WindowBlinds 6 Released!
The Next Generation of WindowBlinds Is Here
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 by Island Dog | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Stardock is pleased to announced the official release of WindowBlinds 6. WindowBlinds is a utility that allows users to change the look and feel of the Windows desktop experience by applying skins to the user interface in both Windows Vista and XP. WindowBlinds can change title bars, push buttons, Start bars, scrollbars and nearly every other element of the Windows user interface.
WindowBlinds 6 adds the ability to have "blurred glass" window borders on Windows XP which allows artists to make skins that could make Windows XP look virtually identical to Windows Vista.
WindowBlinds 6 also adds full support for customizing Microsoft’s new Windows Vista operating system. Everything from Internet Explorer 7 skinning, Sidebar skinning to explorer backgrounds, WindowBlinds 6 skins virtually every element of Windows Vista while making full use of the hardware acceleration features on Windows Vista for maximum performance.
The new version also adds a host of other features including advanced animation support in skins, user-creatable skin sub-styles, a new, easy to use configuration program, user customization options of fonts and colors in skins and much more.
Users who purchased WindowBlinds after February 1, 2007 will receive the update for free. The enhanced registered version is $19.95 or can be purchased as part of Object Desktop, Stardock's flagship suite of desktop enhancement programs which includes IconPackager, DesktopX, ObjectBar, DeskScapes, LogonStudio Vista, and more.
Buy ObjectDesktop (Includes WindowBlinds) - $49.95
Buy WindowBlinds 6 Standalone - $19.95
Requires: Windows XP or Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit)
Download a free trial at www.windowblinds.net
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Reply #42 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 4:19 PM
I've updated but haven't restarted yet. Hopefully there'll be no hiccups or major problems.
DigitalCHET says a little prayer before turning off his computer.
Reply #43 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 4:29 PM
Nakor - I changed it/changed it back and everything worked alright.I've got the upgrade to WB 6. Thank you very much for your kind support.
Reply #45 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 4:50 PM
a couple of Beta's ago and previous.
I have to agree. Earlier versions were much smoother. Applying through Skinstudio 5 is still hangy. Clicking on the desktop after 10 seconds or so forces the skin to apply and all is fine. If I don't click on the desktop, it will hang for up to 30 seconds before applying the skin, and sometimes half loads the skin (classic scrollbars, classic taskbar, it is different all the time). If I re-apply, everything is fine. It still hangs though.
My PC (XP)
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.0 (build 32 x86)
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
(Plug and Play Monitor) 2 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
Wblind.dll 2007/09/27 17:47:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/09/24 19:08:43
Wbconfig.exe 2007/10/01 17:35:33
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 17:47:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/08/27 11:54:07
Wbui.dll 2007/09/24 19:08:06
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Screen.exe 2007/10/01 11:23:24
So far I am running smooth on my PC and laptop. I didn't test SKS/Wb applying on my laptop.
I do not have a WB tray icon. Is this correct or do I have a problem?
Reply #46 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 4:50 PM
With regards to the problem with serials I mentioned earlier, that should be sorted and a non-issue for people who got emails with one that was unhappy. The backend has been updated and they should use the serial in email and their email address as normal.
Still sending out emails with the free upgrade info. There are quite a few of them. 
Come Wednesday, if you do not have your email (qualifying upgrades only )and the form at https://www.stardock.com/support doesn't send you a link to WB6, then please contact [email protected] with the email address you ordered under.
Reply #47 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 5:30 PM
Just for the hell of it, this is what I do in a case like this: After I buy and download I go to Stardock Central. I uninstalled 5 through SDC. I reboot. I go back to SDC. I installed 6. I reboot. Life is good.
Reply #48 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 5:44 PM
Reply #49 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 6:02 PM
The one thing. Why it move my skins to another folder? Is there any ways to disable this function?
Reply #50 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 6:07 PM
Take any skin and turn the transparency up (down) for the frames and the mask behind it is quite evident.
Why does there need to be an image undrneath anyway? Why not just have the frames fade out? Also why are their diagonal gradients in the frames and taskbar masks?
Also.. there is still a bad area all the way left on taskbar when using blur\trans on it.
lastly..having some areas go trans and not others sorta defeats the purpose. Seems like it should be all or nothing. Trans frames with big opaque buttons looks bad.
Hopefully these thing's can be resolved it's really disconcerting when trying to design a skin to use with these features when they don't seem to be functioning correctly.
In all WB6 is a step forward, I do agree but these things in particular are very disappointing to the point to where I feel like skinning Vista is still in its early stages and I personally feel even though I would like to skin it I probably won't be anytime soon.
Thanks for the update, I'm sure a lot of hard work went into it, I just wanted to express my opinions on it thus far.
Reply #52 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 7:01 PM
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Stardock Central
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There was an error activating WindowBlinds 6. Error: 6
Excessive activations (#) - Multiple activation requests for this product have arrived and been processed. This has triggered the threshold for potential errors. If you are having problems activating or need to reset the activation count, please email this log file to [email protected] from the email address you ordered under.
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OK
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Though, i've send a mail to [email protected], but i'd like that someone could reactivate this famous number rights as quick as possible to continue what i'm testing ...
And again, i don't know how much is that number of activations, but Stardock might think that SDC subscribers are there for testing, installing and uninstalling a lot of times (especially when there are troubles) and this number might be either removed for SDC subscribers or either at least much high ...
Reply #54 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 7:41 PM
It's getting you back for all the complaining you do to the skinners.
Uninstall old version first and reboot, should be there.
Reply #55 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 7:51 PM
Thanks to whoever answers my question this time
Reply #56 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 8:09 PM
Darn it, I knew it would come back to bite me in the tukus.
Reply #57 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 8:14 PM
Darn it, I knew it would come back to bite me in the tukus.
Glad to see you take that with some humor
Reply #58 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 8:23 PM
Unfortunatly even after the uninstall still no WB6 listed. BTW, what is up with the quoting system.
Reply #59 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 8:46 PM
It resents you too
Then I dunno why 6 isn't showing up, I'm sure Neil will be back from his nap soon to tell ya.
Reply #60 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 8:55 PM
No need, I got it. Must have just taken a while for the order to process and the info to update in SDC. Weird. Oh well, I'm off to find me one of those new snazzy "Vista Only Skins" that DON'T TRUNCATE MY START MENU ITEMS!!!
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Reply #41 Tuesday, October 2, 2007 4:13 PM