- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP/Vista
- Date added: September 10, 2008
- Total Downloads: 35,799
- Downloads last week: 52
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 9 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET staff on June 02, 2009
The ArcSoft Photo Book Screen Saver presents an attractive album-style display on your computer, provided you can ignore the fact that it's a blatant advertisement for ArcSoft's Print Creations photo products.
The concept behind the screensaver is a simple one, and ArcSoft executes it nicely. Users select a folder of photos they'd like to use, and the screensaver displays them as though they are arranged in a photo album, with the virtual pages turning at a speed that the user can adjust. In fact, the speed of the page-turns and the location of the photos are the only two variables that users can control. This may sound like a pleasant way to display your photos, and it is, but it's hard to ignore the fact that ArcSoft really wants you to buy real, physical photo books. It's as much a commercial as it is a personalized screensaver. And if that were not annoying enough, the screensaver comes with a utility called ArcSoft Connect that runs in the taskbar and, if not turned off, pops up small ads for other ArcSoft products.
Although it installs a desktop shortcut without asking, the program is easily installed and uninstalled. This is good, as users may tire of being marketed to fairly quickly. Although some users may be able to ignore the ads and enjoy the photo book, there are other photo-based screensavers out there that aren't just commercials in disguise, and they may be better choices.
Publisher's description
From ArcSoft :ArcSoft Photo Book Screen Saver presents a new generation of photo slideshows in a photo book style. With ArcSofts smart layout technology, your favorite photos can be transformed into a cool photo book within seconds. Every time the screen saver is running, it can generate different styles of photo books with frames, layouts, and backgrounds. Version 1 includes unspecified updates.
What's new in this version:
This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.3 stars out of 9 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 8 user reviewsSee all 8 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: ArcSoft Photo Book Screen Saver 1
Pros: Fantastic screensaver
Cons: Plagued by ads to the point where there are more ads than your photos being shown.
Summary: Don't waste your time.
Shame somebody could not write something identical as freeware without the ads..... -
Version: ArcSoft Photo Book Screen Saver 1
"Windows photo screensaver just as good.."
Pros: It does act like a photo book..
Cons: nagging ads takes away intended use.
Summary: some don't mind but I would rather it leave the sells pitch to before or after it's intended display.. Just a little too drab to be investing real money into..
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Version: ArcSoft Photo Book Screen Saver 1
"good software family like very creative"
Pros: easy to use and avery good photo screensaver and the thing i like about it it's free
Cons: no cons founded
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Version: ArcSoft Photo Book Screen Saver 1
"Cute, but it is just an ad --and has no uninstaller."
Pros: It's kinda cute
Cons: small pictures --constantly nagging a price.
Summary: Find another screensaver if you want to display your pictures. If you want to buy arcsoft, this may be a decent demo
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Version: ArcSoft Photo Book Screen Saver 1
"Interesting concept but not really practical"
Pros: Loved the concept of using your own albums as screen savers to see fun photos when your machine is idle.
Cons: When my computer goes idle after sitting, the screen goes blank and I don't get to enjoy the photos as it was designed to be enjoyed. If my screen isn't blank, then I'm working on something.
Summary: As mentioned above, after my computer goes idle, the screen goes blank. When I sit back down and hit the space bar, one of two things happen: I have to sign on again and then whatever I was working on before pops back up OR my computer freezes and... read more >>
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