I normally don't keep things like this. Typically it just takes up room and resources. However, this one has a rather nice effect, very clean and smooth. Doesn't make me change wallpaper to some junk for it to work, it just works. Keeps a notification in the bottom as a running up so it's easy to close out of. And while I haven't used a screensaver in...years (been so long I can't remember when I last had one), I really liked the dimming and the overall effect of it. Will keep this on

levitiquetus  –  7 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+20)

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If it helps at all... maybe why today's GOTD won't work for everyone...

The graphics processor [GPU], depending on make & model, *may* do more than display what you see on screen. It may help with video encoding &/or decoding [playback], & usually has at least some support for parts of Direct X & *maybe* OpenGL [Vulkan], & often supports OpenCL [commonly used for non display related tasks].

Oversimplified, you might think of the Direct X & OpenGL/Vulkan end of things as sort of shortcuts -- instead of the CPU doing all sorts of long & slow calculations, the GPU is told basically to draw this, there. The problem or gotcha is that the graphics hardware may not be able to do everything that's asked of it, or it isn't powerful enough to do whatever fast enough.

Watery Desktop 3D Live Wallpaper and Screensaver uses those sorts of commands [what I just called shortcuts] to calculate & display the FX, so as not to slow down the PC or laptop, which you can still use normally. If the graphics hardware capabilities aren't there, e.g. in my Windows 7 VM, the wallpaper &/or screensaver just fails.

With mid-range to high end games, it's most often the graphics hardware that determines if the game is playable, how well, & with how many optional display features turned on. And the more you pay for graphics hardware, the more capabilities & performance you get. While every year sees improvements, GPUs that are part of the CPU package aren't generally all that powerful, & don't have anywhere near the capabilities of a $100-$200 [or more] add-on graphics card.

A gaming laptop won't usually have separate graphics hardware [like a graphics card in a PC], but basically the same components are added to the main board. When those added components are relatively marginal, &/or to save battery life, the added GPU & the built-in GPU may work together. And those systems are the ones that allegedly had fits with the Microsoft update KB2670838. support[.]microsoft[.]com/en-us/kb/2670838

Do note however that if you have a separate graphics card in your PC, it costs you to use it. When it's in a power-saving mode, like just reading this in your browser, it's using a minimal amount of electricity, & producing less heat. Using it to display animated wallpaper, or a DX screensaver, or gaming causes it to jump out of any power--saving mode, meaning more electrical watts used, more heat, & likely more fan noise to get rid of some of that heat. It's not a big deal -- you got the card to use it -- but if I'm not using this PC to do anything, & I'm away from my desk [so I'm not watching whatever screensaver], I figure I might as well save the electricity, and so don't have a screensaver like this running. With built-in graphics, e.g. my mini-PC, that's not much of an issue -- it's the more powerful add--on card in this PC that consumes much more power.

mike  –  7 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+15)

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what's with this REQUiRED Windows 7 SP1 with Platform Update (KB2670838) Microsoft Update?

A web search using the ubiquitous search engine: appears to suggest that this Update is either, an EViL UPDATE, or causes Blue Screen Of Death, or can't be installed without hassles.

Even CNET offers up an advisory ALERT about it: CNET > Forums > Spyware, Viruses, & Security > Be Careful About New Platform Update KB2670838 [https://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/be-careful-about-new-platform-update-kb2670838-588559/]

As far as I can see it is only an update to allow for the installation of the now discontinued or superceded Internet Explorer 10.x

Peter C1  –  7 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (-2)

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Peter C1, That update gives Windows 7 a lot of the whizzier graphics features of more recent Windows versions, so if someone is using those features then they either need to write their code differently for Win7, not support it, or require the extra libraries.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2670838

It's just newer graphics features, although it did cause issues for some people, especially if they had old graphics drivers as previously undiscovered bugs could come out.

It's not evil, or spyware, or a privacy violation, but it does have some risk of issues as it's providing features the O/S didn't have before (so having the latest driver for your graphics would be a good first step).

It's much more about supporting games better than IE10.

Peter C1, That update gives Windows 7 a lot of the whizzier graphics features of more recent Windows versions, so if someone is using those features then they either need to write their code differently for Win7, not support it, or require the extra libraries. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2670838 It's just newer graphics features, although it did cause issues for some people, especially if they had old graphics drivers as previously undiscovered bugs could come out. It's not evil, or spyware, or a privacy violation, but it does have some risk of issues as it's providing features the O/S didn't have before (so having the latest driver for your graphics would be a good first step). It's much more about supporting games better than IE10.
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JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+13)

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So i have a question before i download this. Do i have to share this on Facebook in order to download it? I deactivated my facebook over a year ago.

Randy Baker  –  7 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+2)

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Randy Baker,
just ask for a link by mail.

Randy Baker, just ask for a link by mail.
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Ootje  –  7 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+12)

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My OS is Windows 10, Does it work?

James Kim  –  7 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (0)

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James Kim, it works on my Windows 10.

James Kim, it works on my Windows 10.
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ew  –  7 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+11)

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