CNET Editors' review
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 and behavior of any virtual aquarium and 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. Watch the feisty fiddler crab run after and try to catch nearby fish. Once you try Dream Aquarium you'll realize what all our fans and customers know--that no other aquarium screensaver even comes close to the beauty and realism of our product. Our free trial version lets you preview several of our species in action, and isn't loaded with toolbars, adware or any other garbage. We just do fish, and we do them well. Full version includes 27 fish species. Some species have randomly generated patterns, so each one you plop in your tank is unique. There's even a fish you can color yourself. Try it, we know you'll be hooked.
What's new in this version: Version 1.24 adds Angelfish and Discus.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 182 votes
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Current version:
3.0 starsout of 22 votes
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My rating:
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"Incredible realism thru software technology"
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
Beautiful graphics and motion.
Cons
A little difficult to sift thru FAQ's and chat room to find answers when first installing and setting up. How about a manual instead?
MORE CRABS!!!!!! -
"Not bad but not worth the price"
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
Very pretty, highly configurable, very realistic
Cons
Nothing works if you don't pay the full price (i.e. don't believe it's an "evaluation" copy - you can't get it out of demo mode), and the full price is too much for a screen saver.
Summary
When I am at my desk I'm using my computer, so I hardly ever see the screen saver. I'm not going to pay $13 or however much they want for this, so I can entertain my co-workers.
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"Most realistic aquarium I have ever seen."
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
Soothing to the soul just watching them. I take care of a elderly lady who is bed ridden from a stroke. I place the computer by her bed ( she hasn't been out of bed in 4 years)and she watches them.
Cons
The aquarium doesn't last long and goes to a black screen. After the first of the year or income tax time I will buy the who version. So she can lay there and watch the fish and the crabs and the softly flowing seaweed.
Summary
Between the Aquarium and the sweetest music ever my patient gets far less upset.
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"Not for me"
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
Visually wonderful--fish look real
Cons
The trial version is very aggravating. Changes tank layout and then fades to black.
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"Wonder why the trial aquarium is small screen"
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
Gee I can understand what I get when I pay the 19.95. Its an ok price IF I could get a good full screen picture AND a CLEAR PICTURE? The trial I saw was fuzzy and covered half of my 15" laptop screen, windows 7 hi def and all that. O WELL, guess the fancy ads dont show what is so great.
Cons
See the Pros.
Summary
Not worth the trial.
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"fish are "jerky" screen "blinks""
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
options easy
Cons
needs "fix"
Summary
Don't buy
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"Nice Screensaver"
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
Very beautiful graphics, the full version includes about 20 different variety of fish.
Cons
Comes with only 3 tanks, the design is nothing to wow about, you can get more tanks but unlike the original 3, it's nothing more than changing the background with static jpg pic, not very impressive.
Summary
It's a nice screensaver, ran it on win7 64bits with no issue...yet
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"it's not free"
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
real nice to view -- 3D and all the stuff
Cons
It's not free. When it activates, you see a couple of minutes of good screen saver, then it comes up and asks the user to purchase it.
Summary
Why in the heck would I pay for some software that activates when I'm not at the work station? It is entertaining. May if the cost were $5 or less, then maybe I'd buy it.
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"The screensaver is lovely...but free it's not!"
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
Wonderfully rendered aquarium screensaver.
Cons
While presented on many sites as "free," it is anything but free. What you get is a free download which runs for a minute or so...then a prompt to spend $20 to purchase the program.
Summary
While good screensaver, the advertising is disceptive, which instantly turns me off. It is NOT free! And even if I decided to purchase it, $19.95 is way too much.
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"Amazing graphics and very helpful customer service"
Version: Dream Aquarium Screensaver 1.24
Pros
Extremely realistic graphics. This aquarium has a ton of very realistic fish to choose from.
Cons
None. This is the most realistic screensaver i have ever seen or bought.
Summary
This is the best aquarium screensaver i have seen. I did have a slight problem with the software not saving my settings but it it was an option that was not checked. I contacted customer service. They told me to send an error report and told me to contact them when i sent it. when i sent it to them they replied quickly and told me what was wrong and how to fix it.
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