I was hoping for the treasure chest Freshwater as a graduation present to myself in July, guess not :(. Come on Jim, stop working on MA it's already released! Work on the freshwater tank!!! Pah-Leez!!

I'm a bit confused about your words, Jim. I think you should not pay for taking some photos of a tank. I know..., the tank is property of the store owner, but i don't think it is going to hurt anyone!. I really don't know the reason for which you can't take some photos. For example here in Spain, the pet stores also have salt an fresh water aquarium (not too big because the stores are usually small). But the owners are very kind with the people, and i'm sure they would not mind that I took some photos of his amazing tank!. Perhaps it is quite important to talk (or telephone-call) previously with the owner, and tell him the true reason for which you are interested in taking some photos. Then perhaps he allows you to do it. Anyway i don't think you must buy aquarium items that you're not going to own!, it really has no sense to me.
Anyway, good luck!.

Sergio,
The problem seem to be that regardless of what you and I think it should be it seems that pet stores near Jim just don't like it.

Yes, I always ask the owner and explain what it's for. The answer is always "NO!" The usual reason is that it harms the fish. When I try to explain that I don't use any lights and the fish won't even know I've been there, the owner just gets even more deeply entrenched in his position.

The only plausible explanation I've ever been able to come up with is that they might have some illegal creatures in the tanks and don't want any photographic evidence.

I'm sorry. I also supposed that they perhaps could have illegal species.

Either that or you haven't got as good a sales pitch as a screensaver. I wish i had a seven foot Texan to send with you...

Hey.. I may know where I can get one of those.

I know of two aquariums, one of them massive, in Houston that have an "anything goes except flash" photography policy. I bet the huge one in Galveston is the same way. And if we find a place that complains, well, you'll have me along. :)

And Jim has told he doesn't need to use any light or flash.
Going off-topic, I would love to visit Houston or New York. Now I have a couple of friends in Florida, and one more in Santa Clara, working for NVidia.
Indeed, sometimes i think it would be fantastic if all of us could meet in person one day. I know this is near impossible, but who knows.... The problem for me would be the language (i feel annoyed when i have to admit this...).

Yes, I'll probably have to fly somewhere to get the shots I need. Can't do it this coming week because we have an Oregon trip planned, but maybe the following week.

Love the new hairdo, Sergio. Blondes have more fun...

Sergio,

There must be a story to be told about those plaits! ;);)

........ don't keep us in suspense! :D


Damn, Tiny beat me to it!

Ahahah! I'm the queen of the carnivals!!. No, no, it's a joke.

But well, the story of my new avatar has to do with my farewell as single(?) person (i don't really know if it is called that way, i mean when you're going to get married and your friends prepare a party for you, and ridicule you all the night...).
As you already know, I got married last year, in May. Between my friends and I there is a tradition to disguise the one who is going to get married. I always enjoyed ridiculing these good friends, until a day was my turn (glup!). They decided to disguise me as the typical blonde dutch girl (a lot of sex-appeal as you already noticed). My friends sometimes also called me 'Heidi', so imagine... The truth is that that night we got a lot of fun. I think that never in my life have meet as many girls as that night (although they always were trying to get up my skirt!!!).
After that, my friends and i thought that the best invention to meet girls was to simulate all the weekends that one of us was going to get married by disguising him :)

Sorry once more for my bad typing and... BTW, do you want photos of that event?.

We call it a Stag Night over here, and a Hen party or Hen Night when the girls go out to party! - Sounds like you had a great time Sergio, - yes please, let's see more pictures! :)

But in the appropriate thread of course...

Picture Taking
 

The stores refusing to allow pictures are definately fearful of illegal animals in the tank. Almost none can be bred successfully and most are poached. I'm only 6' so I'd be no help to Jim. There is Big Tex though & since he's not busy at the Texas State Fair until September...

I coincidently just got called for jury duty in Texas. Since I live in Switzerland now I'm not allowed to serve, though I am curious to serve. I would love to see the questions used to pick to jury and then to blast them for tainting the legal system with juries picked for their ignorance. I say you get picked, you serve with no manuevering by lawyers to pick favorable jurors.

I'm patiently waiting for a Amazonian blackwater tank with Leopard Catfish, Angelfish, & Neon (or cardinal) Tetras.

What's this about 2 backgrounds on the saltwater tank? I only have one. I will say, I've never changed by screensaver out of boredom with it since I installed this one.

Two backgrounds? I'm just hoping to complete one 3D background in my lifetime.

we are now in March ..
When ? When ?
Hope 2 see any thing new ..

It's a huge project - hundreds of thousands of polygons to create. Still looking for effective ways to animate the soft corals. I'm now studying all the new techniques that have been invented in the last 4 years - currently attempting to learn about HLSL (High Level Shader Language). It sure isn't nearly as easy to take in new information as it was when I was younger!

I'm also still desparate for source material - either Aquarium stores or private tanks that I can photograph.

With all my respect to you Jim ..
But this is your work .
and i see that the marine Aquarium is the best sceen saver in the Whole Web sites all over the world , and i mean what i say ..there r no product untill this time can stand face to Marine aquarium ..
& we all love your products .
and the last One was on 2003 Except the Minor Update ..
and i want 2 ask you again ..
WHEN the NEW MARINE AQUARIUM WILL be relased .. just 2 naw ..
if it will not relased in this year say 2 me (It will released the next year) in 2006
Because i dream that you r going 2 rleased any one this year ..
and thax again and i'm sorry if i make you angry or disturb you ..,

This year, next year, I doubt either.

There is absolutely no benefit for me to guess when it will be released.

Here's an analogy: Say you are in Aspen, Colorado. That's your starting point. Now pick a coordinate 100 miles away. Someplace no one has ever been before. That's your destination. How long will it take you to get there? It's impossible to say - there are too many unknowns. Is there a road leading anywhere near there? If so, could someone give you a ride partway? Or will you have to scramble on foot over virtually impassable mountains with no map or compass? The only answer is "Somewhere between a few hours and never".

Anyone who is planning their life around the release date should find something else to do.

That's what I call conclusive! ;)

Ask all you want, but no release date is even in sight or estimation at this point. Jim's first estimates on release date were 2002 and then 2003. So at this point, it happens when it happens.

Realize that Jim is not using existing technology but having to create something new to do animated corals and fish animation the way he wants to. And he's developing it in a vacuum, without the help or hints of anyone else. Do I think this is a good strategy? No, but it's Jim's project. :)

San Bernardino's Pet World
 

Jim

San Bernardino has some really good pet store. Pet World specifically has awesome collection of salt water tanks. I think you might want to try this guy out. May be he will allow you to take some pictures.


There is one in Redlands too, Daryls Pet Store. He also has some good tank setup. You might want to try him too. The owner name is Lez.


Then there is one in Sierra Ave when you go west on I-10, in Fontana. They also have a very good collection.

Let me know if you need their addresses and or phone numbers.

--Vish

Pet World was the first pet store I visited when I got the idea for the Aquarium. I did a lot of reasearch there, but they have not been very cooperative, in spite of the fact that I mentioned them on the website and in the first versions of the program.

Daryl's just never had much marine stock that I could use.

The owner of the place in Fontana was just downright unfriendly when I asked if I could take pictures there 4 years ago. This attitude seems to be the norm, though I've never understood why.

The good news is that yesterday I talked to the owner of Total Tropical Fish in Upland, and he is very cooperative. I'll be doing a photo-shoot there next week.

I'm also going to Chicago tomorrow, and will be looking at the Shedd Aquarium, Aquatic World, and any other aquarium stores I can find.

While you're in Chicago you should stop by EccoReef in Zeeland, it's only 3 hours away is by far the best saltwater fish shop in the Holland/Zeeland area... :rolleyes:

All marine fish store owners in the U.S. must know of your product, Jim, and while many must love your work, some probably don't like you very much because they feel you may be taking business away from them. Why pay thousands of dollars when you can only pay 20? :)

But while you're in Chicago, maybe you could make a quick stop over to Buffalo. The Fish Place, in North Tonawanda, NY, Phone: (716) 693-4411 is where I used to buy all my fish supplies. It's really huge and has a wonderful marine selection. I used to go there with my daughter to just look around like we were at the aquarium or zoo. Call ahead to be sure they will allow you to take pictures. I'd hate for you to go there and then they said no.

Established: 1986

Business Description: WESTERN NEW YORK'S ONLY REAL SPECIALTY SHOP. WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST SELECTIONS OF FISH IN THE UNITED STATES. WE RECEIVE NEW SHIPMENTS OF FISH DAILY. FRESH WATER FISH, SALT WATER FISH, TROPICAL FISH.

Business Hours:
Monday: 12pm - 9
Tuesday: 12pm - 9
Wednesday: 12pm - 9
Thursday: 12pm - 9
Friday: 12pm - 9
Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm

Couln't make it to any aquarium stores (just missed Aquatic World by a couple of minutes).

But I did go to the Shedd Aquarium, and it's really a fabulous place. Probably the best public aquarium I've ever been to. I took a lot of pictures of reef tanks, and am going through them now.

Told ya! :) I'm pretty spoiled having Shedd as my "local" aquarium, I haven't seen anything better yet!

I went to Shedd when i was up in chicago, really cool place. Newport aquarium (newport kentucky, across from cincinnati) has a great aquarium also. You may try contacting the aquariums, there might be some interest in them providing photos for you to use and you providing them some credit for the photo's. Maybe even branded versions of the screen saver to sell at their shops.

Jim -- any update on the Freshwater aquarium? Anymore screenshots or programming that you've done on this?

The Freshwater aquarium is put on hold. Jim is currently working on two new fish for the Marine aquarium, then next thing is the 3D-background for the Marine Aquarium.

the marine aquarium update sounds great,but I can wait as long as it ttakes for the freshwater aquarium to be released,hey I have my own tanks that I can sit and watch if I want to.plus having marine aquarium 2 as my screensaver, I have all the fish I need..

How refreshing to hear someone say that they are satisfied with what they have, instead of always asking for more!

/Tiny Oliver? ;) ... (With apologies to TT.)

Please, Sir, ... :D

Actually, I'm quite happy, too. I have a variety of beautiful screen savers, not all by Jim or Prolific, but those from these last two are wonderful - and never make my pc/laptop freeze forcing a hard reboot!!!

So good work guys. :cheers:

Ditto.

Jim -- any update on the progress of FreshWater Aquarium?? Last I heard/saw was the treasure chest.

Freshwater Aquarium is on indefinite hold.

https://www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/

what a shame. it was MUCH prettier than MA imho. Oh well, maybe Jim will reconsider in the future :(