Q. I am upgrading from 0.9.0 to version 1.0.0 and I keep getting one of either of the following error messages: 

An exception of class
NilObjectException was not handled
The application must shut down.

and/or

An exception of class
stackOverflowException was not handled.
The application must shut down.

A. Delete the old preferences file and the old default playlist file.  The preferences file is located in Macintosh HD:System Folder:Preferences:Aqueous.  The default playlist is located in a folder called playlists under the Aqueous folder.

Q. How do I load skins?  I have read the README file but don't seem to understand.

A. OK.. Here is the long dull techo-geek answer:
Step 1.  Find yourself a skin that you like.  This would be best done by paying a visit to the folks over at Nullsoft.  They have produced a product for the Windoze platform called WinAmp.  I chose its format for skins because there were just so darn many of them.  People are designing these things left and right.  Go to www.winamp.com and look around, (at the top last time I was there), for a link called "skins & plug-ins".  Under here you will find a cornucopia of skins to match whatever personality you might have.  When you select to download one of these beasts you will get a file that ends with either .zip or .wsz.  In either case this is what is known as a Zip Archive.  Basically it is a single file that contains more than one file inside it and the size has been squashed down for faster downloaded and less space taken up on your hard drive.  The files that are inside this baby are BMP (bitmap) files.  They are just pictures and if you stick all the pictures together in the right order, BAM!, you have a good lookin skin.  You will need a program to open the ZIP Archive and get the BMP files out.  I would suggest MacZip at www.sitec.net/maczip.  

Step 2. Create a folder under the Aqueous:Skins directory.  When you installed Aqueous on your Mac, it created a folder within the Aqueous folder called "Skins".  Go into that folder and create a new folder underneath it named something that will tell you about the skin you are installing.  I would suggest the name of the skin given to it by its talented author.

Step 3. Move the BMP files that you obtained and extracted in step 1 to the newly created folder from Step 2.  You will not need all of the BMP files that are in the ZIP Archive.  You will need the following: cbuttons.bmp, main.bmp, monoster.bmp, numbers.bmp, shufrep.bmp, text.bmp and volume.bmp.

Step 4. Make the skin active by clicking on "Choose Skin..." from the "Player" menu in the Aqueous program.  You will be presented with a standard Mac file dialog.  Navigate to the folder where the skins are installed, highlight the NAME OF THE FOLDER containing the bmp files and click the "Choose" button.

Wham bam thank you mam you should be wearin a brand new skin.  If you are still having trouble, read on there are more priceless nuggets of knowledge to follow...

Q. The skin won't load!

A. Memory.  Some skins are higher resolution than others and will require Aqueous to use more memory.  Aqueous is currently shipping with a 5000 KB setting.  To change the amount of memory that Aqueous will allocate, hold down the control key while clicking on the Aqueous program.  Select "Get Info" -> "Memory" from the menu that pops up.  The rest should be obvious.

Q. The skin loads but now I can't play music.  

A. See "The skin won't load!" just above here.  You most likely have a memory problem as well.

Q. How do I create my own skin?

A. Take an existing skin and use a graphics program such as Photoshop to examine the files inside it.  They are just little pictures.  Assembled in the right order they make up the skin.  Use a little imagination and a lot of patience and you can create the next Killer Skin!

Q. How does the image window work?

A. The moment a track starts to play from the playlist, Aqueous will start scanning the directory where the track came from for images that it can load.  It uses QuickTime to load images so just about anything goes.  One at a time it displays the images in the image window as long as it is visible.

Q. Why don't the skins change the appearance of the Playlist and Image windows.

A. First because the playlist window does not have the same dimensions and other dynamics as the equivalent window in Nullsoft's WinAmp product, second there is no image window in WinAmp, and third I am too lazy to come up with a way to do that right now.

Q. Where is the equalizer?  Is their ever going to be one?

A. There is not currently any equalizer.  If their were, it would most likely be more of an Aqualizer.  Unfortunatly, I have a limited amount of time to spend on this project.  Once I figure out a way to make a six figure income by writing this freeware application, countless more features will be added.  I am very open to suggestions about achieving the six figure thing by the way.