Many software programs have been created in the past two years that automatically switch wallpapers on a computer desktop. We covered John’s Background Switcher, Scrollwall or the more recent Web Wallpaper. Some would say that these applications might be overkill under certain circumstances. They all run in the background permanently even if the user wanted to switch backgrounds only once a session during system startup. This is wasting system resources because the applications will not become active during that session anymore.
This is probably the same line of thought that convinced Dario Volaric to create a back to basics edition of this Wallpaper Shifter application. This will probably appeal to many users who are looking for a lightweight wallpaper changer. The application picks a random wallpaper from a directory selected by the user and sets it as the active Windows wallpaper.
Once that has been done it closes down which means that it will not use any system resources from that point on. The application was designed to run during system startup but it can also be run when executed while Windows is running.
It comes with a few options to change the scale mode (automatic, crop, fit, center) and the background (default, blur, edge repeat) but that’s it. If you are looking for a one time a session wallpaper changer then this might be exactly what you are looking for.
Make sure to check out the wallpaper repositories Windows 7 Wallpapers or Windows Wallpapers.
Related posts:
Jellybean Wallpaper ChangerLightweight Wallpaper Changer
Free Wallpaper Changer
Web Wallpaper
Fleace Flickr Wallpaper Changer
9 Responses to “Wallpaper Shifter”
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[...] If you need a more complex wallpaper changer that will stay active during your Window session, check out John’s Background Switcher. Wallpaper Shifter is freeware, Windows only. Wallpaper Shifter 7 [via gHacks] [...]
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[...] If you need a more complex wallpaper changer that will stay active during your Window session, check out John’s Background Switcher. Wallpaper Shifter is freeware, Windows only. Wallpaper Shifter 7 [via gHacks] [...]
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[...] Wallpaper Shifter [...]
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[...] Via gHacks [...]
Now if it only would support flickr like “john’s background switcher” it would be perfect :)
I used some wallpaper changers and I can see where it might have use for others, but, because I change my wallpaper as often as I see something that catches my eye on the net, it proved to be easier to just use the generic windows right-click facility for setting them
John’s Desktop Switcher can actually be set to run, change wallpaper, and close. Thats what I have!
No resource leaking for me.
john’s background switcher has a command line interface which will execute it’s commands and then exit. This can be run at login or by using task scheduler it you don’t want the program running all the time. And yes, it will work with all the other features such as flickr, smugmug, etc….
Windows really needs an additional program for this?!? KDE has had this feature for years!