resistant case that renders it perfect for swimming with the fishes. And so they did just that, dipping it into a fish tank. It'd make for one insanely hip charging dock, but we digress. Meanwhile in Russia, mobile@mail.ru has delivered some impressions on the device, with good words to say for the keypad's gestures but lamenting it's $899 suggested price tag, a figure higher than even the super sexy BL40 Chocolate. Aquatic footage is six feet under after the break, and hit up the read link below for the machine-translated impressions. [Via Daily Mobile; thanks, Daniel] Read - Hands-on Read - LG GD900 Crystal in water
Video: Cornell's autonomous robot sub wins competition, our hearts
Cornell sure seems to be doing its part to usher in a world where robots call the shots and humans spend most of their time cowering in the corners of bomb-out buildings. Researchers at the school have variously applied their brain matter (and we're guessing the occasional government check) to such sticky problems as robot consciousness, distance walking, and complications related to using robotics in zero gravity. And now we've heard that the school has just won something called the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition. The vehicles entered in the 12th annual AUVC (which was held at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego) ran an underwater obstacle course that involved bombing things, firing torpedoes, and eventually recovering a suitcase with "secret documents" (or old issues of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly, depending on who you believe). You can see the thing in action for yourself in the video after the break.[Via GoRobotics.net]
Liquid Image video camera goggles get upgraded specs, Japanese release
Aloha, friends! Are you finding your beach holiday experience is missing that certain bit of techno je ne sais quoi? Maybe it's because your snorkeling exploits are going undocumented, in which case you may look to Liquid Image's newly unveiled UDCM310. An evolutionary improvement on the previous model, the new goggles feature a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor, software-free USB connectivity and the ability to record 720 x 480 video at 30 fps to a microSD card. Sure, it's not exactly overwhelming you with shooting options, but it also keeps your hands free for whatever underwater heroics you want to film. [Via Akihabara News]
Don't try this at home
Or at the pool, or at the beach. It seems a French fellow was proud of his new iPhone 3GS and was taking pictures around the pool when the sort of inevitable happened. Yup, in the drink. Amazingly, the iPhone survived the underwater ordeal, and even recorded [YouTube link] the trip. Allegedly. I wouldn't recommend this as summer entertainment. The iPhone in question had a tight rubber case, and my guess is while the video did record OK, the moisture in the phone will eventually take a toll. There are a few water-tight cases for the iPhone, and we road tested an Otterbox Defender case back in April. Perhaps this fellow will invest in such a case should he go iPhone diving in the future.Now of course the video might be a fake (I would have expected to see water on the lens for example), but at least it's an entertaining weekend diversion. Click through to the second half of the post to see the video.Via Cult of Mac.
iPhone 3GS takes plunge in pool while shooting video... and lives to tell the tale
Now, we're hoping this isn't some elaborate hoax perpetrated on the kind citizens of the internet, because if it's real, it's amazing. Here's the deal: a man capturing video poolside with his iPhone 3GS somehow loses control of the device and ends up dunking the entire phone... while filming. Miraculously, he manages to fish out the handset and it's still rolling. We don't know what the lifespan was / is beyond this clip, but obviously long enough to upload the video or transfer it to a computer. Impressive stuff, though we strongly suggest you don't test this one out on your own. Check out the full video after the break.[Via George Ruiz]
Underwater robot has sense of touch, class and style
At the Fraunhofer Institute in Bremen, Germany, a group of researchers, in conjunction with the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI, is developing an underwater robot with a sense of touch. The octopus-esque robot is equipped with a strain gauge which triggers electrical resistance changes when an obstacle is encountered. The strain gauges -- which are printed onto the robot -- which are ten micrometers wide (about half the width of a human hair), are made up of atomized nanoparticles, and are extremely sensitive. The researchers intend for the robot to be able to distinguish between actual obstacles and water currents. The robot's first stop will be a public trade show at the end of May in Nuremberg, after which it will presumably make it's way to the dark depths of the sea to meet up with Captain Nemo and the giant squid.
Ito Electronics shows off waterproof OLED displays
Details are about as light as can be on this one, but it looks like Japan's Ito Electronics has developed some sort of special "packaging technology" that can make OLED displays fully waterproof, which could be particularly used for watches, cellphones, or that fish tank home theater you've always dreamed of. Of course, there's no word on any actual products just yet, nor is there any indication of possible transparent waterproof displays -- or, at least, none that anyone has seen.[Via OLED-Info.com]
iriver, Speedo suit up for new Aquabeat underwater MP3 player
Another Spring, another opportunity for iriver Japan and Speedo to sell a few MP3 players designed for underwater use. Yes friends, the Aquabeat you've grown to know, love and disassociate with overly tight swim trunks has a successor, the Speedo LZR Racer. Design wise, you won't notice a lot of differentiation from the first, but this waterproof-to-three-meters device has twice the internal memory (2GB) and a built-in rechargeable battery good for around eight hours of continuous playback. It's said to be shipping now in Japan for ¥12,800 ($128), though we hear it won't be coming to America without first nailing down a Michael Phelps endorsement. Not that said task will be too tough or anything.[Via Impress]
Champions Online dev Randy Mosiondz on storytelling and gameplay
Writing for Examiner.com, Daniel Nations recently interviewed Champions Online lead designer Randy Mosiondz about the balancing act between providing guided gameplay and exploration. The interview also touches upon Champions Online's gameplay across different environments. Namely, Mosiondz explains a bit about the challenges that players will face in the underwater area of Lemuria with its full 3-D movement capabilities, and how some player powers will be modified for use underwater. Also a nice touch is that the discussion heads into his roots as a writer for pen and paper games. Mosiondz explains the differences in storytelling between pen and paper games and MMOs, and why it can be tricky to bring a story with lasting consequences to a massively multiplayer online game. Check out the Champions Online developer interview over at Examiner for more about what the Cryptic Studios super-hero title will offer.
Curious concept art in Champions Online zone profile for Lemuria
Does this Shark cannon shoot sharks, or does it shoot a deadly laser? Or... does it shoot sharks with lasers attached to their heads? It's deep questions like these that permeate our thoughts each and every day here at Massively. Well that and, "When's the beta?" which is almost as important as shark gun related inquiries. Truly, these are questions for the ages.For Championites who love to devour every little bit of lore and information regarding Champions Online, Cryptic has gone and posted a nice piece on the history and people of Lemuria. Take a look at our gallery for a peek at a few environments, including what we can only assume is a temple to a fishy god of the old world.%Gallery-17946%
Champions Online video delves deep into the waters of Lemuria
We've been waiting for the first video featuring Lemuria to -- pardon the pun -- surface, and now we're happy to report that it's here! On top of the visually stunning fly through of Champions Online's mid-level underwater zone, IGN also has an interview with Bill Roper that covers a good amount of ground concerning the first questions that popped into our head when Lemuria was originally revealed.Namely, Roper answers our burning questions on fire-based powers underwater and breathing mechanics. A pill developed by the in-game faction called UNTIL will allow heroes to breath with ease and for the sake of fun. Who wants to resurface every five or ten minutes, anyhow?And as for the water-unfriendly powers, Cryptic is simply taking the "this is a comic book-based world" approach and not messing with anything. However, travel powers apparently aren't going to work underwater, which makes sense. We only hope there's some way to compensate people who spend some time underwater. Giving out a water propeller backpack after completing the first few quest chains couldn't hurt.
Aquatic mounts and the next expansion
A lot of you readers glommed right on to the first thing that I too noticed in the notes about the patch 3.1 pets and mounts yesterday. Ok, well, the first thing I noticed was the Gurloc and Wolvar orphans -- new Children's Week fun! -- but the second thing was the fact that we've got an "aquatic" mount going into the game for the first time ever. Not only are normal mounts going underwater, but we'll soon have access to an Aquatic Riding Ray that will presumably only work under water.That's a big deal, and it pins just a little more credence onto the longtime rumors that the next expansion of the game will take us into the big watery swirly known as the Maelstrom. Lots of water activity was actually updated in this expansion already -- there are many more items designed to help us breathe underwater, and breathing itself was buffed quite a bit.Of course, the Emerald Dream is also rumored to be included in the next big expansion, but of course we've also heard rumors that we'll actually see both at the same time. Whatever the truth turns out to be, you can probably put money on the fact that this is only the first Aquatic mount we'll see in the game, and that we'll be headed into the water even more soon. Patch 3.1 brings us Ulduar, dual specs, significant changes to all the classes, and more! We've got you covered from top to bottom with our Guide to Patch 3.1.
Lemuria revealed in newest Champions Online screens
Three new Champions Online screens showing off the underwater zone of Lemuria have been released into the wild. It seems as though Cryptic was saving some of the more visually astonishing locales for later on, because by all accounts Lemuria is stunningly beautiful -- and we've only seen four still images of it so far. And of course, yes, we'll have to refrain from fully judging how good the zone looks until we get to see it in motion. Still, we've got high hopes.If you're interested in reading up on the latest there is to know about Champions Online, take a look at our official developer blogs as well as news feed on the game. It's like a daily dose of vitamins, only these vitamins can give you superpowers.%Gallery-17946%
Liquid Image's new underwater digital camera masks debut at CES
Looks like Liquid Image -- those wacky underwater digicam folks -- are going to be hitting the ground running at CES with not one, but two HD underwater digital camera masks. Meant for serious professionals (and well-heeled Jacques Cousteau wannabes), the Pro HD350 shoots 720p video, sports 64 MB flash storage, supports microSD / SDHC cards (up to 32GB) and is rated to a depth of 330 feet. Taking things down a notch, the Scuba Series 320 (MSRP around $215) is the other 720p video cam. Featuring the same 64 MB internal memory and 32 GB microSD / SDHC support, this guy is rated at 115 feet. Bringing up the rear is the VideoMask 310, a 640 × 480 / 30 fps video camera, sporting 16 MB internal memory, 8GB microSDHC card support, and is rated to a depth of 33 feet. It is expected to list at $159, while the Scuba Series 320 will list for about $215. The Pro HD350 hasn't been priced just yet; all three cameras take 5 megapixel photos and will get debuted at CES this week.[Via Helmet Camera Central]
Liquid Image's underwater digital camera mask now available... in Japan
What's up with Japan getting all the cool toys first? Yeah, we can claim little victories like Pleo and basketball (shared with Canada, some say), but the two 1.5 of those don't even come close to measuring up to Her Cuteness. Differences aside, we're thrilled to see that Liquid Image's underwater digital camera mask is available anywhere after missing its March launch date by quite a bit. These face-swallowers pack a 3.1- or 5.0-megapixel CMOS sensor, LCD screen, 16MB of built-in memory, a microSD card slot, a USB port and even a VGA video mode. It's supposedly available as we speak in Tokyo and the surrounding 'burbs for just over $100, and yes, the urge to import is extraordinarily high.[Via AkihabaraNews]
