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?
 |
|
Page 32 of 34 | |
|
|---|
Reply #622 Monday, September 12, 2022 4:29 PM
Hmmm, may get me back into skinning....
You definitely have a talent for it. Windows 11 could use some new skins!
Reply #623 Monday, September 12, 2022 4:54 PM
WB friends this will not work this year, there are still three windows 11 upgrades coming this year.
1 - 20.09. 22H2 , 2 - Moment 1 and 3 - Moment 2 also (with GUI changes) from october 22 to december 22 , Unfortunately
you can google moment upgrade this is no fake or joke
I now see why Windows beta channel has a different version of Windows 11 than the preview channel. Essentially, the beta channel is moment 1 and preview is 22h2 first release.
The main new thing in moment 1 is explorer tabs. This new feature will not break Windowblinds 11 because it has already been in the pipeline for months now. It may perhaps change the way artists skin Windows 11 as they will have to incorporate these new tabs into their work.
As of right now I am not seeing what features will be incorporated into moment 2 or 3. I do see that moment 2 isn't scheduled for release until next year and it does look like these releases will be in beta testing for a month or more before they are released to the wild.
In my opinion, I would recommend for skinners is to take the Windows 11 beta channel seriously and test their work on this channel. The Dev channel of course is to be avoided because it is just a testing platform for stuff that may or may not be implemented.
Reply #624 Thursday, September 15, 2022 7:22 AM
I don't know how much longer I can go without Windowblinds 11.
can only find my product key. 
Reply #627 Sunday, September 18, 2022 3:55 PM
Reply #628 Sunday, September 18, 2022 4:31 PM
I would recommend for skinners is to take the Windows 11 beta channel seriously and test their work on this channel.
So old skins will not work on WB11? I have a loot skins from 2008 to 2022 and all works on WB10.
Reply #629 Sunday, September 18, 2022 11:34 PM
I would recommend for skinners is to take the Windows 11 beta channel seriously and test their work on this channel.
So old skins will not work on WB11? I have a loot skins from 2008 to 2022 and all works on WB10.
It should be no different then when Windowblinds went from Windows 8 to Windows 10 on that.
I was more or less trying to contemplate Microsoft's new strategy of several small updates per year on top of there yearly big update. I think they just want to keep everyone a little more busy.
Reply #630 Wednesday, September 21, 2022 9:50 PM
We are making good progress on our last few items, beta will land next week.
Reply #633 Thursday, September 22, 2022 10:20 AM
Maybe BradSams can reply here letting us all know who will and more importantly, who will not get the Beta. As far as i know, I do not subscribe (but maybe wrong) but i have purchased WB 10, Start 10 and 11, and have had Icon packager bought for me as a gift, so will I get it, as i simply do not know.
Reply #634 Thursday, September 22, 2022 12:39 PM
beta will land next week.
So, Us Master skinners won't have access to the Beta unless subscribing ? 
Stardock has made all their beta software on Windows 11 available to everyone so far. As has been the case with fences 4 beta and start 11 beta, you were able to buy an early access license strictly for that product.
Reply #638 Sunday, September 25, 2022 6:28 AM
I'm assuming WB11 is an entirely new compilation..., I'm thinkin they'll need a few bucks!
Reply #639 Sunday, September 25, 2022 9:13 AM
Sounds good, I only want to skin the OS anyway, since more and more apps, and games, crash or present bugs when skinned. My exclusion lists grows ever larger, and some apps/games are such a mess with EXEs, I can't even find the right one, and just have to close WB instead.
Looking forward to beta, if eligible.
Reply #640 Sunday, September 25, 2022 11:58 AM
Sounds good, I only want to skin the OS anyway, since more and more apps, and games, crash or present bugs when skinned. My exclusion lists grows ever larger, and some apps/games are such a mess with EXEs, I can't even find the right one, and just have to close WB instead.
Looking forward to beta, if eligible.
Well WB10 works correct on Windows 10. All apps and games run nice, no crash or other bugs.
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
|
|
Page 32 of 34 | |
|
|---|
Reply #621 Monday, September 12, 2022 2:33 PM
I sure hope so Don!