screensaver

African Animals Screensaver, as you might expect, displays photos of African animals and plays built-in music. This sounds nice in theory, but with minimal effort you could probably create a better version of it yourself.

The screensaver's interface is obvious enough and contains the typical screensaver options; users shouldn't have much trouble figuring it out. Those who do need assistance can access a brief Help file in text file format, but there's really not much to either the program or the Help file. The meat of this program is the photos of African animals and three "… Read more

MBSS Starfields is a stunning program featuring beautiful swirls of colors at your command. However, that command may require a mathematics degree to master. Regardless, it quickly pretties up a display.

The program's interface is regrettably complicated, but does not really need to be dealt with too deeply. The actual screensaver has default settings that should be good enough for most users. Digging deeper to make adjustments, though, is a confusing tangle of geometric and mathematical terminology that will have a limited appeal. The Help file actually does a better job of explaining the scientific principals this program works … Read more

MBSS Gravity Wells uses space-aged thinking to create a screensaver. While it looks gorgeous, there are some complicated elements that may scare off some users.

The program's interface is two-fold. Anyone happy with the default settings will simply enjoy the images on the screen. However, attempting to adjust the settings will discover a world of gravitational and geometric jargon that will confuse. Fortunately, experimenting won't hurt a thing. However, the Help file doesn't provide much insight. The images Gravity Wells produces are fascinating geometric shapes that utilize the entire color wheel. Users interested in changing the patterns … Read more

ScreenPlay Pong performs double duty as a screensaver and a video game. Users with a nostalgic streak for long-forgotten video technology will love this primitive combination.

The program's interface is thankfully just as bare bones as the actual imagery onscreen. Users set up their screensaver much like any other, by navigating a small bank of radio buttons that control timing and color. We did not see a Help file, but this program is so basic, it didn't concern us. When working, the screensaver looks like the old video game Pong. A simple ball bounces among the screen's … Read more

Life Photo Maker enables users to animate their photos by adding music, weather, and water effects. Though we would have liked to see more slideshow options, the program was simple and fun to use.

The program's clean and attractive interface makes it easy to get started with your project. Choose the New option and the program will direct you. It is not a traditional image-manipulating program, and its effects would be best enjoyed onscreen. The program allows you to add water and snow effects to your photos, as well as add sound for background music and animated screensavers. Users … Read more

3D Realistic Fireplace Screen Saver provides users with a fairly lifelike fireplace on their screen. While simple to operate, the program's options are what makes it red hot.

The interface is so intuitive that users will not need a trip to the Help file, though it is available if necessary. The program is well labeled and all the options make perfect sense. We had no trouble navigating it and customizing our flames. We were pleased by the fireplace and how easy it was to set up. While it will not fool anyone into thinking your computer is on fire, … Read more

Liquid Clock is a simple screensaver that offers to keep track of the time while your computer takes a break. Its simple design makes it a great choice for those looking to keep things easy.

Liquid Clock dominates the screen once it is activated. With a bold, blue background, it is impossible to miss. The clock itself is a black outline of a traditional clockface, with hands for hours, minutes, and seconds. The design company's logo is at the center of the clock and the current date is embedded in the clock's face. Control over the clock is … Read more

Free Fire Screensave sets users' monitors ablaze, igniting each window and icon in translucent flames. It's a cool effect, and the intuitive interface allows for just the right amount of customization; users can personalize their settings without being overwhelmed by options.

The features that users can tweak include the speed of the flames' flickering, whether the screensaver fades out or ends immediately upon exit, and the program's sounds and music. Users can choose between two built-in pieces of music (Romantic and Melancholic), set the program to use other music from the computer, or turn the music off entirely. … Read more

With more and more people watching movies on their wide-screen Macs and Apple TV, it's no secret the computer is starting to move in on traditional DVD, Blu-ray, and other video player territory. If you have a laptop and the right cords, you can even plug your computer into your big-screen TV and enjoy all the glory of the new standalone Hulu for Mac. But while your Mac is great for watching movies, your Mac's sleep feature to save energy has a nasty way of making your screen go dark right in the middle of the show. To … Read more