Bug: Unconfirmed Night-Time on Windows "unreal" ?

lostie79 · 10-29-2024, 03:33 AM

Hello, is this product still supported?

Since ever I have had a strange "issue" on Windows PC compared to my Apple iMac: When the night phase starts on Apple Mac, the foreground is also dimmed. As if the top lights are dimming. That is very realistic!

With Windows, however, only the background gets darker and the foreground is still as bright as day - so nothing changes at all. In the day phase, both operating systems are identical...

Yes, i bought a SN and here for comparison some Photos. It would be looking better on Windows, if here also the foreground was dimmed... :-(
Thanks for Help.

WINDOWS DAY

WINDOWS NIGHT

MAC NIGHT

MAC DAY

Jim Sachs · 11-01-2024, 03:07 PM

That's a feature I took out many years ago. I liked it, but it caused confusion. People kept complaining that the lights were too dim, forgetting that they did it themselves.

lostie79 · 11-04-2024, 07:03 AM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

That's a feature I took out many years ago. I liked it, but it caused confusion. People kept complaining that the lights were too dim, forgetting that they did it themselves.

Ah, ok. So would it have been included? Can't you just add this function again easily with a “switch” or something? Something like “Enable Classic Night Mode” Yes/No?

Jim Sachs · 11-05-2024, 04:21 PM

At 75, I find that I'm unable to program any more.

lostie79 · 11-06-2024, 01:47 AM

Ah, ok. Yes, that's understandable. But is there no “successor” who can continue this legacy of Serene Aquarium? Someone younger who can and should have access to the code and could update or add this feature again?

I am now over 40 and have literally grown up with this screensaver since I had a PC as a teenager when I was 12. This app is definitely something for the Hall of Fame

Ralph · 11-06-2024, 12:48 PM

The SS has been a marvel of programming from the start. There are not many that have survived the multitudes of new operating systems and graphics cards. My regret is that Jim did not share/release the many freshwater SS that he also worked on.

Jim Sachs · 11-06-2024, 03:16 PM

No idea where the code is or how to access it.

Ralph · 11-07-2024, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

No idea where the code is or how to access it.

No doubt in the bowels of your castle

Jim Sachs · 11-07-2024, 12:28 PM

Probably on some computer I gave to Salvation Army years ago.

IanD · 12-13-2024, 02:50 AM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

At 75, I find that I'm unable to program any more.

With all due respect to your magnificent achievement and the reality that you are unable to continue development and no longer have the source code or accompanying documentation, do you think it is time to hand over the reins to someone else to develop this screensaver idea further?

There are some very clever people around who may be able to reverse-engineer the design principles and then develop them, including perhaps the member "flipper" who went down this path as far as he was allowed to do at the time.

Perhaps you could place a condition on further development, that it require the presence of a registered MA3 for it to function.

I would really like for someone to be able to take the concept further and implement the other 4 screensaver ideas you had and to be able to augment MA3, not let it languish for another 12 years. The world can still be enriched by your concept, even if you can't be financially enriched further.

MA3 may not be perfect and hides a number of kludges, but the end result is still visually spectacular and it still remains my screensaver of choice when I use a screensaver, despite the difficulty in getting it running under my now only Linux machines. Even if further developments were only to create another 4 screensavers using a similar approach and appearance, with all its flaws and compromises, I would be happy.

Jim Sachs · 12-14-2024, 02:07 PM

Not sure how to "hand over the reins". Anybody is free to make an aquarium program. AIs will probably be doing it soon.

Ralph · 12-15-2024, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

Not sure how to "hand over the reins". Anybody is free to make an aquarium program. AIs will probably be doing it soon.

And that will be a sad day. I doubt AI will have/require beta testers. Or, be around many years later to correspond with it's users.

10-29-2024, 03:33 AM	#1
lostie79 Registered Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 3	Night-Time on Windows "unreal" ? Hello, is this product still supported? Since ever I have had a strange "issue" on Windows PC compared to my Apple iMac: When the night phase starts on Apple Mac, the foreground is also dimmed. As if the top lights are dimming. That is very realistic! With Windows, however, only the background gets darker and the foreground is still as bright as day - so nothing changes at all. In the day phase, both operating systems are identical... Yes, i bought a SN and here for comparison some Photos. It would be looking better on Windows, if here also the foreground was dimmed... :-( Thanks for Help. WINDOWS DAY WINDOWS NIGHT MAC NIGHT MAC DAY

11-01-2024, 03:07 PM	#2
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,794	That's a feature I took out many years ago. I liked it, but it caused confusion. People kept complaining that the lights were too dim, forgetting that they did it themselves. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-05-2024, 04:21 PM	#4
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,794	At 75, I find that I'm unable to program any more. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-06-2024, 12:48 PM	#6
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,444	The SS has been a marvel of programming from the start. There are not many that have survived the multitudes of new operating systems and graphics cards. My regret is that Jim did not share/release the many freshwater SS that he also worked on. Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.

11-06-2024, 03:16 PM	#7
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,794	No idea where the code is or how to access it. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

11-04-2024, 07:03 AM	#3
lostie79 Registered Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 3	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: That's a feature I took out many years ago. I liked it, but it caused confusion. People kept complaining that the lights were too dim, forgetting that they did it themselves. Ah, ok. So would it have been included? Can't you just add this function again easily with a “switch” or something? Something like “Enable Classic Night Mode” Yes/No?

11-06-2024, 01:47 AM	#5
lostie79 Registered Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 3	Ah, ok. Yes, that's understandable. But is there no “successor” who can continue this legacy of Serene Aquarium? Someone younger who can and should have access to the code and could update or add this feature again? I am now over 40 and have literally grown up with this screensaver since I had a PC as a teenager when I was 12. This app is definitely something for the Hall of Fame

11-07-2024, 08:34 AM	#8
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,444	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: No idea where the code is or how to access it. No doubt in the bowels of your castle Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.

11-07-2024, 12:28 PM	#9
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,794	Probably on some computer I gave to Salvation Army years ago. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-13-2024, 02:50 AM	#10
IanD Registered Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 11	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: At 75, I find that I'm unable to program any more. With all due respect to your magnificent achievement and the reality that you are unable to continue development and no longer have the source code or accompanying documentation, do you think it is time to hand over the reins to someone else to develop this screensaver idea further? There are some very clever people around who may be able to reverse-engineer the design principles and then develop them, including perhaps the member "flipper" who went down this path as far as he was allowed to do at the time. Perhaps you could place a condition on further development, that it require the presence of a registered MA3 for it to function. I would really like for someone to be able to take the concept further and implement the other 4 screensaver ideas you had and to be able to augment MA3, not let it languish for another 12 years. The world can still be enriched by your concept, even if you can't be financially enriched further. MA3 may not be perfect and hides a number of kludges, but the end result is still visually spectacular and it still remains my screensaver of choice when I use a screensaver, despite the difficulty in getting it running under my now only Linux machines. Even if further developments were only to create another 4 screensavers using a similar approach and appearance, with all its flaws and compromises, I would be happy.

12-14-2024, 02:07 PM	#11
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,794	Not sure how to "hand over the reins". Anybody is free to make an aquarium program. AIs will probably be doing it soon. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-15-2024, 08:42 AM	#12
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,444	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: Not sure how to "hand over the reins". Anybody is free to make an aquarium program. AIs will probably be doing it soon. And that will be a sad day. I doubt AI will have/require beta testers. Or, be around many years later to correspond with it's users. Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.