XScreenSaver vs Sensory Mesmo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
XScreenSaver
Explore a vast collection of historic and educational graphics demos originally designed for Linux and Unix systems. This application allows you to interact with hundreds of these visual demonstrations, ported from the classic screen saver collection.
- Historic graphics demos
- Educational visual content
- Interactive demo playback
- Large collection of visuals
- Cross-platform heritage
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The XScreenSaver application is a large collection of historic and educational graphics demos. XScreenSaver is the standard screen saver collection shipped on most Linux and Unix systems. I released the first version in 1992. In 2006, I ported it to MacOS, and in 2012 I ported it to iOS. This application is not a screen saver, of course, since iOS doesn't have those. But it does let you play with the hundreds of graphics demos that are a part of the XScreenSaver collection.
Sensory Mesmo
Experience mesmerizing, groovy visuals inspired by the 1960s. This app features pulsating colors and dynamic effects that respond to touch, offering an infinite combination of colors for a captivating sensory experience. It's perfect for relaxation or creating a soothing ambiance.
- Pulsating colors and moving effects
- Touch-responsive visuals
- Adjustable speed and diffusion
- External controller support (keyboard, Xbox, adaptive)
- No ads or subscriptions
- Infinite color combinations
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Sensory Mesmo is designed to be mesmeric. Back to the 1960's - pulsating colors and moving effects create a powerful large screen effect. Touch responsive and an infinite combination of colors makes for a great sensory scenario. By pressing the silver buttons it is possible to change colors, styles, change the general speed of movement and change the "diffusion". Sensory Mesmo can also be controlled by an external keyboard, bluetooth access switches or Microsoft Adaptive controller and XBox controller. Keyboard 1,2,3,4,-,Space and Enter control the app. 5 will hide the silver buttons. The XBox controller buttons A,B,X,Y control the app also and you can move a pointer around with the DPad, to replace a screen touch Sensory Mesmo contains no adverts, requires no subscription and collects no user information. Perfect to beam to a large screen in a Sensory room or use as a relaxing, soothing night light.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: XScreenSaver at 109 against Sensory Mesmo's 1. Sensory Mesmo's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sensory Mesmo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: XScreenSaver has 109 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | XScreenSaver | Sensory Mesmo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (109 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 92.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 109 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jamie Zawinski | Sensory App House Ltd |
Customer experience
XScreenSaver
Sensory Mesmo
Bugs and requests
XScreenSaver
Reported bugs
5 issues- Photo library screensaver crashes on iOS 13
- GLText reveals password when system info is selected
- Framebuffer loading failures requiring app restart
- Crashes on certain devices or configurations
- Difficult UI for exiting screensavers on larger phones
Requested features
11 requests- Favorites or bookmarking system to save preferred screensavers
- Hide or exclude unwanted screensavers from rotation
- Ability to select specific channels in XAnalogTV screensaver
- Widget support for iOS standby mode
- Prevent auto-lock feature to keep screen on
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- Apple TV version
- Windows port of the application
- Larger hit areas for corner icons
- Faster scrubbing through screensavers
- Donate button for supporting development
- Screensavers featuring pentagons
Sensory Mesmo
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
XScreenSaver
No in-app purchases
Sensory Mesmo
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is XScreenSaver free?
Is Sensory Mesmo free?
Which has better reviews, XScreenSaver or Sensory Mesmo?
Do XScreenSaver or Sensory Mesmo have ads?
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