Copyright: ® Andersoft - All Rights Reserved


Help Contents
Contents

LifeSaver v1.0

Introduction

Registration Information

Contacting the Author

Configuration Options


Introduction

There are very few things in life that I can think of as more annoying than downloading megabytes worth of freeware, shareware, demos and screen savers only to find that about five percent meet my expectations and are deemed 'worthy' of remaining on my hard drive.  That's why, after testing over 15 different low-quality screen savers, I decided to finally do something about what I am considering a very serious problem: the only good screen savers out there seem to be the commercial ones.

Until now, of course (in my humble opinion).  I wanted to start with something simple, based upon a good idea in another almost-made-the-cut saver.  I used the infamous Life simulation as a starting block.  The problems with the original model were glaring -- it ran sluggish on my 486DX2/66 -- and the screen update was poor.  Hopefully, you won't feel the same about this.

So, I present to you LifeSaver v1.0.  Enjoy, distribute, and (if you feel the same as I about poor-quality screen savers) register the minuscule $5 fee.  Send me your comments, suggestions, etc.  I'm willing to improve this if there is demand and customer support.


Registration Information

This product is freeware.  You may continue using this screen saver as long as you wish, or as long as your conscience will withstand, whichever is shorter.  Should you wish to support this program, please submit a very modest $5 registration fee to:

Andersoft
100 Institute Road
Box 2882
Worcester, MA  01609-2280

Registration benefits include one free upgrade to the next version of LifeSaver (if there is one), and a registered copy of the current version to be sent to you via email if available.  Please include an additional $2.50 if you prefer a disk mailed to your address.  By the way, the registered version has more color palettes and more shapes to choose from, as well as a random selection.


Contacting the Author

Email is, of course, the preferred method of communication.  You may send mail to either jayscott@wpi.wpi.edu on the Internet or 73171,2711 via Compu$erve.

For those unfortunate enough to be without email, the old, paper hand-written variety may be delivered to:

Andersoft
100 Institute Road
Box 2882
Worcester, MA  01609-2280

Please note that the Compuserve address is the only viable long-term address currently available; the Internet and postal addresses will change at the end of May 1995, so PLEASE do not attempt those locations after that date.


Configuration Options

Life Shape

Shape Size

Color Palette

Speed

Reseed

Change color with age

Password Protected

Set Password


Life Shape

The life shape listbox may be used to select what symbol will be used to represent each life in the current generation.  The unregistered version has only three available shapes:

The registered version contains several more shapes (see Registration), including Smiley, Diamond, and Sphere.


Shape Size

The shape size listbox can be used to choose how big you want the individual cells in each generation to appear on your screen.  Obviously, large cells means smaller generations, and faster calculation and drawing times; therefore, if the program seems to run slow to you, pick a larger shape size.

Shapes can be set to small, medium, or large.  Large produces a 16-by-12 matrix of cells, obviously not a realistic simulation but rather a toy; Medium creates a 32-by-24 generation size, suitable on most computers; Small attempts a rigorous 64-by-48 simulation.  These sizes are independent of screen resolution.


Color Palette

The color palette option is used to select the pool of colors from which the life cells will be drawn.  Five palettes are included with the unregistered version; more are available in the registered edition (see Registration).


Speed

Speed affects how quickly screens should be generated.  Slow will create a new generation every three seconds, Medium will update every 1.5 seconds, and Fast will blaze new life every half second.


Reseed

The reseeding value represents the number of generations that should be allowed before the computer refills the 'world' with random values again.  This number can range from 50 to 500, with 500 taking a very long time to occur (25 minutes on the slow speed setting).


Change color with age

LifeSaver will determine the color for life cells in one of two methods: if this option is enabled, cells will cycle from one end of the palette to the other as it grows older and lives in one place longer and longer.  If this option is disabled, a color is picked randomly from the palette for each living cell.  Enabling this option can allow you to see which parts of the simulated environment have been prosperous for a long time.


Password Protected

Like most screen savers, LifeSaver allows you to password-protect your computer.  When this option is enabled, Windows will require you to enter your screen saver password to reactivate the system.


Set Password

This button is enabled when the password protection option is enabled (see Password Protected).  This will open a dialog box that will allow you to set the system's screen saver password if it has not already been set, or to change the current password.


Glossary of Terms

Andersoft

freeware

LifeSaver

screen savers

unregistered

Worcester


Andersoft

Yeah, I know, kind of a stupid name.  You may be seeing more from this name in the future, though, so keep your eyes peeled.


freeware

The innovative concept of distributing software to customers for free, relying on their good faith and conscience that if they really, really, really like a program they'll make a small voluntary contribution to its author so that he can pay his mounting bills and hope to avoid being recklessly in debt before age 22.


LifeSaver

The program to which this help file is hopefully attached, and an excellent low-budget member of the screen savers family.


screen savers

Fun little programs that do mindless, stupid things while your computer should be busy being used by you to do productive, boring things.


unregistered

This copy of LifeSaver is not registered; if you feel guilty and would like to register, see Registration Information.


Worcester

For those who don't know and might care, this city is pronounced like Woostah, or Wuhster, or any of a great variety of close-but-not-quite pronunciations.


Actually, there are lots of things more annoying and worthy of mention than downloading in my spare time, but they are very unrelated.


If you don't know about the Life simulation, I don't think I can help you.  Just watch; it's neat.


Seriously, five bucks is pretty darn cheap these days.  Two drinks.  Five lottery tickets.  Eight colas of your choice.


I like to chat about my programs; let me know what you think!