I am disappointed
At first everything looked nice and well, but after 48 hours of use a window that hides the screen saver display appeared, and asks for registration and buying of the software, even though it was given apparently free..
Noam

#84, Josh, I went to Crawler.com and tried their free screensavers link. TrendProtect immediately popped up a Dangerous warning and strongly advised avoiding that page. If you're not familiar with it, TrendProtect is more sophisticated and quicker to respond to malware than SiteAdvisor, and flags individual pages rather than entire websites. Unlike SiteAdvisor, TrendProtect's ratings apply to the current page of the current website, not external linked websites.

Well, #84, Josh, you just commented on me, too. Actually, some of the people did ask for help. What have you done to help others? You don't seem to have a problem with others posting arrogant and/or incorrect comments, which I responded to. Frankly, I get tired of the endless repetitive negative comments about screensavers. If people don't like screensavers, they can just skip that download, the same as for any other software offered. As for the endless droning complaints about screensaver managers, well, those people just need therapy. Except for a few scattered screensavers, the major suppliers for GAOTD giveaways have been Astro Gemini, 3Planesoft, and Rixane Interactive. Astro Gemini and 3Planesoft each install a single screensaver manager. So, no matter how many of their screensavers you install, that's a grand total of two very small applications which don't do anything when they aren't used. The endless complaints that "It installed something which I didn't want!!!" are just senseless. Windows installs all sorts of default screensavers which it doesn't tell you about before installing them. Windows installs a screensaver manager. Windows installs numerous command-line utilities which most people don't know anything about and never use. There are numerous related applications and routines which get installed by most software applications without your permission, all kinds of stuff, such as codecs, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Macromedia Flash Player, Apple QuickTime, and on and on. Many of these are older or conflicting versions, and the applications doing the installation uninstall your newer versions without your permission. Codec problems are a major, major headache, and very difficult to straighten out. Endless Registry damage gets done. Visual Basic controls, which are also used by non-VB applications, get replaced with older versions all the time. So, yes, I get tired of the repetitive, completely useless, space-wasting negative comments by people who clearly don't know up from down about a maximum of two puny little harmless applications. Then, there are the equally predictable useless complaints (on almost every giveaway) from people who don't read the Readme and therefor don't activate and install the giveaway correctly, and then scream that it's just a trial. For the screensavers, there are the endless complaints from people who blame the screensavers for the fact that they have inadequate CPU/GPU to run a 3D screensaver smoothly at an acceptable frame-rate, or it doesn't render correctly because their drivers are crap (which they have probably never updated), or because they haven't kept DirectX updated (Microsoft doesn't automatically update most of Windows, you have to do it yourself). If people don't know this stuff, I have repeatedly posted links to suggestions on BladedThoth's forum.

Crawler, the makers of Spyware Terminator, offers some 3D screensavers. If you have any doubts, scan with their widely known antispyware.

By the way, I don't like at all the VERY arrogant way that Fubar, #78 (is he maybe a member of "Opus Dei", for being so mean and arrogant with others?), has on commenting on everyone else, quoting negatively 15 people at once, and giving non-requested computer lessons to everybody.

I down loaded the 3d marine screen saver the other day that you had as free for the day. Now it is popping up & asking me to register & put in the #. Is there a step or a link that I missed or is this how all the freeware that you advertise works, only accessable as a trial?

Thanks
Kris :)

I like it! I think its colorful and cute for free. I have bought two other Astro-Gemini screensavers and I was glad to get the Screensaver Manager so it would change my screensavers for me. Guess I love screensavers and the free ones are usually really simple drawings or something.

# 12...quoted: This by far is a very realistic , yet easy on the system requirements screensaver that is fish based. I know a majority of us do not like screensavers at gotd but this one should be checked out.


Seriously you have to be kidding. I have a nice 24" monitor but the fish look like cartoons, in fact the whole scene looks like it should go on maybe a screensaver for maybe 1 to 7 yrs olds. I don't think it looks very adult looking. It would be sort of embarassing to keep this. Thanks anyway and I wonder if all there screesavers look ...well, cartoonish?....

#39, Laura, the Web Update in the screensaver manager is to get the latest list of available screensavers, in case they've developed new ones. Since the giveaway terms exclude updates, I don't know whether your installed screensavers get updated (yes, there are sometimes updates).

Its not as good as the site shows. it has dificulty in running

#4, Gforce, (apparently #74, roger, was quoting), either you have terrible video drivers or a very low-end GPU. On my Athlon 64 XP 3500+, ATI HD 2600 XT, with vertical sync enabled, this runs at 60 FPS (my monitor's refresh rate) at 1856x1392.

#6, MichaelSF, this isn't a time-limited trial, it's a fully functioning, registered program.

#15, Whiterabbit-uk, I don't know why there was a problem writing to your registry, but it won't affect anything. The Aquazone series is very expensive, and I would never buy it without a trial. However, their trial requires a credit card, and automatically charges you at the end of the trial.

#20, #21, ArriRC, all 3D screensavers consume substantial CPU. Unless you have a multi-core CPU, they're likely to use all idle CPU when running. Normally, this won't matter. I only use screensavers as standalone animations, my screensaver is Blank, with power management. As for your comments about McAfee Site Advisor, there is no shame in ignorance, but a complete lack of common sense is another matter. On the links page of the website is a link to a site which McAfee doesn't like. The Astro Gemini website is perfectly safe. Sometimes, I think people should be required to get a license in order to operate a computer.

#36, Tammy Benson, there are bubbles everywhere in this screensaver--either your display resolution is extremely low, or there are problems with your graphics driver. Astro Gemini screensavers frequently have details that only those running at very high resolutions will ever see. While the larger bubbles should be visible on anyone's display, there are extremely minute bubbles which come and go all over the screen; even at 1856x1392, they are barely visible.

#37, Priapus, #41, Gary, #49, NannySamdi, #60, Ernie LaVallee, yet again the endless complaints about the completely harmless and very small screensaver manager. I'll bet you don't complain about the hundreds of megabytes of bloatware that get installed by your typical Microsoft application. I'll bet you don't complain about the considerable amount of registry, common file, and system file damage that most applications do. Astro Gemini and 3Planesoft install screensaver managers which you can use, or not. They can be used to cycle through each manufacturer's screensavers, or change their settings without running them (unlike the Windows screensaver manager, which always run the screensavers in order to generate the preview window). They show you which screensavers you have from that manufacturer, and which others are available. Gary, Astro Gemini doesn't install "loads of other programs", and if I were the moderator, I would strike your comment.

#39, Laura, see the preceding paragraph. The idle time before a screensavers starts isn't specific to individual screensavers, it's a global Windows setting which applies to all screensavers. Right-click on an empty area of your Windows desktop, select Properties (Display Properties). Click on the Screen Saver tab. The Wait value is how long your computer needs to be idle (no user input) before the screensaver starts. Screensavers have so few options, they're self-explanatory and harmless, so to be honest, I don't see why you would need help. Just try an option and see what it does. Some screensavers let you select the level of anti-aliasing. This improves visual quality, at the expense of frame rate. That's generally true for most of the visual-effects related options. If the screensaver is running too slowly, use fewer visual effects and/or a lower display resolution (uncheck "use desktop settings" and select a lower resolution than your desktop resolution). If it has a VSync or vertical sync option, that will eliminate visual "tearing", but may slightly reduce frame rate. Screensavers aren't games, VSync is generally recommended. Gamma is essentially brightness, use it to make the screensaver lighter or darker.

#42, Joe Momma, SereneScreen has been around a long time. It was written by an artist who wasn't trained as a programmer, and has always had an annoying jitter to its motion. It won't run at all with ATI's ultra-buggy HD 2600 drivers. It's an aquarium screensaver and uses photo-realistic backgrounds and high-quality fish and movement models. Marine Life 3D is clearly a fantasy screensaver, and uses faster, less boring, although much less realistic, motion, as well as very colorful and less realistic backgrounds. Years ago, I liked SereneScreen because of its quality, but I don't personally care for any screensavers which have static backqrounds. Of the Astro Gemini aquatic screensavers, I like Atlantis 3D because of its full 3D environment (and yes, I'm well aware it's another fantasy screensaver). SereneScreen doesn't install a screensaver manager because they only have the one screensaver. If you find it such a pain to uninstall screensaver managers, don't. They're completely harmless, don't do anything at all if you don't use them, and take up a completely trivial amount of disk space. Just about any screensaver installation will change your default screensaver, just change it back.

#54, BryceT, yeah, people are always claiming that the world is filled with free screensavers. So, do tell us where we can find free 3D screensavers which aren't filled with every kind of spyware and adware imaginable.

#72, slgraycols, all screensavers are listed in the Windows screensaver manager. Astro Gemini screensavers are also listed in the Astro Gemini screensaver manager. 3Planesoft screensavers are also listed in the 3Planesoft screensaver manager. The Windows screensaver manager can either be set to run a particular screensaver, or one of the other screensaver managers. To change the Prime Selection in the Astro Gemini manager, disable the current prime selection until the one you want is selected. You can then re-enable any screensavers which you disabled. You can also use disable/enable to change the order of the screensavers.

To everyone experiencing problems running this, see
http://forum.bladedthoth.com/viewtopic.php?t=56
If none of the suggestions helps, your video driver is defective, and if you're running the latest version, you're out of luck.

What's with this?

For hours last night, the download screen says unavailable, now it's gone.

The screensaver creates a 'fatal error' whenever i try to access it.

Screensavers about fish offend me! How about having a Christmas screensaver, or maybe a deer hunting one or something that doesn't make me feel left out for not liking fish! Just food for thought.

Okay, now that I got that out -- if you're offended by a Christmas item, here's a thought, don't download. Don't stop those of us who DO like Christmas from enjoying it. GAOTD, holiday screensavers/programs=good idea!

I could’ve sworn I’ve seen this exact program somewhere in a previous GAoTD.
The screensaver itself wasn’t that great. I would’ve liked to see more camera motion, as looking at one scenery the entire time gets boring. The object edges were pretty rough and pixelly, although they did have a 1-bit anti-aliasing effect, which softened the blow.
The major problem in this screensaver is the speed, or lack thereof. I personally have a dual-core Intel processor and Windows Vista running nothing but the screensaver, and it goes about 6 frames per second. When you think about people who still have single-core processors, you’d have to imagine it going at 3 frames per second. That’s far too slow for it to be good.
Would I pay $20 for this? Not unless I was a screensaver junkie who spends his life collecting as many screensavers as possible. I would’ve paid $5 maximum for this.

dual processor doesn't mean double speed silly

I would love to download these two programs but for some reason the download site is down. I really hope that they will be offered again when the problems are resolved.
Love this site and and forever thankful for the work you do!

#39 Laura, I am running XP and the idle time on mine can be set under the XP control panel Display Properties under the Screen Saver tab (the already built in function). That may be why it's not included in the Astro Gemini Screen Saver Manager.

This installed and ran fine for me with no problems, no jerkiness either. The only issue I have is how to change the prime selection screen saver (as I have about 5 of their screen savers) in the Astro Gemini Screen Saver Manager. I had to disable the one that was listed under prime selection and it automatically went to the Marine Life one but now I have no clue how to change it if I would like to. Their help file is poor. Does anyone know how to change the prime selection? I also don't understand is why the control panel lists the Astro Gemini manager (with all the screensavers listed inside of it) and then duplicates the separate screensaver listings in the screensavers in the control panel. In other words, Marine Life 3D is listed inside the Astro Gemini manager and also listed again in my list of screen savers on the Windows control panel.

I think this is a pretty and colorful screen saver, makes me wish I was The Incredible Mr Limpet. I can't find anything unattractive about it whether it is completely realistic or not. It is very bright and cartoony and exciting to look at. I have a copy of Goldfish Aquarium 1 also (not by them) and that one I will use for relaxing. The other screensavers I have of Astro aren't great but good enough for me. I think this is the best of theirs that I've seen so far. It would be nice if Marine 3D moved around like the others from Astro Gemini, and that it had more settings to vary the number and types of fish and types of backgrounds but it's nice for what it is. Of course, that would probably cause it to be a little less smooth running though.

PS, for those wondering why screensavers are still made and purchased--because some of them are pretty and relaxing to look at. Though I don't spend hours watching them, I have spent 10-15 minutes at a time watching one that is relaxing. I like screensavers and wallpapers and icons and other desktop decorations. I like this one a lot and will be keeping it. And I agree with another poster that a Christmas Screensaver would be nice. Thanks GAOTD and Astro Gemini.

I down loaded the software but I couldn' locate the 'readme' file. The screensaver will not install in my XP ... it doesn't have any option where I can add a screensaver. I cannot locate my video file to see if I need a new driver.
Any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks,
JB

thanks
but who are willing to make a screensaver with so many free screensavers available on the Internet? Plus, it is no easy job to do that with this program.
here is a much more convenient and practical program for your reference if you do want to DIY a screensaver.

tried to download both of them (magic ball2 and Aquarium Screensaver) and keep getting this:
We are sorry but node containing file '631270' is not active now.
Please try again later.
Oh well,.... anyone else got that problem too?

Beautiful! Thanks! A Christmas screensaver in time to enjoy before Christmas? Please? : )

Don't usually go for screensavers, but after reading a few comments here I downloaded it.

Watched for about 1 minute. Uninstalled it.

The fish look very wooden and their motion is somewhat jerky. Not very realistic at all. You could get screensavers of this quality 10 to 15 years ago. CPU power and graphics capabilities have moved on. Pity the programmers haven't.

I have the same problem as comment #57. I have no idea why it works in blocks like that. My screen shows up white with gray fish swimming in about 8 blocks. Really wierd!!! I downloaded the pirate ship screensaver a few days ago also from gemini and it works just fine. I even downloaded twice and that didn't help either. I could also use some suggestions. Running XP Home with all of the requirements listed on the download. I guess I'll just chalk this one up to a "would have been nice". I still Love GAOD though! Thanks everyone!

Very pretty, and it's nice that gamma control was included. Nice screen saver, and better than a real tank: no smell!

Somethings wrong here. I've got white fish and a white sea anenome (sp?) on a pure white background. I don't think that's the why it's supposed to look.

Download and screensaver both worked perfectly fine for me. Thanks!

I love astro gemini screensavers.Check out their website for more free ones.Thanks GOTD for this pretty screensaver.My 4-yer old loves it too.Please give a nice Christmas one in the very near future.I appriciate all your great giveaways.Thanks again.
Tamarra26

"a christmas screensaver. None of us wants that!"

Speak for yourself, Chuck (poster #9), and all other Christmas and otherwise holidays screensavers naysayers. There are plenty of us who like, download, and use screensavers. Most of us are aware of the fact that technically speaking they are not necessary anymore, but we still like to use them, in part, for the visual effects. I would love to have some winter screensavers, especially Christmas ones.

To all of you naysayers, I will add this (to everyone else's comments of the same type) - if you aren't interested in the current day's offerings, then just simply leave it alone - that's what *I* do. You don't have to download it - heck, if I am not interested in something, I leave it...and without a negative comment about it. Heck, you don't even have to look at it if you don't want to, but no one else wants to hear you 'ragging' on the software type.

MichaelSF (#6): For someone who practically lives in the comment section, you sure haven't learned much about this site. Every giveaway is a "time-limited offer". This refers to the 24-hour period you're allowed to download the software while it's free. Like the folks who don't bother with the readme.txt or try to install something without activating it, your stubborn refusal to read beyond the words "free" and "download" has probably caused you to miss out on some really decent programs.

chuck (#9): There were Christmas screensavers offered last year that had nothing to do with the religiuos aspect of the season. Let's face it, for a lot people, including some who claim to be Christian, Christmas stopped being about Christ long ago. I'm not trying to start an argument, this is a just a fact and everyone knows it. If you find the holiday so offensive, feel free not to observe it.

Ozzie(#26): Welcome to the site, noob. We've all heard the dusty old arguments against screensavers. (By the way, if your concerns are based upon energy use and wasted space, why would a company logo screensaver be any more justifiable than this one?) This comment is intended for you and the rest of the "rookies" who intend to dazzle everyone with their usual dreck about the pros and cons of screensavers. It's old news, and it all boils down to personal preference.
With that off my chest, I'd like to add my thumbs-down to those who have already mentioned the unsolicited nonsense that comes with Astro Gemini screensavers. They have some decent looking savers, but IMO it's not worth having to get rid of the extra junk each time.

20$ for a screen save is like a little steep dont ya think but thanks :P

downloaded ok but didn't install properly. hen I lost all the icons on the main screen and my sysem locked up.
Had to throw the switch, uninstalled it and tried again.
More problems and it doesn't seem to run, clicks on then off.
Oh well,

I thought this was one of the worst downloads that I have received. Seem to take forever to download then when I did get it and activated it, seem to take forever for it to get started and then when I went to preview the screen saver it didn't show the whole photo. More or less put it into motion in blocks all over the screen. I wouldn't recommend anyone using this screen saver! I have XP. Thanks but no thanks. I am sure I will be looking forward into seeing something else better in the future.

Great idea, however it will not work. I cannot get anything up on the screen. It is downloaded ok and activated no problem. I can't understand. Any ideas

O.K. everyone, it is Sunday. Sunday is screensaver day. DO NOT PANIC!! The regular offerings will return tomorrow! I know it is useless to say this but, PLEASE DO NOT WHINE about it! This happens every week. To download it and not like it is one thing, but to whine simply because you do not like screensavers is just CHILDISH!

Well, it works. But there is no point to this being on here. Now, they have free screensavors. But I guess if you wanted a free (3D) screensaver then here you go. But still you can download them free online.

I installed this and ran it. I get nothing but sound effects, music and a black screen. ron

Christmas screensaver would be nice...

Astro Gemini bad. It keeps screwing with my sound settings. 3D Planesoft good. Hrm - I have to see if Planesoft has a nice holiday-themed 'saver... 'cos I'm sure as shootin' not installing another Astro Gemini SS product on my system!

I guess nobody has been told there is no need for screen savers with todays technology used on Modern monitors?

Good for those that think they need them I guess But thanks anyway GAOTD.

So here's the thing, has Astro Gemini learned yet that people don't like having unasked for software...such as their screensaver manager .... installed automatically on their computers? Install this screensaver and you'll find out.

Sorry for my typo, I meant to type "here" not "hear".

I don't usually use screensavers as my monitors don't require them, however my kids love them. They will stand and watch the screensavers and listen to them for the longest time. My kids love fish so this one was perfect.

This screensaver setup up perfectly and without problems on my Win XP machine and my Vista machine. The usual steps are to view the "read me" file, activate, and then set up which was, again, very straight forward and simple. The graphix are good, the sound fx are good (I turned off the music so I could hear the bubbles), and the options menu is very straight forward.

Thanks again GOATD and Astro-Gemini. I am looking forward to a Christmas Screensaver to play while people are hear for dinner.

Thanks again and keep up the good work, GAotD.

Very nice, easy install. Like the digital clock feature too. Thanks!

The vibrant colors make it look less than realistic. This, however, has a benefit in that it doesn't seem to tax the processor as much. Music is nice but repetetive, and can be turned off.

Overall, I think it's nice to to have in the background while you're doing something other than computer work, which is what screensavers are for.

Oops! I reversed the image tags in my post above - the "small" link actually goes to the large image and vice versa. Sorry 'bout that.

Ho-hum. Another uninspired screensaver from Astro-Gemini. I can't say I've been overly impressed with any of A-G's screensavers to date.

Don't get me wrong - it's OK for free and certainly worth downloading if you can't afford anything better. But it's laughable that anyone would pay twenty bucks for this. A much better option is SereneScreen.Com's Marine Aquarium 2.6 at fifteen bucks for the downloaded version.

Here's a screenshot from Marine Life 3D: (small) (large)

Here's one from Marine Aquarium: (small) (large)

Which looks more real to you? To me, Marine Life 3D looks like a Disney cartoon compared to the photorealism of Marine Aquarium. If you WANT a cartoon, great, but I prefer something that looks more like an actual aquarium.

Also, MA doesn't install an annoying screen saver manager. (you can uninstall the manager and the screensavers will still work, but it's a PITA to have to keep uninstalling it)

I'd rate this one about four out of ten, mostly because at least for today, the price is right. If I'd paid twenty bucks for it, I'd feel cheated.

Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad! I downloaded this just a moment ago, and as I begin installation, I realized that this was an Astro Gemini product. For those of you who don't know, all of the Astro Gemini screensavers that GAOTD gives away not only comes with very poor screensacer, but also with a screensaver manager, and loads of other programs that are completely useless. They take up space on your computer, and you have to go back and uninstall everything that came with it. I immediately stopped the installation. GAOTD, thank you, but giving away Astro Gemini products can't do much except lower your reputation! I have gotten better screensavers from you before...

Does not even load. The screen flickers a few times but then nothing happens.

$20 for a screensaver?!

I have tried all of the screen savers GAOTD has offered. Some I've like and others I haven't. Some have served as advertisements for GAOTD because when people see them (Mechanical 3D clock and Lord of the Rings, to name a couple) people have always asked where I got them. So of course I always give them the web address and tell them to check back daily.

About screen savers: I realize that screen savers aren't for everyone; I know that there is no need for screen savers; I understand that the really complex ones will run your CPU as they run. I'm fine with all that. If you're not, then simply don't download the screen savers and wait until tomorrow.

Now, about this screen saver. Once again it should be noted that the Astro Gemini screen saver manager gets installed along with the screen saver. I have checked the end-user agreement and have yet to see where there is any mention to the installation of the manager. In short, if something is installed without the ability to opt out and it's not mentioned in the agreement, that's simply bad form. If you have multiple Astro Gemini screen savers, you might use the manager. But to force it on the unwitting user is a bad thing.

I keep my laptop resolution maxed at 1400x1050. When I first ran the screen saver it was jumpy and jerky. I turned off the "use screen settings" and changed the resolution to "1280x1024 - 32 bits" and tried again. This time the flow and resolution were just fine. Sometimes, when I have to set screen savers to a resolution other than system settings, there's a jumpy transition going into and coming out of the screen saver. This one was very smooth. I sat and watched it for a few minutes.

The only thing yet to test is support for dual monitors. Since it's Sunday, I'm at home with my laptop. Tomorrow I'll dock my laptop and see what happens with my dual monitor set-up. I've yet to see a cool screen saver support dual monitors but am still optimistic.

So if you like screen savers, you might want to give this one a try. If you don't like screen savers, wait until tomorrow and I'm sure there will be another application for you.