DreamScene Preview available now
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 by thomassen | Discussion: Windows Vista
Just read that the Windows Vista Team blog that DreamScene Preview is now available. Downloading as I type! 
Hippie
Reply #4 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:17 PM
Reply #4 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:17 PM
Where is it. I've got Ultimate, but it's not showing up in any updates.
Island Dog
Reply #5 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:29 PM
You need to hit refresh in the update screen.
Reply #5 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:29 PM
Where is it. I've got Ultimate, but it's not showing up in any updates.
You need to hit refresh in the update screen.
dcyphure
Reply #7 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 8:31 PM
Reply #7 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 8:31 PM
only uses about 8% more cpu time on average, but pauses when i load a game so actually its pretty sweet.
i got some hi def nature scenery vids i took while on various vacations like sunset on a beach, a waterfall..etc...if i could loop it where it looks seemless it would make excellent dreams
i got some hi def nature scenery vids i took while on various vacations like sunset on a beach, a waterfall..etc...if i could loop it where it looks seemless it would make excellent dreams
CRNA
Reply #9 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 11:34 PM
Reply #9 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 11:34 PM
I have loaded obviously both DreamScape and DeskScapes, all is loaded and running. I like the direction this is going with future possibilities, but I have a few questions.
Understanding that this is a preview, what are some of the known issues that still need to be ironed out? I ask, because I saw Dreamscape demoed in Boston almost a month ago, and at the time it previewed with no discernible issues. It ran smooth and transitioned from video to video with out so much as a hick up. So why was there the delay to the release?
From a use of application, it seems a big jumpy, being that every time I launch an app, the Scape begins to skip for a bit before settling down again. Would be eliminated in a duo core set up or are others experience this also?
Running: Vista Ultimate 32 bit, 2gigs Ram, Pent M 2.0 GHz (single core)
Please share your new use experience please.
CRNA
Understanding that this is a preview, what are some of the known issues that still need to be ironed out? I ask, because I saw Dreamscape demoed in Boston almost a month ago, and at the time it previewed with no discernible issues. It ran smooth and transitioned from video to video with out so much as a hick up. So why was there the delay to the release?
From a use of application, it seems a big jumpy, being that every time I launch an app, the Scape begins to skip for a bit before settling down again. Would be eliminated in a duo core set up or are others experience this also?
Running: Vista Ultimate 32 bit, 2gigs Ram, Pent M 2.0 GHz (single core)
Please share your new use experience please.
CRNA
Excalpius
Reply #10 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 11:47 PM
Reply #10 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 11:47 PM
(I've posted this elsewhere, but it bears repeating here)
One more note for DreamScenes...and this goes for all Windows Media related issues.
CHECK YOUR CODECS
I had installed the "Vista-friendly" trial of NERO only to find that it replaces the Windows Media MPG2 codec with it's own.
The Nero codec caused my CPU use to go from 12% to 32% on my dual monitor setup.
And, of course, there still doesn't seem to be an easy way to add/disable extraneous codecs under Vista (anyone?!). DECCHECK doesn't work under WMP11/Vista.
Uninstalling the trial (thank goodness I didn't buy that uber bloatware!), fixed the problem and now DreamScene is playing in high resolution goodness on my both of my large monitors.
One more note for DreamScenes...and this goes for all Windows Media related issues.
CHECK YOUR CODECS
I had installed the "Vista-friendly" trial of NERO only to find that it replaces the Windows Media MPG2 codec with it's own.
The Nero codec caused my CPU use to go from 12% to 32% on my dual monitor setup.
And, of course, there still doesn't seem to be an easy way to add/disable extraneous codecs under Vista (anyone?!). DECCHECK doesn't work under WMP11/Vista.
Uninstalling the trial (thank goodness I didn't buy that uber bloatware!), fixed the problem and now DreamScene is playing in high resolution goodness on my both of my large monitors.
dcyphure
Reply #11 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 9:51 AM
Reply #11 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 9:51 AM
i'm on dual core/2gigs ddr2/2gigs readyboost
i dont notice any "skipping" playback is smooth but hi res video source is definitly a must imo as standard dvd res is rather fugly
anyone know how to enable sounds in video?
i dont notice any "skipping" playback is smooth but hi res video source is definitly a must imo as standard dvd res is rather fugly
anyone know how to enable sounds in video?
bistro
Reply #12 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 12:28 PM
Reply #12 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 12:28 PM
Liking the Dreamscape Dreams, but I noticed that when I downloaded them from the gallery, it would put them into an Apps folder rather than the Dreamscapes folder (in the drop-down menu). Had to cut & paste them back into the D'scapes folder....kind of a pain. What gives?
dcyphure
Reply #13 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 3:54 PM
Reply #13 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 3:54 PM
browse to the folder once and it will remember that path and be selectable from drop down menu, i have videos in several different folders
Wet Monkey
Reply #14 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 4:05 PM
Reply #14 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 4:05 PM
This is pretty amazing. I'm running it on a dual core 6600 with 4 gig ram on the 64 bit version of Vista Ultimate and it's smooth as glass. Can't wait to see where this goes. Fantastic job by Stardock once again!!!! 
dcyphure
Reply #15 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 8:24 PM
Reply #15 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 8:24 PM
after installing nvidia's purevideo, i noticed a drop in cpu usage..even during long 20min video loops, core 1 is now like 2% and core2 is maybe 5%, drops from 0-11 peak where before it peaked at 16%
thought i'd mention that for anyone whos concerned with cpu usage
but i'll also note i did some multitasking with dreamscene running
i was encoding a video which by itself uses 98-100% both cores, then i ran dreamscene, then played a video on media player while defragmenting..all ran smoothly, i'm sure it cut back on video encoding speed but it wasnt noticable, so ds is definitly alot nicer than other apps that did the same thing in xp like dreamrender or bsplayer
thought i'd mention that for anyone whos concerned with cpu usage
but i'll also note i did some multitasking with dreamscene running
i was encoding a video which by itself uses 98-100% both cores, then i ran dreamscene, then played a video on media player while defragmenting..all ran smoothly, i'm sure it cut back on video encoding speed but it wasnt noticable, so ds is definitly alot nicer than other apps that did the same thing in xp like dreamrender or bsplayer
Excalpius
Reply #16 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 9:55 PM
Reply #16 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 9:55 PM
Thanks for the tip dcyphure. I too saw a marked improvement by installing the nvidia b233 purevideo mpeg2 decoder. Not only did this give me a stable CPU usage, but I can now play another mpg2 video in WMP at the same time as the mpg2 DreamScene is rocking and rolling.
I'm only running a 3.2ghz p4 with HT, so not even a true dual core.
And as a side benefit, the dreamscene no longer pauses on my second monitor when I go fullscreen with IE on the first. For some reason that behavior seems to be codec linked? Such fun.
NOTE: This behavior may be the result of DreamScene still using the MS codec that ships with Vista while WMP uses the purevideo codec. I only mention this because the purevideo icon appears when I use WMP, but not when DreamScene is playing.
Curiouser and curiouser.
I'm only running a 3.2ghz p4 with HT, so not even a true dual core.
And as a side benefit, the dreamscene no longer pauses on my second monitor when I go fullscreen with IE on the first. For some reason that behavior seems to be codec linked? Such fun.
NOTE: This behavior may be the result of DreamScene still using the MS codec that ships with Vista while WMP uses the purevideo codec. I only mention this because the purevideo icon appears when I use WMP, but not when DreamScene is playing.
Curiouser and curiouser.
Excalpius
Reply #17 Thursday, February 15, 2007 12:10 AM
Reply #17 Thursday, February 15, 2007 12:10 AM
Follow-up:
Yes, it turns out I hadn't rebooted yet, so the nvidia codec was ONLY being used for mpg2 playback in WMP11, while the MS codec was still being used for DreamScene.
Now that I have rebooted, the DreamScene playback is a wee bit choppy under the nvidia codec for me when I try and play both WMP and DreamScene MPG2's simultaneously.
Also of interest is that the "pause when IE is fullscreen" behavior has returned after the reboot. Doh!
Yes, it turns out I hadn't rebooted yet, so the nvidia codec was ONLY being used for mpg2 playback in WMP11, while the MS codec was still being used for DreamScene.
Now that I have rebooted, the DreamScene playback is a wee bit choppy under the nvidia codec for me when I try and play both WMP and DreamScene MPG2's simultaneously.
Also of interest is that the "pause when IE is fullscreen" behavior has returned after the reboot. Doh!
dcyphure
Reply #18 Sunday, February 18, 2007 12:42 PM
Reply #18 Sunday, February 18, 2007 12:42 PM
i use firefox
hopefully things will resolve when dreamscene is official, however long that will be
the only trouble i ever seem to experience from dreamscene is that sometimes it will crash and go blank, maybe a codec issue
seems alot are concerned with cpu usage i noticed when reading comments from user uploads at deskscapes dreams but i havnt found any situation where it causes performance loss.
for instance i ran the game elder scrolls IV oblivion with mods, max settings and benched using fraps with dreamscene on and off and its the same, i think dreamscene is automatically pausing itself when a game is played.
also encoding videos with it on or off while wmp played music didnt seem to notice anything slowing down, hopefully others will realize that before going back to the oldschool habits of shutting processes and the likes down...but then again, i'm testing on higher end hardware for which vista is designed futureproofed for to begin with.
hopefully things will resolve when dreamscene is official, however long that will be
the only trouble i ever seem to experience from dreamscene is that sometimes it will crash and go blank, maybe a codec issue
seems alot are concerned with cpu usage i noticed when reading comments from user uploads at deskscapes dreams but i havnt found any situation where it causes performance loss.
for instance i ran the game elder scrolls IV oblivion with mods, max settings and benched using fraps with dreamscene on and off and its the same, i think dreamscene is automatically pausing itself when a game is played.
also encoding videos with it on or off while wmp played music didnt seem to notice anything slowing down, hopefully others will realize that before going back to the oldschool habits of shutting processes and the likes down...but then again, i'm testing on higher end hardware for which vista is designed futureproofed for to begin with.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 4:19 PM
Or download some from Stardock Designs