DesktopDynamic

In time, the skeuomorphic, colorful and vibrant design of software that once dominated the landscape of Windows XP-era desktops changed into the minimalist, clean and utility-driven template that plenty of people consider void of personality and originality.

Regardless of preference, one aspect remains true in the minds of many users – the importance of customization. If you ever wanted to give a splash of art, color or character, or add information to view at a glance, look no further than DesktopDynamic’s open-source, privacy-friendly app meant to turn a website or video of your choice into a replacement for your current static background.

When downloading the app, the user is presented with two separate versions of it, one that is optimized for loading a website as a background and one designed to display a looping version of a video. Whichever one is loaded, the functionality is largely the same, both instances being written in the C# programming language.

In terms of features, double-clicking the executable instantly displays the file or website picked, while a small number of functions can be accessed using the system tray icon. Right-clicking it allows for pausing or playing the video, muting its sound, automatically starting the app when logging into Windows or quitting the app to return to the original static background supported by the operating system.

Customizing the app is as straightforward as opening its configuration file using Notepad. Once loaded, three particular parameters stand out. The “source” allows for mentioning which video file placed in the application folder is meant to be played, or which website is meant to be displayed. The last two parameters let the user set the volume of the video or website’s media content and select the type of content loaded, either video or web format.

It seems that many other file formats can be displayed using the “nonvideo” version of the software, meaning that one can choose PDF, text, and HTML, providing the user with the option of molding the app according to their needs.

One small caveat encountered when using the app consists of having to enter HTTP versions of websites as opposed to the regular HTTPS format, regardless of what the original webpage supports.

DesktopDynamic is a free and minimalist open-source alternative to proprietary software such as Wallpaper Engine, giving users the option to set a website, HTML file or video as their background, without compromising their security or privacy.