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 #162 Monday, September 20, 2021 5:18 PM
Maybe Window Blinds 11 will add support to StartIsBack ? and no i dont want your "Alpha version" Start10/11.
Reply #163 Monday, September 20, 2021 5:20 PM
I don't use Open Shell to paint the start button. I turn that setting off in Open Shell and let WindowBlinds paint the start button.
Ok i fix problem in Open Shell and now it works correct.
Reply #164 Saturday, October 2, 2021 2:31 PM
After seeing and installing as per instructions the second beta for Start 11 and with a full release coming on the 7th. May i ask how far behind Windowblinds will be and it's compatibility with Windows 11. For me both programs are crucial for my eye sanity, as using what comes with Windows 11 ( and previous editions) would drive me crackers looking at there crap desktop. I work online in the real world and in my down time, i am Site Admin of a website, so can spend multiple hours on my PC.
Using Stealth Drone (and other Dark Skins) as a masterskin and some Electric Green Text which really pops and contrasts, i have managed to be able to ignore whatever windows edition desktops that have come along since XP.
I would very much like to continue this trend using the Start 11 full release and a new Windowblinds (maybe Edition 11)
So any news about when we will have a functioning Windowblinds for Windows 11 would be great.
I have also heard the idea Windowblinds 11 will not be an upgrade like in the past, but will be a new product similar to Start11 and to use it will mean paying a new purchase price, can this be confirmed by anyone.
Change is good, but little old me, just wants to get back to having my Desktop and start working well together like before. If that means paying , so be it.
Hoping a staff member or Forum Staff has some good news for me shortly, many thanks.
Reply #165 Saturday, October 2, 2021 3:33 PM
I couldn't agree more. Start 11 and Fences 11 would be a sufficient start toward a full experience.
Reply #166 Sunday, October 3, 2021 10:43 AM
I'd be happy with the Beta of Windowblinds 11. Would not be upset with a link to the Alpha.
Reply #167 Sunday, October 3, 2021 12:39 PM
I hear you JCurie , i would be very happy with a Windowblinds 11 Beta , as that way i would know something is in the pipeline.
I know the makers started this Topic Dec 25th last year to try to iron out bugs and offer users a say in what they would like to see, but the topic descended into rows about Explorer, so sort of lost it's way.
Just a little nugget saying "Windowblinds 11 Is On It's Way " will do for me.
I know i should not have relied on 2 pieces of software for so long to give me the desktop i need, but since XP i have not needed any other and if it's not broken, Don't fix it comes to mind.
So please, Windows 11 will be here in a couple of days, how far behind will Windowblinds 11 actually be. You have created a Brilliant Program i use daily, please say it will not be long now.
Reply #170 Sunday, October 3, 2021 6:37 PM
Trying to set up an avatar, I uploaded one and it's not showing so I wanted to see if it would show on new posts.
It didn't 👀
I need more 🍺🍻🍺 and then I'll figure it out.
Reply #172 Monday, October 4, 2021 8:29 AM
So is there anyone who can give a solid reply about the Future of Windowblinds ?
Reply #173 Monday, October 4, 2021 9:02 AM
My machine isn't compatible to run Win 11. It's already a few years old anyway. My plan is to get a laptop for Win 11. Any suggestions from the forum gang would be appreciated. Keep in mind by the time I want to do this it'll probably be mid 2022 and I'll be on a more or less fixed income by then. I wouldn't want to spend more than $800 on it. 
I'm sure Stardock will have WB 11 and whatever else ready to go in the near future. 
Reply #174 Monday, October 4, 2021 9:38 AM
Still hoping for an official response , and i am hoping it will not be too far off the current release of Windows 11 tomorrow, i really do not want to have to re look for something to do a similar job, but as stated earlier , i use my pc for several hours a day, so need it looking like i want it too.
Reply #175 Tuesday, October 5, 2021 3:41 PM
Well, Windows 11 is out & still no announcement 
Reply #176 Tuesday, October 5, 2021 5:04 PM
Unless you have real need to upgrade to Windows 11 I would not do so right now. You will find software compatibility will take some time for things like WindowBlinds.
Very few people currently have Windows 11 on their computer other than those users running insider builds. This really is a Windows release that will be going slowly with some people not being offered it until well into 2022 according to Microsoft.
Reply #177 Tuesday, October 5, 2021 5:23 PM
Unless you have real need to upgrade to Windows 11 I would not do so right now. You will find software compatibility will take some time for things like WindowBlinds.
Very few people currently have Windows 11 on their computer other than those users running insider builds. This really is a Windows release that will be going slowly with some people not being offered it until well into 2022 according to Microsoft.
Well into 2022? Well, that's good to hear! 
Reply #178 Tuesday, October 5, 2021 10:02 PM
I'm liking Windows 11 just fine.
Just sayin.
Reply #179 Tuesday, October 5, 2021 10:19 PM
Right now the schedule is:
- Start11 (next weekish)
- Fences 4 (October)
- DeskScapes 11 (Fall)
- Groupy 2.0 (Fall)
- WindowBlinds 11 (2023)
- SkinStudio 11 (2023)
As Windows 11 appears to kill Curtains (and Uxtheme.dll) we have our work cut out for us.
Reply #180 Wednesday, October 6, 2021 10:21 AM
Oh that bites. No skinning of windows till 2022 - 2023.
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Reply #161 Monday, September 20, 2021 11:13 AM
One thing I have requested in the past, and it hasn't happened yet thus it probably won't now either, is having the option, under the main Settings "tab", for "Apply accent color to backgrounds(Recommended)" ticked by default. After all, if this setting is 'recommended', wouldn't it make sense to have it set by default? I know, it's a toss-up that boils down to how many people like their backgrounds skinned and actually use that setting as opposed to those who don't. It's a matter of personal preference. Still, I think it should be set by default. JMO.