WindowBlinds & Longhorn Beta 1
Skinning Longhorn..
Sunday, July 10, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
When the Longhorn beta arrives, we expect to release an update to WindowBlinds to support beta 1. The only issues we know of is that the new Start menu has an edit field in it and the toolbar icons are handled a bit differently. We're working on that.
..As for people who have been applying unauthorized MSStyles, they're out of luck. Those msstyles will not run on Longhorn beta 1 unless they use them via WindowBlinds.
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kona0197
Reply #2 Sunday, July 10, 2005 1:28 PM
Cool. It's about time MS did something about that problem.
Reply #2 Sunday, July 10, 2005 1:28 PM
| ..As for people who have been applying unauthorized MSStyles, they're out of luck. Those msstyles will not run on Longhorn beta 1 unless they use them via WindowBlinds. |
Cool. It's about time MS did something about that problem.
Island Dog
Reply #5 Sunday, July 10, 2005 5:48 PM
Reply #5 Sunday, July 10, 2005 5:48 PM
I would really like an invite to Beta 1 if anybody can help me out.
Also Brad, can you give us any hints on what is upcoming with Windowblinds in regards to Longhorn?
Also Brad, can you give us any hints on what is upcoming with Windowblinds in regards to Longhorn?
artweasloh
Reply #6 Sunday, July 10, 2005 7:52 PM
Reply #6 Sunday, July 10, 2005 7:52 PM
Hint hint hint.... since longhorn is geared up to making their skin looking Aero, can windowblinds do that too... oh of course the transparency in the start menu is an awesome thing. I just love it but i was just wondering when will the time come when the Windowframes themselves will have an aero look (not just the start menu)...again hint hint hint.
starkers
Reply #8 Monday, July 11, 2005 3:15 AM
Reply #8 Monday, July 11, 2005 3:15 AM
As I understood it, unauthorised msstyles could only be applied in XP with a third party proggy like StyleXP: or, if they were ported via Windowblinds.
If msstyles can't be applied in Longhorn, I guess TGT Soft will have to reinvent and rename StyleXP to accomodate its customers who upgrade to Longhorn. Perhaps Stardock will acquire some converts to OD as a result...given its greater skinning versatiliy without system hacking.
If msstyles can't be applied in Longhorn, I guess TGT Soft will have to reinvent and rename StyleXP to accomodate its customers who upgrade to Longhorn. Perhaps Stardock will acquire some converts to OD as a result...given its greater skinning versatiliy without system hacking.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #9 Monday, July 11, 2005 3:21 AM
Reply #9 Monday, July 11, 2005 3:21 AM
Longhorn doesn't use msstyles at all. No place for TGT Soft to go 
artweasloh
Reply #10 Monday, July 11, 2005 3:57 AM
WOW. now that is news for me. AND MORE REASON FOR PEOPLE TO SWITCH TO OBJECT DESKTOP APPLICATIONS!!!
Reply #10 Monday, July 11, 2005 3:57 AM
| Longhorn doesn't use msstyles at all. |
WOW. now that is news for me. AND MORE REASON FOR PEOPLE TO SWITCH TO OBJECT DESKTOP APPLICATIONS!!!
MSethWeisberg
Reply #11 Monday, July 11, 2005 9:50 AM
Reply #11 Monday, July 11, 2005 9:50 AM
Seriously I can't wait to see what this looks like. Do the OD subscribers get to play with the new betas of WB when they get released. I just resubscribed about 3 weeks ago.
I really want to play with Aero and customize it. I can't wait for LH and the betas. B1/B2 here I come.
What does this mean though for XP when longhorn is released? Will there be 2 versions of WB? Can 1 version work on both XP and Longhorn and be able to tell the difference and skin accordingly? This brings so many possiblities and yet may finally put the msstyle people in their place. Of course once LH hits beta, they may find a way to customize the themes in LH but we will come to that when it happens.
I really want to play with Aero and customize it. I can't wait for LH and the betas. B1/B2 here I come.
What does this mean though for XP when longhorn is released? Will there be 2 versions of WB? Can 1 version work on both XP and Longhorn and be able to tell the difference and skin accordingly? This brings so many possiblities and yet may finally put the msstyle people in their place. Of course once LH hits beta, they may find a way to customize the themes in LH but we will come to that when it happens.
Frogboy
Reply #12 Monday, July 11, 2005 10:06 AM
Reply #12 Monday, July 11, 2005 10:06 AM
Longhorn has a .msstyles format. It's just that it's encrypted (in XP, .msstyles were fully documented wich is why third party skinning was possible). What I suspect will happen will be resource hacking -- people replacing images in the Aero theme. But beyond that, I don't think you'll see much. But in either case, the .msstyles from XP certainly won't work on Longhorn because it's a different format and it's non-trivial to convert this stuff (we've spent what? 3 years now perfecting it with SkinStudio?). And of course, this all assumes that Microsoft is going to let a big old security hole like uxtheme.dll patching still occur.
bangbang023
Reply #13 Monday, July 11, 2005 7:22 PM
Incorrect. Freely available reshacked uxtheme files could be downloaded that simply removed the check for the digital signature MS originally required. Free and easy to do.
Reply #13 Monday, July 11, 2005 7:22 PM
| As I understood it, unauthorised msstyles could only be applied in XP with a third party proggy like StyleXP: or, if they were ported via Windowblinds. |
Incorrect. Freely available reshacked uxtheme files could be downloaded that simply removed the check for the digital signature MS originally required. Free and easy to do.
CerebroJD
Reply #14 Monday, July 11, 2005 9:51 PM
Reply #14 Monday, July 11, 2005 9:51 PM
Sure, but your odds of getting a fuxxed system were pretty high with that option...
Tarkus
Reply #15 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 1:48 PM
Reply #15 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 1:48 PM
How many people got a "fuxxed system" (whatever that is -- I'm assuming it's bad) by applying a bad uxtheme file vs. applying your basic executable off the web? AFAIK, executables will still be allowed in Longhorn.
To say that it's great that people will no longer be able to apply uxthemes shows a strong WB bias. I personally use WB and have never used uxtheme, but I have no problem with people having the choice. There are risks in installing virtually anything (just look at the recent DX/IP threads). It should be up to the user whether or not those risks are worth taking.
To say that it's great that people will no longer be able to apply uxthemes shows a strong WB bias. I personally use WB and have never used uxtheme, but I have no problem with people having the choice. There are risks in installing virtually anything (just look at the recent DX/IP threads). It should be up to the user whether or not those risks are worth taking.
Frogboy
Reply #16 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 2:58 PM
Reply #16 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 2:58 PM
How is it a WB "bias" if Microsoft prevents people from hacking OS system files? It has nothing to do with WB at all.
Tarkus
Reply #17 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 3:36 PM
Reply #17 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 3:36 PM
Brad, I'm specifically referring to the comments here, that it's a great thing that MS has removed that problem. I'm not saying that MS has a WB bias.
Frogboy
Reply #18 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 4:05 PM
Reply #18 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 4:05 PM
Ah, I see what you're saying.
My personal view is that uxtheme hacking isn't that big of a deal. But I have a real problem with companies who make a profit selling people the ability. In my opinion, they prey on people's ignorance.
CerebroJD
Reply #19 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 5:16 PM
Reply #19 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 5:16 PM
I am highly biased towards WB, since I dont see the point of paying for an illegal system hack that voids your EULA when even the trial version of WindowBlinds skins nearly as much. Plus, in my opinion, Stardock is a far more ethical and balanced company. As for the uxtheme hacks being a problem, I'm not quite sure if thats the case. Why would microsoft make it so easy to hack if they didnt want people trying it? Thats just my take on it. The fact that WindowBlinds is used by many people is just a bonus for Microsoft because now there are two competing programs/companies. Thats always a better sales environment, since the two will keep each others prices in check.
Tarkus
Reply #20 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 6:03 PM
I personally have no problem with MS doing what they want with their own software. I just don't get why people with no financial stake would be glad that they took away a choice.
That is, I get why people would not want to use uxthemes. What I don't get is why they'd be excited about that choice being taken away from others.
That is, unless they had a financial stake, such as yourself.
I think one theory is that most people have a need to feel validated, and to that end, they love it when everyone else uses the same thing they do. This development moves skinning in that direction.
Reply #20 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 6:03 PM
| My personal view is that uxtheme hacking isn't that big of a deal. But I have a real problem with companies who make a profit selling people the ability. In my opinion, they prey on people's ignorance. |
I personally have no problem with MS doing what they want with their own software. I just don't get why people with no financial stake would be glad that they took away a choice.
That is, I get why people would not want to use uxthemes. What I don't get is why they'd be excited about that choice being taken away from others.
That is, unless they had a financial stake, such as yourself.
I think one theory is that most people have a need to feel validated, and to that end, they love it when everyone else uses the same thing they do. This development moves skinning in that direction.
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Reply #1 Sunday, July 10, 2005 1:16 PM
If I got it right, the general public have to wait until Beta 2 to apply for beta testing of Longhorn?