Back in the "old days" when cathode ray tubes reigned supreme and flat screens were either nonexistent or so expensive that their existence didn't really matter, the screensaver was born. The screensaver back then actually did what its name said it did, namely save screens. It saved them from the destruction that would occur when any static image was displayed on the screen for too long a time. If that happened, the electron beam that created the image would literally etch the delicate phosphor coating on the inside of the screen's glass and leave a ghostly burned-in shadow that would remain there forever, even with the power turned completely off. Basically if that happened, your screen was toast. It may be interesting to note that one of the most famous of screensavers depicted little flying toasters and pieces of winged toast moving across the screen. Be that as it may, the screensaver was born out of necessity.

All a screensaver did at first was to detect when your computer wasn't being used, and then blank out whatever you were currently working on with a dark screen. The problem there was that one was never sure if the computer was actually turned off or just running the screensaver. Too many times the former was assumed and computers everywhere were being left on all night which caused even more damage due to the unintentional extended computer usage. To make sure that didn't happen, the next generation of screensavers displayed some kind of animated graphic image. It had to be animated otherwise the screensaver itself would cause burn-in which was self-defeating to say the least.

As the years ticked on, the programmers who designed screensavers became more creative since a simple moving pattern was boring at best. Programmers and designers everywhere saw screensavers as an opportunity to express their artistic endeavors on a whole new kind of media canvas. Those years saw screensavers flourish as users looked for ways to individualize their computers and satisfy their passion for self-expression. Then the bottom fell out.

With newer technologies, the CRTs were less susceptible to burn-in and today's flat LCD screens don't have that problem at all. Still, we continue to use screensavers because they're now a form of eye candy that we can enjoy whenever our computers aren't really doing anything or at least not doing anything we have to monitor. Plus the ability to display screensavers is built into all the major platforms like Windows and Mac OS X which come with several screensaver examples right out of the box. But now prepare yourself for something very different.

I recently came across a company that's making a whole different class of screensaver that uses real video. The one common thread throughout their entire library of video screensavers is that they all loop endlessly. So what's he big deal? Well, looping is easy for artificially created animations but incredibly difficult when you're looking at a video of something natural, say a waterfall or a beach scene. Making something in nature appear to continuously run without any kind of "jerk" as it begins the process over again is almost impossible. Yet the folks at TwoSailors.net did it and according to the company, it only took them two years to figure out how to do it.

The screensaver is called Loops and their current version 2.1.3 is a wonder to behold. My favorite is the waterfall. The video takes place in a secluded, misty wood with little birds twittering in the background. A small stream babbles by with a breathtaking gossamer waterfall flowing down into it. As you watch the image, it seems to never end yet you know that the 14 or so megabytes of video can only be so long. But there it sits, endlessly falling and it never seems to repeat. According to the company it does but I'll bet you'll be hard pressed to see where that happens. I can't see it. Besides after a while, just watching it makes me feel so good that I don't care anymore that it does.

My other favorite is a sandy beach where tiny waves glide over the wet sandy threshold. It's so peaceful that you may want to retire there someday (hurricanes not withstanding). Other available Loops are entitled Candle, Diver and Fireplace. Then there's the very strange ones. Chicken has you watching crisply chickens being roasted on one of those rotational grills.
You hear the sizzle and you'd swear you can smell them too. Or how about a Disco ball that endlessly rotates? Trust me, they get even more bizarre like Laundry where you watch clothes through the window of a dryer going round and round.

Go visit the Loops website for samples of all their Loops. Although the website warns you, be advised that the samples are just to give you an idea of what to expect as they do not loop very well. To make it all happen, you need the Loops engine which is a free download. You can buy each Loop screensaver individually for around $6 each or you can buy them in different packs such as the Water Pack or Winter Pack that gives you some additional savings.

If you want something that's very different and strangely compelling running on your computer when you're not using it, then be sure to check out the Loops website for an experience you may not soon forget. For Macintosh OS X only.

loops.twosailors.net