The Happy Holiday Hearth [DVD] [2002]

The Happy Holiday Hearth is billed as a "virtual fireplace for all occasions," and it more than meets its billing, bringing holiday cheer and a roaring fire to any DVD-equipped computer or television. The premise is simple: turn an electronic screen into a cozy fire. And the execution is perfect, especially since the logs never need replacing. There's a choice of three audio modes. "Holiday Music" cycles through 23 lo-fi old-time Christmas songs. "Crackling Fire" plays the sounds of a fireplace, as pops and log shifts add realism to the simulation; this audio option makes sense in the cold days long before or after the holidays, when Christmas music isn't usually welcome. The final choice is a combination of the music and the crackling fire sounds. No matter which audio one chooses (on the fly, or from the main menu), The Happy Holiday Hearth manages to bring warmth and atmosphere to any dwelling that can't muster a fire.