This OS X screen saver is a neat little application that you will soon find indispensable and best of all, it's free¹. Using iNotify.saver (iNotify) as your screen saver means you'll always know if any new email arrives or if anyone signs into iChat with just a glance. It's perfect if you keep your Mac close at hand even when you're not using it.

How it works

While iNotify.saver is active, it periodically checks your OS X Mail accounts for new messages. When iNotify finds a new message, it displays a large easy-to-see notification showing you how many messages and for which mail account². In OS X Screen Saver preferences, you select which mail accounts to activate (no retyping in usernames and passwords) and how often to check.

Likewise, while logged into iChat, iNotify.saver can instantly display a large notification showing which of your buddies is logged in and to which service (AIM, Bonjour or Jabber).

Installation

Simply download the iNotify disk image (iNotify.dmg) and follow the steps in the installer program. More...

Instructions

Before using iNotify unlock the OS X Mail accounts you want to use within "System Preferences → Desktop & Screen Saver → iNotify → Options...". You can also specify the background you want to use and the frequency to check for new email.

Useful Tips

• can only check the status of iChat buddies while you are logged into iChat.
• does NOT require OS X Mail to be running.
• can only see new messages from a POP mail account if they arrive while iNotify.saver is running. Unread POP mail in Mail.app will not be reflected as new messages in iNotify.saver.
• can see unread and new messages from an IMAP mail account. Unread IMAP mail in Mail.app will be reflected as new messages in iNotify.saver.
• iNotify.saver stores your password in its own keychain item. If you change your mail account password, you should Lock the account in iNotify.saver Options, hit Okay and then Unlock the account again to update iNotify's keychain item.

Contact

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¹Product is free in monetary terms only, it may still cost karma to enjoy it excessively and not contribute to the author. Donate.

².Mac, IMAP and POP3 accounts only as set up in OS X Mail.

• Supports multiple mail accounts direct from OS X Mail without configuration
• Choose how often to check for new mail
• Use one of the OS X image slideshows from Apple as a background
• Supports dual displays
• Displays image of iChat buddy with icon for the service they're using
• Universal Binary (untested on Intel)
  Got it working on Intel? → Let me know

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