14 DAY TRIAL // The virtual workspace of a computer has much in common with its real life counterparts. Maintenance and tidying up are important in order to avoid getting swamped and always knowing where things are, and should be done on a regular basis. Another important factor is routine, which has both positive and negative effects, and which should be challenged every once in a while by trying out new programs that could potentially establish a better routine. Last but not least, the virtual workspace should be a pleasant one. Regardless of what you actually do on the computer, you are going to be looking at it for many hours each day, so it helps if it actually looks good. Unfortunately, no matter how good a computer workspace might look, over time it will invariably become drab and dull. When this happens and a spot of redecorating is in order, something like Desktoptopia will come in handy.
What it does
Desktoptopia is a little control panel that will automatically keep your desktop looking new and vibrant. Giving you the option of letting it do everything, or choosing the backgrounds you like by hand, this application will get rid of the biggest timewaster, namely finding great looking desktop backgrounds. With many categories to choose from and frequent updates, Desktoptopia can provide you with all the desktop goodness you will ever need.
Working with it
Getting a spanking new desktop using Desktoptopia is an incredibly easy affair. After installing the Control Panel, you need to set it up to your liking, which mainly resolves around two things: control and taste.
Desktoptopia can handle desktop image changing all by itself, and will do so by default. With the option to auto-change the background at every tick, you can just let it do its thing and never have to interfere. How long the wait between desktops should be depends entirely up to you and can be anything from seconds to weeks. Although the shorted delays make for a more dynamic desktop experience, it can also be a bit odd, especially if you are working and loose track of it. Having the desktop suddenly shift as you are performing various actions can startle you, and changing them too often will mean that they get 'old' faster. Although the application will download a rather large library of desktop images, it is not infinite, and likely not every desktop will be to your liking.
Conversely, you can deactivate the automatic switching and change the background manually. This can be especially practical after just installing the program, when you are getting a feel for what each of the categories contain.
When it comes to the images themselves, personal preference is paramount. By default, the program comes with a number of categories for you to choose from, and these can be activated and deactivated at will. There is a great deal of variation and all of the desktops are gorgeous, even if they might not be exactly to everyone's liking. You can browse the various categories either by changing desktops manually or simply visiting the developer's website, and the desktops that you do like can be rated, which will reflect both upon the desktop and its maker.
If the provided desktops are not to your liking, or you simply want to add more, this can be done easily. Desktoptopia accepts image feeds, so it can be used to get images from many popular sources, including image hosting sites such as Flikr, and even individual artist feeds. Unfortunately, not just any feed will do, and unless the feed is a desktop image one you will probably receive a lot of image that aren't right, either in orientation or in aspect ratio.
Though the program will let you delete categories that you add yourself, it will not let you touch the one that come by default. This can be rather annoying if you don't want to use them. They can be deactivated, but they will take up a significant amount of space on the categories list? all but one entry. Although scrolling down every time is not a huge issue, it can be quite bothersome.
Back and forth
While Desktoptopia is not the sort of program you will interact with on a daily basis, when you do need to make any changes within it, you will have to work both with the system preferences and the menubar item. For some reason, the developers decided to spread everything around, so that it will be impossible to get everything in one single place.
Again, while not a huge issue this can be annoying. Those who prefer not to use the menubar item will have to activate it and then deactivate it when they are done. While those who do prefer the menubar will have to take detours to make simple adjustments.
The Good
Gorgeous backgrounds automatically delivered to your desktop, and the ability to subscribe to other image feeds. Does al of the work and stays out of your way the vast majority of the time.
The Bad
Silly design decisions make doing certain things far more complicated than they need be, but it is no more than an annoyance.
The Truth
Changing your desktop every once is a while can liven up the computer and getting great looking desktops could not be easier. Sure, Desktoptopia can be a pain when you need to do certain things but that doesn't happen often enough for it to be a real problem.
Here are some screenshots, click to enlarge:
