3D-Printed, Rock Pi-Powered Screensaver Aquarium Is Serene To Behold (hothardware.com) 35
MojoKid writes: Some may think it strange to design and build an entire PC and custom enclosure, dedicated to running a 20-year-old screensaver, but retro computing fans and well-seasoned enthusiasts may remember the SereneScreen Marine Aquarium. This classic screensaver from the late 90s was created by the legendary artist of Defender of the Crown and more, Jim Sachs. SereneScreen's combination of beautiful fish and technology is still mesmerizing, so why not build a miniature, 3D-printed aquarium and power it with a single board computer like the Rock Pi X and a 1920X480 resolution IPS LCD display? That's just what product developer Colton Westrate did.
Searching for an x86 PC in a Raspberry Pi-sized form factor, Westrate chose the Rock Pi X that purportedly packs the perfunctory punch to push the Windows OS and aquarium screen saver's pulsating pixels. The Rock Pi X is based on a circa 2016 Intel x5-Z8350 processor, which is a 2-watt, quad-core Cherry Trail Atom chip. From there, with a little Fusion 360 parametric modeling, a clear acrylic napkin holder, and some serious skills, Westrate created this adorable pint-sized digital fish tank. There's a full parts list and how-to guide on HotHardware, along with links to the CAD files up on Thingiverse, so you can build yourself one too, if you're feeling inspired.
Searching for an x86 PC in a Raspberry Pi-sized form factor, Westrate chose the Rock Pi X that purportedly packs the perfunctory punch to push the Windows OS and aquarium screen saver's pulsating pixels. The Rock Pi X is based on a circa 2016 Intel x5-Z8350 processor, which is a 2-watt, quad-core Cherry Trail Atom chip. From there, with a little Fusion 360 parametric modeling, a clear acrylic napkin holder, and some serious skills, Westrate created this adorable pint-sized digital fish tank. There's a full parts list and how-to guide on HotHardware, along with links to the CAD files up on Thingiverse, so you can build yourself one too, if you're feeling inspired.
U Trump people need to grow up (Score:1, Troll)
At least the payed trump posters are gone now; but we have the true believers still posting...
Don't feed the trolls (Score:4, Insightful)
The only way to deal with trolls is to mod them down into oblivion and/or ban them outright. They will destroy any space they inhabit.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Over the years the various site owners have tried all sorts of additions to the lameness filter to get rid of the N@zi spam, the GNAA, APK and the rest.
Apparently it's really hard to design a working filter though as they always find a way around it within a day or two.
I suppose it's always a case of not wanting to dedicate too much compute power to it. Also if they did so something clever like an image based filter that could understand ASCII art well enough to spot Swastikas, the trolls would just move on
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The problem is finite mod points. New (-1; SPAM), and (-1; N@zi) mod options that didn't deduct from a mod's total would be very useful.
Abuses of the mods could be reviewed by metamods and punished harshly.
well (Score:2)
If you think they are like the TYT, then you are no longer able to compare and contrast.
I have to admit I don't listen to DN that much in the last decade and they've had staff turn over... stuff doesn't stay the same forever... but then we change over time as well. I still find they are pretty good; although, I guess not enough to have me listen every day anymore. I have noticed that issues they seemed to be the largest one bringing attention to are quickly noticed by others and their former staff show u
Slashdot's finest at work (Score:3)
The ascii art filter triggers due to putting four dots in a cut-off sentence instead of three, but not for multiple page swastikas...
Screensavers... (Score:3)
Remember the 'volcano' screensaver from win98? The "Magic" file to add your list? I still have a win7 computer with that running:)
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I wonder how it compares to an actual fish tank. Power consumption, noise, environmental impact... Probably not bad, my limited knowledge of fish tanks suggest they need pumps and heating, food, cleaning, lighting etc.
Maybe less amusing for cats though. For some reason I've found they don't seem to be all that interested in most screens.
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Maybe less amusing for cats though. For some reason I've found they don't seem to be all that interested in most screens.
My working theory, held for the past two decades or so, is that cats see images at a higher frequency than we do, i.e. in order for an image to be 'realistic' for them it needs to be displayed at a higher refresh rate.
On a completely unrelated issue, I've long suspected that spiders see, or can visualise, 4-dimensionally, rather than 3-dimensionally as we do (and no, I don't mean as in through time, I mean, for example, being able to visualise a hypercube).
I've never managed to think of an experimental set
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But can't hold a candle to Democrats...
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I've been in a similar position - they're cool, but it's sort of like buying a table saw if you don't do a lot of woodwork: that's a fair chunk of money and space to dedicate to something that you don't actually have a lot of use for. And frankly, from what I've seen if it's possible to buy some plastic tchotchky it will be stronger, cheaper, and more durable than what you could get from a hobbyist 3D printer, even ignorin g the cost of the machine - injection molding just delivers a vastly superior produc
BEV Hula Girl replacement (Score:2)
Perfect optimization to replace the calming analog clock from last century!
Preview and Wireframe of the Aquarium (Score:2)
Here is a preview [serenescreen.com] of the aquarium. URL is: (https://serenescreen.com/v2/video/vid/hhd/180719-Win-01-BlueBG.mp4)
Looks like they are using 3D geometry as seen from the wireframe [serenescreen.com]. URL is: (https://serenescreen.com/v2/video/vid/hd/wf_orange_coral.mp4)
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CGI aquariums (Score:5, Informative)
and many others.
For free, there's browser web-sites.
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TL;DR version (Score:4, Insightful)
Summarized: I bought hardware, built it, and Linux fixes Windows by magic.
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Yeah this doesn't belong on Slashdot. This is a tech site where we should only discuss Trump.
To make it even better (Score:2)
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And add the Moray Eel animation to keep your real fish in a state of constant agitation...
Adjectivosis (Score:1)
So many adjectives, so little time. Can't even figure out what the story is about.
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Quite right.
I read the headline and was wondering how 3D-printed rocks could be used for a virtual fish tank. I was very confused.