Not to be confused with the Mac OS X widgets thread, this is the Mac OS X screen savers thread (this one's even more useless!).

So, way back in the day, I made some screen savers for the Amiga named "LotsaBlankers". Later on, I ported some of them to Windows, and created some new ones, but I never managed to make a stable and functional enough screen saver under Windows that I'd feel like releasing it. But now that I've got Mac OS X, I've started porting some of this old code over, since making screen savers for OS X is pretty easy and fun. First one I've got running is this one:

http://wakaba.c3.cx/releases/mac/LotsaEscher.zip

It's based on the work presented on this site, http://escherdroste.math.leidenuniv.nl/, and it is liable to BLOW YOUR MIND, MAAAAN. I've been too lazy to figure out how to make a preferences GUI for it yet, so even though the code supports all the possible different transformations of the image (Some listed here: http://escherdroste.math.leidenuniv.nl/index.php?menu=im&sub=escher), you can't actually pick which one you want yet.

There's likely to be more to come. Enjoy!

>>133

This would indeed be a neat feature. Somebody else also suggested using the acceleration sensor in laptops to affect the water. I like both, but I have neither, so actually writing it would be tricky. I guess connecting a microphone might not be too hard, though, but I won't be doing it right away.

Thanks ! I was just about to cancel my iMac Jack Bauer edition (24 ") but you saved the day !!!
;0

YOU ROCK!!!! I WAS LOOKING FOR UPDATED INTEL VERSIONS -- MY FAV LOTS OF WATER NOT BEING ABLE TO USE ON MY NEW MAC. BLAH, THEN I RE-DISCOVERED YOU.

GRATZ,

I'M DANCIN!

Sorry about the caps. Doh!

Are you quite sure about that nickname?

hi to every body; i downloaded all your scrennsavers; but lotsawater does not work and lotsaglass shows the lotsaescher images; I have a G3 700 ibook with 10.4.8 system;the other lots work fine; thanks for your job

>>139

Some of them do not work without a G4.

When I try to use another picture than the desktop, I only got a blank, white screen. I can drag a picture into the picture option, but when clicking OK, it turns white, and the screensaver only show a white page with the water on.

>>141

What kind of machine are you doing this on? And can you post an image that has this problem?

I have an iBook G4, 1,25 ghz.
I found that I had to scale the picture to the screensize (1024x768) and then it worked.

>>143

That probably means the image was larger than your graphics card could handle. It doesn't have to be exactly the screensize, but it has to be small enough to fit in a texture (This may mean 1024x1024 or 2048x2048, depending on graphics card).

It seems that this Lotsawater have stopped working for me since I've updated to 10.4.8 (Intel mac). It may be due to recent updates in the open gl libraries? Now, every time I try to preview it (even from the System preferences pane) it gives me a Panic and I have to restart. It would be great if you can check this out. Thanks for a great piece of software!

>>145

I just got an Intel iMac, and it's running 10.4.8, and LotsaWater is running fine. However, a kernel panic is most likely an Apple bug. Maybe you should try reporting it to them?

Hmm, I have a MacBook Pro running 10.4.8 and running LotsaWater well! Anyway we can get a better optimized one hopefully in the next revision (optimized for SSE)?

It's not like it really matters anymore. LotsaWater takes 10% of one CPU core on my MBP.

A small update for all the screensavers. Thanks to Christopher Li at http://bridge1.com/, there are now Japanese localizations of all the screensavers. There is also a fix for a visual bug on in LotsaGlass on Intel machines.

http://wakaba.c3.cx/releases/mac/LotsaEscher1.3j.zip
http://wakaba.c3.cx/releases/mac/LotsaGlass1.2j.zip
http://wakaba.c3.cx/releases/mac/LotsaSnow1.2j.zip
http://wakaba.c3.cx/releases/mac/LotsaWater1.4j.zip

I just love LotsaWater! It´s so smoothly rendered I can´t even continue working (although I really should!).

Anyway: You know what would be nice? If you coud add some support for sudden motion sensors! So if you smack your MBP / PB / MB / IB LotsaWater will react by rendering ripples from the corresponding side of the screen. That´d be fun! Do you even know what I´m talking about? Sorry, my Englisch is really bad...

Greets,
Sven

>>151

Yes, somebody has suggested this before, too. It's a great idea, I think, but the problem is that I do not have a laptop to develop the code on.

A cool feature would be if the desktop dont freeze. I want live update of the desktop under the water :D (as in dashboard, when adding widgets for example)

>>153

I really want that too, but I don't think it is possible, sadly. I'd be happy to be proved wrong, though.

I really like lotsasnow, especially to have snow fall over my desktop. However, is it possible to integrrate it with itunes, so that you can see which song is being played?? Would make it perfect!

lotsofwater is very beautiful. It would be cool if you had the option to let a fish swim over your desktop (viewpoint from above of course) !

I love Lotsa Water and I was thinking of a way you could make it even cooler. Is there any way you can program Lotsa Water to show a "reflection" of you in the water with the help of an iSight camera?

I think it'd be really cool if the lotsasnow screensaver piled up the fallen snow on the bottom of the screen. That'd be such a cool effect!

Just thought I'd say thanks for the escher screen saver. I've linked to it from my blog at web.mac.com/mikedavidson

I love your snow and water screensavers!

A suggestion on lotsasnow - can the flakes be smaller? I have a large monitor so they show up huge! Also, how about the ability to put a slide show behind the snow - user chosen pics, etc. (of winter scenes of course!)

Great work!

Will there be a Windows port for this screensaver?

>>161 I think we can safely rule that out.

i haven't looked at the sources yet and i've never made a *nix screensaver before so i have no idea how difficult it would be, but i might try to make a *nix port of some of them when i have some free time...
no sane person actually uses windows for anything other than playing games anyway. and that's only because a lot of games won't run on anything other than windows.

I love this screensaver! But can it be modified to pick up new window that open while the screensaver is running (like IM windows)?

Is it possible to use the Lotsawater sources and add it to a realtime application (made with Xcode) ?

Possible? Sure. Easy? Depends on what you're trying to do.

. I have a problem.. first.. i not speak english jaja.. second problem... when start the lostawater screensaver my monitor only look white... Why?.. i can see the water.. but.. no my deskop..

i have OS X 10.3.9

I'm trying to put some 3d objets (opengl) inside the water (sea animals).

but I've failed to transform this screensaver to a stand-alone app using Xcode 2.4.

Can you guide me?

>>167

Your graphics card is probably too old.

>>168

Not without knowing what your problem is.

looks lovely with a water image. thank you!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadalit/366886274/

Well, i would like to first know how to change it to an application.

Then i will try to add some xof or obj 3d object inside.

>>171

That's a very, very broad question. Why don't you try doing it, and then ask some more specific question if you run into trouble?

I'm a java developer, and xcode is not familiar to me.

I've tried to figure out how to modify the sources in xcode to build it as an app, but i get too many errors when compiling. :(

>>173

Well, your best bet is to create a new app from scratch, implement a basic OpenGL view and loop, and then copy parts of the LotsaWater code over. If you're unfamiliar with it, maybe you should run through some tutorials first.

Thanks for the tip, i will try that way. :)

Hi. I loff the lotsawater screensaver...is there any way to have it hide the system menubar and go "true" fullscreen??

thanks for any and all help with this...

sb

>>176

I'm not sure what you mean by "true fullscreen". It goes into fullscreen just like any other screensaver.

well...just so that the desktop image is displayed without the menubar at the top of the screen. :-)

similar to if you choose one of the standard screensavers....for example..RSS visualizer...

does that help?

i would love it if you could actually control the size of the water droplets. it looks a little weird having one drop take up more than half of a 24" display.

i'm really silly...i just figured out you can choose a custom picture...which will not and does not have the menubar at the top...only if you choose "snapshot" DUH!!

sorry for the confusion

Hi !WAHa.06x36,

I've spent 2 weeks trying to convert this screensaver to an application without success... :(

It would be so kind of you, if you could release it as an application with droplets made by mouse clicks. :)

It don't really know if it would take hours to do it, as i failed to convert the source code.

Thank you

I am using an iMac 20" Intel Core Duo and version 1.4 of LotsaWater with a custom picture that is correctly sized to my monitor resolution (1680x1050). Just as the screen saver starts up, the screen flashes white, then loads my custom image, then works correctly. When exiting the screensaver, there is NO flash before returning to the desktop. I don't think this is the same "white screen" problem listed above. Any ideas? I alos like the idea of controlling the dropsize. Thanks, dave

it seems liek whenever i use "desktop screenshot" and "require password to stop screensaver" all i get is water falling on a black screen
(g4)

is that unfixable?

>>183

Yes, it is a security feature of OS X.

so much to be read, so dont know if anyone suggested yet but it would be pretty damn cool if one made a screensaver in the LotsaGlass style but so that it could use iSight image in the animation, like the reflection of the glass or something. I wish i could do that but i'm afraid dont have enuff knowledge to program anything :)

A programming question on the LotsaWater saver -- how hard would it be to remove the water effect, and constantly update the screenshot (say, once every few seconds)?

If it could be made to work, it would be very, very ugly.

Is there any chance to have Lotsawater in a Windows version. This is the very best screensaver I've ever seen!!!

Not really, unless somebody else feels like making it. I do have an ancient version that was developed on a Windows machine but it's lacking some features and is not polished to be very usable...

it would be really cool if it could automatically update the screen capture periodically, so you could have it running but still be able to glance at the screen and see new messages or growl notifications. Is this something that could be possible?

>>190, see >>186,187

>>190
I'd rather have a screensaver that shows the last X growl notifications.

I love LottaEscher: thank you.

You may have these new Screenshots I made for you.

Please transfer them to your server.

http://seamac.info/cupboard/darkroom/shotfromscreens/LotsaEscher001l%2001f.gif

http://seamac.info/cupboard/darkroom/shotfromscreens/LotsaEscher001l%2001n.gif

http://seamac.info/cupboard/darkroom/shotfromscreens/LotsaEscher001l%2001s.gif

I can make many more of these if you like using Copernicus/GraphicConverter/and QuickTime Pro 7.

Santa

PS they are animated GIF screenshots of LottaEscher!

You Said they have to see it in motion to appreciate it .... well: replace the screenshot on your LottaEscher page with this image.

To Make your OWN: Use the movie region function on the Preview window with Copernicus / Movie to Image Sequence export from QT 7 Pro / and GraphicConverter Stitches the frames together with one click using Convert and Modify

The above upload is Fast: this upload is Slow.

HO-Ho-ho!

Hi,

I've just bought a new iMac (running Leopard) & whilst looking for a some eyecandy to show it off I found your fabulous LotsaWater screensaver!

I'm pleased to report that it's working fine under Leopard and would like to make one small suggestion: allowing the option to apply a tint to the saved desktop image as well as dimming it would be the final touch.

Thanks for a great screensaver.

Ted

hi, your screen savers are amazing, but i sadly don't have a mac, i still have windows (uugggh), is there a way i can get it to work for windows?

The custom picture doesn't work! Can anyone help me?

Hi, big lotsawater fan here. Recently, like today, when I go to activate it, all I get is a white screen. I've been told that this is because of a corrupted kext file? But I figured I should come to the "source" to see if there's any solution. I'm running a Quad Core Mac pro with 10.5, 4gb of ram, and all the fixins.

Thanks

Hi, big lotsawater fan here. Recently, like today, when I go to activate it, all I get is a white screen. I've been told that this is because of a corrupted kext file? But I figured I should come to the "source" to see if there's any solution. I'm running a Quad Core Mac pro with 10.5, 4gb of ram, and all the fixins.

Thanks

Ok, Good news. I was able to run Cocktail, which is a free(er) version of Tinkertoolsys. After wiping all caches, rebuilding launch services, and restarting, everything seems to be working.

i also in my infinite wisdom run 2 aty rage 128 and it does not work, same error message as jill (42). runs fine on my imacg5 at work

Thank you. This is my video screen saver
I love this screensaver!

Hi, I have a problem with my new iMac 20'' when screensaver starts the effects of lotsawater appears like thet: black screen with water falling... why didn't it happen when I set a customize image?? It just happens with desktop snapshot image... help me! :) Is there a trick to delete this anomaly?

Thanks to you all
Ciao

>>203

If you have the computer set to require a password to unlock the screen, that happens. This is an OS X security feature, and can not be worked around.

Installed LotsaWater on my Intel MacBook Pro and it worked like a charm. Then tried custom image but it already bombs out at the preview. Now I cannot change it back to normal desktop setting. I already tried to remove the screensaver but that does not remove the preferences. Could you tell me how to remove the preferences so I can use the normal screensaver again?

>>205

Try moving the picture you specified somewhere else.

i installed lotsa water earlier this day. it worked perfectly fine. i was exchanging the background picture for the screensaver and dragged&dropped an image out of the internet, when suddently my system preferences had to close down. a popup told me this was caused by a "plugin: lotsawater". so i deleted lotsawater, restarted my mac, redownloaded the screensaver, installed it, but everytime there was the same failure notice and system preferences had to close down.

could you tell me if there is any chance for me to get that screensaver to work?

also, i wanted to mention that lotsaesher and lotsaglass work without any problems. just like lotsawater did, until after 1 hour system preferences crashed. could i maybe email you my crash report?

>>208

I think deleting the file named "com.apple.screensaver.(something).plist" in Library -> Preferences -> ByHost might fix it.

great. it worked. thanks!

in the MB of a friend (running Tiger).. lostawater works fine with the "password to unlock screen" enabled....it takes the snapshot fine..!!!
how?

Just wanted to say lotsawater is a great screen saver.

I had the problem of black screen when using hot corners and desktop locking but resolved this by dragging a photo to the custom picture shot instead of using the default desktop snapshot.
Can now use a single custom picture and use desktop locking under security with lotsawater.
Running it on a macbook pro with 4g ram, running 10.5

Although one thing did puzzle me for a little while was that I didnt know you had to actually drag the picture you wanted to the little preview window. But its all good.

Just wanted to say lotsawater is a great screen saver.

I had the problem of black screen when using hot corners and desktop locking but resolved this by dragging a photo to the custom picture shot instead of using the default desktop snapshot.
Can now use a single custom picture and use desktop locking under security with lotsawater.
Running it on a macbook pro with 4g ram, running 10.5

Although one thing did puzzle me for a little while was that I didnt know you had to actually drag the picture you wanted to the little preview window. But its all good.

your water screensaver is really awesome.
so awesome that i tought the effect can be merged with some sorta warp animation that would be kinda liquid givin user some really trippy (ouch!)
what do you think? maybe an inspiration
on your future projects?
cheers!!
Max

i would like to see a zoom option that allows the user to specify a zoom step (maybe percentage). the default incremental zoom step is just inconvenient as it can make the images out of frame. thanks for the great software.

I have seen some screencaps and vids of this screensaver, and I really want it. seriously, it just looks so incredibly cool!

but the thing is, I am running a hackintosh 10.5.3, and it doesn't seem to be compatible, as I'm always only seeing blank screens when I'm trying to use it (though I'm absolutely sure my computer can do it: after choosing a custom picture, and running the screensaver once (I get a blank screen, what a surprise), the preview picture in the screensaver menu becomes a screencapshot of a working version...)
the clock gets displayed, btw.

any idea what could be the problem and how to fix it?
if anyone has an answer, please email me at das_muno[at]yahoo.de.

thanks in advance

>>218

I'd imagine there's some problem with the graphics driver. I'm afraid that's the price you pay for running a hackintosh.

if you have a mac you have to change your settings in system preferences under security and uncheck "require password to wake computer from sleep or screen saver". then the black screen will not be a problem anymore..duh

>>221
i'd rather have the black screen than have someone install a rootkit if i step away from the computer for a few minutes.

One useful feature that I did not see anyone request would be to allow the screensaver to find out the current desktop picture automatically, and use that as the custom background. That way, none of the open windows, mounted drives, etc. while appear on the screen, just as if you had selected the desktop pic for the background. This way, if you have it set to randomly change after a specified time interval, this would be correctly reflected when the screensaver pops up.

On a side note, I use Lostawater along with Wallsaver so that LotsaWater acts as my desktop background, rather than as a screen saver. It is kinda distracting, but too cool abandon.

Hello, I'd like to ask if it's possible to have multiple boards using only one MySql database and how should I do it. Thanks.

>>224
yes and different tables.

>>224
also, you might want to try to post in the right thread next time.

The lotsaescher is awesome!
thanks very much

I have the Keychain icon on the MenuBar (set by opening Keychain Access and selecting Preferences->General "Show Status in Menubar" This allows me to click the icon and "Lock Screen" Locking the screen runs the screen saver and requires a password upon a mouse move.

When Lotsawater is the screensaver and I click "Lock Screen" all that displays is a black screen and the ripples. There must be some error retrieving the snapshot when locking the screen.

"Fenetres Volantes" (another popular screensaver that depends on a snapshot) does work correctly when I select "Lock Screen"

Is there any way that Lotawater can implement the same capturing technique that Fenetres Volantes uses?

>>228

That is a Mac OS X security feature.

Fenetres Volantes does not capture the screen, it uses some kind of hack to capture windows, and the source is not available so I don't have any idea how it does it anyway. It is also unlikely to be useful for capturing the actual screen image.

How difficult would it be to snap a new copy of the desktop every minute or so? Machine I am running this on is a touch screen mounted on a wall and it would be nice to see updated screenshots in the water. I guess I will dig into the src and find out.

As far as I know you'd have to close the whole screensaver window, as there's no way to grab an image from underneath it.

The black screen can be fixed by changing the "Dimming" setting under the Options buttons. It is not caused by the lock screen security settings.

"Dark" = black screen, mover the slider right brings back the desktop image.