WindowBlinds 5 BETA 2 available
Animation, 64-bit Windows support, and more!
Friday, November 4, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Stardock has released WindowBlinds 5 beta 2 this week. WindowBlinds 5 is designed to customize the look & feel of the Windows GUI. The new version has been completely re-architected to be significantly faster, have more features, and provide new effects for skinners.
Beta 2 includes a host of bug fixes, performance optimizations, and more. Here are some highlights:
- 64-bit Windows support
- Per-Pixel frame and title bar animation support (skinners can create some really cool animated title bars and borders now).
- New WindowBlinds config can switch back to Windows XP style
- Updated WindowBlinds config makes new options easier to see.
- Adobe CS2 support enhanced
- Fixed AdMuncher issue
- Toolbar skin installation improved
- Full screen background per pixel support for shutdown dialog.
- Lots of bugs fixed.
- New performance optimizations
The beta is currently only available for Object Desktop users (www.objectdesktop.com). WindowBlinds 5 should be publicly available before the end of the year.
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Reply #62 Sunday, November 6, 2005 5:37 AM
Reply #63 Sunday, November 6, 2005 5:57 AM
| I can't get the beta 2, although I am an Object Desktop User. It just doesn't appear in Stardock Central. What's wrong here? |
I don't really think it's listed as "Beta 2" in Stardock Central. I'm assuming it's the newest build that shows up for WindowBlinds 5. But, I'm not entirely sure. That would be my best guess, hopefully someone else can clarify for you.
Reply #64 Sunday, November 6, 2005 6:08 AM
#36 by Daiwa (Sat, November 05, 2005 0:40 PM) With the latest build of SDC (98) WB5 won't appear as available if WB4 is installed. Uninstall WB4 and both WB5 & WB4 will be shown as available on refresh. Conversely, if WB5 is installed, presumably WB4 won't be in the list. This approach should avoid some problems & confusion as only one version can be installed at any one time. Per Brian Harper @ SD. I don't remember seeing this in the SDC release notes, but at least it's fixed & now we know. |
Just wanted to say thanks! This was the exact sollution needed and now I'm happy again!
Reply #65 Sunday, November 6, 2005 6:59 AM
Reply #66 Sunday, November 6, 2005 7:28 AM
Reply #67 Sunday, November 6, 2005 12:18 PM
Reply #68 Sunday, November 6, 2005 6:38 PM
| It would be nice to have the Outlook 2002 bug fixed. Alternate months in calendar still appear black and unusable, makes the calendar useless |
I whole-heartedly second this one.
No fun having to switch back to Luna just to have this valuable tool.
In case this issue has not been seen by developers, here are screenshots:
Outlook 2002 viewing December 2005 using StealthOS (version included with WB 5 beta)
Outlook 2002 viewing December 2005 using Luna
Note - WB 4.6 does not have this problem. Tested with the StealthOS version updated for WB 4.6.
Reply #69 Monday, November 7, 2005 4:48 AM
An other matter is SDC. Isn't it possible to go back to WB 4.6? This is how SDC looks like on my system:
Reply #70 Monday, November 7, 2005 7:16 AM
theleader,
Your image did not post.
Normally, you would do the following to gain access to WB 4.6:
1 - Unload WindowBlinds and restore default Windows theme
2 - Uninstall WindowBlinds completely via Stardock Central
3 - Reboot computer
4 - Start Stardock Central and deselect the "Show pre-release versions" (this should drop access to WB5)
5 - Select and install WB 4
That should do it.
Reply #71 Monday, November 7, 2005 7:49 AM
Reply #72 Monday, November 7, 2005 8:57 AM
theleader: The GT3 skin switcher built into the skin is not aware of changes made to WB5 and so it will not work with WB5.
Kevison: The Outlook issue should be resolved in future builds. There is a minor colour scheme applying issue with the current builds which is making certain system colours turn black.
Reply #73 Monday, November 7, 2005 9:07 AM
| Kevison: The Outlook issue should be resolved in future builds. There is a minor colour scheme applying issue with the current builds which is making certain system colours turn black. |
Ok, Im not worried about it as I dont use the calendar much. However about the jittering. Whenever I have an app(usually firefox or IE) rolled up and I change skins and then unroll the app. The application main content seems to jitter about. I close that application and bring it back up again and its fine. Not really a problem but it does seem to happen whenever I change skins.
Reply #74 Monday, November 7, 2005 10:10 AM
Reply #75 Monday, November 7, 2005 2:03 PM
There is a bug in firefox which can cause its content to jump around. This can happen with or without WindowBlinds.
Reply #76 Monday, November 7, 2005 2:45 PM
Reply #77 Monday, November 7, 2005 2:48 PM
| I've recently run across a problem that happens with Access 2003, and only some WB skins. The problem is that button clicks on the close, max/restore, and minimize buttons on the title bar don't work. The skins I've found that have this issue are: Arrow, Longhorn 5203, Noire, Rusty Rooster, and Vista XP. There may be others as I've only tested some, but many do work, like 5imple Alpha, Stealth OS, Thunderstorm, and Aura. |
This problem exists in Access 2000 also, but only momentarily. After several clicks the minimize FINALLy worked. Just some mo' info. BTW skin used during this episode was DogMax4.
Reply #78 Monday, November 7, 2005 4:06 PM
Reply #79 Monday, November 7, 2005 5:29 PM
| No fun having to switch back to Luna just to have this valuable tool. |
Does not 5 Beta still give the option to skin Outlook with only Luna (or any other skin that works) until the issue gets resolved? Be easier that switching each time.
Reply #80 Monday, November 7, 2005 5:40 PM
| Does not 5 Beta still give the option to skin Outlook with only Luna (or any other skin that works) until the issue gets resolved? Be easier that switching each time. |
Huh? I never saw an option that specifically skins OUTLOOK...or are you SUGGESTING that WB acquires this option?
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Reply #61 Sunday, November 6, 2005 3:25 AM
Interesting scorpio-logic. If you haven't already you should post a topic on the support forum about it. Would probably be best to try and troubleshoot the issue in it's own thread with it's own topic.