Want an Application - Not Saver!

schneb · 12-12-2002, 10:33 AM

I love SereneScreen, but I do not like the lighting and background fades. I understand this is necessary for the "screensaver" point of the whole thing, so what is stopping us from having a SereneScreen application? I want a REAL virtual aquarium, not a utility.

Here are the items I would like to see in this application:

1. 16:9 for Plasma Screens (coming!)
2. Lighting selection (color choice)
3. Time specific lighting selection
4. Custom background color selection
5. Bubble arrangement
6. Anemone movement
7. Individual fish movement prefs:
min. movement and duration
max. movement and duration
skidish behavior

Lastly, NO fading except at timed intervals where specified. For example: 8am lighting has 50% greyish blue tone, 10am bright white, 9pm 90% dark blue.

I know I am asking for a lot here, but my 86 year old dad loves watching aquariums, but cannot take care of one, and I would love to put one on his Macintosh for him to look at.

Please, please, move this from a mere utility to an application!

Thanks in advance!

feldon34 · 12-12-2002, 10:38 AM

1. 16:9 for Plasma Screens

E-mail me at feldon@feldoncentral.com for a copy of this.

2. Lighting selection (color choice)

You have light green, light blue, dark blue, and black.

6. Anemone movement

Coming

I know I am asking for a lot here, but my 86 year old dad loves watching aquariums, but cannot take care of one, and I would love to put one on his Macintosh for him to look at.

The Mac version has built in 16:9 support.

schneb · 12-12-2002, 11:02 AM

Thanks Feldon, much of that is good news. My biggie is that it would be a static look application rather than fading screen saver. I hope that Jim sees the wisdom of this.

Schneb

cjmaddy · 12-12-2002, 11:22 AM

Am I going mad here, - or what ????

Surely all that is needed is to de-select - ' Automatic Lights' !

Jav400 · 12-12-2002, 11:43 AM

schneb,

Check out our wishlist page located here https://www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/wishlist.html You will find alot of information about future plans.

feldon34 · 12-12-2002, 12:27 PM

Press the SPACE bar to bring up Settings and turn off Automatic Lights.

Socrates · 12-12-2002, 01:11 PM

A search on the board would turn up info on many of those items.

schneb · 12-12-2002, 01:16 PM

Thanks guys, I was going by the demo. Since I had no idea what preferences were available, I did not want to buy yet. However, your comments above convinced me to buy it. I am now a new fan with the Auto-Lights removal. I think the demo should be a limited time demo with all preferences available to eliminate future confusion like mine.

Thanks again! Great forum resource.

Michael Babin · 12-12-2002, 01:37 PM

On the Mac version, all of the settings are available without needing to enter the keycode. Entering the keycode enables more fish (7 or 8 instead of 3), the Lionfish and starfish, and enables the screen saver functionality under Mac OS X. The PC version may be a bit more restrictive.

schneb · 12-12-2002, 02:00 PM

Thanks, I will give it a try on my OSX machine at home.

schneb · 12-12-2002, 06:35 PM

My main desire to make SS an application was because it caused my Jukebox application (made in Director) to shut down. I have modified my program and now it runs with or without the screensaver going, which is JUST what I wanted. With the Auto-Light turned off, Bubbles off and Sound off, SS is working absolutely the way I want now! Thanks for your input.

Next project? To create an aquarium on a 48" Plasma 16:9 TV. Jim Sachs, what have you started here?

Jim Sachs · 12-12-2002, 08:03 PM

Glad to hear that you got it working the way you wanted.

Many people run the Aquarium on plasma displays. A couple of Hollywood stars have full-time dedicated computers and plasma screens just for the Aquarium. There was also one in Lex Luthor's den in the WB show "Smallville" last year, as well as Home & Garden TV, and Celebrity Cribs on MTV.

schneb · 12-12-2002, 08:41 PM

Thanks Jim. What I mean by the goal is to actually get a Plasma TV ($$$$) and then adapt a dedicated server for it. The screenshot looked awesome. Good job! Every preference you have provided were a real help!

Have fun updating! <><

feldon34 · 12-13-2002, 02:12 AM

The computer to run the Aquarium on the plasma only costs about $500.

The plasma, you have to add a zero or two.

Also, you can tweak Aquarium settings with the keyboard. Press "A" for a list of them. For example pressing LEFT and RIGHT arrows to fiddle with the background color rather than having to manipulate in the Settings window and then Exit to see the effect.

Pressing W also seems to garner responses from onlookers.

schneb · 12-13-2002, 01:04 PM

What is really great about the key shortcuts is that my Jukebox program uses a USB keypad to navigate and play the selections (eliminates need for mouse and keyboard at HiFi station), so during screensaver mode, I can control the brightness of the BG and FG using the arrow keys and hit another button to get out of screensaver mode.

It's cool. I have my stereo mounted in the wall with an LCD panel at the top. When choosing a song, there is my interface. All other time, it's swimming tropical fish.

So wild...

Tiny Turtle · 12-16-2002, 04:23 PM

Schneb,
Sounds like a neat setup. Ya think you could post a pic or two?

/Tiny Setup

schneb · 12-16-2002, 04:39 PM

Sure Turtle, will do.

I was having a little trouble in testing, seems SereneScreen would come on perfectly, then after 5 minutes jump into the background, yet still running. I created a new projector, only as a "display in window" rather than taking over the entire screen. So far this has solved the problem. I will try to do some picts tonight.

schneb · 12-16-2002, 08:54 PM

I had to fake the screen because it is behind a smoked plexiglas cover. The flash ruined the cool look of the rack. I did not include a screenshot of the Jukebox interface since it is not much to look at visually.

Jim Sachs · 12-16-2002, 09:15 PM

Neat setup, schneb.

schneb · 12-17-2002, 11:42 AM

Thanks Jim. I was a bit concerned with keeping my computer on Jukebox all the time and it just sitting there sucking electricity for no reason. With SereneScreen I feel alot better about that aspect. Tanks alot for a cool product! (pun inteded-- though lame)

12-12-2002, 10:33 AM	#1
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	Want an Application - Not Saver! I love SereneScreen, but I do not like the lighting and background fades. I understand this is necessary for the "screensaver" point of the whole thing, so what is stopping us from having a SereneScreen application? I want a REAL virtual aquarium, not a utility. Here are the items I would like to see in this application: 1. 16:9 for Plasma Screens (coming!) 2. Lighting selection (color choice) 3. Time specific lighting selection 4. Custom background color selection 5. Bubble arrangement 6. Anemone movement 7. Individual fish movement prefs: min. movement and duration max. movement and duration skidish behavior Lastly, NO fading except at timed intervals where specified. For example: 8am lighting has 50% greyish blue tone, 10am bright white, 9pm 90% dark blue. I know I am asking for a lot here, but my 86 year old dad loves watching aquariums, but cannot take care of one, and I would love to put one on his Macintosh for him to look at. Please, please, move this from a mere utility to an application! Thanks in advance!

12-12-2002, 10:38 AM	#2
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	1. 16:9 for Plasma Screens E-mail me at feldon@feldoncentral.com for a copy of this. 2. Lighting selection (color choice) You have light green, light blue, dark blue, and black. 6. Anemone movement Coming I know I am asking for a lot here, but my 86 year old dad loves watching aquariums, but cannot take care of one, and I would love to put one on his Macintosh for him to look at. The Mac version has built in 16:9 support. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-12-2002, 11:43 AM	#5
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	schneb, Check out our wishlist page located here https://www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/wishlist.html You will find alot of information about future plans. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

12-12-2002, 12:27 PM	#6
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	Press the SPACE bar to bring up Settings and turn off Automatic Lights. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-12-2002, 01:11 PM	#7
Socrates Sage Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 1,529	A search on the board would turn up info on many of those items. Bat rays? We don't need no stinking bat rays!

12-12-2002, 11:02 AM	#3
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	Thanks Feldon, much of that is good news. My biggie is that it would be a static look application rather than fading screen saver. I hope that Jim sees the wisdom of this. Schneb

12-12-2002, 11:22 AM	#4
cjmaddy Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 7,854	Am I going mad here, - or what ???? Surely all that is needed is to de-select - ' Automatic Lights' !

12-12-2002, 01:16 PM	#8
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	Thanks guys, I was going by the demo. Since I had no idea what preferences were available, I did not want to buy yet. However, your comments above convinced me to buy it. I am now a new fan with the Auto-Lights removal. I think the demo should be a limited time demo with all preferences available to eliminate future confusion like mine. Thanks again! Great forum resource.

12-12-2002, 01:37 PM	#9
Michael Babin Mac Development Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rowlett, Texas Posts: 199	On the Mac version, all of the settings are available without needing to enter the keycode. Entering the keycode enables more fish (7 or 8 instead of 3), the Lionfish and starfish, and enables the screen saver functionality under Mac OS X. The PC version may be a bit more restrictive.

12-12-2002, 02:00 PM	#10
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	Good to Know Thanks, I will give it a try on my OSX machine at home.

12-12-2002, 06:35 PM	#11
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	It WORKS! My main desire to make SS an application was because it caused my Jukebox application (made in Director) to shut down. I have modified my program and now it runs with or without the screensaver going, which is JUST what I wanted. With the Auto-Light turned off, Bubbles off and Sound off, SS is working absolutely the way I want now! Thanks for your input. Next project? To create an aquarium on a 48" Plasma 16:9 TV. Jim Sachs, what have you started here?

12-12-2002, 08:03 PM	#12
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,771	Glad to hear that you got it working the way you wanted. Many people run the Aquarium on plasma displays. A couple of Hollywood stars have full-time dedicated computers and plasma screens just for the Aquarium. There was also one in Lex Luthor's den in the WB show "Smallville" last year, as well as Home & Garden TV, and Celebrity Cribs on MTV. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-12-2002, 08:41 PM	#13
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	Thanks Jim! Thanks Jim. What I mean by the goal is to actually get a Plasma TV ($$$$) and then adapt a dedicated server for it. The screenshot looked awesome. Good job! Every preference you have provided were a real help! Have fun updating! <><

12-13-2002, 02:12 AM	#14
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	The computer to run the Aquarium on the plasma only costs about $500. The plasma, you have to add a zero or two. Also, you can tweak Aquarium settings with the keyboard. Press "A" for a list of them. For example pressing LEFT and RIGHT arrows to fiddle with the background color rather than having to manipulate in the Settings window and then Exit to see the effect. Pressing W also seems to garner responses from onlookers. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-13-2002, 01:04 PM	#15
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	Shortcuts What is really great about the key shortcuts is that my Jukebox program uses a USB keypad to navigate and play the selections (eliminates need for mouse and keyboard at HiFi station), so during screensaver mode, I can control the brightness of the BG and FG using the arrow keys and hit another button to get out of screensaver mode. It's cool. I have my stereo mounted in the wall with an LCD panel at the top. When choosing a song, there is my interface. All other time, it's swimming tropical fish. So wild...

12-16-2002, 04:23 PM	#16
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	Schneb, Sounds like a neat setup. Ya think you could post a pic or two? /Tiny Setup Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

12-16-2002, 04:39 PM	#17
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	Sure... Sure Turtle, will do. I was having a little trouble in testing, seems SereneScreen would come on perfectly, then after 5 minutes jump into the background, yet still running. I created a new projector, only as a "display in window" rather than taking over the entire screen. So far this has solved the problem. I will try to do some picts tonight.

12-16-2002, 08:54 PM	#18
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	Here is a screenshot! I had to fake the screen because it is behind a smoked plexiglas cover. The flash ruined the cool look of the rack. I did not include a screenshot of the Jukebox interface since it is not much to look at visually.

12-16-2002, 09:15 PM	#19
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,771	Neat setup, schneb. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-17-2002, 11:42 AM	#20
schneb Registered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 51	Thanks Jim. I was a bit concerned with keeping my computer on Jukebox all the time and it just sitting there sucking electricity for no reason. With SereneScreen I feel alot better about that aspect. Tanks alot for a cool product! (pun inteded-- though lame)