SDesktopChange

There are several things you perform after a fresh setup of Windows. You grab all applications required for general purpose, install an antivirus, and take the time to visually customize your workspace. This can mean choosing a collection of pictures to rotate on the desktop, and in case the default tool doesn’t tickle your fancy, third-party solutions like SDesktopChanger are worth a shot.

Requiring no installation to work, the application can be launched as soon as download is done. More than that, it can be stored on a thumb drive to use on other computers, or simply to have a backup along with other tools. Registry entries are not modified in the process, so your PC remains safe.

The application minimizes to the tray area on launch, with no tooltip or prompt to let you know it’s there. Interacting with the icon is the only way to bring up the configuration panel. This step is mandatory, because there are no preset pictures loaded, and the application doesn’t automatically read any picture folders.

Adding files is only possible through the browse dialog. However, you’re restricted to one file at a time, which can take quite a while to build a large gallery. Moreover, the only supported file format is BMP, which has a considerable impact on overall practicality.

Apart from pictures, you also need to configure the rotation interval. Unlike the Windows default feature, interval here can be as small as a second, which can lead to the creation of neat slideshows or animations. There’s an option to make the program run on startup so that it’s ready when you reach the desktop.

All things considered, we can state that SDesktopChanger feels a little rough around the edges, especially because of the poor file support. There’s no possibility to create multiple galleries, and adding pictures is done one at a time. The only advantage is the flexibility in configuring rotation interval.