Video tutorial weblog Tinkernut demonstrates how to create custom screensavers from your own collection of digital photos or videos. You'll need to download a couple of free apps to get started—namely Format Factory and WG-Screensaver Creator—and then it's simply a matter of plugging in the media you want to convert. Granted, most operating systems have a screensaver-from-folder feature for rolling your own photo screensavers, but this method does video and gives you more control over what you see.

Running a screensaver on multiple monitors can be a tricky affair. The default Windows screensavers work just fine with multiple monitors, but you didn't install dual 22" wide screens at your workstation to blow away your coworkers with the expansiveness of your scrolling marque text messages. Fortunately there are several solutions to dealing with the quirkiness of Windows and multi-monitor screensavers.

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Wikipedia lovers, you can get a random page from the 'pedia to just show up automatically on your PC with the Wikipedia Screen Saver. Sometimes you get pretty empty pages in need of work, other times you learn something pithy and new without lifting a finger. Choose Wikipedia from the screen saver drop-down in Display Properties after you install it. [via Ghacks]

Windows only: Free application Shutdown Screensaver counts the seconds until it automatically shuts down your computer. When you run the screensaver, it immediately starts counting down from two minutes. When it hits zero, your computer shuts down. If you stop the screensaver before it hits zero, your computer doesn't shutdown. This isn't a screensaver you'd want to install on most computers, since it (unfortunately) doesn't have any options other than brute-force shutdown, but if you're responsible for a computer that you always forget to shut off, this one could come in handy. If it's too heavy handed for you, you may be better off getting more in tune with your PC's power options. As is this is a simple app that does what it says, but if you're aware of a similar alternative with more features, we're all ears in the comments.

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An adventurous Flickr user dug up a file in Leopard's example developer documents called Twitterverse, a screensaver that displays your Twitter world in a circle of thumbnailed activity. To use Twitterverse, find the file (a quick Spotlight search for Twitterverse should do the trick), open your Desktop & Screen Saver preference pane, and then simply drag the Twitterverse.qtz file into the preview window of the Screen Saver preference pane. To get it downloading your friends' tweets, click the Options button, enter your username and password, and try it out. I had trouble seeing results (just a blank screen), but if you have more luck, the screensaver is eye-tastic!

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Mac OS X only: When you need a little break from regular web surfing and want some random images pulled from the internets to give you a little creative jolt, you want Visigami, a search-based photo screensaver. Tap a keyword into Visigami (may I suggest "puppy"?) and watch it zoom and pan image results from Flickr, Google Images, or Picasa and send them flying across your screen in one of three random effects. Control the zoom, spacing, and speed of the 'saver movement, and sit back and enjoy the spectacle. While Visigami is more eye candy than anything else, it's a neat way to enjoy a montage of photos associated with your search term. Visigami is a free download for Mac only.

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Readers are submitting their best life hack for a chance to win an autographed copy of our new book, Upgrade Your Life. Here's our latest winner.
When reader Jim steps away from his PC at the office, he likes to let everyone know where he is—and he uses his screensaver to do just that. But digging through the settings every time he has to change the status message is tedious, so Jim streamlines the process with a handy script that he invokes with a simple key combination. After the jump, download Jim's fabulous script and learn how to set it up for yourself.

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Forgot to wear green today, little leprechaun? Dress up your computer desktop instead with a few St. Patrick's Day screensavers and games.

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Mac OS X only: Freeware app FlickrFan downloads images from any Flickr user, AP wire photos, or any other feed you give it, to a folder on your Mac that you can then set as the source folder for your screensaver. The app is still fairly young and a bit clumsy, but if you follow the setup instructions on the download site, it works really well (and is an excellent tool for keeping up with your friends' latest pics). FlickrFan is freeware, Mac OS X only. Windows users looking for something similar should check out previously mentioned Slickr.

Mac and Windows only: Spruce up the functionality and aesthetics of your screeensaver with Fliqlo. Fliqlo mimics an old school clock with flipping digits. The time can be customised to display in 12-hour or 24-hour formats. Additionally, you can customise the zoom using the up and down arrow keys. Fliqlo is a free screensaver that has been around for ages but never made an appearance on Lifehacker. Not into the clock? We've posted a few other screensavers you might like. Fliqlo is a free download for Mac and Windows only.