A screensaver is software designed to show moving images or patterns on a monitor when a computer sits idle. Screensavers were originally designed with the intention of preventing screen burn-in, a phenomenon that occurs on certain types of monitors when a static image is displayed for an extended period of time. Screensavers had their height of popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, with many commercially released examples such as After Dark and Johnny Castaway. Screensavers were later integrated into operating systems themselves, including Windows (since 1992 with Windows 3.1) and macOS (since 2001 with OS X 10.0). Screensaver development has slowed down considerably since the 2000s, following the rise of LCD monitors (largely impervious to burn-in) and the integration of standby power modes within monitors.
Individual screensavers
Name Release year Author Publisher Platform License Maintained? Notes 3D Flying Objects 1993 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows NT 3.5 to Windows XP 3D Maze 1995 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows Me 3D Pipes 1993 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows NT 3.5 to Windows XP 3D Text 1995 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 11 Aurora 2006 Stephen Coy Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows Vista to Windows 11 Bubbles 2006 Stephen Coy Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows Vista to Windows 11 Colors and Curves 1995 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows 95 to Windows XP; also known as Beziers Einstein@Home 2005 Max Planck Society Linux, macOS, Windows GNU General Public License Electric Sheep 1999 Scott Draves Spotworks Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, tvOS, iPadOS, iOS Proprietary Energizer Bunny Screen Saver 1992 Digital Café PC Dynamics Windows Proprietary Eric's Cascade 1998 Eric Snider Delta Tao Software Classic Mac OS GNU General Public License (client) Flurry 2002 Calum Robinson Apple Inc. macOS Proprietary Integrated into macOS since Mac OS X Jaguar Flying Windows 1992 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows 3.1 to Windows Me Johnny Castaway 1992 Sierra On-Line/Dynamix Windows Proprietary Marine Aquarium 2000 James D. Sachs SereneScreen Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Proprietary Marquee 1992 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows 3.1 to Windows XP Matinee 1993 Access Softek Windows Proprietary First screensaver capable of displaying full-motion video Minecraft Plus! 2021 Mojang Studios Windows, browser Proprietary Created as Minecraft's 2021 April Fool's Day entry. Mystify 1992 Stephen Coy (Vista only) Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows 3.1 to Windows 11; also known as Mystify Your Mind Razzle Dazzle 1990 James R. Shiflett MicroTronics/Road Scholar Software Windows, DOS Proprietary Ribbons 2006 Stephen Coy Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows Vista to Windows 11 Roku City 2018 Kyle Jones (illustration) Roku, Inc. Roku OS Proprietary SCRNSAVE 1983 John Socha Self-published DOS Public domain Considered by historians to be the first computer screensaver ever created Starfield Simulation 1992 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows from Windows 3.1 to Windows XP; also known as Starfield Windows Energy 2006 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Integrated into Windows Vista only
Screensaver managers and suites Name Release year Original developers Publisher Platform License Maintained? Notes After Dark 1989 Jack Eastman, Patrick Beard Berkeley Systems Classic Mac OS, Windows, DOS Proprietary GNOME Screensaver 2006 GNOME Foundation Linux GPL Microsoft Plus! 1995 Microsoft Windows Proprietary Music Screeners 1995 Sony Windows Proprietary Opus 'n Bill 1993 Delrina Classic Mac OS, Windows Proprietary Notable for triggering a lawsuit from Berkeley Systems over a depiction of flying toasters. Star Wars Screen Entertainment 1994 Presage Software LucasArts Classic Mac OS, Windows Proprietary Whereabouts Deluxe 1989 Samer Ramadan TriSoft Windows, DOS Proprietary XScreenSaver 1992 Jamie Zawinski Linux, macOS, iOS, Android MIT License
See also DVD screensaver
References