Message

Just as it was years ago, Message remains the original and the best "word art" screensaver out there. This software shamelessly demonstrates the text rendering power of Mac OS X by scattering text all across your screen. But Message is not just a haphazard collection of random fonts and colors. Instead, it uses a single typeface and varies the color and size subtly to create an eye-catching collage of letters and shapes.

The original version of Message, created by Jon Watte, was an add-on for BeOS and could only display the output of the fortune program. However, the new version for Mac OS X allows you to choose any command-line tool that can provide text. You can also enter any text of your choice, whether it be something practical, like "Be back soon," or something more whimsical, like Unicode dingbats.

Message comes pre-loaded with a useful selection of commands, including a "word of the day" mode that lets you stay inspired every day. For those who want the wisdom of bearded Unix geeks, an installation package for FreeBSD fortune is available. Whatever text you choose, Message will display it on your screen in a variety of subtle font and color combinations, making it a joy for the eyes to watch. Overall, Message is a great software tool that does its job exceptionally well.