[genmon]

Fellow fan of the Namid Desert waterhole here!

As it happens, I made this wrapper for it

https://waterhole.genmon.partykit.dev

This single-serving waterhole:

- makes the YouTube stream fill the browser for an Immersive Experience(TM)

- shows how many people are watching in real-time

- provides ephemeral chat with other people present

I know at least one team at an unnamed big tech co who would all have it open on their second screens for shared ambience + chat...

(If anybody from YouTube is reading, I have a ton of idea about how ambient live steams are the Next Big Thing and how to lean into that.)

[toomuchtodo]

Consider contributing to Peertube!

https://github.com/Chocobozzz/PeerTube

[bcye]

On the topic of ambient livestreams: https://lofi.cafe

[bookofjoe]

This came out last month: https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/live-updates/

[mckeed]

Seems like YT is mostly focusing on the interaction between streamer and audience (which makes sense because streaming is big with young ppl rn).

I understand "ambient streams" to be more like a setting for a group chat or chat room, where you're interacting with friends or strangers only, there's no focus on a single creator/streamer. Like hanging out at an interesting location instead of a featureless room.

[DavideNL]

Nice :-)

Fyi the page is not rendering well for me on an iPhone Pro Max (latest iOS 26, Safari browser.) It's basically cut in half...

[kilroy123]

Also see this site which is pretty cool: https://onlinesafari.tv

[hauxir]

you can now turn this into your screensaver on macs!

https://github.com/hauxir/macos-live-screensaver

[Levitating]

I saw a fox

[xnx]

> I have a ton of idea about how ambient live streams are the Next Big Thing and how to lean into that.)

Are you me?

It's crazy that these giant screens spend most of their time as black rectangles when they could be windows to the world (with very tasteful/quiet/no-motion advertisements).

Happy to pitch to Netflix, Roku, or other streaming services and/or TV manufacturers. :-)

[BLKNSLVR]

Advertisements?

When this thread is about a live stream showing wild animals and raw nature, your thought processes goes to advertisements?

I hope you're being incredibly sarcastic, otherwise... Just yuck.

Unless we're advertising for the majesty of nature, for whom there are no entities that would pay (big bucks at least).

[xp84]

I think GP meant that the ambient content could be accompanied by a “tasteful” static sponsored message. Imagine a black stripe at the bottom that said “Sponsored by Home Chef”

Given how much ads on the web escalated in intensity though, I don’t think anyone would buy sponsor spots like that though.

[hnlmorg]

We understood what the GP was thinking in terms of ads. The objection is that any form of advertisement, regardless of how tasteful it might be presented, is the polar opposite of the intended purpose of tranquil windows into nature.

People like these kinds of live streams because it offers a relaxing form of escapism. Dumping even a static ad only serves to add distraction from that atmosphere and thus undermines the very point of having the live stream open in the first place.

[xp84]

I think I agree with you tbh. Then again I go pretty far out of my way to not see ads, other than billboards and maybe those on the sides of buses and bus shelters! To me it’s worth paying not to have them. So I bet a screen would be no different for me.

[Gud]

I’d rather have my blank screens than ads.

[xp84]

My old Sony TV, just a cheap model, had a (custom for Sony) “Lofi Girl” ambient screensaver it would go into if you configured it to, with quiet music. It was one of my favorite features.

[johng]

I tried to find this on Youtube... I'd love to see and hear it if you can find it. Sounds interesting.

[xp84]

Edit: At least I found evidence it existed:

https://www.reddit.com/r/bravia/s/C3Kc1nHWq6

[xp84]

I wish I could! The sad part is I no longer have the tv either, so I haven’t seen it in years. My son threw a remote through it :(