GatherBird Shareware


My Media Screen Saver
Version 1.1
Document last updated on July 24th, 2010

Shows your pictures, plays your audio, and any video that Windows Media Player can show.

Try it free for 45 days!

Upgrades are free after purchase.

My Media Screen Saver Setup Screen

Contents
What is My Media Screen Saver?
Why you need My Media Screen Saver
Why you don't need My Media Screen Saver
Setup Options for Images (pictures)
Setup Options for Videos
Setup Options for Audio
Setting up the Directories (Folders) to Search
Update History
System Requirements
Difference between the free trial and the registered version
How to Register
Upgrade Policy
License Agreement
Company Information
What is My Media Screen Saver?
GatherBird My Media Screen Saver is a Windows screen saver that shows images (pictures), video, and plays audio stored on your computer. It is great for showing your family photos and videos.
Why you need My Media Screen Saver
My Media Screen Saver is perfect for showing the family photos and videos that you have collected over the years. In addition to showing all the popular image formats (pictures) it will easily play any videos you already play through the Windows Media Player. It uses the Windows Media Player behind the scenes so you don't have to worry about whether your video files are in a supported format.
Why you don't need My Media Screen Saver
This screen saver does not come with any pre-packaged pictures or videos.
This screen saver does not connect to the Internet and download any media files.

This screen saver can not play DRM protected videos unless they can be played through Windows Media player.

Setup Options for Images (pictures)

When checked the Show images (pictures) will tell the screen saver to show image files. It finds the image files in the directories which are setup under the Directories tab. When the option is checked then all the configuration options can be edited. If not checked the setup options are grayed out.

The Show images for <> seconds sets how long each image will be displayed before the screen saver shows the next image.

The Stretch image to fullscreen option will expand images to fill the entire computer monitor. The aspect ratio will be retained. When the option is not checked then the images will show in their original resolution. Any image that is larger than the computer's screen will automatically be shrunk to fit the computer screen regardless of how this option is set.

When searching for images, videos, and audio the screen saver needs to know which files should be displayed. This is handled by matching the file extensions defined in the File extensions for images list with the files on your computer. These extensions must be separated by semicolons or commas. You can add any file extension you would like and the screen saver will attempt to display image or play the video. If there is a problem showing any particular file an error message will be written to the documents and setting directory which will usually be in this directory in Windows XP

C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application Data\GatherBird\GatherBird My Media Screen Saver\1.0
and this directory in Windows Vista and Windows 7. C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\GatherBird\GatherBird My Media Screen Saver\1.0 Setup Options for Videos

The Show videos option works the same as the Show images (pictures) option. The screen saver uses the Window Media Player functionality to show videos. If Windows Media player can show the video then the screen saver will be able to show the video.
Show videos for <> seconds sets how long each video will be played. If the length of the video is shorter than the time set for this option then the video will be played in its entirety.

Play sound from videos tells the screen saver whether or not to play the audio tracks for the video.

The Stretch video to full screen works the same as the Stretch image to full screen option. However, there is some special handling of videos that needs to take place on dual monitor systems. If a computer has dual monitors and the computer display is set up in the mode commonly called “Dual view” then Windows treats the monitors separately when attempting to show videos. That means the video will only show on one of the monitors while the other monitor will show black. If the dual monitors are setup in the mode commonly called “horizontal span” then the video will show in the “center” meaning half of the video will be on the left monitor and half the video on the right.

The Start at beginning option tells the screen saver to start all video at the beginning. However, this may not be desirable if you have long videos. To see video segments within long videos check the Jump randomly into video option.

The File extensions for video works like the File extensions for images option.
Setup Options for Audio

The Play audio files (mp3) option works the same as the Show images (pictures) option.

Play audio for <> seconds works the same as the Show images for <> seconds option.

See the Start at beginning and Jump randomly into video options for an explanation of these audio equivalents.

File extensions for audio works like the File extensions for images option.
Setting up the Directories (Folders) to Search
The Directories (folders) entered into this listview is where the screen saver will look for media files. Each directory is searched for files that match the files extensions setup for images, videos, and audio. To add a directory click the Add Folder button and you will be shown the following window.

The Include sub directories option will tell the screen saver to look in the specified folder as well as all the folders underneath it.


The commands tab has two options. The Show tool tips option enables and disables the extra help text that pops up when the mouse is hovered over buttons or text in setup windows.
The Reset button is used to bring back “are you sure” style message boxes that you may have previsly decided to mark as “do not warn me again”.


Update History

Version 1.1 - July 24th, 2010

The instruction screen would not always show when no media directories were selected. This only happened on faster machines.

When the screen saver experiences errors displaying certain video files it will write the diagnostic information to a file. That file was allowed to keep growing and had to be manually deleted by the user. This problem has been fixed.

The installer has been improved so that the screen saver works correctly on more Windows machines. It checks whether .NET 2.0 or .NET 4.0 are already installed and allows them to be down loaded automatically from Microsoft if needed.

The screen saver did not work on 64 bit machines. This problem would show on the screen as a big red X or the the error message "Exception Error: is not a valid Win32 application. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800700C1)

Version 1.0 - August 27th, 2009

First version

System Requirements

Compatible operating system versions: All Windows desktop and server operating systems XP through Windows 7.
Other Requirements:soft Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 or 4.0
Disk space needed to install: 5 megabytes

Difference between the free trial and the registered version

The free trial version expires in 45 days. After 45 day you must register to see and hear your images, videos, and audio in the screen saver.

How to Register


You can register by going to www.gatherbird.com and choosing the register option for GatherBird My Media Screen Saver. The payment procedure is handled by PayPal. PayPal is a popular service owned by eBay that handles credit card and other transactions on a secure server. After paying you will immediately receive a registration key by email which will enable all the features of the software.

10% of your purchase price is donated to Children's Mercy Hospital. http://www.childrensmercy.org

Upgrade Policy

After paying you will also immediately be emaile be emailed a login name and password that allows access to our website member’s area. From the member’s area you will be able to retrieve new registration keys at any time. The registration keys will allow you to re-install the application in the event you upgrade your computer or you would like to upgrade to a newer version of the software.


License Agreement
My Media Screen Saver
GatherBird

License Agreement
You should carefully read the following terms and conditions before using this software.

Unless you have a different license agreement signed by GatherBird your use of this software indicates your acceptance of this license agreement and warranty.

Registered Version
One registered copy of My Media Screen Saver may be used by a single person and immediate family for non business use on up to 5 computers or installed on a single workstation used non-simultaneously by multiple people in a business environment, or both.

You may access the registered version of My Media Screen Saver through a network, provided that you have obtained individual licenses for the software covering all workstations that will access the software through the network. For instance, if 8 different workstations will access My Media Screen Saver on the network, each workstation must have its own My Media Screen Saver license, regardless of whether they use My Media Screen Saver at different times or concurrently.

Governing Law
This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Kansas.
Disclaimer of Warranty
THIS SOFTWARE AND THE ACCOMPANYING FILES ARE SOLD ""AS IS"" AND
WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OR MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. Because of the various hardware and software environments into which My Media Screen Saver may be put, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. Good data processing procedure dictates that any program be thoroughly tested with non-critical data before relying on it. The user must assume the entire risk of using the program. ANY LIABILITY OF THE SELLER WILL BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO PRODUCT REPLACEMENT OR REFUND OF PURCHASE PRICE.

Demo Version.
This is not free software. Subject to the terms below, you are hereby licensed to use this software for evaluation purposes without charge for a period of 45 days. If you use this software after the 45 day evaluation period a registration fee is required. Unregistered use of My Media Screen Saver after the 45-day evaluation period is in violation of U.S. and international copyright laws.

Distribution
Provided that you verify that you are distributing the evaluation version you are hereby licensed to make as many copies of the evaluation version of this software and documentation as you wish; give exact copies of the original evaluation version to anyone; and distribute the evaluation version of the software and documentation in its unmodified form via electronic means. There is no charge for any of the above.

You are specifically prohibited from charging, or requesting donations, for any such copies, however made; and from distributing the software and/or documentation with other products (commercial or otherwise) without prior written permission.


Company Information
Internet Web Page
www.gatherbird.com

Contact Kaleen Fields for help on any product installation, usage, or the registration procedure at:
support@gatherbird.com

Send product suggestions to Ben Fields at
president@gatherbird.com