8 replies to this topic

[Nvyseal]

Taking Windows DreamScene one step further -- Stardock DeskScapes

As we developed the animated wallpapers for Microsoft we became very experienced in how to make it so that it was subtle and use less CPU (there video encoding and then there is video encoding). We also came up with our own wish list of things we felt users would want. For example:

1. A good animated wallpaper is a lot of work. How do authors get credit? If I spend 3 weeks making a good animated wallpaper, I want users to know I made it and be able to visit me to get more.

2. How do users know if a given .WMV or .MPEG was even meant to be an animated wallpaper? If users have to sift through hundreds of animated raccoons and children playing baseball to find something they'd actually want as their wallpaper, the whole concept could die quickly.

3. Looping high-definition video content looks great. But what about dynamic content? You know, fish swimming, wallpaper that changes based on weather or time of day, or randomly. Or heck, how about having a high-definition video feed from a tropical island so that I can pretend it's not snowing outside.

4. How about having triggers? So even if I'm not up to making a dynamic wallpaper, I could still have 2 or 3 or more videos that are switched to based on certain condition (triggers) being met. Imagine an animated wallpaper that's a city scene in the morning, afternoon, and night that switches based on time of day?

FREE to Vista Ultimate users, Read More, and Get it HERE

[chriso_86]

Cool, good find!! Downloading now!!!

[chriso_86]

Well, here is a picture for your enjoyment. It does say when you are downloading from MS, that this is just a preview program. Which leads me to believe it is basically still a beta. All in all it looks pretty good. They do need to get the resolution up, as you can see it looks small on my 20 inch widescreen. But, I am sure they will work these things out. Also, with the dual monitors it just doubles the image like with a background. The one thing I did find somewhat odd was that when you have a program open and maximized it freezes the picture which makes sense. But even with dual monitors the other monitor stays frozen. I think they need to fix this so if there is not a program open on one of the monitors that one stays in motion. Other then these few little details it is a pretty cool program and works nicely!!


 New_Picture__2_.jpg   295.42K   54 downloads

[GSG-9]

Trying it now

[BlueScreenOfDeath]

im sorry but something that plugs into a windows feature will slow things down even more.

[chriso_86]

No, it shuts off the animation as soon as you open a program. So I doubt you will ever see any difference in performance at all.

[Christopholofigus]

Cool find, downing it now...now all i need is to reinstall Vista

Ok, i'm too tired to find the download right now...time for bed

Edited by Christopholofigus, 16 February 2007 - 10:34 AM.

[VROSA]

Nice find, downloading now ! Thanks.

[chriso_86]

Well, I had my first BSOD the other night in Vista. And when it came back up dreamscene didn't come back up. So, I think it might of been related or the cause. Still needs some work.