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-   Marine Aquarium 3 for Mac OS X (https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10)
-   -   Mac OS X Mojave (https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25977)

philosopher 09-25-2018 01:11 PM

Mac OS X Mojave
 
The aquarium does not appear when run as screensaver on the latest mojave operating system that was just released on Sept. 24, 2018.

When I run the screensaver I get just a black screen. Other built-in screensavers work as expected.

I'm hoping someone is going to update the current version to work on mojave? (And I hope the update to make it work is simple.)

Regards,
Justin

Jim Sachs 09-25-2018 02:06 PM

Thanks, I'll pass it along to Jim O'Conner.

GregJ 09-25-2018 03:17 PM

Mac Mohave Version Needed NOW
 
Please Update aquarium for Mac " Mohave " ASAP !!!!!

Fester1952 09-25-2018 03:41 PM

Same issue here since updating to Mojave. Miss my fish!

Jim Sachs 10-01-2018 11:43 AM

It appears that Apple has discontinued OpenGL in Mohave. Since the Mac version of the Aquarium is written in OpenGL, I'm not sure how we would handle this.

feldon34 10-01-2018 08:34 PM

Mojave still has OpenGL, it's just deprecated / no longer being updated. Considering how much Mac software uses OpenGL (specifically Windows CAD software that's been ported over) and will not be rewritten for Apple's new whizbang graphics engine (Metal), I think it would be suicidal for them to kill off OpenGL entirely.

Some useful quotes:

Quote:

For tools such as AutoCad, Sketchup, Kicad, Eagle, Blender, GIMP etc that are natively Windows or Linux, Mac support is often a token gesture; simply a tickbox when the graphics core is OpenGL. If developers have a hard time porting to Mac because they have to use Metal, they just won't bother. It's not worth them spending disproportionate time on a minority of computer users to support an obscure graphics API, and game engines aren't any good for writing actual tools to get things done.

Apple has pretty much no clout in the desktop/laptop market. Developers want to support iOS because it's profitable, so they'll follow Apple's every whim. On Mac however, that won't happen, developers just won't bother, to the detriment yet again of Mac users.
Quote:

Deprecating OpenGL will be the 'kiss of death' for many CAE and CAD programs on the Mac. CAE/CAD software has different needs to games. Typically large amount of 3D data with simple rendering - and OpenGL does just fine, thank you.
Quote:

Being able to move to Metal on new projects is great. How about the thousands of scientific programs that were written for Linux that can be compiled on macOS because OpenGL is supported. Many of those types of programs are written, released and never updated again.It is interesting that at the same time Microsoft is adding Linux support within Windows, Apple is doing something that might eliminate the compatibility they've had for years.

ryan_m 10-02-2018 09:16 AM

OpenGL still around files just hidden or super user required
 
Good morning,
Missing my fish.
What I found is that Apple makes root hard to activate and particular system files/folders untouchable even with root (i.e. "system integrity protection" SIP).
I had to find out how to disable the integrity protection to get older versions of Java and other X11 components installed, or aliases set up to where apple moved the files. Once done I was able to turn system integrity back on and disable root.
Sounds like OpenGL has gone that way and it'll take someone a bit to figure out where the files have been moved, and/or which libraries need to be put back in place?
I had to do this for scientific software I need for work.

Admittedly I'm assuming a WHOLE lot, and hoping that the problems are similar.
If you need information on activating root, and disabling SIP let me know.

Jim Sachs 10-02-2018 09:37 PM

Thanks Ryan - I'll pass that info to Jim O'Conner.

Jim Sachs 10-03-2018 09:21 AM

Ryan - Jim O'Conner says your info could be quite helpful, so thanks again.

Markdj 10-18-2018 02:56 PM

I want my money back
 
Upgraded to Mojave. Marine Aquarium only displays a black screen but can hear sound. Went and purchased the latest version. Still a black screen. I want my money back.

feldon34 10-21-2018 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markdj (Post 158181)
Upgraded to Mojave. Marine Aquarium only displays a black screen but can hear sound. Went and purchased the latest version. Still a black screen. I want my money back.

You updated to an new operating system which breaks the Aquarium. How long ago did you purchase the screen saver?

Fidipaldi 10-21-2018 04:11 PM

Upgrade for Mojave?
 
Hello everyone, I am one of these faithful users who have used Marine Aquarium from the very beginnings. My kids love it too.

I just upgraded to Mojave. Same issue, blank screen. I don't understand the technical side, but is there a chance that Marine Aquarium will be updated for Mojave?

Greetings.

Tim 10-21-2018 04:57 PM

Yes upgraded to Mojave!!!
 
Same here guys!! Please advise if there is a workaround?! :(

Jim Sachs 10-21-2018 09:44 PM

Our Apple guy, Jim O'Connor, is trying to find a workaround. Apple wants all 3rd party developers to re-write their OpenGL apps in Metal. With only 1 or 2 Mac sales per week, it's not feasible for him to re-write the program. There's a rumor that the Aquarium can still be started as an executable file, but not a screensaver. Not knowing anyone with a Mac, I don't know if this is true.

uczmeg 10-22-2018 03:20 AM

Glad I read this as I was about to upgrade, I'll now hold off as long as I can.

Can't believe Apple would suddenly kill a huge amount of apps, so there must be a workaround without a rewrite.

I'd happily pay for an update...

Richard Gelber 10-22-2018 06:37 AM

The rumor is true, just tried it. It works as an executable file but not a screen saver. Works for me, I'm a pediatrician, use the fish tank to calm my patients, will leave on in the background and just switch to it when I need to show it to patients!

Fidipaldi 10-22-2018 05:21 PM

I would also pay for an upgrade, for sure. Please keep the fish alive!

philosopher 10-23-2018 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sachs (Post 158187)
... There's a rumor that the Aquarium can still be started as an executable file, but not a screensaver. Not knowing anyone with a Mac, I don't know if this is true.

Jim, I can confirm that the aquarium can indeed be run as a "regular app" on the Mac running Mojave. For anyone who wants to do so it's very simple. Just open finder, click on Applications, find Marine Aquarium 3.3.app in the list of applications and double click it.

It runs as expected in windowed mode and can be changed to full screen via the top menu by clicking View -> Enter Full Screen.

Jim Sachs 10-23-2018 11:01 PM

Thanks for the info.

Ike Nassi 10-26-2018 11:35 PM

So, there is no plan to update SereneScreen Aquarium on Mojave? Really?

Ike Nassi 10-26-2018 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sachs (Post 158187)
Our Apple guy, Jim O'Connor, is trying to find a workaround. Apple wants all 3rd party developers to re-write their OpenGL apps in Metal. With only 1 or 2 Mac sales per week, it's not feasible for him to re-write the program. There's a rumor that the Aquarium can still be started as an executable file, but not a screensaver. Not knowing anyone with a Mac, I don't know if this is true.

I can confirm that the app works, but it doesn't work as a screensaver.

scuba2000 10-30-2018 04:36 PM

Please put out an update for Mojave.

Jim Sachs 10-30-2018 10:06 PM

Our Apple guy, Jim O'Connor, is trying to find a workaround.

feldon34 10-31-2018 08:18 AM

Possible fix:
http://people.bath.ac.uk/abscjkw/Com...javeOpenGL.cpp

Another possible fix:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/...reen-on-mojave

Jim Sachs 10-31-2018 12:18 PM

Thanks, Morgan -- I'll run those by Jim O'Conner.

scotts 11-01-2018 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sachs (Post 158204)
Thanks, Morgan -- I'll run those by Jim O'Conner.

If you get to the point you need a few test beds for an update, please let me know. I'm registered with Apple Beta program and have evaluated each of Apple's builds through Mojave development.

Scott

Jim Sachs 11-02-2018 12:15 AM

Thanks, Scott.

scuba2000 11-08-2018 07:06 PM

How's the troubleshooting going? any updates?

perkiset 11-26-2018 11:15 PM

Seems like an opportunity. "Rewrite as Metal" - there's nothing I've ever seen like Serene Screen. I REALLY hate having to have a "normal" screen saver now. I have a 3-screen rig and the "application" method doesn't work because the other 2 screens are still showing desktops.

At the very least, if the app was modified so that it was either non-singleton (multiple windows/instances) or blacked out other screens, that would be a step forward. I implore you to find a way to move forward for us Mac folk. Metal might be better than ever and provide a new marketing opportunity to get beyond "1-2 Mac sales per week."

Please. Something.

Fidipaldi 11-27-2018 05:32 AM

Any News
 
Hello, just wondering if Serene Screen will be updated. Still holding back with the upgrade to Mojave.....
Thanks.

uczmeg 11-27-2018 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fidipaldi (Post 158224)
Hello, just wondering if Serene Screen will be updated. Still holding back with the upgrade to Mojave.....
Thanks.

You aren't alone.

I had my Mac connected to the TV this weekend and the aquarium popped up after a while. It was the first time my wife had seen it in close to 13 years and she instantly remembered how our then 2 year old daughter had been captivated by it and knew all the fish names...

How time flies, and how this has withstood the test of time!

Ralph 11-27-2018 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uczmeg (Post 158225)
How time flies, and how this has withstood the test of time!

So true.. not many other software programs can make this claim and work as well as the day they were first installed. :TU:

scotts 11-27-2018 02:45 PM

So, I know we're into the holidays now but, has anything been accomplished by the programmer? Since the App itself works just fine on Mojave, and the sound (bubbles) work when the screen saver activates, I'm venturing to guess it could be a relatively was fix.

A GoFundMe for programming time to fix the OS X Mojave version? I bet we could get a few donations for programming hours... Ho, Ho, Ho

Happy holidays!

Jim Sachs 11-28-2018 11:33 AM

I haven't heard whether Jim O'Conner has had any luck with a fix. My own conversion of the program to Unity is probably a year away. If and when that happens, I plan to make the upgrade free for previous Mac users.

perkiset 11-28-2018 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotts (Post 158227)
A GoFundMe for programming time to fix the OS X Mojave version? I bet we could get a few donations for programming hours... Ho, Ho, Ho

That is not a bad idea at all. It would cost nothing to prop up and people like me would probably kick in quickly to try to get it over the top.

Here, I'll commit right now: $100 the minute you can point me to a site that'll accept it and the team commits to a Mac version.

Jim Sachs 11-28-2018 05:18 PM

I just never could bring myself to do a GoFundMe or Kickstarter. What if the project never got completed? I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

At least nothing is at risk with trying to do it myself in Unity. Thanks to Roku, I can at least survive for the next year while I try.




Edit: Well, I looked into it further, and apparently Unity programs can't be used as screensavers. Unity can't show its output on any screen other than its own, so the little Preview window in the Windows Screensaver Settings won't work. Mac has its own issues also, but if I can't do it in Windows, there's no reason to do it for the small Mac audience. This is especially disappointing for me, since I've been studying Unity for months and it looked like all kinds of new features would be possible in the Aquarium.

drfish 11-30-2018 06:45 AM

My nephew is pretty good with Unity. I'll ask him about this. If the preview window doesn't work, that doesn't seem like a huge deal. A bit of looking around makes it look like you can run Unity stuff as screensavers if you package it up right and it seems like running it in a borderless window will support spanning multiple monitors.

feldon34 11-30-2018 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sachs (Post 158230)
Well, I looked into it further, and apparently Unity programs can't be used as screensavers. Unity can't show its output on any screen other than its own, so the little Preview window in the Windows Screensaver Settings won't work. Mac has its own issues also, but if I can't do it in Windows, there's no reason to do it for the small Mac audience. This is especially disappointing for me, since I've been studying Unity for months and it looked like all kinds of new features would be possible in the Aquarium.

It's not a simple thing to use, but this guy wrote a package so you can build Unity projects as a screen saver. You end up with two programs, one is a legit Windows screen saver that follows all the rules of a screen saver. Then it hands off the job to your Unity app.

Detailed discussion about it:
https://forum.unity.com/threads/unit...eleased.81345/

Download the package:
https://assetstore.unity.com/package...er-builder-770

drfish 11-30-2018 05:16 PM

That's the link I sent to my nephew. I asked him to come up with a proof of concept and code to share. I'll post whatever he comes up with.

Jim Sachs 12-01-2018 12:15 AM

Yeah, I had seen that one. The thread is about 8 years old, and the guy's website is no longer up. His framework was Windows-only, and a lot of people seemed to have trouble getting it to work. Yesterday I posted in a current thread in the Unity Forum, but someone was already asking the same questions and not getting any answers.


The major issues:

-Can Unity properly handle the unique requirements of a Windows screensaver at all? (Maybe I could put a static pic in the Preview window, but there are a lot of other requirements.)

-If so, can it do the same for Mac? (After all, that's the main reason to switch from OpenGL.)

-How about iOS? (An Apple exec has been asking about this, especially AppleTV. Can't do it while I have a Roku exclusive, but maybe next year.)

-Is the overhead for the enormous Unity system going to cause an unacceptably long startup delay?


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