- Quick specs
- Price: Free to try (6-species of fish trial); $19.95 to buy
- Operating system: Windows 2000/XP/Vista
- Date added: January 11, 2009
- Total Downloads: 1,446,475
- Downloads last week: 2,297
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 168 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET staff on June 18, 2009
Dream Aquarium Screensaver offers users an opportunity to turn their computer screen into a fish tank when they are not using it. With a surprising amount of options, you can control virtually every aspect of the program except for one important one.
The program has a somewhat confusing interface that requires the user to right-click on the aquarium as it's running in order to access the Options menu. But the actual fish tank action is impressive. Up to six species of sea creatures (the trial limits the tank to six) move in realistic ways and look lifelike, whether they are brightly colored angelfish or crabs scurrying about on the sea floor. The program's options are the highlight of the program once the menu is accessed. Users can choose between seven different aquariums, different fish, lighting, and can even feed the fish. While it seems like every opportunity was taken for users to control the tank, the designers neglected to give them as much control over when the screensaver operates. Throughout the extensive Options menu we only found one vague command to set when the aquarium appears, and oddly, this was only when the computer was running on battery.
While its lack of direction for controlling the program was annoying, it wasn't enough to deter us from the spectacular graphics and options for the aquarium. Anyone interested in filling the screen undersea life should give this download a shot.
Watch the CNET video review of Dream Aquarium Screensaver:
Publisher's description
From Spiralmonkey :Created by an Academy Award winning visual effects artist, this next-generation virtual aquarium brings the beauty of a lush freshwater aquarium to your screen, complete with gently swaying plants, rippling light effects, and the most realistic fish movement of any screensaver. Watch as your amazing fish school together, chase each other, peck at object in the tank, or drop in some food and watch the feeding frenzy begin. Our engaging fish have moving eyes, gills, mouth and fully articulated fins. Once you see Dream Aquarium, you'll be hooked.
Version 1.207 is a bug fixing release.
What's new in this version:
bug fixes
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.7 stars out of 168 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 12 user reviewsSee all 12 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.207
"Most realistic fish, great sound affects."
Pros: Easy to download, open, and buy. After searching for a great aquarium, I chose Dream Aquarium, I really enjoy returning to my computer and watching it, the graphics and natural movements of the fish are awesome.
Cons: I enjoy the backgrounds, however I would like to see more choices, more background development in future releases. possibly plant movements.
Summary: I would recommend this to all my friends and loved ones, it is pure enjoyment, without the problems of a real aquarium. no grieving over dead fish, no cleaning the tank and gravel. no fish diseases. no fish fights, ... read more >>
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.207
"Dream Aquarium is a great screensaver. I use it often."
Pros: Multiple tanks, large number of fish, and you can feed your fish
Cons: Sometimes can glitch when you come out of screensaver. At least with windows vista it has. But, it's not often.
Summary: If you want a fish tank on your desktop, this is the best one I found. It has lots of features and a great price.
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.207
"Good, but wish there were more displays to chose from!"
Pros: Excellent graphics and smooth movment of the display; also spans two monitors!!!
Cons: Wish there more tank arrangments to choose from.
Summary: Satisfied and think it's a very good screen saver, calming and also fun to watch.
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.207
"Most natural and easiest to edit free screensaver"
Pros: Many colorful and naturally moving fish and background.
Cons: I would like to see more common fish such as Angel and Discus fish.
Summary: With the sequencer and ease of use it is easy to set multiple tanks with different background and fish that is capativating enough to hold you spellbound, Many friends and co-workers make comments as where they can get this screensaver and after a v... read more >>
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Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.207
Pros: non what so ever ....
Cons: cons can not think of any this so cool ....
Summary: one of the best Aquariums i have seen ....
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