In the mid-1990s, I got a corporate office job. And the computer at my desk had an option for screen savers. These were animated images that appeared on a screen when the computer was not being actively used. Supposedly, they kept the screen from being damaged by prolonged exposure to a single static image. One option was “Flying Toasters.” I chose it, not really expecting to get what the title said. But sure enough, there they were. A series of toasters (with wings) floated across my screen (along with some free floating toast too). You could even adjust the degree to which the toast was burnt.
Did anyone else use this? Any fun stories to share?
The first idle program that I remember is the aquarium fish. I was surprised the first time I saw one of them eat another. I suspect that the first version didn’t do that.
I’m old enough to remember that program and at the time, it amused me that people were so interested in something you should only see if your computer was idle or not in use.
I had Star Trek and Star Wars versions of the After Dark software. The Trek version included modules which looked like the status panel from the original Enterprise’s medical bay, and another that looked like the Tholian web being erected. The Star Wars one had a module which featured Vader and Obi-Wan going back and forth across the screen, dueling with lightsabers.
I discovered that one could create one’s own versions of the fish in the aquarium version; I made a version of a fish which had bulgy, Homer Simpson-style eyes.
I loved the flying toasters and the aquarium fish. There was also a set of screensavers based on dreamy, colorful tie-dye or geometric patterns. It was in the early 1990s so the details are hazy, but I think you could choose among some parameters like speed of movement, size of the shapes, intensity of the colors, etc. At least one (maybe all) of he choices were named after cities - the only one I recall for sure was “Ithaca.” (Although in retrospect that may have been named after the Cavafy poem or the Greek island or even the college, rather than the town in upstate New York. It was right around the time I spent a year at Cornell, so I always associated it with the town.)
Anybody else remember that? I’ve often wished I could get it again. It was pretty spectacular for its time.
I don’t think so (although “Swirl” gives a good approximation of the type of designs involved) but wow, that is an AMAZING collection. I could get lost in there for hours.
A long, long time ago. . .how long ago was it? It was so long ago, I was able to WALK INTO A STORE and buy a screensaver. It was BABYLON-5 themed. Babylon 5, the TV show that ended in 1998. It had bits of video and audio recorded by the cast just for this program. I was a big fan, and thrilled to get it.
I’ve always liked screensavers, but about 10 or 15 years back, they became a favored way to spread malware. Bastards take everything good and make it bad, but I have several (made for for Windows) I’ve been using for years. I’m near my computer a lot, and when I’m not using it, I like looking over and seeing cool images/effects. These following screensavers have been safe all the many years I’ve used them, but I’m just a guy on the internet. Be careful when DLing and installing things. There, disclaimer done.
I’m pretty sure I posted them before, but if it helps someone. . .
MX-3 STARFIELD SCREENSAVER
The classic first-person starfield, flying-through-space screensaver, updated.
THE MATRIX TRILOGY SCREENSAVER
Made by the same guy who made the starfield one above. Displays a cascade of green text falling down your monitor à la the famous Matrix effect. Many color, speed, size and effect options.
A ‘screensaver construction kit’, of sorts. Backgrounds & foregrounds you can select from, and a randomize feature to mix things up. Not my personal favorite, but really good.
