WindowBlinds 7 Beta 2 with Windows 7 Theme Support!

Beta for Object Desktop subscribers

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 by Island Dog | Discussion: WinCustomize News

Stardock is excited to announce the release of Beta 2 for WindowBlinds 7.  WindowBlinds is an application that lets users change the look and feel of Windows XP, Vista, and now Windows 7 by applying themes (also known as skins).  This latest beta release introduces a wide range of improvements and features over earlier betas. 

This beta 2 update includes:

  • Live previews.  See the changes you make in settings in real-time
  • Completely new user interface which includes grab and throw scrolling, reflections, and a simpler layout.
  • Improved Windows 7 support
  • Improved skin coloring (see video)
  • Improved sub-style selections, and skin search
WB_Visual_Styles_Corporate 8-5-2009 1-53-43 PM
 New UI Skin coloring 

WindowBlinds 7 – Beta 2 is available for download via Stardock’s Impulse for Object Desktop subscribers.  Purchase WindowBlinds 6 now, and you will get the upgrade to WindowBlinds 7 for free when released! 

For more information, please visit www.windowblinds.net.

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Neil Banfield
Reply #21 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:10 PM

Dwax: See that button under that text?

Press it for the new UI.


k10w3
Reply #22 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:12 PM

dwax
reply 19
Yep I updated from Vresion 6 to the beta 2 on Impulse, and I got beta 1. Don't see any other updates for beta 2 either.


Just click that "Open the New Interface" button below the "Beta Release 1 - Temporary Interface" -- that opened up the new one for me.


eazybadass
Reply #23 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:13 PM

That worked! Thanks Neil.

 

Edit: More problems.. what a surprise.  It shows in the list now, however when i try to download it it says Preparing download > Error (Error retreiving data)  sweet.


Wizard1956
Reply #24 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:15 PM

Yep I updated from Vresion 6 to the beta 2 on Impulse, and I got beta 1. Don't see any other updates for beta 2 either.

Look in your start menu under StarDock/ObjectDesktop/WindowBlinds. You should see beta two listed along with version 6.

Click the "Click to open the new interface" button just below the red rectangle you drew on your ss for the new UI.

EDIT:Darn,too slow today,lol.


eazybadass
Reply #25 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:29 PM

OMFG, why do i always have issues with ANYTHING stardock related, good god.  I finally get it to show the new update in impulse but now i get an error retreiving data and it won't download the new beta.  WTF!!!

 

from the impulse logfile.

-- [05/08/2009 6:38:48 PM] ----------------------------------------------------
Context:    UpdateApplicationFileList: odnt, wb7,PublicProduction
Message:    Server problem or connection issue
Build #:    1270
Exception:    The remote server returned an error: (404) Not Found.

 


k10w3
Reply #26 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:37 PM

eazybadass
reply 25
OMFG, why do i always have issues with ANYTHING stardock related, good god.  I finally get it to show the new update in impulse but now i get an error retreiving data and it won't download the new beta.  WTF!!!


Take a deep breath.  Keep in mind it's a beta.  Now, I think if you right click the update for Windowblinds 7 in Impulse, it will give you the option to verify if the download was a success.  When I first downloaded it, it didn't take, however when I right clicked and was given the option to verify, it gave me the option to download it properly, and then it took.

Seriously....there really are worse predicaments to be in than a mis-download from Stardock (I'm not always calm...most people here know me to be a foul, bitter, negative individual, so these reassuring words coming from me should tell you, your issues with the download are pretty simply to remedy).


I.R. Brainiac
Reply #27 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:45 PM
It looks great...but... saved recolor presets dont show because there isnt a drop down list anymore...big problem for me.(of course its still there in the old interface but I dont know if thats being kept or not) New recolor stuff has no option to save,saturation,brightness...plus it worked horribly with all checkboxes set to auto.It may work ok for some settings and some skins for some people but the old way is far FAR superior. XP previews are worse because they show Vista elements...maybe the new interface isnt supposed to be used on XP? I get the feeling that this might be the case...so no biggie,but the color presets need to show in both.(I sometimes have as many as 10 per substyle and OS) As long as the old interface is always available,I guess its no big deal.

I.R. Brainiac
Reply #28 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:15 PM

The skin recolor does work well for some skins...just not mine. Needs save button.(.WBO file)and brightness and saturation control.


vStyler
Reply #29 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:18 PM

Groooovy Man 


CarGuy1
Reply #30 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:20 PM

IRB...I was going to tell you that the your color subsets for Knot Aero were missing but it looks like you know.


Neil Banfield
Reply #31 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:23 PM

I.R. Brainiac
reply 3
The skin recolor does work well for some skins...just not mine. Needs save button.(.WBO file)

In the future the skin author will be able to specify the default values for the two auto sliders.

Regarding saving colours, the plan is to allow saves in the future.  The UI is not fully complete yet.


Kelson64
Reply #32 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:51 PM
What a waste of time this whole adventure was for me. I just got a new computer with Windows 7 OEM installed (I am in the business). It won't let me install Windowblinds 6 because it is not compatible. I have no option for Windowblinds Beta 1 or Beta 2. So, I guess I am just out of luck until Stardock realizes that Impulse is a piece of crap software.

Neil Banfield
Reply #33 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:57 PM

Kelson64
reply 7
What a waste of time this whole adventure was for me. I just got a new computer with Windows 7 OEM installed (I am in the business). It won't let me install Windowblinds 6 because it is not compatible. I have no option for Windowblinds Beta 1 or Beta 2. So, I guess I am just out of luck until Stardock realizes that Impulse is a piece of crap software.

You need to tick show prereleases.  Also ensure you have a current ObjectDesktop subscription.  The product you want to select is WindowBlinds 7 not WindowBlinds 6.


karmat
Reply #34 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 8:09 PM
Works for me just fine and the interface looks awesome. I was missing the same thing though as IRB as in color saturation and brightness. And also toolbar and animation settings, will they be phased in as well? Otherwise, great job, Stardock staff!

bmetelsky
Reply #35 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 9:12 PM

Very nice. Is there an option or a way to always have it open with the new interface?


CarGuy1
Reply #36 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 9:17 PM

bmetelsky
reply 10
Very nice. Is there an option or a way to always have it open with the new interface?

Click on the WindowBlinds7 Beta Icon that is in your object desktop folder off the start menu


bmetelsky
Reply #37 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 9:37 PM

Thanks! Works like a charm.


GhoS
Reply #38 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 10:05 PM
Love the new interface! Takes a little getting used to the different orientation, but definitely being re-sizable will help with Netbooks since I have trouble WB6 on it. One suggestion though, its a minor quibble. Is it possible to make an option so it can do a sample screenshot with the taskbar up top (or the side if someone chooses)? Should have asked for this before, but it would make it easier when selecting a skin to use how it looks with the bar up top. I suppose though part of the issue is really with skin creators. Many do not include a taskbar that looks good up top as it does down below. Mainly its due to a design element that when moving the taskbar up top is not properly switched around for the different orientation. So maybe this is a WB problem that it can't produce up top taskbars correctly or its the creators not creating it. Maybe don't need the shot to update, but just people to create skins correctly. I don't know. On a side note, I can't understand why MS designs the taskbar for being down the bottom of the screen. All the menu's for programs are up top, so why not have the taskbar there, less mouse movement. There are pros for being on the side as well I guess, but I just think being up top is far more productive and logical. Great job with WB7, and Corporate is a pretty nice skin as well.

Aleatoric
Reply #39 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 10:47 PM
I like the new interface, very nice. One thing I've noticed in the WB7 betas is that the explorer background options are missing. Maybe this isn't an option for windows 7 (or just not handled yet), but why is it gone for Vista, where it worked before? Just curious
A cool thing I've found is that, with Windows 7, the command window is skinned again Overall, a very nice upgrade, hope the odds and ends get put back in as it goes along.

o0SHUUMI0o
Reply #40 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 11:37 PM
ok i have rebooted, i have show prerelease checked off.... i have uninstalled windowblinds 6 and 7 and reinstalled and all i get is beta 1... i have been using stardock products for many years and i am a computer tech....something is wrong, im not going to get bent, but eager to try the new interface.... i have no button under the red beta 1 text either

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