Comments on: Timeline

Timeline

srboisvert — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 17:46:23 -0800

Timeline. I found this strangely riveting even though it is just a simple clock [flash].

By: bitpart

bitpart — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 18:08:11 -0800

Cooool.

By: bitpart

bitpart — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 18:08:57 -0800

Anybody know how to run Flash as the desktop on OS X?

By: ashbury

ashbury — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 18:17:35 -0800

*Everything* subtly moves! Way cool.

By: jimray

jimray — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 18:21:39 -0800

bitpart, you might try webdesktop

By: bitpart

bitpart — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 18:21:45 -0800

Answering my own question: SaveHollywood can run Flash files (and movie files) as a screensaver, and Backlight can run a screensaver as a desktop background.

By: bitpart

bitpart — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 18:26:33 -0800

I just gave that a shot. Apparently, for both our solutions, it doesn't play in the background as smoothly as it does when in the foreground. I think the upcoming version of Flash player will remedy that.

By: brandz

brandz — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 18:45:05 -0800

it's like watching your life pass before your eyes.

By: riffola

riffola — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 18:45:38 -0800

AJScreensaver is on the *same* site as this clock, so why jump through hoops to do what is already done? It has the exact same timeline screensaver and others.

By: 517

517 — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:20:42 -0800

This was my desktop until it got depressing.

By: psmealey

psmealey — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:24:06 -0800

Very cool. This one still blows me away after all these years, but that one is pretty darn cool as well.

By: Edible Energy

Edible Energy — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:28:43 -0800

that's the most depressing thing I've seen all day... damn cool tho. Just wish there was a "reverse" or "pause" button.

By: kika

kika — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:37:59 -0800

This is apparently the original version of this timeline clock. With a Y2K problem, or just badly scripted.

By: kika

kika — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:40:48 -0800

self link clock (Shockwave)

By: bitpart

bitpart — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:41:22 -0800

riffola: Hot damn!

By: bitpart

bitpart — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:43:06 -0800

Windows only? Oh, hope belied!

By: WolfDaddy

WolfDaddy — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:51:37 -0800

Hypnotic.

By: SomeOneElse

SomeOneElse — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:53:20 -0800

I don't know, it's cool all right but, since it is rendered on a computer screen it comes down to increments of pixels, and you aren't ever really going to see one of the "big" ones increment, right? It is like showing you a picture of a dog, then saying, "in ten years I'm going to switch this with a picture of a cat! wooOOooo" I guess that fact that it won't move is in itself could be pretty terrifying, a clock with a big enough scope that you could stare at it your whole life and never see it move. Although I thought what most people were thinking about was the time slipping away aspect. (It made me feel like i was gonna be alive for quite a long time tho, I know I never saw a month budge, and I can't say for sure about the days either).

By: Eamon

Eamon — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 20:21:48 -0800

Okay. So where can I find a real one to hang on my wall?

By: tomplus2

tomplus2 — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 20:50:51 -0800

There was one that was entered in the 5k contest once, it was very similar, but dhtml and only 5k. I ca't find it.

By: dreamsign

dreamsign — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 21:22:01 -0800

Very cool. And the design definitely pushes that "time slipping away" and "you're just here for a moment" ideas.

By: Felicity Rilke

Felicity Rilke — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 21:59:39 -0800

It's beautiful!

By: scallion

scallion — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 22:12:18 -0800

I could waste much too much time staring deeply and intently at this thing. Especially in these wee hours of the night.

By: lychee

lychee — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 00:26:48 -0800

I have this as my active desktop right now. It's really cool, and the color changes spice it up nicely as you watch your life pass by.

By: gohlkus

gohlkus — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 00:33:31 -0800

sr boisvert: I wouldn't necessarily agree that it's riveting per se -- I can definitely tear myself away after seeing a minute roll over -- but I do find it striking and profound. It seems strange because it is so stark and simple and at the same time illustrates something as mysterious and deep as the passage of time. It's very elegant.

By: davidmsc

davidmsc — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 02:35:34 -0800

I like it. Soothing, in a slightly depressing way -- but not necessarily bad.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 03:08:16 -0800

clock of the long now

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 03:19:25 -0800

Love this clock, srboisvert! Here are a few other cool ones: - Awesome - Time - A dot for every second in the day - Typo'clock

By: languagehat

languagehat — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 05:57:07 -0800

madamjujujive, thank you so much for that truly awesome "Time" clock -- the others have been impressive, but that is gorgeous and mesmerizing. An instant bookmark.

By: RustyBrooks

RustyBrooks — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 10:40:36 -0800

You're all nuts.

By: spock

spock — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 10:56:05 -0800

Wow! Before this I had not realized that, as time moves along, not only do the seconds change, but so do the minutes and then hours and then days and then months and even whole years! I have a theory that this principle extends to decades, centuries and perhaps even millenia.

By: pwally

pwally — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 12:13:39 -0800

I can't believe I just watched that thing for 5 minutes...

By: neek

neek — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 13:20:49 -0800

jimray: thanks for the webdesktop link. Cool little program. I think I might be in love with it. And yes, I am amazed at how amazed I am by a simple little clock flash program.

By: nyterrant

nyterrant — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:41:45 -0800

Also, metric clocks. (make sure you click 'continue')

By: Citizen Premier

Citizen Premier — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 00:19:40 -0800

- A dot for every second in the day Wow. So much time to waste!

By: gohlkus

gohlkus — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 19:28:00 -0800

thanks, spock -- Your comment made me laugh out loud. I just can't believe 17,902 users passed on "spock". Metafilter: You're all nuts.

By: intermod

intermod — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 09:24:01 -0800

Can someone add the "flash" tag? I was looking for this that way and couldn't find it.

By: intermod

intermod — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 11:53:04 -0800

Aaaaaargh! Again. This time I only wasted 10 minutes looking for this. By way of google, I wound up on ask.mefi looking through the tags there. Also add the screensaver tag?