Show HN: I reverse engineered Apple's video wallpapers (github.com)

Article summary

The article presents Phosphene, a video wallpaper engine for macOS that allows users to set their own videos as desktop and lock screen wallpapers. It uses Apple's private WallpaperExtensionKit framework and is compatible with macOS Tahoe and later. The engine provides features such as gapless looping, power-aware playback, and adaptive variants. Phosphene is open-source and available on GitHub.

Main themes

• Video Wallpapers
• macOS Customization
• Apple Ecosystem
• Software Development
• Nostalgia for Old Tech

What commenters say

• Some users appreciate the ability to customize their desktop and lock screen with their own videos, finding it a useful feature.
• There is concern that Apple may break the functionality of Phosphene in future updates, as it uses a private framework.
• The use of video wallpapers is a matter of personal preference, with some users enjoying the visual effect and others finding it distracting.
• Some users have nostalgia for old operating systems like Windows Vista and appreciate the aesthetic of its video wallpapers.
• The performance of video wallpapers on macOS can be inconsistent, with some users experiencing stuttering and freezing.
• The ability to customize the look and feel of an operating system is important to some users, who may spend a significant amount of time personalizing their setup.