NANY 2014 Release - Spews

[skwire]

NANY 2014 Entry Information

Application Name	Spews
Supported OSes	Windows XP, Vista, and 7.  Does not work on Windows 8/10.
Web Page	Website
Download Link	Download
Author	Jody Holmes (Skwire Empire)

Description
Spews stands for "S* Process Excluding Wallpaper Switcher" (the S can stand for whatever you want: Skwire, Sucky, Super, Stupid, etc.) and is designed to automatically switch your wallpapers on a configurable schedule.  Simply add your image folders, choose your wallpaper options and click the Enable button at the bottom.  You can check/uncheck the images paths as needed; only checked paths will be scanned for images.

Spews also has a feature that automatically suspends the wallpaper switching if it detects any process names you configure in the Exclusions section.  This can be beneficial, for instance, when running games whose graphics corrupt if the wallpaper is changed.


Screenshots




Usage
Installation
Download the zip file and extract its contents into a new folder.  Run Spews.exe to start the application.

Uninstallation
Delete the folder you unzipped it to.  The application doesn't write any of its settings to the registry.

[skwire]

This app resulted from a request from ConstanceJill in this thread:  https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=36868.0

If you're new to the application, please take a minute to read through that thread.  Thank you.

[ConstanceJill]

Yay, the official release already \o/
Thanks again :}

[tomos]

EDIT// screenshots are from 0.0 build 38 - but still the same problem in version 1.0 build 1

A very odd bug:

writing a mail in Thunderbird -
when I typed "2" this dialog pops up:

[attachthumb=#]

I click it once (either [OK] or "x") - it reappears. Second time round, it goes.

I am unable to type "2" anywhere! But so far, the dialogue shown only pops up when I in Thunderbird.

Settings:

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Note: this happens:
- whether 'switching' is enabled or not
- whether minimised to tray or not

[skwire]

Sorry about that.  

Website | Download
v1.0.1 - 2013-12-27
    ! Removed some debug code.  (Thanks, tomos)

[mouser]

Mentioned on ghacks today: http://www.ghacks.net/2014/01/03/spews-changes-desktop-backgrounds-schedule/

[skwire]

Thanks for the heads up. 

[tomos]

Great!

I almost requested the ability to copy current-image filepath
Screenshot with what I can only call appropriate wallpaper ;-)

[attachthumb=#]

[skwire]

I almost requested the ability to copy current-image filepath
Screenshot with what I can only call appropriate wallpaper

  If you'd like, I can add configuration for global hotkeys for those two functions (in the tray menu).

[tomos]

^I wouldnt need it that much - I'm happy the way it is, thanks skwire

[jshare]

This is exactly the program I've been waiting for someone to make! There used to be an XP PowerToy with similar functionality but once I upgraded to Windows 7 or 8 (don't remember which), I could no longer use it.

Using v1.0.2 build 1 on Win8 x64, the Wallpaper Style option isn't working. No matter what I choose, my choice is recorded but what appears onscreen is 'Scale'.

[skwire]

Unfortunately, Windows 8 is not supported at this time.

[tomos]

Minor quirk:
I disabled wallpaper switching.
Right-clicked tray icon & clicked 'Next Wallpaper' -- I thought this would just change the wallpaper once, but it actually enables wallpaper switching again.
Yet when I open the Spews window, I see this: "Enable wallpaper switching" --

[attachthumb=#]

(not actually bothering me but thought best to report anyway.)

[skwire]

Hahaha...nice logic error find.    I will fix.

[skwire]

I fix!

Website | Download
v1.0.3 - 2014-01-17
    ! If the switching timer was not enabled and "Next wallpaper" was chosen
      from the tray menu, the switching timer would be erroneously enabled.
      (Thanks, tomos)

[tomos]

thanks skwire

[lanux128]

this turned up today, Automatically change desktop wallpaper with Spews.

[skwire]

Thanks, lanux128.  =]

[ConstanceJill]

I must admit there certainly is still room for a few improvements¹, but… background image transitions, for wallpapers, seriously?

¹ I've been thinking about perhaps automatically refreshing the current wallpaper when the monitor's resolution changes, or disabling wallpaper switching while *any* program is running in full screen mode…

[guerillablood]

Don't suppose it'd be too hard to implement Wallpaper Style options already in Win7 such as Fill and Tile? I have several wallpapers in various aspect ratios and am constantly switching between my on-board 16:9 monitor and an external 5:4 monitor, so a Fill option would be perfect.

I also agree with Jill regarding the refreshing the wallpaper after a resolution change (which would also be a welcomed option for when I swap monitors) and an option to auto-disable/suspend Spews when an application runs in full screen mode.

[skwire]

Hi, guerillablood, and welcome to the DonationCoder site.  

I'll certainly consider your requests, thank you.  Unfortunately, due to some work commitments, I don't think I'll be able to get to them for at least a few weeks.  In the meantime, you might consider checking out John's Background Switcher, which is probably the most full-featured wall switcher out there.

[ConstanceJill]

JBS was actually the one I used before SPEWS was made, but I didn't find any option for process or full screen exclusion there (maybe I overlooked it, though I don't think so) and found its resizing quality of small images rather unsatisfactory.
It does have lots of options indeed though, maybe too many for my tastes.
It's no problem if you need a few weeks or even months before working on SPEWS again, I'll just wait :}

[skwire]

but I didn't find any option for process or full screen exclusion there

Process exclusion is there, for sure.  At least, in the latest version I tested, it was.

[ConstanceJill]

Hmm true, I just found where it was.

[Winkie]

Another review landed in my RSS reader today: Spews Review by Softpedia!