Desktop Aquarium now available!

https://www.stardock.com/products/aquarium
from WinCustomize Forums

Stardock has released The Desktop Aquarium. 

It's a stand alone program that turns your desktop into an aquarium full of fish swimming around.

Here's a screenshot: https://www.stardock.com/products/aquarium/aq2.jpg

What's particularly cool about the program is that when the fish are covered by windows, it doesn't use CPU. So when you're doing real work, the fish don't slow down your computer. The aquarium is not just full of fish but also fully animated plants that wave gently in the background as well as having a treasure chest that controls whether the aquarium sound is on or off.

The Desktop Aquarium is only $8.95 (Object Desktop users can get it for a discounted amount).

 

9,310 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Is this a "premium DesktopX object/theme" or does it run without DX2?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's built with DesktopX Professional as a standalone application. No installed DX required.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why does the link on that page point to the Icon Packager page here at WinCustomize?
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It doesn't, the source of the link is: https://www.stardock.com/products/aquarium/


 

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Actually KG, on the page you linked to if you click on both the desktop acquarium links (standalone and for OD subscribers) that are to the left of the Buy buttons, you'll find both those links go to the Icon library here at WC... At least they both did for me.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Gah. I've fixed that.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Has anyone else downloaded and installed this? When I run it, it seems to lock up my system, including explorer and the task manager (XP pro). Does it take an inordinately long time to load?
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jim, how fast is your computer?
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey, frogboy...thanks for the fast response...Its a PIII 800mhz IBM Thinkpad A21m laptop. DX 2 and the rest of the Stardock stuff runs fine (I'm a Wincustomize subscriber and have the Object Desktop package).
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have been having trouble with DX2 after installation of this aquarium thing, myself.

I don't think it's my system but here are my specs:

Dell 1.79Ghz Pentium 4 CPU
2.00GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce2MX
XP Home

DX2 hangs and ramps up CPU cycles to 100% (and stays ther) and will not close unless I "end process" from the Task Manager.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jim, doesn't the A21 have that Cyrix video card in it? Aquarium needs a decent video card (i.e. one that supports layered windows) to be good.  BTW, anyone who does have problems with the Aquarium for video card reasons or whatever we would of course refund them if they're having problems with it.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Er. . .I know it's not the latest and greatest, but I thought the GeForce was a fairly decent video card.

I'm wondering if the DX2 problems are because of the latest beta.

I guess I'm on my own, here.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Frogboy...The A21 has an ATI Rage Mobility-M with 8mb SDRAM. If the problem continues, how do I contact you for a refund? I really hope I can get it going...it looks really cool!!!
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Frogboy...just for giggles I uninstalled the full version and dl'ed and installed the "slim" (no plants) version....it works!!! Are the plants that much of a video drag? Neat program, BTW.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I guess I didn't have my microphone turned on or something.

You know, I've not done a total, but I've spent quite a bit of money between Stardock and Wincustomize I thought SOMEONE would offer to help. I guess I really didn't ASK a question the first time, so this time I will attempt to be more succinct:

To whom do I address a request for a refund, if in fact, I cannot make the aquarium and DX2 coexist peacefully?

Regards,
Margi
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Margi...

Try what I did...dowload the slim version and see if it works. It's worth a try, because it is so cool.

Lat

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Margi: If worse comes to worst, just email [email protected]. 


But like Jim said, try the slim version. It's possible that the plants are causing a drag. They're pretty large.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks, Lat (cute) and Frogboy. I appreciate your writing back.

I ended up having to uninstall and reinstall DX but they work. I will try the slim version, though, too.

I'll keep tweaking this XP box until I break it. Hah! p