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?
From what I have heard Nikos, it may look like it works, but it will have issues at various times. I think I would wait for Windowblinds 11.
You are right Tom, I hope that when Windowblinds come out, there still will be people around that are interested... because unfortunately, as we all know, people are losing interest very fast now days...
I know... very saddening.
Couldn't agree more Nikos, I feel like WB is on it's way out, there has not been an update on SKS since forever, I believe the focus is with Curtains, but that's my opinion, and my two cents worth, everyone have a nice and safe Holiday.
Couldn't agree more Don, have a good one!
That is the problem. It seems like loyal WB users like myself and many others judging by the comments, are being thrown under the Bus.
Other theme creators are leaving WBs in there wake by creating working themes for Windows 11, more and more as the days go by, but we are told maybe it will be next year for a useable WB 11. This is damaging the brand and i for 1 am gutted by Stardocks apparent ignorance of us peeps who paid our money for Start 11 thinking WB 11 would follow right behind.
It's not only Stardock and there paying members who suffer by this lack of forward movement with a useable WB11, what about the Master skinners who sell there hard work to go hand in hand , and are completely reliant on a platform that can actually use there latest creations.
We are constantly being told it takes loads of time and effort to create a working WB 11 due to the changes Microsoft are making to Explorer etc.... But other Skin and Theme makers are already there RIGHT NOW like another popular Theme Patcher now fully working with Windows 11.
The longer this goes on, i feel WB will continue to fall behind there competitors, each further week lost, will see more and more payed up members leaving this platform.
What we want and prefer would be a working WB11, we payed for it because we loved it, but as time passes with NO WB 11, more and more will join the exodus, the reasons for not having it ready are starting to sound like excuses, if others can do it now, then why not you too.
One other note, in order for us Skinners/Master Skinners to design for Windows 11, Skin Studio needs to me upgraded, I believe (I could be wrong, someone tell me if I am) with it's current status, you couldn't design for Windows 11, maybe, and I mean maybe, Stardock will update Skin Studio as well, but, I'm not holding my breath. Sure, there appears to be a wain in support for Windowblinds, but, I'm of the belief ( and again, I could be wrong), that if we (Skinners) are given the correct tools, we could make Windowblinds cool again, just my thoughts.
Everyone enjoy your turkey/ham dinner, or whatever you have for the holiday, peace to all.
Well said Don!
Am i wrong in thinking Skin Studio comes free with WB, i am sure i got it with mine .
So it's not just us paying customers thrown under the bus, seems the Skinners who may rely on both programs to make some sort of living have been shat on from a high height too.
WB was a very cool piece of kit, and could still be if the makers caught up with what others are doing right now, so sorry to you Skinners, it seems all the work is going into Start 11 even though there is a slew of free Start replacement Programs already on release.
people are for sure not losing interest in using windowblinds and all of stardock products... the actual skinners are the ones losing interest in releasing new skins.. as you can see there is only like 2 or 3 active skinners on this forum, with a few others that put something out maybe once a year.. thats for sure the reason why the costomers are losing interest.. because it's lack of new skins from the skinners...
Skin Studio does not come with Windowblinds, it's a separate program, but is free if you're an Object Desktop subscriber.
Actually it is free with WB too.
Can't say that about me, I try to put out as many skins as possible, but, with that said, I (personally can't speak for others that have left skinning) have personal things that need my attention, so I may not be able to put a skin out often; it does take time to design and put together a good skin, peace to all!
How bout that (after all these years of skinning), I did not know that, I just learned something today, thanks Neil.
Hey All,
Thanks for the feedback about WB11 and let me be the first to say that I hear you. As a quick intro, I started at Stardock back in September to lead the software team but have been a long-time user of WB/Groupy/StartX/Fences and even Object Dock many years ago.
With the announcement (June) and release of Windows 11 (October), this has created quite a bit of work for us to upgrade many of our core products as fast as we can to support the new OS.
Making things more challenging than a quick launch of the OS is that the UI layer of Windows 11 isn't like Windows 10 or previous versions. Take a look at Windows 10X if you are interested in how Microsoft launched 11 so quickly.
All this being said, we are committed to making WB11 and supporting the new OS. I don’t have an exact timeline to provide for when it will be ready for release as I don’t want to promise a delivery date and then miss the target. Windows 11 is a different UI animal than Windows 10 and we are investigating the best way to bring this product to our users in a way that is sustainable.
Happy to try and answer questions as transparently as possible as you are a core part of our community and I want you to be informed but keep in mind that deadlines and timelines shift frequently.
Thanks!
I am really hoping and praying that the new version of SkinStudio for Windows 11 will not have all the bugs that SkinStudio 10 has. Thanks for the info on Windowblinds 11 BradSams. If you need a tester for anything, I will gladly help out.
omg .. win11 is so trash.. how are my eyes going to cope/ ... those blithering retards at MS can't even make a dark theme without failing to actually fix the legacy ui controls are still blinding white.. in dark mode....
At least in Win10 you could still fix certain old legacy ui controls.. or better use curtains.. now can't do anything except use dark mode, just about everything you use literally all WHITE from the titlebar to most the ui controls.. just look at notepad.exe
If someone ever dropped a nuke on MS Redmond, nothing would be lost I'm just saying. Probably move over to a Linux desktop distro within year and never look back at what they've turned Windows into.
Because a Windows 10 update bricked the pc, which happened a week ago so I just went full wipe and put Win11 on... I mean its not like MS is going to make there useless updates less shit for either OS at this point... though the lack of decent theming is giving me reason to go back.
Bradsams, thanks for the info. You can add me to the user list that would enjoy working with Stardock with either nightly build /alpha or beta of windowsblinds 11. I can't speak for every one obviously but I would have preferred Stardock to have concentrated on window blinds 11 first then release start 11 and fences and others. Just my thoughts. But that's in the past so I am just looking forward to seeing windowblinds 11.
This may not interest most, but via a friend I recently found an easy way to make Windows 11 look like Mac OS. Kinda cool. The author modified some Curtains files to make it happen, but it works rather well.
Nevertheless, I like Windows 11 as is. I will miss Windowblinds but it is inevitable.
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