Frogboy

Join Date 03/2001

+2419

What will the impact of animated wallpaper be?

The upcoming release of DeskScapes 2.0 opens the door to mainstream animated wallpaper

With the recent announcement that DeskScapes 2.0 will be out by February and that it will work on all versions of Windows Vista, the question is no longer if but rather when will animated wallpaper be widely available. Stardock expects to release the first beta of it to Object Desktop users before Christmas and include some premium animated wallpapers (which we call "Dreams") with it.

So how mainstream will animated wallpapers become? It's an open question. Like all customization, the answer is, most people won't use it. Most people don't even change their default wallpapers. But I believe that animated wallpapers will become surprisingly popular. Here's why:

In the past month, Dreams have more entries in the top 30 than any other category other than WindowBlinds. And considering that only users of Windows Vista Ultimate can even use them at present, that's an incredible statistic. And considering how gradual Vista adoption has been overall and that Ultimate users make up only a tiny fraction of that group, one can imagine a future where animated wallpaper is quite popular.

Some people have argued that animated wallpapers are a waste of system resources. And while it is true that some animated wallpapers (particularly video ones) can use quite a bit of CPU, that's not the general case. Moreover, I remember people who thought static wallpapers were a waste because, after all, a 1024x768x24bit wallpaper used over two megabytes of memory which, back in the 90s was a lot of memory. What seems resource intensive one day seems trivial in later days.

Like regular wallpapers, the popularity of an animated wallpaper will depend on its quality. Regular wallpapers can be pretty obnoxious. Animated wallpapers have the capacity of being even more obnoxious since they move. But that doesn't mean animated wallpapers can't be compelling.

Only time will tell but I suspect that animated wallpapers will become an extremely hot commodity in the coming years. We'll see.

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HAPTORK

Join Date 09/2006

+35

Its a cool customization. Isnt there any chance to have them on XP through a software or patch? If made then that software will surely get as much popularity as windowblinds has got

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

I think that Wallpapers have always been the "gateway drug" to customizing one's PC. But there's a huge leap from a wall to any other customization. Dreams will be even less so.

I'm the neighborhood tech guy. I'm the one that gets the calls from JoeUser to fix this or that. What I see most of on desktops are photographs of family and friends that make terrible walls in terms of composition but touch an emotional chord with the user. Most folks don't go for fancy walls. They go for comfort walls.

The animated wallpapers that are going to make an impact are the ones that display home movies and photos; the personal, dynamic ones. Dreams that appeal to their interests. We may see RSS feed dream, or sports team stat dreams. I don't think that video dreams like the ones here aren't going to be known of or used by most folks.

If you want to tie up the market on the dream engine? License it to the major drugstore and photo companies. Make it so that Grandma can install a basic slideshow of the newest pictures to her desktop. Add some dynamics so that she can email or what-have-you. Sell enhanced dreams with better effects and photos in different places on the PC.

Marketing dreams is going to have the largest impact on whether animated dreams become popular in the near future. That's going to be the stumbling block. How to get knowledge of DeskScapes out to the masses of Vista Home Premium users who don't know and don't care and don't want to spend extra money one a luxury.

I think knowledge that the product exists and available personal content are going to be the drivers in the acceptance and growth of animated wallpaper.

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Philly0381

Join Date 11/2004

+844

Like all customization, the answer is, most people won't use it.

I believe I have to agree with that statement. I know you go on to say and explain why you think animated wallpapers will be popular. It maybe unfair to just pick that one part, sorry.

Using myself as an example, when i started out here I changed my bootskin and login to the same skin of my WB, if there were ones, or tried to match the WB as best I could. I used screen savers and tried the match the theme in the same way. Those have pretty much been forgetten. Just aren't on the screen long enough to matter.

I generally keep a pretty clean or uncluttered desktop. I use OD+ but hide them when not in use, same with the regular Windows Task Bar. Same goes for Desktop Sidebar which I use. Yes there are some widgets and gadgets on the screen, usually those that go with the WB. What I'm getting at is with all the things that can be on the desktop will an animated wallpager be seen or just lost.

I have not doubts that people who can run them (Vista users) will try them out and run them for awhile. Even if they don't use much in resources I kind of feel that some of the folks, not all, will just go back to a nice static wallpaper that goes with the WB theme.

Now I'm not just saying this because I don't run Vista. If I had Vista I would try them. If fact I try everything that is available to customize the desktop that you provide to us. I do have to say though that after the first look at some they don't find there way back on to the desktop. I guess it has to do with duplication of efforts, several programs doing essentially the same actions. Okay off subject.

I think it's great that Stardock is able to provide animated wallpapers to more of the Vista users. You folks just keep coming up with more and more enhancements.

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WOM

Join Date 01/2002

+253

I use dreams about 50% of the time. Love both the animated and static walls. But am very picky. I do believe that once it can be used on all vista platforms, you will see a big user increase.

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With the recent announcement that DeskScapes 2.0 will be out by February and that it will work on all versions of Windows Vista (Excerpt from above) My question is this: In an earlier article it was stated that it would work on all versions of Vista that will run Aero. My wife has Vista home basic. Will dreams work on her system?

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WOM

Join Date 01/2002

+253

Will it run AREO? If so, yes. If not, no. That would be my take from what I read.

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Philly0381

Join Date 11/2004

+844

If you read the article about it, only three versions of Vista will be able to run DeskScapes 2.0, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. Atleast that's how I read it.

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I gotta go out on a limb here and say that I myself, have dreams installed, have used them for a time, and now have resorted to using windowblinds only(for the fact I can customize all of my desktop.) I suppose it's because with dreams running, I have to use the standard aero skin that comes with vista; I'd like to be able to use dreams with windowblinds running, rather than having microsoft's aero in use. Then I'd be more apt to use dreams on a more constant basis.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

I suppose it's because with dreams running, I have to use the standard aero skin that comes with vista

Why?

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Every time I run a dream file w/ windowblinds running(since windows reverts to the classic skin to initiate WB), I get an error message from windows telling me Dreamscene only runs using aero. Am I missing something here?? Correct me if I'm wrong.

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About Dreams, unless people start making them to fit some of the Windowblinds out there, a lot of people will use it temporarily, then resort back to a matching static wallpaper. The base of skinning is wallpaper and a Windowblinds to match. I believe that is the minimum people with do for skinning. I think I commented on another article dealing with the aspects of what is considered customization of a desktop. (But that’s another story) I think the animated wallpaper is a great addition to anyone’s customization. I myself would love use it my self, but unfortunately us multi-monitor users have to suffer with mirrored images on each screen, which really looks lousy. Can a Dream span across monitors?? I don’t think so, but It sure in the H E double toothpicks would be cool.

But in reality, as far as other customization goes Windowblinds is really the only thing I leave running. The moment I use an application that uses resources, I tend to turn off everything else. So that I can utilize the resources for smooth operation, especially the moment I turn on a game, which is sad I think. I end up not turning everything back on because it’s a hassle. With the development of Theme Manager it was great, because all I had to do was use Theme manager to turn it all back on with one click. But now with me using Rainlender, Sysmetrix and many other programs that are incorporated into theme manager I find myself not using it or using other customizations as well, because of it. But that’s me; my issue with Dreamscapes and other programs is the ease of turning it on and off. I might be the only one but probably not. Theme Manager needs to start allowing users to be able to save a fully customized desktop using all of Stardock apps as well as any other program (or at least those featured by Wincustomize). I think it would be nice to be able to set your desktop up and then be able to temporarily disable any feature and easily turn it back on.

I have to agree with Philly0381 about not customizing certain aspects of the system due to the fact that; yes, it’s not on long enough to worry about. I mean really, why would anyone change their screensaver? If the screensaver is running there is a good chance you’re not near the computer anyways, and with monitors shutting down after a few minutes anyway, what’s the point? So now you end up customizing something for nothing... almost

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Philly0381

Join Date 11/2004

+844

Wow, once a year someone actually agrees with me. It usually happens long before this, I've been having a very ruff year. Could I get a hug?

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Dreamscene only runs using aero

True. I would have loved to run the RIP dream with the RIP blinds, but it has to be aero. It will run, until you reboot, then the GUI will revert to the Aero theme. Bummer.

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The thing that standard wallpapers have is cross platform compatibility and standard formats. Also the fact that on just about any platform you don't need special software to change the wallpaper is a huge factor.

The thing hurting Dreams in the short term is the fact that it is limited to Vista. Vista currently has nothing exceptional to offer the majority of users, and it's higher hardware requirements often mean that you need a full system replacement just to run it properly. IF and when Vista becomes more widespread you will likely see an increase in people using animated wallpaper as well.

However, that said I seriously doubt you will see animated wallpaper become as mainstream as static wallpaper(or even close). Unless of course they can develop common standards across all platforms, and the animated wallpaper functionality becomes a standard part of most operating systems. I don't think quality is as much of an issue as everyone has different tastes, lots of stuff other people like I dislike and I am sure the opposite is true as well. Variety will be a key factor, as will the ease of creation. Wallpaper is mainstream because it is very easy for anyone to create. Many people just use pictures of their children, pictures they took on vacation etc... People who change their wallpaper are not necessarily what people here would consider to be customizers.

I am sure Dreams will continue to be a good source of business for Stardock, and good fun for the customizers with the right hardware and OS. But it is still a niche.

When it comes to screensavers, I am not sure I agree entirely though.(although I do agree with the gist of it)
Philly0381 and The_Goo makes a very good point though, power saving features have killed the screensaver. But I just might turn off my powersaving mode if I could get some flying toasters or some of those other oldschool After Dark Screensavers running. But then again I never worried about theming a screensaver to my windows/wallpaper, so I never considered it customization it was always just another toy to play with.

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If you read the article about it, only three versions of Vista will be able to run DeskScapes 2.0, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. Atleast that's how I read it.

But the above article says ALL versions of Vista. I hope so, but doubt it.

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Philly0381

Join Date 11/2004

+844

I now see what you are saying PuterDudeJim. There is a post here that has a link to the original article talking about the the release of DeskScapes 2.0. I'll try and find it.

EDIT: Okay I found the other post, go to the top and check the link. Frogboy maybe giving us a further update.

WWW Link

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NightTrainthedark

Join Date 07/2003

+255

I have no problems running dreamscenes/ deskscapes while running windowblinds. I'll get an error but if I reapply the dreamscene ( Windows Ultimate) it runs no prob.

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CarGuy1

Join Date 03/2007

+548

That's strange. I never have any trouble running dreams with WindowBlinds running. I hardly ever use static wall paper any more on my main system, 99% of the time I am running a dream. The only time I get an error is if Explorer crashes but that only happens occasionally.
Also, I can usually find a suitable dream to go with most blinds. Just choose one that you think will go together and change the blinds color to match.

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Thanks, I'll try it...you're right PuterDudeJim, when having to reboot windows I get the "dreamscene won't run..." message, I too realized this issue when wanting to use the RIP theme w/ the coinciding dream...oh well.

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WOM

Join Date 01/2002

+253

Had to reread a few posts. I run dreams and WB and don't get the error and they both run fine.

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Had to reread a few posts. I run dreams and WB and don't get the error and they both run fine.

Ditto.

Some people have argued that animated wallpapers are a waste of system resources.

I've recently persuaded someone with that exact same mindset to try out Deskscapes. I did this because the average Dream takes about 10% cpu usage, which is tolerable in certain circumstances. Although, after about a week of him using it he's already beginning to complain that too many are using around 40%. Considering he's OC'd that's not exactly a cpu usage that one would want. Even if you're stock, running a cpu let's just say 20% (other prog's added in) is going to generate alot of heat over time.

I personally think that cpu usage, not memory, is the largest obstacle Dreamscene/Deskscapes has to overcome.

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Want to see animated wallpaper take off in a big way? Make them easy to use, but more important, provide a sexual theme. I'm serious. Sex was what brought the VCR into nearly every home even if most people deny that. We know from umpteen studies that most online surfers spend time seeking out sexual sites of one sort or the other. This is especially so with people at work which is why the issue of online access/abuse is such a big topic in virtually every company regardless of how they may phrase it. I know the good folks on this site would not accept an animation submission with a strong sexual content but I guarantee you that if that were to happen the hit count on downloads would skyrocket.

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DrJBHL

Join Date 04/2002

+4253

I think that a Revolution is happening at Stardock and at this website. You guys 'get it'. Plain and simple....you're taking the candy that Vista gives and are distributing it outwards. Smart boys!
I think many of the responses above are right on the money. I agree with Sea Hourse, KiloKrash and Zubaz. As to whether it will fade or whether people will choose static walls, time will tell. There will in all probability be two groups with movement back and forth.

Love the idea and the "newness" Stardock and Wincustomize are bringing to this site and skinning!
I was a very early customer, and have never regretted it.

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WOM

Join Date 01/2002

+253

OK, CPU usage on this dream is about 30% and ram is about .02% But I think thisusage monitor is old and doesn't tale into account that this is a duel core.

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hmmm.. i dont use dream.. but, well i tried animated wallpaper too.. once, but.. it kinda boring.. if it just lots of them, then its fine. wallpaper, i change it every hour. imagine how bored i am.. i agreed with sea horse, make them easy to use. yeah, and dont burden our laptop or pc. suddenly hang, or why is that thing so slow man? kinda of like that.. people surely like sumthing light, like wallpaper tht can be change so easily, dont used up many of our cpu.. its interesting for me too, animated wallpaper.. but dont just talk.. do the work too. hehe. anyway, im on stardock side.

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