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Using the free Google Photo Screensaver
The Google Screensaver is one of the amazing free applications that is part of Google's free Google Pack software package.
The Google Screensaver is optional as part of Google Pack, but it's one component that you should not miss. With it, you can have a screensaver that uses your own photos that you've accumulated and edited in Google Picasa, from Picasa Web Albums, from your own photos from folders on your computer that you specify (so you can use some photos as screensaver images, but not others), and from photo feeds (which defaults to "Default Google Photo Feed.")
You can control how often the picture changes. You can also control the type of transition from one image to the next. The Visual Effect lets you choose Pan and Zoom, Collage, Wipe and Cross-Fade.
You can access the control panel for Google Screensaver in either of two ways:
- from the Start Menu > All Programs > Google Photos Screensaver > Configure Google Photos Screensaver, or
- Right-click on a blank spot on your Windows Desktop, then select Properties, then click on the Screen Saver tab — that's exactly where the first option takes you.
The Screen Saver tab is on the left image below. If you click on Settings in the Screen Saver tab, you'll get the dialog box on the right, where you can make the adjustments in the Google Screensaver's' options.
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In the left image below, we see the actual screensaver in use (with one of my images that I use as a desktop background). Notice the two sets of controls in the center at the top and bottom of the screen. These allow you to close the screensaver, to hold an individual image or click to go back or advance forward through the images using your mouse.
How can I get the controls to display? That's easy. Just move the mouse to the top or bottom edge of the screen. While most screensavers will stop when you move the mouse, the Google Photo Screensaver requires a keypress to stop the screensaver.
The image on the right is the same image, but without the controls. How to we "lose the controls?" Just move the mouse away from the edge of the screen and don't move it for a few seconds.
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Copyright © 2007-2008 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.
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