Download Backlight for Mac - Menu extra toggles screensaver as your desktop. MacUpdate.com

Backlight 2.0

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(9) 4.833333333333333

Menu extra toggles screensaver as your desktop. Free

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FreshlySqueezed Software

BackLight provides a menu extra (really an NSStatusItem, which are fully supported in Jaguar) that allows you to turn your screensaver on and off as your desktop background. It can also change your screensaver and open the preferences. Having your screensaver on your desktop is quite a cool effect, but you should probably have a Quartz Extreme-capable machine if you want to handle the load.

What's New

Version 2.0:

Added Panther and Expose support
Fixed compatibility issue with Konfabulator
Added option to set the window's transparency
Apple's Screen Effects Engine no longer used

Requirements
PPC, Mac OS 10.2 or later, Quartz Extreme highly recommended.

Wallsaver

+1
Free

Run screensavers as desktop ...

Backlight User Discussion (Write a Review)

ver. 2.x:

(9)

Your rating: Now say why...

Overall:

(14)

sort: smiles | time

+23

Strider72 commented on 25 Sep 2009

If backlight doesn't work for you anymore, there is another app called "Wallsaver". FYI.

[Version 2.0]

+23

Strider72 reviewed on 25 Sep 2009

Very cool app, and works fine on OS 10.6.1.

Interestingly, because BackLight doesn't use the OS's "Screen Effects Engine", it can use older 32 bit screen savers that 10.6 won't run!

That is to say, I can run Marine Aquarium 2 as my desktop, but not as a screensaver. :-p

That really says something about the quality of this app that was last updated in 2003. Great great app, and I hope the original developer is still out there doing amazing things. :-)

[Version 2.0]

Roro01 commented on 28 Oct 2007

WORKS SELECTIVELY ON iMAC INTEL 10.4.10

For example does the job with Skyrocket.saver but cannot stop plasq - urban texture.saver

[Version 2.0]

-1

smallduck tipped on 26 Oct 2007

The link seems to be broken, perhaps the developer's site is down.

A google search for 'freshly squeezed backlight' found a comment on a lifehacker.com article where user KAMON claims to have made a mirror to v2.0 of the app. The link worked for me and the app downloaded was identical to the v2.0 I already had (which I believe I got directly from freshly squeezed years ago):

[Version 2.0]

2 Replies

-1

smallduck commented on 26 Oct 2007

The url was stripped from my post, trying again:
datablue.net/random/BackLight.dmg

+322

MacUpdate Admin replied on 26 Oct 2007

Downloaded it, and have uploaded it to the MacUpdate server, thanks.

+67

elegraphy reviewed on 24 Jul 2006

Still works with 10.4.7 Tiger.

[Version 2.0]

+21

Jeff H. reviewed on 28 Mar 2006

Very Cool...works great, but VERY distracting!

[Version 2.0]

Anonymous reviewed on 08 May 2005

Does this work with Tiger otherwise?

If you want the RSS and Spectrum ones on your desktop check out Quartz Desktop, http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/icons_screensavers/

[Version 2.0]

Anonymous reviewed on 06 May 2005

Sadly, on Tiger, you cannot use the RSS Visualizer (or Spectrum, though I care less about that) with Backlight. *puppy dog eyes to developer*

[Version 2.0]

Anonymous reviewed on 03 Sep 2004

Sweet stuff, but if you have MatrixGl and 1 ghz dual or below it might get choppy

[Version 2.0]

abstraction reviewed on 18 Jun 2004

Wonderful little toy. Absolutely hoards your cpu and requires a powerful graphics card (atleast a geforce4 mx) but hey, it's really f%@#%ing cool.

Try mixing it with Fluid for some really trippy effects.

[Version 2.0]

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