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Frequently Asked Questions

Goldfish Aquarium OS X

Before You Buy

Basic Information - PLEASE READ
What are the Goldfish Aquarium system requirements?
What upgrades does my purchase entitle me too?
Will I receive a CD with my online order?
Will the Goldfish Aquarium run on the iMac DV model?
the Goldfish Aquarium run on Apple Macintosh OS9 or earlier versions?
Will the Goldfish Aquarium run on multiple Monitors?
Can I use Goldfish Aquarium as my active desktop?
Is there a widescreen version of the Goldfish Aquarium?
Where can I talk to real people who have used this product?

Keycodes

I enter my keycode but the keycode doesn't work.
I can't remember/find my keycode OR I made my purchase but have not received my keycode.
How do I copy and paste my keycode?

Installation

How do I install the demo version of the Goldfish Aquarium?
How do I install the Goldfish Aquarium once I have purchased a keycode?
How do I uninstall LifeGlobe Goldfish Aquarium?
How do I reinstall Goldfish Aquarium?

Operation

Goldfish Aquarium Hotkeys.
Goldfish Aquarium Settings - Settings Tab
Goldfish Aquarium Settings - Tank Tab
Where are the other Goldfish and how do I choose them?

Troubleshooting

The Goldfish Aquarium works perfectly on my friend's computer, but not mine. Why?
The Goldfish Aquarium is slow or freezes.
The Goldfish Aquarium runs fine in application mode, but slow as a screen saver.
I set Goldfish Aquarium as a screen saver, but it does not come on when it should.
The Goldfish Aquarium does not fill my whole monitor.
How do I get Goldfish Aquarium to display on multiple monitors?
The Goldfish Aquarium has lines or artifacts when it runs.
I have a very large screen. The Goldfish Aquarium looks pixilated at higher resolutions.
How do I keep Goldfish Aquarium from using all of my CPU and running the fan?

Miscellaneous

What kind of Goldfish come with the Goldfish Aquarium?
Can I make my own Goldfish for Goldfish Aquarium?
How do I register my LifeGlobe Product?

Before You Buy

Basic Information - PLEASE READ

Before purchasing the LifeGlobe Goldfish Aquarium we strongly recommend you test the program to see if it works on your computer. You can do this by downloading the program and running the demo version as outlined HERE
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What are the Goldfish Aquarium system requirements?

What upgrades does my purchase entitle me too?

If you purchase the BETA version of Goldfish Aquarium, you can download all beta (0.9) and version 1 upgrades for free.

If you purchase the forthcoming version 1, you can download all version 1 upgrades for free.

If and when we produce a version 2 of the Goldfish Aquarium, all customers that wish to upgrade to the new version will need to purchase the product again.
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Will I receive a CD with my online order?

No.

We do not have a CD for LifeGlobe Goldfish Aquarium nor will we ship CDs with online orders. We do plan to create a CD for sale through stores in the future, however we do not have a release date.
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Will the Goldfish Aquarium run on the iMac DV model?

No.

Freezing problems have been known to occur on the iMac DV. Goldfish Aquarium does not cause this problem, it happens to many 3D products. It appears to be a problem in the Rage128VR chipset. Apple is researching the problem.
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the Goldfish Aquarium run on Apple Macintosh OS9 or earlier versions?

No.

We do not have an OS9 version of Goldfish Aquarium available.
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Will the Goldfish Aquarium run on multiple Monitors?

Yes.

Goldfish Aquarium does have multiple monitor support for the Macintosh. If the Aquarium is not displaying on all of your monitors, click HERE.
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Can I use Goldfish Aquarium as my active desktop?

We have heard of a couple of folks doing this successfully. We cannot guarantee that it will work on your system, but you can check out the following links for more information:

http://www.stanford.edu/~keaka/desktopeffects.html
http://www.gideonsoftworks.com/xback.html
http://www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/macintosh.html
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Is there a widescreen version of the Goldfish Aquarium?

Yes.

All of the widescreen data is included with the regular download. Goldfish Aquarium will automatically switch between regular and widescreen mode depending on the size ratio of the window or screen being used for display.
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Where can I talk to real people who have used this product?

Check out the Fan Site, complete with wish lists and discussion forums:

Inside: LifeGlobe
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Keycodes

I enter my keycode but it doesn't work.

Some characters in the keycode can be easily confused (i.e. O and zero, capital I and the number one, etc.). Try to copy and paste your keycode into the registration space to avoid any possible input errors.

I can't remember/find my keycode OR I made my purchase but have not received my keycode.

Please go HERE and enter your email to retrieve your keycode.

If this procedure does not work, Email us the following information where applicable and we can retrieve your information from our customer database:
* The full name you registered under.
* The Order Number from your confirmation e-mail.
* Both the first four and last four numbers of the credit card you used.
* Your email at the time of purchase.
* The date of your purchase.
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How do I copy and paste my keycode?

To copy and paste your keycode, do the following:

1. Hold down the mouse button and pass the cursor over the keycode. This will highlight the code. Be sure not to grab any extra characters or leave any out.

2. Press the Command Key (Open Apple) and the "C" key at the same time. This will COPY the keycode.

3. Start Goldfish Aquarium.

4. The first time you run Goldfish Aquarium the registration window will appear. Copy and paste your keycode into the registration space to avoid any possible input errors (Some characters can be easily mixed up i.e. the letter O and zero, capitol I and the number one, etc.) and press enter. The registration window may not appear if you have not quit (not just closed) the System Preferences application.

5. Put the cursor in the registration window and click the mouse button once Press Command Key and "V" at the same time. This will PASTE the keycode. Be sure to eliminate any spaces before or after the code so you can have a clean paste.

6. Press the Enter key. The program should start right up.
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Installation

How do I install the demo version of the Goldfish Aquarium?

There is no separate "demo version" of Goldfish Aquarium. We built the Goldfish Aquarium to act as a demo unless you entered a valid keycode. To properly install LifeGlobe Goldfish Aquarium, and activate the demo mode, follow the instructions below:

2. Download a fresh copy of Goldfish Aquarium from HERE

Or you can download from our website's Products page using the "Download" button.

3. When the download is finished, you will have a new compressed file on your desktop named GoldfishBeta.sit. Double-click this file to un-compress it.

4. When this is finished you will have a new installation file called Goldfish Aquarium.pkg. Double-click this file to begin the installation.

6. Go to your Hard Drive/Applications folder and double-click the Goldfish Aquarium icon. The registration window will appear.

7. Type LIFEGLOBE into the registration box. This will activate the demo version of the program. The registration window may not appear if you have not quit (not just closed) the System Preferences application. You will have to enter the TESTFISH code each time you start the program.

8. At this point you can try to switch your color resolution to millions if that is what you are used to. If there is no difference in the Goldfish Aquarium's performance than you can leave the resolution as it is.

9. Don't forget to reactivate your anti-virus software when you are finished.
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How do I install the Goldfish Aquarium once I have purchased a keycode?

To properly install LifeGlobe Goldfish Aquarium, follow the instructions below:

2. Download a fresh copy of Goldfish Aquarium from HERE

Or you can download from our website's Products page using the "Download" button.

3. When the download is finished, you will have a new compressed file on your desktop named GoldfishBeta.sit. Double-click this file to un-compress it.

4. When this is finished you will have a new installation file called Goldfish Aquarium.pkg. Double-click this file to begin the installation.

6. Go to the Apple Menu and select "System Preferences".

7. Double click on the Desktop and Screen Saver (Screen Effects for pre-Panther users) icon.

8. Select "Goldfish Aquarium" from the list of screen savers. The first time you select or run Goldfish Aquarium, the registration window will appear.

10. Use the "Activation" and "Hot Corners" tabs to set activation conditions for the screen saver.

11. The Goldfish Aquarium can now be run either from the desktop application or will come on as your screen saver.

13. Don't forget to reactivate your anti-virus software when you are finished.
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How do I uninstall LifeGlobe Goldfish Aquarium?

Uninstalling Goldfish Aquarium is as simple as dragging the Goldfish Aquarium.Saver file and the Goldfish Aquarium application into the trash. If you would like a more thorough uninstall procedure, carefully follow the instructions below:

1. From the Finder, go to File and select "Find"

2. Search in "Local disks" and type "goldfishaquarium" into the text field of (not the quotes, just what is inside them).

3. Click the Search button.

4. Drag each file that you find into the Trash and empty it. Empty the trash by holding down the mouse button on the trash in the dock for a few seconds until the "Empty Trash" menu pops up.

5. Close the Search Results window.

6. From the Finder, go to File and select "Find" again.

7. Search in "Local disks" and type "Goldfish Aquarium" into the text field of (not the quotes, just what is inside them).

8. Click the Search button.

9. Drag each file you find into the trash and empty it.

10. This will clean your system of any Goldfish Aquarium data.
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How do I reinstall Goldfish Aquarium?

To do a FULL reinstall of the Goldfish Aquarium, please follow the instructions below.

1. Perform the longer version of the uninstall as outlined HERE.

2. Perform the install as outlined HERE.
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Operation

Goldfish Aquarium Hotkeys.

Cmd-'Q' - Exit program
? - Help window*
B - Bubble sound on/off
F - Full screen/window mode**
D - Enable/Disable multiple displays**
M - Enable/Disable exit full screen on mouse move*
S - Show frame rate information
W - Wireframe/normal mode
'Space' - Settings menu*
'Space''Space' - Change Random Goldfish
Up/Down Arrow - Main Lights up/down
Right/Left Arrow - Background lights up/down
L - Automatic light changes on/off
R - Restore default settings
[ or ] - Go to previous or next Tank

*Application only
**Screen Effect only
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Goldfish Aquarium Settings - Settings Tab

Frames Rate Settings

Show Frame Rate - Displays Frames Per Second (animation speed) in the Goldfish Aquarium tank.

Limit Frame Rate - Forces the frame rate (animation speed) of the Goldfish Aquarium to the frequency you select. If your Goldfish Aquarium is jerking, or running slowly, you may need to reduce the frame rate below the default 62 by using the slider bar.

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Application Settings

Full Screen Resolution Dropdown menu - Controls the Desktop resolution and Color depth settings that Goldfish Aquarium uses when it runs full screen.

* Desktop Resolution - Will match the Goldfish Aquarium display to your current desktop settings.

* 800x600 and 1024x768 - Will display Goldfish Aquarium at these resolutions regardless of your desktop settings.

Exit Full Screen on Mouse Move - If this option is checked; you can exit Goldfish Aquariumâ€™s full screen mode by moving your mouse or pressing a non-hotkey (see above) on your keyboard. If this option is not checked, you can only exit full screen mode by pressing the ESC key.

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Screen Effect Settings

Use multiple monitors - If this option is checked, the screen saver version of Goldfish Aquarium will appear on all of your monitors.
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Goldfish Aquarium Settings - Tank Tab

Tank Selection Window â€“ Here you can choose which tanks you wish to be displayed and cycled.

Cycle Selected Tanks â€“ Checking this option will allow the Tanks you selected in the Tank Selection Window to cycle after a period of time.

Tank Cycle Time â€“ This slider will adjust the period of time for the Tanks to change. This slider can be set from 8 seconds to 10 minutes.

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Tank Settings Window

Tank Selection Dropdown Menu â€“ Allows you to select the Tank for the settings below. Please Note: The settings for each Tank will have to be made separately.

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Light Settings

Automatic Light - To prevent your monitor from burning in, the Goldfish Aquarium will cycle the lighting from light to dark across the tank. Un-checking this box will give you full control of the lighting using the Lights Slider below.

Lights Sliders - Manual settings for the lighting, Foreground and Background, when Automatic lighting is off.

Delay Slider - Determines the length, from light to dark, of the lighting cycle when Automatic lighting is on. Can be set from 3 minutes to 30 minutes.

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Sound Settings
* Always On - Bubble sound will always be heard when the Aquarium is running.
* When Active - Bubble sound will only be heard when the Aquarium window is visible. Helpful when Goldfish Aquarium is in Windowed mode (see "F" hotkey above.)
* Off - Turns off bubble sound entirely.

Volume Slider - Controls bubble volume.

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Bubbles and Debris

Bubbles - Turns bubbles on or off.

Bubble Frequency -Adjusts how often bubbles stream up the background.

Debris - Checking this will display floating particles of debris in the Tanks.
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Where are the other Goldfish and how do I choose them?

The Goldfish Aquarium can display between 5 and 10 Goldfish, depending on which Tank you are displaying. To access and use this library, please follow the instructions below:

1. Go to your System Preferences and click on the Desktop & Screen Savers icon. This will bring up the Desktop & Screen Savers Preferences menu.

2. Select Goldfish Aquarium and click the "Options" button. This will bring up the Goldfish Aquarium Preferences menu.

3. Click the "Fish" tab. On the right is the Fish Library with a dozen Golfish to choose from. On the upper left is the Tank Selection menu, Tank Contents window and the Fish info window.

4. To select a Goldfish click on it. This will display information in the Fish info window and allow you to change the Probability rating of the Goldfish using the stars at the bottom left of the page.

5. To assign a Goldfish to a Tank, first select the Tank from the scrolling menu at the top right of the page, then select it and click the double arrow button. Each Tank must be fill with Goldfish individually.

6. Selecting OFF will leave that slot blank and the Goldfish Aquarium will have one less fish in the Tank.

Select RANDOM and the Goldfish Aquarium will pick a fish for you at random, every time you open the program.

Checking the option "Random Choices are unique" will make sure that no random choices are the same.

If the Tank will be displayed for a long while, checking "Cycle random choices" will change the RANDOM goldfish after a time.

The probability that a Goldfish will be selected can be changed using the stars at the bottom left of the page.
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Troubleshooting

The Goldfish Aquarium works perfectly on my friend's computer, but not mine. Why?

We are sorry, but without knowing the exact specifications of both computers, this is impossible to answer.
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The Goldfish Aquarium is slow or freezes.

Slow or frozen graphics are most often caused by low video resources. The best way to improve performance is to complete ALL of the following steps:

1. First switch your color resolution from millions to thousands of colors.

2. Go to the Goldfish Aquarium Preferences, under Advanced and reduce the "Shimmer" setting.

3. Also, reduce the number of Goldfish in each Tank.

After finishing all of these steps, take each setting back to default to see where the problem is solved.

Freezing problems have been known to occur on the iMac DV. Our program does not cause this problem, it happens to many 3D products. It appears to be a problem in the Rage128VR chipset. Apple is researching the problem.

If none of the above fixes work for you, please email us at service @ lifeglobe.com and include the Frames Per Second that Goldfish Aquarium is running at (This can be found by pressing the "S" key while the program is running.) and an Apple System Report (ASP):

ASP for OS10.2 (Jaguar)
1. Choose the Apple Menu, "About this Mac" item.
2. Click on the "More Info..." button in the window that pops up. The Apple System Profiler will launch.
3. From the "File" menu chose the "Save..." item.
4. Name the file and Save it.
5. Compress it with stuffit or some other common compression tool.
6. E-mail it to us with a description of your problem.

ASP for OS10.1.5 or Lower
1. Open Apple System Profiler, select File/New Report.
2. Select the standard System Profile, and "Devices and Volumes" and "Extensions".
3. Save the report to a file.
4. Compress it with stuffit or some other common compression tool.
5. E-mail it to us with a description of your problem.
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The Goldfish Aquarium runs fine in application mode, but slow as a screen saver.

This is still an issue of resources.

The screen saver will not change the screen resolution or bit depth in order to get a hardware renderer, as this can cause compatibility problems for other applications which may be running at the time. The application will change screen resolution and/or bit depth to get the hardware renderer because the user explicitly ran it and is giving it permission to do so when going full screen.

See the FAQ entry on Slow and Frozen Graphics for more details.
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I set Goldfish Aquarium as a screen saver, but it does not come on when it should.

This can happen if your Energy Saver options are set to put the computer or display to sleep at the same time Goldfish Aquarium is set to activate. To check this, do the following:
1. Click on the Apple Menu and select your System Preferences.
2. When the System Preferences window comes up, click on the "Energy Saver" icon.
3. Check to be sure that the "Put computer to sleep..." and "Use separate time to put monitor..." options are set beyond the time that you have Goldfish Aquarium active. In other words, if you have Goldfish Aquarium set to come on in five minutes, the Energy Saver settings will have to be longer than five. We recommend at least fifteen minutes between the two settings.
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The Goldfish Aquarium does not fill my whole monitor.

Pressing the "F" key will switch the Goldfish Aquarium to full screen mode.
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How do I get Goldfish Aquarium to display on multiple monitors?

The multiple monitor function on the Goldfish Aquarium only works with the screen saver mode not the application. You can change the multiple monitor settings by going to System Preferences/Screen Effects and clicking on the "Configure" button. Once in the Goldfish Aquarium Preferances, click the "Settings" tab and check the "Use multiple monitors" under Screen Effects.
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The Goldfish Aquarium has lines or artifacts when it runs.

White lines and "scuffs" are usually caused by the renderer of OpenGL. The bug shows up on our products because we allow people to select any resolution. Other products (like games) have it too, but it is less noticeable because they tend to take control of the screen. Changing resolutions by resizing the aquarium window will fix the problem almost every time. To do so drag the lower right corner of the window to a different place.
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I have a very large screen. The Goldfish Aquarium looks pixilated at higher resolutions.

A single image at the higher resolutions would be about 7 megs (for example 1920bits x 1200 bits x3). Our whole program, with fish and code and art is about 3 megs. About 95% of our current users do not have such an amazing display. So sadly, as of yet, we're sorry to say that the product will begin to show its resolution on such high-end equipment.
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How do I keep Goldfish Aquarium from using all of my CPU and running the fan?

Go to the Goldfish Aquarium Preferences menu and check "Limit frame rate" under the â€œSettingsâ€ tab. Then set the frame rate low enough to keep the fan off, or stay within the amount of CPU utilization you desire.
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Miscellaneous

What kind of Goldfish come with the Goldfish Aquarium?

You can find the current list of Goldfish on the Meet the Fish page of our website.

If you do not see the Goldfish you like, Email us a picture and we will add it to our suggestions!
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Can I make my own Goldfish for Goldfish Aquarium?

Currently we do not permit people to create or add custom goldfish fish for Goldfish Aquarium. The reasons is multifold, but the most important one is that while we trust an artisan would be motivated, and even capable of creating a truly wonderful masterpiece, there are others that might not, and if a version were to get out that was less than the highest quality, it might reflect poorly on us.

If you are interesting in creating fish or wildlife for our company, we are always seeking talented artist. Please send samples of your work to:

Service @ LifeGlobe.com

Thank you for your support!
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How do I register my LifeGlobe Product?

Products purchased directly from our website as an electronic download do not need to be registered; all of your information was entered into our database at the time of purchase. However, if you did not check the "I would like to receive email updates, notices, free offers and gifts." option when you made your purchase then you will receive none of these services.
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Top Questions

Before You Buy

Keycodes

Installation

Operation

Troubleshooting

Miscellaneous

Top Questions

Before You Buy

Keycodes

Installation

Operation

Troubleshooting

Miscellaneous