Fun with Natural Desktop

Give your desktop over to..nature

Today was the first nice weather here in Michigan in awhile. Actually went on a walk. And to help get into the spirit, I downloaded the latest version of Natural Desktop (www.naturaldesktop.com). It's a program that changes your wallpaper based on time of day as well as playing environmental sound.  It's the latter feature that makes it special for me.

So this morning it was playing sounds of morning doves and other birds.  As the afternoon passed you could hear other natural sounds playing. I turned it up and it was eerie how similar the sounds coming from my computer mirrored what I was hearing outside.  Now that it's evening here, I hear crickets and birds of night coming out my speakers.  I can control the sound through the program's integrated volume control but it is so...relaxing hearing these sounds.

The latest version, 1.2, has some really cool features such as being able to set your own sounds, wallpapers, etc. The program comes with a bunch of wallpapers based on the time of year and time of day and you can put your own in there.  The weather forecaster is also a nice touch so I can look out over the week to see what the weather is to be like. The integrated map is cool because I can click on the various locations and instantly see what their weather conditions are like and my wallpaper changes along with it. For instance, I happen to know it's raining in Buenos Aeries (the background sound mixes night sounds and the sound of rain and the portal shows rain falling).

So now that Spring is here (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, in Australia you'd be getting the early Fall stuff), give Natural Desktop a shot.

24,120 views 21 replies
Reply #4 Top
It is a cool program.
Reply #5 Top
Sounds cool as hell! I think I'll get it real soon!
Reply #6 Top
Here is the link to the softawre Link
Reply #7 Top
The portal is simply beautiful work. The weather animations are worth every penny.
Reply #8 Top
Very nice. I just bought it.

Reply #9 Top
"Latest version"? Do I need to update and if so how?
Reply #10 Top
SDC shows the latest version as 1.20.006 released January 10th, 2005.

I do wonder what inspired the "new and improved!" type email. But it's a nice app that deserves a little attention.

I pre-ordered it and used it for a while but found that I change skins too often to things that clash. And my widgets don't match either.

Stardock should think about selling expansion packs of ND-based widgets based on populare downloads of non-ND widgets.

On the con side of ND, I wish that the weather gadget was more natural; that it had skins that blended into the wallpaper and sounds. That would be much more natural. The interface as it stands is pretty un-natural.

How about packaging a skin that matches each wallpaper. Maybe a little script that leverages the skin-changer in the GT3 windowBlinds skin?

That would be amazing!


Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #11 Top

I haven't been running Natural Desktop since Winter since..well it's Winter. So it's new for me. This isn't an email, it's an article I wrote. 1.2 is the latest version.

I agree with you about ND based widgets. That would be neat.  But in terms of putting more stuff with it, it's already a good sized download. I think for most people, wallpapers and natural sounds are the main point.

Reply #12 Top
But in terms of putting more stuff with it, it's already a good sized download


I think you have a good point. All I would really like to see is the ability to change the border of the weather stuff from dark to light. Just have the current one and the ability to switch to a light gray/off white one. Then it would be versatile enough for me.
Reply #13 Top
Very nice desktop i also think I'll get it real soon
Reply #14 Top
Great app. But where are all these marvellous natural sounds ? I can't get them. I have the volume up high and, no, the mute us not.
Reply #15 Top
Great app. But where are all these marvellous natural sounds ? I can't get them. I have the volume up high and, no, the mute us not.
Reply #16 Top
Great app. But where are all these marvellous natural sounds ? I can't get them. I have the volume up high and, no, the mute us not.Email
Reply #17 Top
Great app. But where are all these marvellous natural sounds ? I can't get them. I have the volume up high and, no, the mute us not.Email
Reply #19 Top
I love this program soooooooooooo much. I have had it for almost a month. This is great I cannot wait to see the other seasons. Good tip if you right click on the little circle on the portal it mutes the nature sounds for quick and easy hush. I have it running all day and way into the night. I also find that I am much calmer as I am working on my computer.
Reply #21 Top
I got it yesterday and I love it!!!