CamPaper

(Because of current SJ limitations, please note that the thumbnail and URL shown for this review are incorrect. You need to go to http://www.campaper.com/main/index.html for this application)

A cool little piece of software for Windows that turns your static desktop wallpaper into live webcam views from around the world. These are not video cams, that would be possible but it's impractical unless you have heaps of processing power to spare. These are static images that refresh anywhere from every minute up to every fifteen minutes, with most having a five minute cycle.

All images are enlarged to fit your desktop resolution. There are small and there are large, the average size being 1024 x 768, which enlarges pretty well especially with modern high quality cameras. Quality varies enormously, depending on the source. You have the option of going through the list and selecting the ones you like and which suit your monitor the best, though, and as there are 350 of them you're likely to find many that fit the bill.

Aside from being able to view more than three hundred different scenes from around the world, you can also have the program display the contents of a local folder and you can create your own lists of cams from your favorites around the web. Lists can be sent to friends who have the program too, and they can then add them to their own selections. You can opt to view the changing scene from just one cam, or from a handful, or one country, or all 350 cams at random.

It's a simple application that does one thing well. It's free to download, and registering, also free, gives you fewer "nag screens" which encourage you to donate. If you do want to donate, the cost of removing all the nag screens is only ten euros, which is a bargain.