How can I change or install screensavers?

Question

I want to change the default screen saver in ubuntu 11.10/12.04. On 11.04 i just did a

sudo apt-get install xscreensaver-data-extra xscreensaver-screensaver-bsod 

and then i could change it in the control center -> screen saver options.

But now there seems to be no other option to change the default screen saver.

Answer 1

Background

The Gnome 3 Devs dumped the old gnome-screensaver. The replacement screensaver is just a blank screen.

The Canonical Devs thought it was a useful idea to continue and raised a blue-print for implementation in Oneiric.

A few ideas was raised such as a Compiz specific implementation or reusing a Lubuntu/Xubuntu screensaver implementation.

However - as at the time of writing, no implementation was started.

XScreenSaver

installation

Potential workaround - installing xscreensaver

sudo apt-get install xscreensaver xscreensaver-gl-extra xscreensaver-data-extra

Now remove gnome-screensaver

sudo apt-get remove gnome-screensaver

Now start the xscreensaver configuration tool - from a terminal:

xscreensaver-demo

or search from the Dash:

Click OK to both prompts asking to turn-off Gnome Daemon and to start xscreensaver-daemon respectively.

starting xscreensaver from login

Now to start the xscreensaver daemon on login you need to search in Dash for startup applications

Create a new entry running the command xscreensaver -nosplash

Locking the screen

If you want to manually lock the screen with the keyboard combination CTRL+ALT+L then you will need to run the following to repoint the old gnome-screensaver lock to xscreensaver

sudo ln -s /usr/bin/xscreensaver-command /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver-command

Logout or reboot for all changes to take effect.

Answer 2

If you want to experiment, then check out these links

Link to ubuntuupdates

Link to GnomeScreensaver home page

Remember, this is at your own risk

Regards

Answer 3

Try installing gnome-tweak-tool. It's like Ubuntu Tweak, except that it's more focused towards GNOME 3, and it isn't only for Ubuntu. It might have the Screensaver setting you are looking for.
EDIT: Use xscreensaver-demo