WindowBlinds 11 planning
Friday, December 25, 2020 by Frogboy | Discussion: WindowBlinds
We are putting together the schedule to make WindowBlinds 11.
Customization is a lot harder now than it used to be. Microsoft, for reasons unknown, has actively encouraged developers to take care of their own client and even non client (border, frame) painting rather than using standard Windows controls.
Microsoft's baffling decision to throw away trying to provide a standard set of in-app controls for developers and instead provide vague, often conflicting standards (cough, Fluent) has resulted in having less and less of the OS we can even touch.
Which is unfortunate because WindowBlinds, in theory, could actually give Windows users a consistent, OS-wide Fluent if apps weren't handling the drawing of their own UIs these days.
Still, with that in mind, there are things we can do such as skin the standard OS controls and then handle apps on a case-by-case basis. Keep in mind though, the more non-standard apps we have to handle, the harder it is for us to keep compatibility.
Earlier this year we released Curtains which doesn't even hook into the OS. This means it is 100% compatible. Skins, even the weirdest ones, won't break a given app. Of course, the price is that it doesn't skin nearly as much (no client area GUI controls like scrollbars, push buttons, radio buttons, etc.). It's done quite well. However, we know there are still plenty of people out there who would like to have more full control over how their Windows desktop looks.
That's where this thread comes in: What would you like to see in WindowBlinds 11?
Reply #262 Friday, November 5, 2021 3:57 PM
This is unbearable! Can’t Neil just tell us Something about how development of Windowblinds 11 is going? This is just starting to turn into radio silence & this not how you treat paying customers.
Reply #264 Friday, November 5, 2021 6:28 PM
if the new windowblinds isnt coming until 2023, what if a new windows comes out by then.. then all the work they put into making a window 11 compatible version of windowblinds will be worthless and pointless... lol obviously i dont think a new windows will be out that fast... but you have to keep in mind these days everything is half assed and rushed out to make as much money as fast as possible, without a single care about the customer... so just saying.. that would be some funny shit, if that happened... lmfao
Reply #265 Friday, November 5, 2021 7:55 PM
The 2023 was a typo! Brad pressed 3 instead of 2.
Reply #268 Saturday, November 6, 2021 12:27 PM
Never thought Stardock would treat us paying customers like Mushrooms.
Keep us in the Dark
Feed us on Sh*te.
This has a knock on effect for the Skinners. I have purchased so many master skins over the years, love there work especially the dark skins, but i have Zero Motivation to spend another penny until WB11 is out, already feel duped for buying Start11, we were always told , you have to have Start 10/11 for Windowblinds to work correctly and i get that, so give us WB11. I have already Uninstalled Start 11 in favour of StartALLBack as other themes and skinpacks that can actually do a similar job to Windowblinds and are out Right Now and will work with Win11, using a Dark theme right now with Electric Blue Text etc..
Used to think of myself as a very loyal customer, recommending WB to all who would listen, but loyalty is a two way street.
A topic nearly a year old with 267 replies, does this not tell you something Stardock . Give your people what they need, or they may not be your people for too much longer.
Reply #269 Saturday, November 6, 2021 12:52 PM
It will get here when it gets here. All this whining isn't going to speed it up.
Reply #270 Saturday, November 6, 2021 1:15 PM
It will get here when it gets here. All this whining isn't going to speed it up.
Agree 100% Jim, apparently they've (whinners) never developed/designed a program before, lot's of time and planning goes into making a program, perhaps they can come up with their own version of WB 11?
Reply #271 Saturday, November 6, 2021 1:39 PM
It will get here when it gets here. All this whining isn't going to speed it up.
Agree 100% Jim, apparently they've (whinners) never developed/designed a program before, lot's of time and planning goes into making a program, perhaps they can come up with their own version of WB 11?
LOL you are assuming that it's apparent. Why are you upset because we have a difference of opinion?
Peace and have a happy and safe Thanksgiving and upcoming holiday season.
Reply #272 Saturday, November 6, 2021 1:42 PM
It will get here when it gets here. All this whining isn't going to speed it up.
It's not going to slow it down either. As I said to Don. Why are you upset because we have a difference of opinion?
Peace my friend and have a happy and safe Thanksgiving and upcoming holiday season.
Reply #273 Saturday, November 6, 2021 1:59 PM
Some people develop/design Programs and others Pay those people and companies to do said job for them.
If you read some of my other comments, you will see i have actually built up a similar thing to WB. I was told that there is no other product that works like WB on Win 11, for me and my Set up, i have been using other programs, a little bit from here and there and now have something that looks very similar, yes i had to look and work hard to make this happen, but right now i have a fully Modded Win 11 OS as it was not like any replies looked like Stardock was even listening to any payed up member in this topic.
So now we are whining because we repeatedly ask when will WB11 be ready, if we had some solid answers, we would not have to ask again, and again.
Do not call me a whiner, because after asking over and over in an official topic about the subject, no staff member or admin has offered anything in way of reply, so i got off my backside and sorted my own customization set up, just because it's not called Windowblinds 11 and i have not designed it , developed it, i am still doing something similar to what you, has told us to do.
Be careful what advice you give because the longer this goes on without staff/Admin, more payed up members may do the same and go solo, not needing or bothering to sit and wait it out, Then what? as that's a whole new topic.
Reply #274 Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:13 PM
Some people develop/design Programs and others Pay those people and companies to do said job for them.
If you read some of my other comments, you will see i have actually built up a similar thing to WB. I was told that there is no other product that works like WB on Win 11, for me and my Set up, i have been using other programs, a little bit from here and there and now have something that looks very similar, yes i had to look and work hard to make this happen, but right now i have a fully Modded Win 11 OS as it was not like any replies looked like Stardock was even listening to any payed up member in this topic.
So now we are whining because we repeatedly ask when will WB11 be ready, if we had some solid answers, we would not have to ask again, and again.
Do not call me a whiner, because after asking over and over in an official topic about the subject, no staff member or admin has offered anything in way of reply, so i got off my backside and sorted my own customization set up, just because it's not called Windowblinds 11 and i have not designed it , developed it, i am still doing something similar to what you, has told us to do.
Be careful what advice you give because the longer this goes on without staff/Admin, more payed up members may do the same and go solo, not needing or bothering to sit and wait it out, Then what? as that's a whole new topic.
I should point out that your solution is not the same as WB. It in fact will be missing one of the biggest things WB skins offer (custom frames - changing the colour is not the same thing).
We appreciate your interest and desire to have a WB11 to work on Win11 and we will of course update the thread when there is more news. But asking again and again as I say will get you the same answers.
This thread dates from before Windows 11 was a thing (quite possibly at Microsoft too as Win11 is rather thrown together from parts). Unfortunately plans change and because of Win11 being released development was needed elsewhere so this was pushed back.
This is exactly why we will not give any further indication of time lines as whilst some people are more understanding about release dates changing, others treat them as set in stone.
What we will say is it is on the list as we are aware WB10 isn't Win11 compatible. But I would also say don't upgrade to a newly released MS OS unless you have actual need to do so. Doing so just causes you pain when things do not work right, be they the OS with AMD chips, or third party software which was never designed for the OS.
Reply #276 Saturday, November 6, 2021 6:23 PM
"development was needed elsewhere so this was pushed back."
So basically it's a financial situation or choice. Stardock instead of putting resources into windowblinds 11 development it was put elsewhere. My personal opinion was that was a poor choice especially because you have Start 11.
Reply #277 Saturday, November 6, 2021 6:53 PM
It will get here when it gets here. All this whining isn't going to speed it up.
Agree 100% Jim, apparently they've (whinners) never developed/designed a program before, lot's of time and planning goes into making a program, perhaps they can come up with their own version of WB 11?
LOL you are assuming that it's apparent. Why are you upset because we have a difference of opinion?
Peace and have a happy and safe Thanksgiving and upcoming holiday season.
Me upset over "a difference of opinion", you're funny
On the contrary, I find your constant questioning of when WB 11 will be ready, very amusing!
As one great person said; "Peace and have a happy and safe Thanksgiving and upcoming holiday season."
Reply #278 Saturday, November 6, 2021 7:19 PM
"development was needed elsewhere so this was pushed back."
So basically it's a financial situation or choice. Stardock instead of putting resources into windowblinds 11 development it was put elsewhere. My personal opinion was that was a poor choice especially because you have Start 11.
Start11 is what took the development time.
Reply #279 Sunday, November 7, 2021 8:42 AM
I tried to make a simple WPF windows in Windows 11 with VS2019 last week and the XAML designer didn't produce a layout/frame sizing remotely close to what the actual window ended up displaying. I had to add random padding and margins to the window to make the contents 'sit' where they visually should. Turns out there has to be templates of styling used that are for Windows 11, but then will it look right on Windows 10 anymore?
Have you also noticed the proclivity for more and more garbage controls to be stuck into the window titles these days too? Some are so bad I can't even drag the window anymore because there's only a tiny gap to try and click on to grab it.
Per app 'tweaked' customization could work maybe - but it would need tons of specific handling and settings either from Stardock or the community contributing?
Reply #280 Sunday, November 7, 2021 9:37 AM
I should point out that your solution is not the same as WB. It in fact will be missing one of the biggest things WB skins offer (custom frames - changing the colour is not the same thing).
I never once said i have created a WB clone, what i said was (if you read my other comments) is that i have managed to customize my desktop to around 95% of what WB can do for me. I am not sure if i am allowed to post an image link, as i can not see the "insert Image " link in the tools menu above, if it is allowed and anyone can tell me what would be the correct tool above, i will post an image of my desktop for scrutiny.
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Reply #261 Wednesday, November 3, 2021 8:46 PM
when we get in to our 60's we no longer want to live to a very old age