Windows DreamScene - Animated Wallpaper for an Ultimate Extra

Totally cool desktop customization

Published on January 7, 2007 By Frogboy In CES 2007

As Microsoft just announced, one of the first Ultimate Extras (extra features users of Windows Vista Ultimate can download) is a new animated wallpaper feature called "Windows DreamScene".

Windows DreamScene at a glance:

A Windows Vista Ultimate Extra
Run High-Definition Video as a Wallppaer
Uses .MPEG/.WMV as content

So what exactly is Windows DreamScene? And what are the extensions and enhancements coming out for it?

Windows DreamScene is an animated wallpaper technology developed by Microsoft that plays high-definition video content as your wallpaper. The key ability of it is that it can do so without using significant amounts of CPU (basically the decoding of the video is the only real CPU use involved). The animation itself is run through the hardware accelerated DWM.

Software developer Stardock, makers of popular desktop enhancement utilities such as WindowBlinds, DesktopX, ObjectDock, etc. worked with Microsoft on the creation of content and has developed a number of tools to extend the feature set of Windows DreamScene.

On the content side, Stardock Design created a number of 3D animated content for Microsoft including the default animated Aurora. Microsoft is holding back on releasing all the content they have until Spring 2007. Stardock also added support for animated wallpapers on its popular WinCustomize.com community site at Dream.WinCustomize.com.

With regards to the additonal tools and enhancements Stardock has released two of them.

The first enhancement is a new program called DeskScapes. DeskScapes extends DreamScenes to support dynamic content (i.e. videos are pre-rendered). With dynamic content, you could have your wallpaper change based on weather, time of day, or news. Or you could just have some cool Direct3D "stuff" that runs (like one of those fish aquariums running as your wallpaper).

Stardock DeskScapes at a glance:

Extends Windows DreamScene to support Dynamic/Live content
Adds support for the .Dream format
Displays author info/URL in the desktop background dialog
Supports triggers (change videos based on time, weather, etc.)
Is only available for Windows Vista Ultimate Users
Is free

The other key feature of DeskScapes is that it introduces the .DREAM format. This allows artists to protect their artwork. The .DREAM format supports triggers (changing what is playing based on specific triggers) and it allows creators to insert their author info and a link to their website which we think is crucial to encourage artists to spend the time to create good animated wallpapers.

The other tool Stardock is working on is tentatively called Dream Maker. What it does is make it easy for authors to create .Dream files. Its goal will be to help make it as easy as possible to create your own animated wallpapers.

To learn more about Windows Vista Ultimate, go to www.windowsultimate.com. To download content to personalize your Windows Vista experience, visit www.wincustomize.com.

Get More Dreams (animated wallpapers): Dream.WinCustomize.Com

Screenshots:

(1) Dyanmic content uses virtually no CPU, it's all on the video card. (2) DreamScene in action. (3) .Dream Files support author info.

Comments (Page 2)

SuperRob

on Jan 08, 2007

Can't help but notice that "Blissful" is shown in the third shot, but as a sunrise or sunset. Is that going to be one of the dynamic DeskScapes? Because that would be HOT.

As I understand DeskScapes, basically all you're doing is using some sort of XML feed or service to determine when to swap out video. So if you do it based on time, perhaps you're reading the time in the system, but for the weather, maybe you're reading it from the weather gadget or something.

That said, how does DeskScape handle the switch? Is there a noticeable "pop" as the new video loads? How do you handle transitions from one video to the next? God, I have so many questions!

Neil Banfield

on Jan 08, 2007

Excalpius: Deskscapes will require Windows Vista Ultimate.

Neil Banfield

on Jan 08, 2007

SuperRob: Deskscapes does not just do video or video with triggers. We can also render true live 3d content on the desktop. The first screenshot is an example of that. If for example you wanted a spinning teapot on your desktop, we can do that. We can even mix video & 3D content together.

The big advantage of rendered content is it can use very little cpu and scale to all resolutions well. Right now I have a simple 3d animation going with 2 intersecting circles. Total cpu usage : near 0%

In terms of switching between videos, that does depend on how quickly the file can be accessed on the hard drive. Though we could cross fade videos in, or preload if it becomes a problem. You do not get a black flash or anything like that!

MSethWeisberg

on Jan 08, 2007

This is my question. I love what dreamscene is going to be and I am by far a fan of stardock. But as of late WC has been slow. What will this new site do to the bandwidth? Will WC/Stardock be able to handle it?

Also will dreamscene turn into desktopgadgets.com or is this something that will be promoted?

ZubaZ

on Jan 08, 2007

Also will dreamscene turn into desktopgadgets.com or is this something that will be promoted?

Ouch!

CharlesCS

on Jan 08, 2007

Wow, this is the greatest thing I have seen yet. I look forward to a background of a thunderstorm with moving clouds, lightning and maybe even some rain. Like something out of rain forest.

This would be very relaxing for a person, like me, who uses thunder storm sounds to sleep with. Wow, now I want Vista more than ever. I just hope something is done about the DRM issue I have heard so much about in Vista.

Excalpius

on Jan 08, 2007

I love the idea of tying into a clock/time zone weather thing. Another idea would be to connect a webcam to it, so if someone has a feed from say Venice Beach you could have that running in the background instead of just a lil window in the corner.

And the Milkdrop guys should tie their WinAmp plugin to this ASAP!!!

BiffBKStudmuffin

on Jan 08, 2007

Yea this just makes me want Vista Ultimate even more. When is it coming out i want it so badly

Jafo

on Jan 08, 2007

But as of late WC has been slow.

Interestingly...au contraire....the past day or two have been the FASTEST I have seen....[and I've been here a 'while']...

PoSmedley

on Jan 09, 2007

'Is Free'

How is it free if it's only available to Ultimate users? If you don't have Ultimate and just the lower end version of Vista and you want this feature, you have to pay to upgrade, right? You have to pay more for Ultimate right off the top, don't you?

I think the feature is cool, but MS is just shaking us down. Like with XP Plus when they had Plus! and then Media Plus!. Why couldn't they just have put them together? Why not make this new feature available on all Vista versions, and why so many versions of Vista to begin with? I feel like I am at a car dealership and they are trying to sell me the dang undercoating and telling me if I want this really cool new feature, I HAVE to pay and get the undercoating as well.

ZubaZ

on Jan 09, 2007

Po', their goal is not to give you the best product. Their goal is to make the most money. So it's in their interest to create an upgrade path. You knew that already, didn't you.

Time to take off the socialist tin-foil hat.

BlackBeard

on Jan 09, 2007

Sounds great!

PoSmedley

on Jan 09, 2007

You knew that already, didn't you

Yes. I'm just tired of it.

I mentioned in another thread, since MS was kind enough to tap WC for the promotion of this feature and all, maybe they would be kind enough to throw a few copies of Vista Ultimate WC's way to give out in a contest. It seems it's the least they could do considering all the free publicity and promotion they will be getting out of WC and it's users.

ZubaZ

on Jan 09, 2007

I'd bet dimes to dollars that they'll be a contest soon at WC and that Vista Ultimate will be a prize. It's too good a marketing opportunity for Stardock/Wincustomize to miss.

PoSmedley

on Jan 09, 2007

That would be nice, as long as you don't have to have Vista and all it's new toys to participate. Then, IMHO, it would be pointless.

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