Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Sebastian Thrun: Google's Driverless Car
Use Wallsaver to embed a screensaver on your Mac's desktop
There's something about the idea of multiple screens surrounding me with green Matrix glyphs running down them that really appeals to me. When I'm sitting at work, I've got three screens in front of me -- one for my Windows PC, and two for my Mac laptop that is my primary machine.
When I'm not using them, I use Matrix screensavers to create the Matrix effect, but if you ask me, that's not really good enough. What I really wanted was to have that same Matrix effect persist even when the screensaver is not active; I want it to be like an active desktop, of sorts.
While there are several ways to achieve this effect on Windows, the options are much slimmer if you happen to run Mac OS X. After a bit of looking, I found one called Wallsaver that works well.
Wallsaver is a utility that can embed most screensavers on your desktop, and they even offer a compatible Matrix-themed screensaver that works very well with Wallsaver. Wallsaver's primary function is to switch between embedded screensaver mode and normal desktop wallpaper mode. Once you perform the switch, you can close the application, and the effect persists.
Depending on the screensaver you choose and the number of screens you are running, there will be a bit of a performance hit on your system, but in my case, it's not enough to be noticeable. As usual with this kind of thing, your mileage may vary.
Comments
10
Subscribe to commentsChuChuJul 28th 2010 9:38AM
I don't really understand the whole wallpaper thing - never have. When do you actually see your wallpaper? I see mine for about 10 seconds after a reboot which occurs probably once a month or so. Aside from that I generally just leave all my usual apps open and then switch between them. If I have a terminal window open like in the screenshot above, it is sitting on top of a stack of other apps/browsers. I just end up setting my wallpaper to straight black or gray because there is no point putting something pretty up there when I will never see it.
zolointoJul 28th 2010 9:48AM
Agreed. When everyone was going nutty over Android's addition of animated backgrounds, I was all "Pourqoi?". It was even specifically mentioned in the Evo Vs iPhone video. Why is this an important feature?
As for my own desktop, same as you: Default background black, plus I hide all of my desktop icons (no need for them thanks to Launchy). As I work in XP most of the time, my default theme-ing is plain and gray instead of the garish blue and green that decks the screens of my co-workers.
But maybe I'm just boring.
David LevineJul 28th 2010 11:06AM
I just stick with the default wallpapers that come with OS X Snow Leopard and have them rotate every 10 minutes. Because I don't usually have too many windows open, I am able to see some or most of my wallpaper.
When I'm at work using Windows XP, I don't see it at all because I have 5 or more applications opened and most of them are maximized.
On a side note: you have a lot of icons in your dock.
RayJul 28th 2010 11:28AM
Anything similar for Windows 7?
kassie2k4Jul 28th 2010 5:55PM
if you like to overheat your Mac, and take it with you on a jolly trip to the Genius Bar, use this software.
pettybooshwahJul 28th 2010 7:09PM
The application 'Movist' offers a different spin on active wallpaper: it allows for any movie to be played at "desktop level", rendering it as your wallpaper, with or without audio.
AaronJul 29th 2010 7:32PM
There have been applications that do this exact thing on the Mac since Mac OS X 10.3. Why is this news now?
VinnieSep 28th 2010 1:00AM
First of all, Macpilot was able to do this forever, screensaver as a background. However my safari windows bug out when using it on a dual screen setup on my macbook pro. Anyone use this on dual screens?
Second of all, Ray check out dreamscene for win7 or the vlc method for video backgrounds
Third, Kassie, smc fan control for mac can stop that.
VinnieSep 28th 2010 1:03AM
and by bugging out on dual screens on safari i mean when you drag your safari from your main screen to your 2nd screen specifically
VinnieSep 28th 2010 1:32AM
and by bugging out on dual screens on safari i mean when you drag your safari from your main screen to your 2nd screen specifically