Okay, so there are some interesting features in this screensaver by Microsoft, but a beta? Who really wants to test out a Beta screensaver?
Anyways, here are the details from Microsoft:
Stay on top of news, weather, and e-mail with the next step in the evolution in screen savers. With the MSN® Screen Saver (Beta), you can display your photos, click news headlines, check the local weather, display your friends’ photos and blogs from their MSN Spaces, and set up your own RSS news feeds.
Tracking RSS Feeds on a screen saver is kinda cool. I could have my computer just site there running showing me the latest news. I have not tried it out yet… I am afraid of what Beta means for a screensaver.
I have begun to use it. seems simple enough.
It’s really simple really. Although you can’t have multiple RSS feeds displayed.
I just see it as yet another way for them to try and promote their search engine…
On Vista every window will probably have a search box somewhere to use MSN’s Search Engine.
For now all these things seem harmless but I expect a much more aggressive approach when Vista is released.
I’ve already seen a “Purchase music” link on a music folder, MSN Search on IE7 and now a search box on a screen-saver. Call me paranoid if you must, but I think Microsoft’s taking it too far and I think it will only be a matter of time before they have to start stripping their OS clear of these things.
Google and Apple have been quiet so far for all the things they’ve copied or tried to improve that weren’t theirs. But it’s anyone’s guess for how long they will remain silent.
I don’t want to state the obvious but isn’t it a screensaver i.e. the computer has been inactive for a period of time, usually because you’ve gone for a coffee. Ergo, you’re not there, your not goign to read it. Unless every time you want to check RSS headlines you have to wait perfectly still for 10mins. I would have thought installing a normal RSS reader would be more sensible but it seems I’m missing something.
I guess it could be for the benefit of passers by, but do you really want to come back to your computer to find people standing at your desk reading the latest slashdot headlines of your screensaver?
Btw, I love the line:
“next step in the evolution in screen savers”
Sorry, but that just make me laugh.
It reminds me a bit of the RSS screensaver that Apple released with OS X Tiger. I don’t think I will use it, but I think it will have a positive effect by introducing more users to RSS. I find that most people that I speak with don’t know what RSS is… which is a shame because it is so useful and powerful. And, I think, we have only begun to see what its full potential holds.
Microsoft is knocking every door in the industry!