Beta11f discussion
 

Beta 11f is now available at http://www.fish-byte.com/MA3Beta.zip

This version adds a user interface for changing the font color of the digital clock, as well as the ability to turn off the second hand in the analog clock. A couple of anomolies in the background graphics have also been fixed (missing object behind conch shell and straightline at far right of tank).

I also changed the algorithm for fading the background colors. It had been passing through too many grays, and now I try to keep it more colorful.

The "Etched look" font buttons in the Clock/Logo interface are not hooked up yet.

I noticed that the interface for the analog clock has checkboxes for "solid font" and "etched font"...

Should those two be a set of radio buttons, so that one or the other is selected, but not both? (Aren't those mutually exclusive? And what happens if neither one is checked?)

Alternatively, you could just eliminate the "solid font" checkbox... Solid font is the default that you get when "etched font" is not checked. (which might be easier than converting the checkboxes to radio buttons)

~Ralph S.

Yeah, maybe I'll do that. First, I need to create the graphics for the font.

No bugs so far, and I've tried just about every combo of button pressing I could think of. The transitions are much more subtle now. The etched font will be like it was in 2.6? Montotone (or is it duotone?). Can't imagine what that would look like in colours.

I like the changed fading of the background colours, although I didn't really mind the fade as it was before.
For me, white is the only one of those colours that doesn't look a bit out of place in the Aquarium. I think though, that some may look better when they are available etched. I'm looking forward to that.

I found the conch shell change.... eventually! - It looks so different across two screens. - When I turned one screen off it was obvious!

Jim, if you are still only using one monitor, the difference may be of interest? - I have screen shots of both, if you want me to post them.

Sure, I'd like to see them.

Here they are. - This was one occasion where spread across two screens made it look less obvious. - Normally it was the other way around. - I would like to think that if I'd been using one monitor, I might have seen that gap before now! ;)




..11e x1 ...................... 11e x2 ........................ 11f x1 ...................... 11f x2

Looks good. will there be an option to change the colors of the analog clock? The missing coral fix looks good... I don't have the excuse Cliff had and once noticed that gap was pretty obvious.. With what version did it go missing?

I was hoping the "missing object behind the conch shell" fix would be what you corrected. Otherwise, I was about to ask about it. Looks much better.

The new fading is better, too, in my opinion, although the other way wasn't overly objectionable. This seems to be transitioning a bit smoother, too, but that may just be an illusion.

No problem here with the digital clock/calendar color changing. I suspect once "etched" it will really look "most excellent" in the crystal.

Second hand on/off does what it says.

Lookin' good. :TU:

Wyld Stallyns!!! Definitely not bogus.

Creating all 6 sets of colors, with each set different, and then setting them all to be on for 1 second essentially gives an ever-changing colored background.

That's totally rad, dudes.

:)

AHHHHHH My most excellent friends, the proper music and serenescreen aquarium shall save the universe. :)

I haven't seen this mentioned, so perhaps it's just my system.

When 11f starts, the Statistics display is on. I can turn it off by pressing "S". But the next time 11f starts, the statistics display is again on.

That didn't happen in 11e. (Edit: Just checked, and it still doesn't happen with 11e, but does with 11f)

Windows 7, 32-bit.

Happens on both of mine, too, but I just "assumed" it is part of Jim's beta testing.

Cosmetic change:

On the Clock&Logo settings panel, it says "Show this logo for" (some time).

That should probably be "Show the highlighted item for"...

(A clock or calendar is not a logo)

Was just going to post this, but ya beat me to it :D

I had been forgetting to compile the test versions as Betas, and just remembered with this version. This means that the stats default to ON, and the program will expire in a couple of weeks.

I wondered about that... messed me up on one occasion and Cliff had to set me straight:D

Installed
 

Installed & looking good:)

Really hope to bring back version 2.6 starfish.
It moved faster 2.6 and it likes a dead fish in 3.0
Please bring it back.

The Case of the Missing Coral...
 

I had to go back quite a way, (and change the date on the computer), to see what used to be there.
By my reckoning, it was last seen in March 2009 in Beta9x, but was gone the next month in Beta10. - :) ....... (Yes, I still have them all.!!! :o)
....With MA3 spread across two screens, you hardly see it at all. - But here, it's on one screen...

I'm amazed it's been gone that long and no one noticed.

And I can't even find which part that was gone. :) Can someone draw a circle around the exact point?

Image "borrowed" from cjmaddy:



http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/8...circled.th.jpg

At least, that's what I see that changed.

Perhaps someone could draw a circle around that square?




http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2438/rofl2kyi.gif

OK - on both of my systems, when the analog clock is in the crystal, I notice that the numbers seem to flicker slightly.

The clock hands do not, nor does the second had, as far as I can tell.

Is this an anamoly?

Are you talking about the lightplay?

Perhaps.

Is the "lightplay" set to only affect the analog clock's numbers?

I do not see the effect on the SS Logo, digital clock, the calendar, or a text image I'm using.

Edit to add:

I've set the clock/calendar to the black color. I can just make out the lightplay across them.

The analog clocks numbers definitely show a different effect.

Question: are the analog clock numbers black with a thin white border? If so, it's that border that I see "flickering", perhaps with the lightplay.

I agree - that effect is much more noticeable on the analog clock, than on anything else.

I notice the effect only on the numbers on the analog clock.. not on the hands. I rather like the light play effect giving it a more realistic look.

The fact that the lightplay is not working on the hands of the clock is a bug. I'll look into it. The numbers are working properly. They are meant to look like they are applied to the face of the crystal, so they glint in the light. The digital numbers are embedded in the crystal, and glowing (except for black), so they wouldn't really be reflecting any light.

Just a historical note:

Lightplay initially affected everything projected onto the clock (calendar, logo, clock). Because of complaints of how flickery it made these items, lightplay was reduced substantially on these objects.

I'm not suggesting yet another checkbox, by the way. :)

Many thanks! How did I miss that. :)
I actually looked further up, and couldn't spot it.

Just got back to the forum and after looking a bit more closely, I was going to ask if the analog clock is on the face of the crystal rather than embedded like the others.

Now it makes sense. Looking at it that way, the effect on the numbers is very good. Hope you can resolve the bug on why the clock's hands aren't showing it, too.

It would seem that you could not have it both ways... if the numbers are embedded and show the light play the hands can NOT be embedded... they are not fixed and the light play would have to take into consideration the angle of each hand.. which would get pretty complicated I would think..

I agree somewhat.

The way I'm seeing it is the analog clock is on the smooth face of the crystal and as noted the numbers and hands should appear three dimensional. Once Jim corrects the bug, I'm sure this effect will be even more evident. I would think that as long as the numbers and the hands match, either way would be fine.

The MA3 Logo seems to be painted on the face of the crystal, although as I look closely at it, perhaps there is some depth to parts of it, such as what appears with the word "Aquarium". Although, maybe I'm seeing something that isn't there?

The digital clock and calendar also appear to be on the face of the crystal to me, although their "glowing" color almost gives the feeling that they are inside the crystal, or as Jim described it, "embedded".

I suspect that once we get the "etched" effect for the digital clock and calendar we will get a pleasingly realistic 3D look. We can somewhat get an idea by using one of the "older" etchings, some free ones remain available h e r e.

Jim -

Just curious, when does the 11f beta expire?

I think it's 30 days.

Expires on June 22, 2010.

(set pc's clock to 22, and it stopped runnin, back to 21 and it was ok)

I'm sure (almost) Jim will git lightplay fixed before then :|

OK, 30 days or June 22, 2010 it is.

Either way, I'm hoping we'll have an 11g before it happens.

:cheers: