ProSaver Screensaver Manager
Reviewer’s Guide
Revised October 7, 2006
Contents:
I. What is ProSaver Screensaver Manager?
II. Getting started
III. Program features
IV. Additional information
V. About our company
A link to a ZIP file containing the original high-resolution versions of each image used in this document can be found at the end of Section V.
Download RTF file (5.08 MB)
I. What is ProSaver Screensaver Manager?
ProSaver Screensaver Manager is a full-featured screensaver management and enhancement application that lets users organize, arrange, and play back all of their favorite screensavers, and even add background music. All of this and more is accomplished by means of a professional, easy-to-use Windows interface.
There are literally thousands of screensavers today that can be downloaded with just a few clicks of the mouse. They provide all of us with a much-needed break from our hectic routine. How many times have we returned from the fridge or the water cooler only to be pleasantly surprised by the screensaver running on our desktop? It can do wonders for our state of mind to just sit back, relax, and watch for a few minutes.
Do you have a favorite screensaver? Most of us do; in fact, the vast majority of computer users, whether at home or in the office, have several favorites that they would like to use. Unfortunately, Microsoft Windows only allows the selection of a single screensaver at any given time. ProSaver Screensaver Manager acts as an extension of the Windows Control Panel and overcomes this limitation by allowing the selection of any number of screensavers, which are then played back, one after another, according to the user's preferences. Whether you like to watch gently flowing waterfalls, morphing geometrics, blasting enemy spaceships in the outer reaches of space, or all of the above, ProSaver Screensaver Manager ensures you will never have to stop using any of your favorite screensavers again!
This program has been designed for all users of Microsoft Windows who enjoy using and watching screensavers. Screensavers have come a long way since the original "blank screen", and today they can truly be described as a form of art. ProSaver Screensaver Manager is your own personal "art gallery", and you are the one who decides what is included in your collection of masterpieces.
For further resources, see our Soapbox article "A brief history of screensavers" at http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/ssaverhistory.htm.
II. Getting started
System requirements:
OS: Windows 98/Me/NT4.0/2000/XP or higher
CPU: Intel Pentium Pro (or equivalent) 500 MHz or higher
Memory: 32MB RAM
Video: Minimum 800x600 display resolution
Hard Disk: 2MB of hard disk space
It is also recommended that Microsoft DirectX 8.1 or higher be installed due to the audio enhancement capabilities it provides, particularly for playback of MIDI files. The most recent version of DirectX is freely available for download from the Microsoft website. Visit http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/directx.htm for instructions and help on finding and installing the software.
Installation of this software is simple and straightforward. If the software has been downloaded as a compressed ZIP file, use a program such as WinZip to open/extract the files inside and run the SETUP.EXE program to begin installation. If the software is contained in a self-extracting EXE file, run it to automatically extract the necessary files to a temporary folder and begin installation. In either case, when the Setup program begins, just follow the step-by-step instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Figure 1: The ProSaver Setup Screen
Program removal is also simple and straightforward. The Setup program creates a program folder in the Start Menu for ProSaver Screensaver Manager, which contains an option to "Uninstall ProSaver". Click this option to remove the program from your system.
III. Program features
Creating screensaver playlists: ProSaver Screensaver Manager allows users to quickly and easily create playlists from the available screensavers on their system. A concise Screensaver List displays each screensaver's name as well as a user-assigned theme and rating. A click of the mouse adds a screensaver to the current playlist.
Figure 2: The ‘Screensavers’ Tab
The Current Playlist displays a list of the screensavers that will be shown when playback begins. Items in the playlist can be arranged in any order, and different playlists (based on theme, holiday seasons, etc.) can be saved and loaded as needed. Newly downloaded screensavers can be added to the list with minimal effort, and "stale" screensavers can be removed just as easily.
Setting playback options: ProSaver Screensaver Manager provides a number of settings for users to play back screensavers according to their own preferences. Choose to show only one screensaver per playback session or display screensavers from the current playlist as a slideshow, one after another, each one for a specified number of minutes. Screensavers can also be shown in order from the playlist, or ProSaver can surprise you by selecting random screensavers to display.
Figure 3: The ‘Playback Options’ Tab
Advanced options include the ability to add new paths for storing screensavers (other than the default Windows and Windows System folders). This feature can be useful for users who would like to store screensaver files in a common location, for installing a number of (perhaps older) screensavers at one time, or for installing screensavers on certain systems that do not allow the Windows folders to be modified.
Organizing a screensaver collection: Some users accumulate screensaver collections of massive proportions. ProSaver Screensaver Manager makes organizing such a collection easy by giving users the ability to assign themes, ratings, and descriptions to each screensaver.
Figure 4: The Screensaver Info Editor
ProSaver comes pre-loaded with a number of useful themes, or categories, that can be used for organizing screensavers. However, there may be some screensavers that do not fit into any of these categories, or users may prefer different ones. New themes can be added quickly and easily with the Themes Manager.
Figure 5: The Themes Manager
The Screensaver Info Editor also allows users to assign ratings to their screensavers, allowing the best ones to be found quickly. Additionally, a brief description for each screensaver can be added to remind users of what they like (or dislike) about each screensaver.
Shortcuts and time-savers: ProSaver Screensaver Manager offers users a number of time-saving features when interacting with the program. A ProSaver icon can optionally be displayed in the Windows system tray area. Right-clicking this icon opens a menu which includes options to immediately start the screensaver, to open the ProSaver Main Window, and to open the Windows Display Properties box. Double-clicking the icon also opens the ProSaver Main Window.
Even easier than using the icon, a number of hotkeys are available for some common and useful operations. For example, if you are about to leave your computer, use the 'Start screensaver' key combination to instantly hide your desktop. If you have just installed a brand new screensaver, use the 'Open ProSaver options' combination to view the screensaver's settings and information and to add it to the current playlist.
Additional hotkey operations during screensaver playback include the ability to skip to the next screensaver in the playlist (useful for showing off your screensaver collection to friends or colleagues) and to adjust the volume during playback.
Adding background music: One of the most useful features of ProSaver Screensaver Manager, at least from an artistic point-of-view, is the ability to add background music to most screensavers. Have you ever thought that a certain screensaver would be just perfect … if only it had a certain song playing in the background? With ProSaver Screensaver Manager, users can easily adjust audio settings and create music playlists to use as background music for their favorite screensavers.
Figure 6: The Music Manager
Numerous audio formats are supported, including MP3, WAV, MIDI, WMA, AU, and others. A small number of sample MIDI files is included with the program for users who are new to digital audio. ProSaver can even be used in many cases to replace the background music that accompanies some screensavers. In any case, the right music can quickly turn a good screensaver into a great screensaver!
ProSaver also takes advantage of the powerful DirectX Audio synthesizer, which is a highly advanced playback system for MIDI and WAV files. The DirectX synthesizer provides a level of audio quality that is vastly superior to the generic MIDI driver that comes with Microsoft Windows. ProSaver also takes advantage of some of the audio effects that DirectX can add, including reverberation and chorus effects. After listening to a few MIDI files in this way, most users agree that DirectX Audio is the best way to listen to their MIDI file collection.
A list of useful audio resources can be found on the WaveBreak Software website at http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/audioresources.htm.
Extensive help system: ProSaver Screensaver Manager includes an extensive Help file that explains every aspect of interacting with the program. Context help is available for nearly every control, which can be accessed with a simple right-click. Additionally, the Help file contains a number of tutorials to help new users get up and running quickly, and to help all users take full advantage of the program's features.
IV. Additional information
ProSaver Screensaver Manager has been designed to give users an intuitive and professional alternative to some of the other screensaver management applications that are available. By and large, these are neither easy to use nor professional! In addition, some screensaver managers listed as "free, Free, FREE!" are loaded with spyware and adware. We have all heard the old saying, "You get what you pay for," and software is no exception, so please be cautious about what you download, and read everything very carefully when installing a "free" application. Unnecessary stress and hassles are a terrible (and surprisingly common) way that many of us pay for "free" software, so do yourself a favor and stick with good software from good companies, like WaveBreak Software.
All software downloads from WaveBreak Software are digitally signed and certified for the protection of our users. A 30-day trial version of ProSaver Screensaver Manager can be downloaded at http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/prosaver.htm. The full version can be ordered securely on the WaveBreak Software website for only $15.95 (US). Other payment forms, including phone and standard mail, are also available. Visit our website (http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com) for further information.
For further resources, see our Soapbox articles "Is it safe to buy software online?" at http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/safetobuy.htm, "Why don't I just use free software?" at http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/freesoftware.htm, and "What are digital signatures and certificates?" at http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/digitalsignatures.htm.
V. About our company
WaveBreak Software is a small company comprised of a talented group of independent software developers with a simple goal: To produce top-quality downloadable software without the hassles that have come to be associated with online computer programs.
We went into business because each of our team members uses software every day that we have downloaded from the Internet. Most of these programs perform their duties well without any awe-inspiring features, and some of them can be described as truly exceptional in their functioning.
However, there is a growing trend among some unethical software developers that has us quite alarmed: More and more companies are producing "free" software that has no goal other than to get you to buy other products. From a marketing standpoint, this sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, these companies often use deceptive practices to sneak these programs onto your computer.
This is why we have decided to stand out as a different sort of company! Our primary mission is to provide you with top-quality software that is safe to download and easy to use. However, our secondary goal is to raise public awareness about the unscrupulous practices being used so that legitimate online software distributors will not be hurt in the long run.
All WaveBreak Software products are guaranteed to contain NO ADWARE, NO SPYWARE, or other HIDDEN SOFTWARE, which are common annoyances found in many of the "free" screensavers and games that are available for download today. Our software is of the highest quality, and we at WaveBreak Software refuse to bombard our valued customers with these nuisances.
Please feel free to contact
us with any questions, comments, or suggestions. We thrive on your input!
Product information: http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/prosaver.htm
Direct download: http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/downloads/prosaver_sw.exe
Contact information: http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/contactus.htm
Company website: http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com
A ZIP file containing the
original high-resolution versions of all images used in this document can be
downloaded at http://www.wavebreaksoftware.com/reviewers/ps_images.zip.