Current Production (Serenescreen) Version

[Dale]

Since 2005, I have been asking for some way to know what is the "Current Production Version" (latest Serenescreen-official version) of Marine Aquarium.

I finally, reluctantly, for MA 2.6, accepted the EXCUSE that Serenescreen updates were "just bug fixes".

That's clearly not a VALID EXCUSE for MA3 Beta Official SereneScreen releases. Those will continue to be FEATURE ADDITIONS for the next several years.

I'm not specifying HOW. I'm just asking for SOME WAY to tell if I have the latest official production SereneScreen version.

Is that too much to ask?

[henemly]

It's Beta9M, ya / no?

[Dale]

Originally posted by henemly:

It's Beta9M, ya / no?  

Perhaps, but that wasn't the point. How will anybody know, tomorrow, what official version is the most current?

(Jim apparently doesn't always know, either)

Analogy: What's the latest official production version of MA 2.6? And how did you find that information?

[Jav400]

Q224.2.6.475

[engelens]

Check the release notes on serenescreen.com. Release history:
3.0 (1735) 2009-3-2
RELEASE: User Interface: Improved user interface for crystal selection
RELEASE: User Interface: Improved user interface for music player selection
FIXED: User Interface: Fixed Crash Bug on settings page
3.0 (1727) 2009-2-17
FIXED: Upgrade: Fixed upgrade path logic
FIXED: Registration: Fixed Keycode registration
RELEASE: General: Added Crystal and Calendar to tank
FIXED: General: Fixed Multiple monitor bug
FIXED: Sound: Fixed sound initialization bug
3.0 (1605) 2009-2-4
RELEASE: General: Early BETA Release of Marine Aquarium 3

[Dale]

Originally posted by engelens:

Check the release notes on serenescreen.com. Release history:
3.0 (1735) 2009-3-2
RELEASE: User Interface: Improved user interface for crystal selection
RELEASE: User Interface: Improved user interface for music player selection
FIXED: User Interface: Fixed Crash Bug on settings page
3.0 (1727) 2009-2-17
FIXED: Upgrade: Fixed upgrade path logic
FIXED: Registration: Fixed Keycode registration
RELEASE: General: Added Crystal and Calendar to tank
FIXED: General: Fixed Multiple monitor bug
FIXED: Sound: Fixed sound initialization bug
3.0 (1605) 2009-2-4
RELEASE: General: Early BETA Release of Marine Aquarium 3
 

Thanks for the pointer.

Aside from the fact that the release notes link is hard to find - and the fact that when you find that it's
http://www.serenescreen.com/product/...fo/release.php
it doesn't work with Firefox 3.5 (apparently requires IE?) ...

3.0 (1735) 2009-3-2 doesn't match the version info that's shown on the MA3 screen when you press "S". (such as 9m or 10a or whatever). I know that's pickty.

And the "About" panel shows T302.3.0.1735, so I guess I can figure that out.

Thanks again for the pointer. I had never seen those release notes, because I usually use Firefox as my browser.

[Jim Sachs]

The latest non-expiring MA3 Beta10a with installer is at: http://www.fish-byte.com/MarineAquarium3.exe

[Dale]

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

The latest non-expiring MA3 Beta10a with installer is at: http://www.fish-byte.com/MarineAquarium3.exe  

But not yet available for download from the SereneScreen site.

[Jim Sachs]

That's because I don't have control of the SereneScreen site.

[henemly]

Thanks Jim. Was really startin to miss them clamz.

[Dale]

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

That's because I don't have control of the SereneScreen site.  

Understood. And I do appreciate you providing an "early release" of the installer version.

Where/how should we make suggestions for improvement of the SereneScreen site?

[flipper]

Originally posted by Dale:

Aside from the fact that the release notes link is hard to find - and the fact that when you find that it's
http://www.serenescreen.com/product/...fo/release.php
it doesn't work with Firefox 3.5 (apparently requires IE?) ...

...

Thanks again for the pointer. I had never seen those release notes, because I usually use Firefox as my browser.  

Just fyi, works fine here with Firefox 3.0.10 (Windows version.) No cookies or Javascript enabling required.

[Jim Sachs]

As far as suggestions for the website, no one really has time to deal with it right now. I have two jobs to finish up on the Aquarium itself (one small and one big), then I'll turn my attention to website matters.

[Ex_Brit]

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

The latest non-expiring MA3 Beta10a with installer is at: http://www.fish-byte.com/MarineAquarium3.exe  

I'm a bit confused. I have the MA3 I bought and it says 302.3.0.1735 and it still works fine.

Will the retail site notify us when the final or updated versions become available or am I supposed to download as per https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...417#post113417 and use the license I purchased?

Sorry to be so dumb, but all these versions are getting me confused.

[feldon34]

Peter,

There are just two versions to worry about.

Beta
Whenever Jim develops something new, he releases it here as a Beta. These releases might happen as often as every other day, or in the case of this latest version, more than a month can go by between updates. To encourage folks to update, these Beta versions have a built-in expiration date. You can always find the latest version to download by going here:
Marine Aquarium 3 Beta NEWS & DOWNLOAD

If you want to receive e-mail notifications when a new version is available, please follow this link:
Subscribe to MA3 Updates and choose Instant Notification by E-mail.

Installer
It was decided that "stable" versions of the Aquarium which have been tested a bit longer would appear at SereneScreen.com which is Jim's publisher's website. These versions are packaged inside an Installer. These Installer versions typically lag behind the Beta about one month.


The problem we're seeing here is that because Beta 10a has expired, and because SereneScreen.com still has the old installer of Beta 9m, Jim has packaged 10a into an Installer so we could continue to use it. He posted that download link above.


Again, if you don't want to read all these threads and try to keep up, you can just subscribe to the Marine Aquarium 3 Beta NEWS & DOWNLOAD topic. Jim and I will always keep it up to date with a link to download the latest version of the Aquarium.



By the way, I don't really know what to do with the version number "302.3.0.1735". It's near meaningless to me. You'll notice a smaller number like Beta 9m or Beta 10a. That is the numbering we use here on the Forums.

[Dale]

Originally posted by Ex_Brit:

I'm a bit confused. I have the MA3 I bought and it says 302.3.0.1735 and it still works fine.

Will the retail site notify us when the final or updated versions become available ....  

No.

[Jim Sachs]

The "302.3.0.1735"-type version number is nearly meaningless, but not quite. It's automatically generated each time either Edgar or I compile the program, whether there are changes or not. So a higher number would mean a more recent compile date, but the compile could have been done using older files.

[Ex_Brit]

OK. So if I understand you correctly all I have to do is keep my eyes skinned for any new beta with an installer, that also is hopefully non-expiring.

I just installed that version in Jim's link.

Thanks for the clarification.

[feldon34]

Most of the Aquarium versions that will be linked in that thread do NOT have an installer.

The installer is completely unnecessary if you are familiar with unzipping files.

[Ex_Brit]

Thanks.