Android's Daydream function is a kind of interactive screensaver that, if kept active, automatically displays some information when the device is connected to the recharge and you choose to keep the screen on. The Daydream mode (or Daydream) is a screen that can always remain on, to transform the tablet or even the smartphone into a table clock, a photo frame or a weather station .
The DayDream function is not enabled by default, it can be activated in the Android settings under the Display item with some predefined options to choose when to activate the daydream mode.
This feature was added in Android 4.2 but is also included in custom ROMs like CyanogenMod.
When you connect your Android phone or tablet to the charger, normally the screen is kept off.
However, when the daydream or DayDream mode is activated, the device screen remains on to show the information you choose.
You can use this DayDream option to view the time, weather, quotes, photos, news, tweets or anything else (if the application exists) on the full screen.
In the DayDream configuration menu, some of the information that can be displayed has a menu of options for customizing it.
Some applications then have support for the DayDream and here we will see some examples.
1) The Clock
The clock is the main function for the daydream mode and you can also activate the "night mode", much darker and less bright, suitable for a dark clock that does not bother.
The function is perfect for watching the weather in the middle of the night.
The digital clock turns off slowly and moves around the screen, as is the rule for any screensaver.
By using an external application like Chronus, you can also change the DayDream clock to show a lot more information.
Chronus is one of the best Android lock screen widgets
Normally you can only select one widget in the daydream setting, but if you select the Chronus widget you can see a lot more information on the screen.
2) Photos
Google provides a photo frame app and a photo table that work as slideshows so that they pass chosen photos on the screen.
You can select albums from the Android gallery and on the device you can browse the photos in the albums, basically transforming your phone or tablet into a digital frame.
The photo frame displays one photo at a time, while the Photos table displays multiple, smaller photos at once.
3) Quotes
In daydream mode you can see sentences or quotes scroll on the screen.
White-on-black text is simple and not too distracting, and can give you something to think about when looking at your phone or tablet while being thoughtful.
happen to take a look at your cell phone while it is in daydream mode.
To get the quotes you have to install the DayDream Citation app which also shows the time, the battery charge and with the Night option.
4) Flipboard or News Republic
The two applications are great for following the news on the Android device.
Both Flipboard and NewsRepublic include Daydream support so you can view the latest news that scrolls across the screen when idle and connected to the charger.
Other interesting options for daydreaming can be:
- Daydream Weather Screensaver with weather forecast and current temperatures (but costs 2 Euros).
- Beautiful Widgets also includes the daydream application that displays both time and time.
- Lucid Daydream Screensaver shows the clock and also the weather, unread messages, news from a site (RSS Feed), photo slideshows and more.
To conclude, there is also a hidden Daydream app, built into Android Jelly Bean, which displays jelly beans floating on the screen of your mobile phone or tablet.
To unlock it, go to Settings -> About phone and then repeatedly tap where Android version is written until the bean appears.
Touch and hold on the red bean to see the screensaaver with floating beans that can also be moved on the screen with your finger.
