ape

Orangutans monkey around with iPads at zoo

Apple's iPad is proving to be popular among a different, and hairier, type of consumer.

The Smithsonian's National Zoo recently kicked off Apps for Apes, a program that lets orangutans use the iPad as a way to stimulate their lives.

Offered through Orangutan Outreach, Apps for Apes has already been used at 12 other zoos around the world. As described by the group, the program has three goals:

Provide stimulating enrichment and immediate gratification for orangutans. Make zoo visitors aware of the critical need to protect orangutans in the wild. Promote the conservation efforts of Orangutan Outreach.

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Ape-headed, ape-controlled, cannon-wielding robot is for real

Imagine a wheeled robot with an ape's head. Now imagine that the robot is actually controlled by an ape -- one wielding an iPad. Now imagine that the robot is chasing you around and shooting at you with a cannon.

No, it's not your latest banana-split-fueled nightmare or a Tim Burton remake of "Bedtime for Bonzo." Apparently this is reality, folks -- or at least it could be, if enough people pony up funds on Kickstarter.… Read more

Familiar names dominate Oscar visual effects nominations

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its Oscar nominations this morning, there were some very familiar names among the honorees.

Joe Letteri, for example. And Tim Burke and Scott Farrar.

These may not be people that appear regularly in the pages of "Us Weekly," but to those who follow the visual effects industry, they're on par with Meryl Streep and George Clooney.

Only one film can win the Oscar for best visual effects, but today, five films were nominated.

As usual, George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic was honored, this year for its … Read more

The 404 882: Where everyone did it in the '90s (podcast)

If you willingly choose to pay to see a movie like "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," you give up your right to complain about your fellow theater-goers. This is the lesson Wilson and I impart to our third co-host, who got suckered by the trolls on Rotten Tomatoes into seeing the pre-prequel to "Planet of the Apes."

The big news, of course, is Google's proposed acquisition of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, so we'll discuss what that means for existing patent trolls, Android handset competitors, and the Android platform in general.

Stick around until the end of the show, when we'll announce which two lucky listeners won our V-Moda Faders earplugs giveaway contest!

The 404 Digest for Episode 882

Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5B. Air Swimmers let you fly your own fish. Rise of the Planet of the Apes: An animal-rights manifesto disguised as a prison-break movie. Weekend breaches: BART page by Anonymous.

Episode 882 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Music database and player

We can tell that the developers who came up with Soundbase are more into coding and music than PR since they call their freeware "a single executable that runs from any location" instead of a powerful, versatile, and highly flexible music database, player, and tag editor that can store, sort, edit, and play more than 100,000 songs, search for album art, and even play Web radio. It was created as an alternative to the large commercial MP3 players and organizers. It's based on Microsoft's DirectShow architecture and supports most popular formats, including MP3, OGG, APE, … Read more

The 404 834: Where an iPad 2 can do more than a kidney (podcast)

Wilson's out sick today, but Mark Licea joins us to fill in with a review of "X-Men: First Class." The movie came out today, but Mark's a diehard fan of the comic series so he checked out the 12 a.m. showing. The spoiler-free review is positive, but as usual, the true believers might leave the theater disappointed by the lack of continuity with the original storyline.

Speaking of movies, we also take a moment to point out the most ridiculous trailer of 2011 for "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." From title to content to technology, we should remind you that it's not a joke--this is a serious movie, starring James Franco who falls in love with a primate.

The 404 Digest for Episode 834

Chinese student reportedly sells his kidney to buy an iPad 2. " Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is the WORST. White ninja crashes into Apple store.

Episode 834 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Bathing Ape and Nintendo team up, offer gloriously unaffordable clothing

Bathing Ape, or Bape for short, is a Japanese street-wear clothing company owned by music producer Nigo that caters to young, fashion-savvy urban youth who apparently have way too much money to burn. A couple months ago, the company collaborated with Nintendo to create an exclusive (and subsequently, very rare) Nintendo DS($167) bedazzled with Mario and the now famous BAPE logo.

Now they're releasing a line of T-shirts and fleece sweatshirts for their fans who just can't get enough of high-priced gear. The "Mario to Milo" series will feature Nintendo's classic Italian plumber and … Read more