Want to impress your Windows friends? Want a desktop background that is interactive, configurable, and cool? Look no further. Presenting, “Cool Desktop”.
It takes one command in the Terminal to set your current screensaver as the desktop background. You can have slideshows, animations, and even Quartz compositions. The possibilities are endless.
So, how now, brown cow? Well, the one line command is here:
/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -background
And hey presto! Enjoy your new desktop. To revert to your original background, simply run the screensaver by a hot corner or something. Easy! While expose is activated, the desktop will fade back to the original background image, but once it’s deactivated it’ll fade back to the screensaver.
Lazy? Me too
Yes, running a Terminal (or Shell) command every time you want to do something can get a bit tiresome (especially if you’re a Mac user 
). Is there a way to simplify this process? Absolutely.
The DeskSaver app allows you to easily put a screensaver on your desktop, pause it, resume it or restart it.
Have fun, and see what else you can come up with.
14 Comments so far
Leave a commentWow, the Flying Windows screensaver is quite known. It’s actually some friends of mine that made it.
voiced by SeoxyS on November 11, 2006 11:05 pm | Permalink
nice tip,
that flurry screen saver really looks great on my 24″ iMac
Thx, Chris
proclaimed by Christian on November 12, 2006 12:51 am | Permalink
SeoxyS/blog author: Where can one find that flying window screen saver? The closest thing I find when I google is http://youtube.com/watch?v=JS2UCONaEMI
recorded by Joachim Bengtsson on November 12, 2006 5:15 am | Permalink
It’s called Fenetres Volantes. Get it here
announced by Ankur on November 12, 2006 12:34 pm | Permalink
Joachim: http://www.objective-cocoa.org/fenetresvolantes/en/index_en.html
reasonded by SeoxyS on November 12, 2006 4:37 pm | Permalink
(crap, didn’t see Ankur’s reply)
posted by SeoxyS on November 12, 2006 4:37 pm | Permalink
I CAN’T GET RID OF IT
Does anyone know how to get rid of it? Thanks
composed by Tanda on November 12, 2006 7:30 pm | Permalink
Run your real screensaver and it’ll vanish.
I’ve got is a hot corner set to start the screensaver for quick access.
revealed by Ankur on November 12, 2006 7:33 pm | Permalink
does this trick work on windows computers, and if so, what is the “terminal”?
stated by Anonymous on May 23, 2007 7:56 am | Permalink
This trick only works on Apple Computers. There may be Windows alternatives, but I’m not currently aware of any.
reported by Ankur on May 23, 2007 1:34 pm | Permalink
Can someone tell me what’s the name of that Cool Desktop Bubbles screensaver in the second screenshot ? Thanks in advance!
written by marion on July 8, 2008 10:03 am | Permalink
Found it! For all interested, here is the download link:
http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Screensavers/YAquaBubbles.shtml
It’s called YAquaBubbles
published by marion on July 8, 2008 12:09 pm | Permalink
This is wonderful!
uttered by Metoo on July 8, 2008 2:04 pm | Permalink
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