New Screen Saver Idea

Hey jimbo, I just registered at skinning.net but apparently I can't post in the section your thread is in...

I've got a super hard, but ultra cool suggestion if you want to hear it...

I'm up for it. What's your suggestion?
  

Use the link above (where it says Click To View)and then login.  

No I can post in the other categories, but I don't get a Reply option in the Skinner News category.

Ok the screensaver idea... Your RSS reader screensaver reminded me of the MSN screensaver, which I had a ton of ideas for. Needless to say it was less than easy to get suggestions to those guys. I don't know if you are familiar with the MSN ss but basically it let's you pick directories of pictures to show, and let's you add your own RSS feeds to the few they have to choose from. It also shows the weather with icons and everything.

Well I was thinking something like that with...

1. various optional transitions from pic to pic
2. adjustable display intervals for the feeds
3. the ability to play a podcast feed without disrupting the screensaver
(Here comes the good stuff...)
4. skinnable feed display windows. You could make them to match whatever theme you have going on the rest of the desktop. If nothing else it should be possible to have it use the current visual style. I think having them be skinnable on their own would be extra cool though.
5. (assuming you could do the weather with icons) customizable weather icons


So what do you think? Is a skinnable screensaver possible?

Waiting on formal Stardock consent...for image/logo use...

Thanks Jafo, I figured on that.

dragonmage
Hi,
Well that is a nice idea. I was thinking expanding this saver to include other RSS feeds from other skin sites as well site logo/name transitions.

Everything else seems easy enough. As far as a skinnable saver? Let me get back to you on that.

I was going to attempt to customize the MSN ss, because I found that the graphics for the feed windows were in folders not actually in the exe , but I never got around to it.

The WinCustomize RSS Screen Saver is now available.
Check it out. Suggestions, Comments... please.
  

Hi dragonmage,
Here is my preliminary thoughts.


These 2 ideas are fairly simple. Right now the display feed is set to change every 25 seconds or you can change between the headlines by using the arrow keys on the keyboard.



I am not to familar with Podcasts. I want to explore this idea further.



This idea is very intriguing to me, although I have never heard of a skinnable screen saver. I even asked that question on the IRC...no one has heard of it. But it might be possible.

I'll stay in touch.
  

First time I have been exited about a SS I really enjoy the SS & was even more pleased when the SS did activate today & was able to play with it again Very well done Jimbo, great concept & will be looking forward to your new creations.

dragonimges ideas are great.



.....say basic templates that would replace the current image with those from a Windowblind skin. So a top, bottom, left & right image could be inserted. The same way that you do it with Object dock, Rainlendar, ect to make one matching a WB. Naturally permissions would be required to upload. Keeping it very simple would encourage non-skinners & hopefully open up a whole new world of skinning. As well as being something to be added to a Desktop suite ect.


It's My Secret

jimbo , have you checked out the MSN ss yet?

I was also thinking, if the feed windows are skinnable, the fonts should be customizable also. Ideally I think there should be a Skin directory, with subdirectories for each skin. They would contain the images and an .ini or .cfg or whatever with the font style, color, size, etc.

The simplest way to skin them would probably be to use a single image, .png preferably. (for translucent effects) Then use the .ini to set text margins, how many items to display per feed, etc. That would allow for freeform designs, but then it might not be able to display all the topics on a feed at once. Maybe it could display the specified number of topics, then switch and display that many again, until it goes through all topics on that feed. Come to think of it, if the skinner wanted to make it just a small bar not a whole window they should be able to specify "scrolling" in the .ini

Ok, I'm gonna stop brainstorming now, before you decide to strangle me.

You have to be "raised" to "Skinner" level/priviledges in order to use that particular forum. If you ask nice, maybe My Secret can do that for you. She's a Moderator at Skinning.net

ahh...


Oh jimbo the podcast idea came from InfoRSS a Firefox extension that scrolls feeds across a toolbar on firefox. When it displays a podcast feed it displays a little speaker next to the topic, if you click the speaker it plays the podcast.

Yes, after finding a copy at their blog site. It appears the MSN SS is no more, at least for a while.
The version they have available is really not stable. and the cpu use is high. The MSN SS is a huge project.
It may in the future be finished... maybe they'll name Windows Live Screen Saver. Read the article at this link Titled May 2007 update/

As for your most recent suggestions...  I am still trying to digest your first suggestions.   
I am just learning RSS feeds (making, editing, etc.)
I seem to have a problem loading certain feeds the into screen saver.
I am going to make a WIP or skinners forum at skinning.net.
I would like to get deeper into some of your ideas & My Secrets thoughts in #10

By the way the screen saver
is now available in the screen saver gallery.  

Hey Jimbo, you doing any work on that ss yet?

Hi dragonmage


Yes I have and quite a bit I might add.
Since this last post I have posted a preview of the progress Titled It Is A Skinning World...RSS Reader Screen Saver The same post can be found here at WinCustomize and at SkinArtistry.com.
It took 2 weeks to get replies to emails, permissions, etc together.
I posted another one at Skinning.net, yesterday, titled Skinner's World RSS Reader Screen Saver
Axialis also replied to my questions regarding a customizable screen saver.
Take a look at the W.I.P. it is still very basic, but does show the potential of what it can be.
By late November I hope to have a screen saver with pretty much what you suggested.
Thanks again