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?  

First Previous Page 17 of 34 Next Last
wizmarky
Reply #321 Wednesday, November 17, 2021 2:58 AM

RedneckDude

For me explorer windows were transparent. But still reacted to the cursor.

The only issues I ever had were the occasional windows grey (blinding white to me) menus via some apps. I used less of those apps (filezilla...) and found nice alternatives that worked with windows 11 and curtains

LARRS
Reply #322 Saturday, November 20, 2021 10:27 AM

RedneckDude

I'm certain that Stardock cannot supply an actual, true, Vista or Windows 7 Style.  However, there are artists renditions of those OSes in the WindowBlinds gallery.

I know and they are great, I use one of those right now which resemble Vista, but they are not perfect.

don5318
Reply #323 Saturday, November 20, 2021 10:58 AM


I know and they are great, I use one of those right now which resemble Vista, but they are not perfect.

And who's perfect; no one is.....

PapaBravo
Reply #324 Saturday, November 20, 2021 2:35 PM

Thus is what I miss

Skin

adni18
Reply #325 Sunday, November 21, 2021 2:48 PM

A friend of mine (sed) told me that this premium skin of mine,  Steampunk works with Windows 11!!!
I just checked it and yes it works... Sometimes though, explorer restarts..

Steampunk on Windows 11

LightStar
Reply #326 Sunday, November 21, 2021 4:45 PM

From what I have heard Nikos, it may look like it works, but it will have issues at various times. I think I would wait for Windowblinds 11.

adni18
Reply #327 Sunday, November 21, 2021 5:14 PM

LightStar

From what I have heard Nikos, it may look like it works, but it will have issues at various times. I think I would wait for Windowblinds 11.

You are right Tom, I hope that when Windowblinds come out, there still will be people around that are interested... because unfortunately, as we all know, people are losing interest very fast now days...  

LightStar
Reply #328 Sunday, November 21, 2021 5:55 PM

adni18


Quoting LightStar,

From what I have heard Nikos, it may look like it works, but it will have issues at various times. I think I would wait for Windowblinds 11.



You are right Tom, I hope that when Windowblinds come out, there still will be people around that are interested... because unfortunately, as we all know, people are losing interest very fast now days...  

I know... very saddening.

don5318
Reply #329 Sunday, November 21, 2021 5:58 PM

adni18

You are right Tom, I hope that when Windowblinds come out, there still will be people around that are interested... because unfortunately, as we all know, people are losing interest very fast now days...  

Couldn't agree more Nikos, I feel like WB is on it's way out, there has not been an update on SKS since forever, I believe the focus is with Curtains, but that's my opinion, and my two cents worth, everyone have a nice and safe Holiday.   

adni18
Reply #330 Monday, November 22, 2021 12:02 AM

don5318


Quoting adni18,

You are right Tom, I hope that when Windowblinds come out, there still will be people around that are interested... because unfortunately, as we all know, people are losing interest very fast now days...  



Couldn't agree more Nikos, I feel like WB is on it's way out, there has not been an update on SKS since forever, I believe the focus is with Curtains, but that's my opinion, and my two cents worth, everyone have a nice and safe Holiday.   

 

Couldn't agree more Don, have a good one!   

naroon1
Reply #331 Tuesday, November 23, 2021 2:38 PM

That is the problem. It seems like loyal WB users like myself and many others judging by the comments, are being thrown under the Bus.

Other theme creators are leaving WBs  in there wake by creating working themes for Windows 11, more and more as the days go by, but we are told maybe it will be next year for a useable WB 11. This is damaging the brand and i for 1 am gutted by Stardocks apparent ignorance of us peeps who paid our money for Start 11 thinking WB 11 would follow right behind.

 

It's not only Stardock and there paying members who suffer by this lack of forward movement with a useable WB11, what about the Master skinners who sell there hard work to go hand in hand , and are completely reliant on a platform that can actually use there latest creations.

We are constantly being told it takes loads of time and effort to create a working WB 11 due to the changes Microsoft are making to Explorer etc....    But other Skin and Theme makers are already there RIGHT NOW like another popular Theme Patcher now fully working with Windows 11.

 

The longer this goes on, i feel WB will continue to fall behind there competitors, each further week lost, will see more and more payed up members leaving this platform.

What we want and prefer would be a working WB11, we payed for it because we loved it, but as time passes with NO WB 11, more and more will join the exodus, the reasons for not having it ready are starting to sound like excuses, if others can do it now, then why not you too.

don5318
Reply #332 Tuesday, November 23, 2021 3:44 PM

naroon1

Other theme creators are leaving WBs  in there wake by creating working themes for Windows 11, more and more as the days go by, but we are told maybe it will be next year for a useable WB 11.

One other note, in order for us Skinners/Master Skinners to design for Windows 11, Skin Studio needs to me upgraded, I believe (I could be wrong, someone tell me if I am) with it's current status, you couldn't design for Windows 11, maybe, and I mean maybe, Stardock will update Skin Studio as well, but, I'm not holding my breath.  Sure, there appears to be a wain in support for Windowblinds, but, I'm of the belief ( and again, I could be wrong), that if we (Skinners) are given the correct tools, we could make Windowblinds cool again, just my thoughts.   

Everyone enjoy your turkey/ham dinner, or whatever you have for the holiday, peace to all.   

LightStar
Reply #333 Tuesday, November 23, 2021 4:06 PM

Well said Don!   

naroon1
Reply #334 Wednesday, November 24, 2021 11:44 AM

Am i wrong in thinking Skin Studio comes free with WB, i am sure i got it with mine .

So it's not just us paying customers thrown under the bus, seems the Skinners who may rely on both programs to make some sort of living have been shat on from a high height too.

WB was a very cool piece of kit, and could still be if the makers caught up with what others are doing right now, so sorry to you Skinners, it seems all the work is going into Start 11 even though there is a slew of free Start replacement Programs already on release.

IAMTHEMACHINE
Reply #335 Wednesday, November 24, 2021 12:55 PM

people are for sure not losing interest in using windowblinds and all of stardock products... the actual skinners are the ones losing interest in releasing new skins.. as you can see there is only like 2 or 3 active skinners on this forum, with a few others that put something out maybe once a year.. thats for sure the reason why the costomers are losing interest.. because it's lack of new skins from the skinners...

don5318
Reply #336 Wednesday, November 24, 2021 1:05 PM

IAMTHEMACHINE

Am i wrong in thinking Skin Studio comes free with WB, i am sure i got it with mine .

Skin Studio does not come with Windowblinds, it's a separate program, but is free if you're an Object Desktop subscriber.   

Neil Banfield
Reply #337 Wednesday, November 24, 2021 1:07 PM

don5318


Quoting IAMTHEMACHINE,

Am i wrong in thinking Skin Studio comes free with WB, i am sure i got it with mine .



Skin Studio does not come with Windowblinds, it's a separate program, but is free if you're an Object Desktop subscriber.   

Actually it is free with WB too.

don5318
Reply #338 Wednesday, November 24, 2021 1:09 PM

IAMTHEMACHINE

because it's lack of new skins from the skinners...

Can't say that about me, I try to put out as many skins as possible, but, with that said, I (personally can't speak for others that have left skinning) have personal things that need my attention, so I may not be able to put a skin out often; it does take time to design and put together a good skin, peace to all!   

don5318
Reply #339 Wednesday, November 24, 2021 1:11 PM

Neil Banfield

Actually it is free with WB too.

How bout that (after all these years of skinning), I did not know that, I just learned something today, thanks Neil.     

bdsams
Reply #340 Wednesday, November 24, 2021 2:01 PM

Hey All,

Thanks for the feedback about WB11 and let me be the first to say that I hear you. As a quick intro, I started at Stardock back in September to lead the software team but have been a long-time user of WB/Groupy/StartX/Fences and even Object Dock many years ago.

With the announcement (June) and release of Windows 11 (October), this has created quite a bit of work for us to upgrade many of our core products as fast as we can to support the new OS.

Making things more challenging than a quick launch of the OS is that the UI layer of Windows 11 isn't like Windows 10 or previous versions. Take a look at Windows 10X if you are interested in how Microsoft launched 11 so quickly.

All this being said, we are committed to making WB11 and supporting the new OS. I don’t have an exact timeline to provide for when it will be ready for release as I don’t want to promise a delivery date and then miss the target. Windows 11 is a different UI animal than Windows 10 and we are investigating the best way to bring this product to our users in a way that is sustainable.

Happy to try and answer questions as transparently as possible as you are a core part of our community and I want you to be informed but keep in mind that deadlines and timelines shift frequently.

Thanks!

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