Giveaway of the Day Forums » Software Talks

1. BritCanuck
   Member

   Every time a screensaver is offered here at GAotD, we always see those people who would rather have something else (commonly refered to by other people here as "The Whiners") start posting negative comments just as soon as the screensaver is available. However, this post is not about them. The majority of people, like me, have learned to just go and do something else whenever we choose not to download a featured Giveaway. (In other words, we grew up.)

   What this post is about is why, in my opinion, a screensaver is such a good and useful software application that deserves to continue to be offered on a regular basis by GAotD.

   People have stated in the various Comments sections that, with all the new flat-screen monitors now out on the market, the old problem of "burn-in" facing standard CRT monitors is now redundant. However, the truth is that not everyone can afford a flat screen yet. Quite a few people will still have the old-style CRT monitors, so that problem is still an issue for them. So they need the screensavers, and GAotD is happy to provide them with a fully-working screensaver once a week or fortnight.

   "Burn-in" is explained in more detail here:
   http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/b/burnin.htm

   For everyone, regardless of what kind of monitor you have, a screensaver can be a really good stress buster, too. The vast majority of today's screensavers all have excellent graphics, and are pleasing to the eyes. Most of them come with either music, or nature sounds, or both, and are pleasing to the ears. You can watch a screensaver, and imagine yourself in another world, or you can close your eyes and listen to the music. After a long day at work, a screensaver can be just the ticket you need to unwind before bedtime.

   So that's two reasons why, in my opinion, screensavers are a good thing, and a necessary thing. I hope GAotD continues to offer them in the future, and I really enjoy them.

   Whiners, please just let those who like screensavers continue to enjoy them - it's less than 24 hours before you get something that you will probably like.

   Thanks again, GAotD, and keep up the good work.

   Posted 5 months ago #

2. BuBBy
   Administrator

   And I know there are many users who just enjoy them. Like a piece of artwork they don't have to actually DO anything. They aren't something you 'use' or 'play'. It is something to (usually) just be enjoyed and appreciated.

   Some have said they can be relaxing or a relief from stress, and for people like this, there is no other reason needed to justify their enjoyment.

   Perhaps these people have no use for a DVD ripper or a block busting game - yet they accept that some people like them (no explanation needed). The critics of screensavers need to understand sometimes other people are allowed to have their turn too.

   Posted 5 months ago # | Login to Send PM

3. Whiterabbit-uk
   Member

   Well said BritCanuck.

   I've been an avid collector of screensavers (and wallpapers, for many years and was very pleased that the Gveaway project started to give screensavers away. I missed the early ones, in fact I think my very first download from this project was a screensaver, (the autumn one) it was that or the excellent and unusual arkanoid clone TVI arkanoid.

   I would be very disappointed if the project leaders stopped the regular medicine. :) There have been some fantastic giveaways over the past 15 months, in particular the space savers as wel as the mecanical clock, dark castle and the waterfall screensavers. I aso loved the Egyptian themed saver. I still have most of them.

   If you are really into screensavers I would recommend suc screensaves as the Aquazone series of marine and freshwater fish screensavers, or the EarthView screensaver (whic also incorporates a wallpaper function tat allows you to zoom in on particular points on the world map, with loads of extra downloads to add to the original, different types of maps from natural, national and geological maps of te world, right up to 2.5Km magnification. There's also the fantastic G-Force screensaver that will give you an unending series of psychedelic imagery on your screen - which is increasinglt being used by some bands as a back drop on stage. (It's like having one of those iol projectors but much more versatile as you can create your own configurations:

   Aquazone Screensavers:

   http://www.broderbund.com/products/H42919.jsp

   http://www.itreviews.co.uk/software/s320.htm

   Earth View:

   Ican't find the link I have in my favorites, and want to get my games reviews posted, so will return later with a link to this excellent screensaver and wallpaper.

   G-Force:

   http://www.soundspectrum.com/g-force/upgrade.html

   I agree with you wholeheartedly with everything you say as well as agree with what BuBBy had to say. Thanks for making this post. I think I'll expand on it when I have the time. :)

   Anyone for a free screensaver :)

   p.s.
   It's a pity Elefun desktops stpped their daily giveaways of screensavers and animated wallpapers. I downloaded bout 60 or more of tem and am tempted to subscribe for at least a year just to get the rest as I feel obliged after all of the ones they gave away, though teir screensavers are not as animated as the ones you get from the big screensaver vendors such as AstroGemini Rixane and Terminal Studios screensavers, then again I don't see animated wallpapers elsewhere yet.

   Posted 5 months ago #

4. goodgotd
   Member

   Personslly I usually use the BioHazard Screensaver from www.rastaworld.com (free reg req'd, easier to get it at http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_13_129_18930.html - note- it's red, not green) on my athlon XP to tell me when JkDefrag disk defragmenter (http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/index.html, v 3.33- excellent for machines that stay on all the time) screensaver version is finished with the drives- and the only flat panel I have is on this laptop, which has wimpy video, so I use the starfield sim instead.

   My wife likes the Paprotka saver (http://www.4neurons.com/Paprotka/) but likes me to show her other neat ones.

   Posted 5 months ago #

5. BuBBy
   Administrator

   I like MBSS : http://www.mathsavers.com/savers.htm

   (I like the idea my PC is actually having to work to make me happy).

   Posted 5 months ago # | Login to Send PM

6. Archangel
   Member

   GOTD is saving the impulsive downloaders (that don't like screensavers) some diskspace! LOL

   Posted 5 months ago #

7. scubaguy
   Member

   Here's one that works with single as well as multiple monitor setups It will extend across multiple screens not just clone mode.

   http://www.reallyslick.com/

   Posted 5 months ago #

8. Lockett
   Member

   I use Electric Sheep:

   http://electricsheep.org/

   Posted 5 months ago #

9. native1
   Member

   Replying to post #3 by Whiterabbit regarding an Earth View screen saver. I'm not sure if this is the one you had in mind but I have this one on my computer and it is very interactive. I am a geography buff anyway so I especially like this one even though it comes with a tool bar that some may not want (you know how to get rid of it). It is called 3D Earth Screensaver offered by many sites on the web but is a product of Crawler LLC. It does come with an uninstaller, so why not give it a try!

   http://www.crawler.com/products/3D-Earth-Screensaver.aspx

   Posted 4 months ago #

10. sukibabe
    Member

    Since this topic came up again. Here is a good link to some fun.

    Unfortunately, Krazy Dads site is having some difficulty at this time.

    I have Metascope on my Dell Desktop. Try it when he gets the Google issue fixed.

    http://www.krazydad.com/metascope.php

    An alternate page: http://www.krazydad.com/windows_freebies.php
    This page also has Mac ones.

    Suki

    Posted 4 months ago #

11. Spiritwolf
    Member

    One way to use your computer to help accomplish something positive for the rest of the world, while also having some unusual and fascinating screensavers to run, is to get involved in the GRID Distributed computing projects. I've run GRID projects and their screensavers on my pcs for years now, ever since back when United Devices was young and doing its first cancer research project.

    Now there are a variety of organizations doing Distributed Computing projects and quite a number of different projects to choose from.

    http://www.gridrepublic.org/index.php?param=about
    GridRepublic members run a screensaver that allows their computers to work on public-interest research projects when the machines are not otherwise in use. This screensaver does not affect performance of the host computer any more than an ordinary screensaver does.

    By aggregating idle resources from users around the world, we create a massive supercomputer.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_distributed_computing_projects

    BOINC
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Open_Infrastructure_for_Network_Computing

    Posted 3 months ago #

12. Buckleysmom
    Member

    BritCanuck...... So that's two reasons why, in my opinion, screensavers are a good thing, and a necessary thing. Here, here. Or is it hear, hear? whichever....I agree.

    I've only been watching the game giveaways not the regular giveways (well, I do now that they're combined) but anyway I haven't seen all the free screensavers you huys are talking about. Does anyone know of any that have animals in them? I would love to see a good safari animal screensaver as I love zebras, giraffes and elephants.

    Posted 3 months ago #

13. Buckleysmom
    Member

    Suki......Oooooh I just loooked at krazydads stuff.....cool! I also love kaleidoscopes.

    Posted 3 months ago #

14. delenn13
    Member

    Spiritwolf, I run a program also and I won't use their screen saver or any screen savers. Using Your PC to Find Cures for Diseases- Folding@Home But each to their own.

    My mom has bone cancer and Alzheimer's and my husband just found out his best friend of 30 years is dying of small cell lung cancer/Extensive Stage Disease. And all my grandparents died of either heart diease or cancer.

    So I won't let a screen saver use any resources as I feel guilty enough playing games, which do take away from the program.

    Posted 3 months ago #

15. sukibabe
    Member

    Buckleysmom

    The Metascope program takes up allot of resources on your pc, so I only use it when I'm in the mood to trip out, so to speak,lol! People who are affected with that screen seizure problem should not use this program!

    It is mesmerizing!

    delenn13, my main pc runs a low volume screen saver, so my contribution to that program is only hurt minimally. My network is set up to give me daily reports on bandwidth for all 3 computers and that one has plenty to give. You are right about the games, my reports only gauge up to 50 MB and when I play a game, it maxes it out!

    Suki

    Posted 3 months ago #

16. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    Hi Native1, no that's not the one I mentioned, though it is quite good. I completely forgot I said I'd post the link to Earth View. Here it is:

    http://www.desksoft.com/EarthView_Screenshot.htm

    You can set any area of the earth as a wall paper and zoom in. Much like google Earth, but not quite as close up. I think the maximum zoom is 2.5Km. Then you have a screensaver function as well. There's a lot of add ons as well which I mention in my post above.

    Suki, you must try G-Force. It's a brilliant visualization program that can be used as both a screensaver and in conjunction with your media player. It's a really beautiful freeform psychedelic screensaver:

    http://www.soundspectrum.com/g-force/upgrade.html

    Wirechanger that was given away last year also has a kaleidascope wallpaper generator which has been one of my favorite applications given away from the giveaway project. I bought it shortly after it was given away because I loved the desktop enhancements that came with it as well. You can set your wallpaper to change regularily. with the kaleidoscope and fractals generators I've had some beautiful wallpapers, you can set the program to save each one that's generated if you wish. :)

    http://www.wiredplane.com/en/wirechanger/about.php?language=en

    I was really impressed with the developer because when I first ordered wirechanger I actually mistakenly ordered wire keys instead. When I realized what I'd done (after receiving the reg key for wire keys, I contacted the developer who then promptly sent me the wirechanger reg code and said keep the reg code for wire keys as well. Both of which I was really pleased with.

    Posted 2 months ago #

17. sukibabe
    Member

    I found a new use for Screensavers!
    They take away internet withdrawal when you are sitting in the woods knowing you can't reach this site, lmao!

    Will check that one out Whabbit!

    However, looking at wireless broadband card for my laptop. Son works for Sprint so he could get me the monthly fee for half the price and turn it on and off(as I am only up there about 6 months of the year), would still have to buy the card, but he said the USB stick is cheaper by about 30 bucks now! He said I would be crawling somewhere between dial-up and dsl, but hey, I'd take it!

    Suki

    Posted 2 months ago #

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