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Windows DreamScene - Animated Wallpaper for an Ultimate Extra

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Windows DreamScene - Animated Wallpaper for an Ultimate Extra

Totally cool desktop customization

from WinCustomize Forums

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.

 

634,721 views 75 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Interesing, I used Dream Renderer back in the day... it gets old, too

New caption: "Microsoft, still way behind but making last, look good!
Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Has anybody been able to actually download this? I've had Windows Vista Ultimate for a while now, and I don't see this Ultimate Extra anywhere.


I've seen several references to it being available "at a later date", both at Microsoft and in some of the articles Brad has written. Your guess is as good as mine as to what "at a later date" actually means.

Both Brad and MS have mentioned that the Ultimate Extra itself will be available as a "technology preview" shortly after launch, with the final product being available later (I'm thinking June, though I don't remember why). Honestly, I don't know if that "technology preview" is something that is downloadable and usable, or if they just mean that they'll give us preview screens and video of what it will look like when it finally comes out.

Frankly, I'm a little miffed at laying down the extra cash for Ultimate, since this was the main reason I bought it (Texas Hold'em isn't worth the extra $100). I could have saved myself the dough and gotten the Home Premium version and done the Anytime Upgrade once this feature had been released.

Funny how there are a lot of references now to it being available "later", but I don't remember anything about a lag time between Vista launch and DreamScene availability ever being mentioned prior to the release of Vista. Seems like MS wanted DreamScene to be one of the things to put people over the hump on buying Ultimate, and figured that may not work unless no one knew that that feature wouldn't be available at launch. Certainly worked on me...
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #53 from Stardock Forums Top
"Technology preview" is basically Microsoft's fancy way of calling it a "beta."
Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top
THEY STOLE THIS FROM DREAMRENDER!!

seriously, dreamrender was created earlier in xp's life, not only did it play movies as desktop background it also could add 3d stuff to wallpaper or add liquid motion to it, also could use webcam stuff as a desktop or weather radars even, add .3ds models..etc, near limitless unlike what these thieves have done.

users could upload the .dream files to share, dreamrender was once abandoned because the 2 creators split and was then handed over to the d.r. community where its now offered freely if you donate to the cause, however its site is sometimes down and i dunno if its out completely or not...however its a good program and works in vista if you can find it.

i'm not knocking dreamscenes and its deskcape additions, its nice to finally see another product thats so much like dreamrender even though its been 5 years but they seriously stole everything, not source code per say but the whole .dream file thing and everything else about it is an obvious knock off
Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Unfortunately, they'll need Windows Ultimate presently.

Incidentally, DeskScapes will be part of Object Desktop.

If its part of OD how can it be free?

Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Some of OD's packages are free...

I tried this, not bad....but it will not uninstall. Say's "Cannot read Install.log" and it's readable with notepad!!
Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If its part of OD how can it be free?

The Object Desktop version comes with additional content.

Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top

THEY STOLE THIS FROM DREAMRENDER!!

seriously, dreamrender was created earlier in xp's life, not only did it play movies as desktop background it also could add 3d stuff to wallpaper or add liquid motion to it, also could use webcam stuff as a desktop or weather radars even, add .3ds models..etc, near limitless unlike what these thieves have done.

users could upload the .dream files to share, dreamrender was once abandoned because the 2 creators split and was then handed over to the d.r. community where its now offered freely if you donate to the cause, however its site is sometimes down and i dunno if its out completely or not...however its a good program and works in vista if you can find it.

i'm not knocking dreamscenes and its deskcape additions, its nice to finally see another product thats so much like dreamrender even though its been 5 years but they seriously stole everything, not source code per say but the whole .dream file thing and everything else about it is an obvious knock off

OS/2 had animated wallpaper back in 1992.

Animated wallpaper as a concept is nothing new. Being able to do it without bringing your system to a crawl or interfering with how you work is.

Reply #60 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Has anybody been able to actually download this? I've had Windows Vista Ultimate for a while now, and I don't see this Ultimate Extra anywhere.


If you're referring to Dream Scapes and Dream Maker go to dream.wincustomize.com and click the 'more details'
Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Animated wallpaper as a concept is nothing new. Being able to do it without bringing your system to a crawl or interfering with how you work is.


Excellent point Frogboy DreamRender often rendered a blue screen or two!   
Reply #63 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I REALLY LIKE THIS - using it now, however only to look at not to work with!! I've yet to find a wallpaper or dream scene to run at anything below 60% cpu (ms default) everything else max's my cpu out @ 100%!
AMD XP 3000+
1024mb memory
BFG 6800 Ultra - up to date drivers.

Does Vista (Ultimate) need a third party video decoder? or am I missing something.

My clean installation is 2 days old with the the following:
Vista Ultimate
Office 2003
Nero 7 Premium
SD Central and
Windowblinds 5.5 for now

(by the way, clifftop dreamscene is brilliant if only I could actually use it!)
Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What about those of us that don't have Vista, let alone ultimate? I would like to be able to create a few animations myself, but how do I need to render them? Will there be a tutorial on which video compressions/codecs we should use. Do they need to be 800x600...1024x768 based or 4:3 & 16:9, or are they resolution independent?
Reply #65 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Myself I have Vista Ultimate and love the Dreamscene. So far I've been able to down clips from DeskScape and Stardock. But I'm having a heck of time finding the infamous Yosemite Lower Falls clip so I can download it and enjoy one more view! Anybody know how I can find it??
Reply #66 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it should be on your updates, if not then it is already installed automaticly, right click your desktop and go to props and then background you should see the option
Reply #67 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've just installed DeskScapes and have the FutureWorld.Dream running, which frankly I love, but when I attempted to install the equally awesome Azenis2 skin, which I feel is the perfect partner for the FW Dream, I get an error message saying I need Aero as my skin?

So can I only have one or the other - either a .Dream background or a WindowBlind?
Reply #68 from WinCustomize Forums Top

SENTiNEL: It sounds like you have a very old version of WB running.

You need to install the release build of 5.5 on Vista.

Reply #69 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Mr. Banfield, Sir

I had the latest WindowBlinds 5.5 Beta installed, but see that it's released today so I'll see if that makes a difference - I also noted that the beta wasn't activated initially properily, but activating it didn't solve the problem, maybe it's as much to do with my GFX cards and their drivers (2x nVidia 6800GT, 256Mb RAM), I'm going to fire up SDC once I'm done downloading the Vista Updates.

Reply #71 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hey can i install it to Home Premium? is it possible? or what can i do?


DreamScene is an Ultimate Extra, therefore it requires Vista Ultimate.

 
Reply #72 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So Let me get this strait...The only way to get dream scene, or scape, or whatever, is to by the ultimate version of Vista. The business version, for businesses, with business people, who use there PC's for business and not the leisure version for lie surly people who like lie surly options such as dynamic wallpapers. All for the low...low... price of $400. give or take.

P.S. I don't care if I spelled strait correctly or not.
Reply #73 from WinCustomize Forums Top
drzues


DreamScene is an Ultimate Extra, therefore it requires Vista Ultimate.





It's My Secret
Reply #74 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's not worth it kids.. relax, your not missing out on anything. It is real cool at first, but then you realize that this stuff just doesnt work in the real world. It WILL slow down your rig no matter what you are using. I am using 4 monitors now, and it wont even run. When I was using two, it would eat at least 40-50% of my CPU, and let's face it, that is good for like a day or two, before you turn it off. YAY for moving wallpaper, but please, realize that you will NOT use this.

AMD x2 6000+
4 gigs corsair
dual evga 8800GTX
dual 22" Acers, and dual 19" Viewsonics...

NOT WORTH IT. Runs like hell, waste of precious CPU.... trust in that.
Reply #75 from WinCustomize Forums Top
on my pc it also eats 40-50% of the CPU, AND it isn't able to open other .dream -files than the ones that came with the program-.- AMD 64 X2 6000+, 4 GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce 8500GT 512/1791 MB, Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 - 40" Full HD