“An enhancement to the Mac OS X operating system under development by Apple looks to pave the way for active desktop pictures, or desktop backgrounds that can include motion graphics and alter themselves based on user actions or the time of the day,” Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider.
“In a patent filing detailing the development, Apple notes that desktop pictures have traditionally been drawn using an image stored in a static picture file that consumes considerable resources in RAM and VRAM (video RAM). In addition, the Mac maker also notes that because desktop pictures are static, transitions between the login screen and the desktop picture are generally abrupt and nonorganic,” Marsal reports.
Marsal reports, “Instead of loading a file that contains the desktop image, Apple’s design looks to provide for a system and method for opening and retaining a procedural ‘recipe’ and a small set of instructions that can be executed to compute a desktop picture over time. The technique is said to reduce requirements for both VRAM and RAM, hence taking less memory away from the system.”
“The Cupertino-based systems builder goes on to say in the filing that seamless integration between login, the desktop picture, and log out also provides a visual hook that can further distinguish products,” Marsal reports.
Much more in the full article here.
Secret Leopard feature? 😮
just please don’t call it ‘Active Desktop’
I want it to work by app launch. In other words, change to solid dark grey when I launch Photoshop, and give me a 3d environment to arrange my projects.
Desktop Effects, anyone?
Desktop Movie Player?
Core Desktop?
jk…. well…. maybe not….
‘Secret Leopard feature’
no, ancient Chinese secret.
“Desktop Effects, anyone?
Desktop Movie Player?”
You can already do this with BSPlayer on any PC. Just go to view and select play on desktop. Now you have a motion picture desktop.
Nevertheless if Apple doea it right it will be very cool. Smooth transitions. Hmmm…
Excellent idea ChrissyOne, whenever I use photoshop I always press F to get full screen grey background. Having OS X automatically turn my desktop background to grey when I launch would be too frickin cool!
I want a desktop with texture and smell.
And a wider media slot.
You can have this now.
do shell script “/System/Library/Frameworks/Screensaver.framework/Resources/ScreensaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -background”
Well, after *reading* the stupid thing, no, that script above won’t do it.
The question is will users lose control of the desktop background and be limited to active Apple backgrounds?
@grok:
just please don’t call it ‘Active Desktop’
Yeah, it would be too easy to confuse with:
active directory
Well,since RAmis so limited on modern computers i can see why this would be big deal!
Enuz: Or it would be too easy to confuse with Active Desktop.
Wiki:
Active Desktop is a feature of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0’s optional Windows Desktop Update that allows the user to add HTML content to the desktop, along with some other features. This functionality was intended to be installed on the then-current Windows 95 operating system. It was also included in Windows 98 and higher Windows operating systems until Windows Vista, where the feature was discontinued.
So the Core Animation will be the most used “app” and always running?
abrupt and nonorganic???
What the hell does non-organic mean???
“What the hell does non-organic mean???”
It means it would make a nasty tasting sandwich.
@TowerTone..
Have you ever played “Shadow Warrior” ??
oh my,
Nope. Can’t say that I have.
Apple revives the animated paperclip!?!? Katie, show me what the hell you mean, I haven’t a clue what you are writing.
“Ancient Chinese Secret” is a line from that old OS 9 game ..
Core Animation is not an app, it is a system framework like Quartz Composer, Core Image, and Core Graphics. And there’s no reason to think that the animated desktop has anything to do with Core Animation.
mmmmmm more eye candy.
Oh, ok.
It is also from a detergent commercial in the ’70’s,
as was spoofed in ‘Wayne’s World’.
Or was it part two?