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?
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Reply #564 Wednesday, July 27, 2022 10:04 AM
Reply #565 Wednesday, July 27, 2022 10:38 AM
WB11 will be compatibile in old themes ?
With each and every iteration of Windowblinds...in response to the new OS versions coming out from MS it's always hoped that existing skins will be still compatible as much as is humanly possible, however that ideal cannot always be reached.
It is simply 'Best Practice' to try maintain compatibility...
Reply #566 Monday, August 1, 2022 8:45 AM
We have an internal build of WB11 that we are piloting - we are not ready to release it yet as there are a few bugs that we need to squash but optimistic that it will be sooner, rather than later, that we can get a public beta started.
Reply #567 Monday, August 1, 2022 11:34 AM
We have an internal build of WB11 that we are piloting - we are not ready to release it yet as there are a few bugs that we need to squash but optimistic that it will be sooner, rather than later, that we can get a public beta started.
Excellent. look forward to the beta.
Reply #568 Monday, August 1, 2022 11:46 AM
Thought I would ask this question... when WB11 comes out, will there also be a vastly improved SkinStudio 11 also?
Reply #569 Monday, August 1, 2022 12:19 PM
Thought I would ask this question... when WB11 comes out, will there also be a vastly improved SkinStudio 11 also?
Not at release - we need to get WB11 operational on Windows 11 first before we can go down the path of updating studio.
Reply #570 Monday, August 1, 2022 12:58 PM
Thought I would ask this question... when WB11 comes out, will there also be a vastly improved SkinStudio 11 also?
Not at release - we need to get WB11 operational on Windows 11 first before we can go down the path of updating studio.
OK, I certainly hope it won't take long to develop SKS 11. Thanks.
Reply #571 Tuesday, August 2, 2022 2:19 AM
Not at release - we need to get WB11 operational on Windows 11 first before we can go down the path of updating studio.
That makes perfect sense considering you've had to partially reinvent the wheel due to Win11 being unable to use some features. It stands to reason the skinner will have to accommodate those changes as well and you'll remove the options that simply won't work.
P.S. - I'd like to suggest in advance to save you pain, that when you do decide to release a new skinner, that right up front when it first opens, you inform people of old skin techniques that won't work and what has to be changed/removed so they can either work, or be adapted.
Reply #572 Tuesday, August 2, 2022 8:54 AM
no ball park figure on when WB11 will be out for beta testing? Oh and I just noticed I've been with WC for 12 years...how time flies 
Reply #574 Tuesday, August 2, 2022 12:05 PM
no ball park figure on when WB11 will be out for beta testing? Oh and I just noticed I've been with WC for 12 years...how time flies
I am hoping this month but again it is highly dependent on us having a stable version of the beta to ship. Right now there are notable differences between the Windows 11 release and the Windows 11 beta (which will be 22h2) that requires additional work so that WB works with "Windows 11" which is really like multiple versions of Windows (paraphrasing).
Reply #575 Wednesday, August 3, 2022 2:37 AM
Yep Microsoft add some changes to 22H2 because windows 10 native themes from deviantart work on 22000 but not work correct on 22622.
Reply #576 Monday, August 8, 2022 1:50 PM
- Available for the next several weeks to provide frequent feedback
- Have a PC that they do not mind testing on that may be subject to some downtime when resolving UI issues found
- Moderate to above average PC skills
- Able to provide exact steps to reproduce an issue and provide screenshots \ video.
Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager
Reply #579 Tuesday, August 9, 2022 1:26 PM
It looks like Windowblinds 11 alpha is out now and that Windowblinds 11 beta will be released in "the next several weeks"
22H2 is due out real soon as well. Microsoft is simply running out of time as far as making any more huge changes.
Reply #580 Thursday, August 11, 2022 1:31 PM
Ok, I have Windows 11 22622. How do I become a alpha/beta tester ?
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Reply #561 Tuesday, July 19, 2022 11:30 AM
I am starting to believe that 2023 “Typo” release date may be closer to the truth. I hope something is coming soon.
Microsoft, Stardock, anyone that wants to sell something always eyes the holiday season.
I would guess that Windowblinds 11 will come out around the same time that Windows 11 22H2 hits release. This will also when pc sales start to increase.
The best bet would be around October. These summer months are kind of boring for new tech unfortunately.
I hope you are right mate as it has been a while, i never thought i would ever go almost a year without WB, but thanks to that delay, i never would have discovered Themes and StartAllBack. Even when WB 11 hits, and i buy it, i do not think i will give up Themes, it will just be another string to my customisation Bow so to speak.
I've already got Win 11 Enterprise 22H2 OS Build 22621.232 on 2 of my SSDs, now roll on a shiny new WB 11.