Gizmodo: Aqua

Real Liquid Display Makes Mac OS X Aqua Look Like Crayolas

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:45:00 EDT

Giz reader Nicholas Buechi created this real liquid display that really doesn't display anything but bubbles. And that's enough, because it is mesmerizing enough as it is. The liquid display is driven by an Arduino processor, and the events are triggered by a water keyboard. Sounds crazy, but in action it looks very pretty and soothing:

Nicholas explains how it works:

It's based on an Arduino processor and a board I did myself. There are 16 valves controlled by transistors. The interface [where you put your fingers to trigger events] uses 3 Q-Prox QT110E chips. With them I measure the voltage in the water. If anyone touches the water, electrons flow to the person, which gives the system feedback.

The whole effect is quite relaxing and cool. I need this as a Mac OS X screensaver. Pronto. [The Liquid Display]

Fohenz Aqua PC Speakers are Tearjerkers

Addy Dugdale — Thu, 24 May 2007 07:12:29 EDT

Fohenz's new 2.1-channel PC speakers are called Aqua. For $27 (Korea only, which is a shame) you get a 3.5-inch woofer, 2-inch drive unit, mic and headset inputs, and they support 6W output power. And they've got a nice neon light that looks all '80s porno to me. With a name like Aqua, though, I think they should have made them waterproof. – Ad Dugdale

Waterdrop shape 2.1-channel PC speaker AQUA [Aving USA]

Rumor: Mac OS X Aqua Not Shiny Enough, to be Replaced by Illuminous

Charlie White — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 08:31:55 EST

Rumormongers are telling us that the OS X interface, now known by that pet name of "Aqua," is apparently not going to be shiny enough for Apple to compete against Microsoft Vista's Aero, so now Jobs & Company have gone and changed the name of the Mac OS X user interface to Illuminous.

In the battle to see who can have the shiniest and most wonderful user interface ever, we can't really tell what Apple will do to top Aero or Aqua, but no doubt it will require a beefier graphics card to get it done. For specifics, we'll have to wait until Steve Jobs's Macworld keynote on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 9 a.m. – Charlie White

RUMOR: Aqua to be replaced with Illuminous [applegazette]

Aqua FM TX Pro Snorkel For Underwater Communication and Dance

Jason Chen — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 21:38:39 EDT

Do you have a communication problem? Do others say you just aren't listening? Chances are you're either a jerk, or you're underwater. If it's the latter, you can use the Aqua FM TX Pro so people on land can talk to you just fine. The active mouthpiece works when bit down on, transferring sound through your teeth and bones to your inner ear, where the vibration gets converted into sound by your brain—the same way it works normally.

Now swim coaches can give instruction to their swimmers while they're in the water, or, you can set the mouthpiece to listen to FM radio or a MP3/CD device to listen to music in the water. A set of one snorkel and one transmitter is available for $249.99. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Vacation Gadgets via Travelizmo]