CNET Editors' review
This application hands out some rather sagacious desktop enhancements free of charge, though it's only for XP users. PowerToys Fun Pack has two installers, one that allows you to play your favorite videos as a screensaver and another that automatically changes your wallpaper images. The video screensaver's practical interface is configurable via the Windows display properties window. You'll simply go to the screensaver options and select XP Video PowerToy to access its features. You can set your video file to play continuously, mute the sound, and determine the screen size and playback speed. The wallpaper changer's customary interface allows you to select various image files to randomly shift from one wallpaper to the next as often as every 15 minutes or as sparingly as once a week. It also can be set to display full-screen slide shows from the system-tray icon. Anyone keen on propagating a little desktop variety will enjoy PowerToys Fun Pack.
Publisher's Description
From Microsoft:
PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released to manufacturing. They add fun and functionality to your amazing Windows experiences. Included in the PowerToys Fun Pack:
The Windows XP Screen Saver PowerToy makes it easy to play any Windows Media Video or series of videos (such as home movies created with Windows Movie Maker 2) as your Windows XP screen saver.
Windows XP Desktop Wallpaper Changer PowerToy Make your computer desktop more dynamic, interactive, useful, and fun. The Wallpaper Changer PowerToy allows your desktop wallpaper to change automatically. It also lets you choose which images to display. Select the folder of images to display as a slide show and set the display interval to change wallpaper every few minutes, hours, or days. The simple intuitive interface is easily available from the system tray.
More Popular Desktop Customization downloads
- Fences
27,073 downloads
- ObjectDock
23,136 downloads
- WindowBlinds
15,914 downloads
- Winstep Nexus Dock
11,534 downloads
- Winstep Xtreme
4,281 downloads
-
All versions:
3.3 starsout of 18 votes
-
Current version:
3.3 starsout of 18 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
-
"Very Poor...Only works with Windows Media Player 9"
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Pros
None. There are no Pros.
Cons
Only works with Windows Media Player 9. When I click the link to download, only WMP 11 is available from Microsoft. Booo! Couldn't even get it to work.
-
"Needs to be updated"
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Pros
The screen saver configuration is very nice.
Cons
1. Requires WMP version 9. My workstations have WMP version 11, but I'm constently nagged to get version 9.
2. Requires you to also select a background image. I like the screensaver options, but would rather just have a blank desktop background.Summary
Installed, tried, uninstalled. Too bad.
-
"Useless"
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Pros
Nothing
Cons
Freezes display panel,asks for media player nine. I could not even get my pictures in as wallpaper. A complete waste of time and I installed it.....still looking
-
"does what I wanted BUT"
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Pros
Does what I wanted. Changes my wall paper automatically based on a given folder and selected time.
Cons
Keeps asking me to install windows media player 9.
-
"i just downloaded it"
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Pros
i just downloaded it
Cons
i just downloaded it
-
"Simple and stable"
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Pros
Easy-to-use, never crashed over several months of use.
Cons
Won't randomly choose wallpapers, but rather selects them in alphebetical order of wallpapers' file names.
-
"Good but..."
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Pros
I really like the program, have been looking for something that could change my desktop but I had to put all my pictures into one folder, program doesnt read sub folders. I get the same problem with the screensaver and since I have windows xp I dont know why its asking to install windows media player 9 since that version isnt for windows xp. The desktop changer is a little limited but it was what I was looking for. Other than that Im happy I downloaded the program and also like that its free! Good bang for your no buck:)
Cons
Screensaver asks to download windows media player 9 and the display properties box freezes, eventhough to my knowledge this version is not supported with windows xp.
The desktop changer program can not read sub folders so you will have to put all your backgrounds into one folder unorganized.
-
"Its good But its "f"ing w/ the display properties"
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Pros
good stuff for free
Cons
freezes the Display Properties Panel, all it says is windows media player 9. Won't take any commands from me.
-
"Very good."
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Pros
This program is really easy to install, use, and the results are pretty good. I'd rather use this than a normal screensaver, since I have a lot of vids on my computer. The wallpaper utility just makes your desktop that little bit more interesting.
Cons
A little too simplistic for my liking, a randomisation control would've been nice.
-
"no clue"
Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1
Summary
no clue
