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?
Well my friend you had answered so we were bantering back and forth. I had assumed you knew more, I was wrong so my apologies. Yes I am new here and I am new to skinning for the most part the changes I've done to Windows were to the registry to make Windows do what I wanted to do. I'm not new to computers nor the Angst of Microsoft. As you are aware of, computers there is always been so called, "power users" I upgraded from Windows 3.1 to 3.11 for work groups I didn't need it but I wanted it. . I've always pushed my Hardware past manufacturer recommendations. 20 megahertz 386 to a 25. Before Microsoft softened its stance on Hardware compatibility neither one of my machines were on the Microsoft list but I installed Windows 11 nevertheless.
I've always been outspoken again my apologies but that's just my personality.
Microsoft continuous changes yes there is that. Yet that could easily happen to the taskbar and start menu. Nevertheless Stardock released Start11. It may be a lot less complicated than skinning windows. Yet in a short time frame Microsoft could make significant changes to the taskbar and start menu forcing significant changes to Start11. That is always been a problem from Microsoft that programmers had to deal with.
Again my apologies did not want to anger or upset anyone.
Peace my friend
Then i must not be a Virtuous person then.
I just want a staff member to stand up and be counted, give us some more info that is not guess work or the dreaded possible Typo of Years still to wait.
Why start this topic about the planning of what we want to see in WB11, let it run for almost 10 months, then when staff input is needed most (Windows 11 is now here) Silence and nothing.
Or maybe the prolonged silence is just to try and sell the us the Object Desktop package of Programs several more times, Money, Money , Money as the saying goes.
Speech to text and I was too lazy to change it or perhaps it was homage to, "The King and I"😏
I installed Start 11 Beta on Windows 11 - works perfectly, as does Fences. Windowblinds not so much. Windowblinds was already installed, but on Windows 11 it doesnt work. I tried uninstalling Windowblinds - it disappears from Windows settings, but is still in Object Desktop. I'm assuming there are registry entries that need to manually be changed, but I'm lost. If anyone can help with that it would be appreciated. I can't change my Windows colors & keep getting flashes in the taskbar.
Hello,Sorry to hear you are having issues. Please try purge and reinstall steps as mentioned here: [link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account. Reboot after the purged. Reinstall, and Reboot again after the installation. Retest it. Report back here.
Thank you,
Basj,Stardock Community Assistant
Ummmm....he/she just needs to drag the objectdock icon to the middle of the screen and drop it
Excuse me, what are you talking about? ObjectDock? Which reply# you're referring to?
I am using Start11 with Icon Packager right now on Windows 11. Updated November 1st
And I can honestly say It works quite fine, allowing me to customize and navigate 'my computer', 'recent items', 'control panel' ect... and also some very appreciated help with right-click menus, as you can see in my attached picture, I right-clicked on "My Computer" as my custom made 'mycomputer' icon is also seen. I have to run my theme in dark mode because WB11 will take some time - TLD (tender loving development) before it’s out. In the mean time, I love how Start 11 works well with Icon Packager, helping me to tolerate windows muddy dark mode - Yuk! So then, I am happy to wait for something better, like WB11. The first image is Windows 11+Start11
Updated November 1st: I just reset my Windows 10 system image from W11. I just can't stand the gloomy 'dark theme' from W11. So I will wait for WindowBlinds 11 to come out. This will also give Windows 11 time to patch itself up. The second image is Win10 + start10 + windows blinds 10 with 'Precision' modified
I'm using start11 and curtains since I've never used curtains before I'm not sure if it's working right or not it does apply a glass effect to the title bar on any program that I open except for Explorer. It was working for Explorer and I was playing around with it and somehow I got the ribbon when I deleted the ribbon through the registry files Explorer no longer has a glass effect.
god i love windowsblinds so much but it doesnt work on win11... 2023?? my heart is wrenching
Will my WB10 skin work on windowblinds 11?
O Captain, My Captain
Any update on the, "schedule?" is it close to beta?
Peace and Thanks for Stardock
After asking multiple times about the release of WB11 and getting nothing conclusive by way of an answer, i have now deactivated my Start 11 from my Windows 11 PC and installed a Free StartAllBack as this allows me to use either Skinpacks or other Themes for my Windows 11 machine.
As a long time customer of Windowblinds , and the fact the we need Start11 to work correctly with any WB 11 release however distant , i feel the release of Start 11 without a WB 11 is useless as Windowblinds was the only reason i ever used Start 10 and 11. I feel i have paid for Start 11 , but without a WB 11, it has no use to me , when other Free Start replacement programs can achieve the same result and allow me to use Themes and other customization programs with Windows 11.
How can several other companies create Windows 11 themes that do a similar job to WB, yet Stardock says WB11 will be so far in the future.
A very unhappy Subscriber of many years, i feel let down by Stardock and the wait needed for a working WB11.
Umm, I don't believe there is any skinning application available for Windows 11 which replaces the frames at all. Replacing the taskbar is one thing, the frames are an entirely different thing.
I would strongly recommend nobody upgrades to Windows 11 unless you have an actual need to right now.
Also you have never needed Start8/10/11 to work with WB. WB has always skinned the frames, taskbar, start button, controls etc on Windows without StartX. If you wanted a skinned start menu you needed one of the Start apps, but thats because the menu simply did not exist without those tools so there was nothing to skin.
Hi,
Since I upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11, Fences, WindowBlinds and Curtains don't work well anymore.
I have bought Stardock Object Desktop a short while ago, and I was satisfied with it, but not anymore.So please urgently fix the whole package.
Thank you.
Mario Mewis.
No offense, but didn't you read the posts stating what did and didn't work with Windows 11? One of the reasons I'm NOT upgrading to Windows 11 is because I like using my Stardocks apps on Windows 10.
I just can't believe that no one from stardock can give an approximate date on when we can expect window blinds 11? I don't pretend to understand it and I personally think it's rude that the company won't even give a approximate date. As a paying customer I feel like I'm on the proverbial "double secret probation."
It's not personal. It's always this way, ie customization apps lag behind when new OS versions are introduced. We "don't understand it" because we're not programmers. They say patience is a virtue, or you can do what I'm doing which is continue to run Windows 10 until apps like WindowBlinds catch up.
Totally agree with you JCurie .
I only bought Start 11 as i thought WB11 was following right behind, got sick and tired of waiting for a reputable answer to when WB11 would even be in a beta stage. I did leave a reply in the Start11 section and was told by staff Start 11 will generate more revenue than a WB11 by a large amount, so it's all about money.
We should not be penalised for making the move to Win 11, some of us have no choice as we need to offer support for Win 11 for our jobs. I do keep a Win 10 Fully updated SSD with all my working WB 10 and Start 10, but needs must, see above , so i have manged to get full theme packs, Themes, Icons, Wallpapers to work well on my Win11 SSD, so at least i do not need to look at the Microsoft lame themes, until some distant future release of WB11, whenever that may be, my desktop is now looking fully Modified, so may never need a WB11 anyway.
Great customer service Stardock, just great. NOT.
At this point it’s ridiculous. Why even start this god damn thread if it’s not coming until 2023?
No it hasn't always worked like that. Companies at one time wanted a personal relationship with their customers.
FROGBOY, Can you please respond on when your customers can expect at least the beta of window blinds 11?
dont think its gonna happen anytime soon.. windows 12 will be out by the time we get it lol.. j/k. im still using windows 10 and have no plans whatsoever to upgrade to 11.. on any of my 3 pc's...
edit - unless i end up buying or building a new pc within the next year or 2... then i will try windows 11.. but till then NOPE.
I understand that. I never left Windows 7 but unfortunately I have an engineering program that requires Windows 10 or 11 so I figured if I had to update I might as well go with Windows 11. To be honest it really makes no sense for Stardock to bring out start 11 if they had no intentions on bringing Windowblinds 11 out within a month or two.
FROGBOY is the one with the answers. Hopefully he'll reply soon.
It took 3 years for W10 to become usable, and that's only with third apps like WindowsBlind, 7 + 7 Taskbar and DI Awareness.
Leaving W7 behind become an obligation, not really because the lack of patching .Use third party browsers (like Warefox and firewalls like TiyWall), and you're 99% protected. A little good sense, and security is 99,9%. No, it's because stuff deliberately does not work with W7, like 10G Internet access.
Now I have have 6200/670 on Speedtest app on W10, and 863/678 on W7 with the same Mellanox SFP+ 10G card.
Same will happen with W11, and them W12, but more slowly, M$ killed the maximum they could think on W7, I have a feeling that it will be mostly gadget for grand pa that won't work on W10.
So, take a breath, continue to use W10 customized with WB to look usable, use third party security tools when M$ will drop it and you're good for at least 7 years.
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