GoL Screensaver

GoL Screensaver

Conway's Game of Life screensaver for Onyx Boox devices

Harold Martin Wallpaper

Screenshots

Screenshot of GoL Screensaver Screenshot of GoL Screensaver

Description

GoL Screensaver generates and updates screensavers for Onyx Boox devices using Conway's Game of Life algorithm.

Features:
- Auto-updating screensaver based on Conway's Game of Life
- Customizable foreground and background colors (chosen specifically for color e-ink)
- Pattern picker for common Game of Life starting states.
- Optional read-only upcoming-calendar overlay with selectable device calendars, time horizon, position, and size

Usage:
- Install the app on using F-Droid or building from source.
- Disable freezing in order to for the game to self-update
- Settings > Apps & Notifications > Freeze Settings > GoL Wallpaper (OFF)
- Note: Updates happen at most every 15 minutes and **only** with sufficient battery
- Launch the app!
- (Optional) Choose foreground and background colors in the app
- (Optional) Pick a starting pattern
- (Optional) Enable the calendar overlay and choose which synced calendars may appear on the screensaver

Calendar privacy and refresh:
- Calendar permission is optional and read-only
- Event titles may be visible on the lock screen; private events are displayed as “Busy”
- Event details are not cached, and calendar settings do not transfer to another device
- Calendar content refreshes with the regular wallpaper job or while the app is open

What’s new (1.2)

Adds layers, additional Game of Life rules and boundary modes, RLE import, auto-reseeding, full-screen previews, calendar overlays, translations, and improved BOOX settings. Includes UI, performance, and reliability fixes.

Versions

Version Date Size Requires Android Download
1.2 current
3b1930f150452c16…
2026-07-14 2.8 MB API 29
1.0
7a55837cdb12dbf9…
2025-07-01 21 MB API 28

Permissions

What the app asks the system for. Android only grants sensitive access after you confirm it.

  • SET_WALLPAPER
  • Read calendarRead appointments.
  • Prevent sleepingKeep the device from going to sleep.
  • Network stateCheck whether and how the device is connected.
  • Run at startupStart automatically after the device is switched on.
  • Foreground serviceKeep running in the background, visible in the status bar.
  • golwallpaper.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION

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