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?
I like to think of the explorer patcher method more as a backwards compatability for peoples favorite windows 10 themes. I do look forward to windows blinds 11 for several reasons.
1. Make themes based off of windows 10 or 11 theme for start 11. Huge selling point for me.
2. I don't actually hate the command bar. It would be nice to have themes that go with it
However you spin the description PhoenixRising1, you have made something work and that is a big step forward for many i am sure , i for one appreciate your testing and experimentations to make this possible.
I just think everyone should continue to use Windows 10 and Windowblinds 10 until Windowblinds 11 is released by Stardock. But if you want to use Windows 11, just use Start 11 for now if you're happy with that. I personally don't think hacking things in your system using software no one has ever heard about before is not a good idea.
I totally understand that sentiment lightstar. I even agree with you to a point.
Obviously this whole thing got started on how windows 11 has been hard to migrate to for various reasons and how people want to stick with windows 10. There are a lot of reasons to dislike windows 11, but also there has been reasons to like windows 11.
Start 11 has been huge for me. I actually bought and paid for this program day one of its beta release. That is how much I disliked windows 11's start menu.
Explorer patcher has been mention so often on this site though that it is hard to not be curious as to what it is and what it does. So, I defenetly did not find this program on my own.
I believe this has gone off topic, the title is "WindowBlinds 11 Planning", not sure how the topic of third party apps to use WindowBlinds 10 on Windows 11, is pertinent , makes no sense to me, but that's just me. I've tried Windows 11, and I like it, but like all new OSs, there's tweaking/fixes to be made to make it better, but, I'm like some of the others here, I won't be using Windows 11 until a viable working version of WindowBlinds is availble, then I'll use Windows 11, along with Start11. With that said, everyone have a joyous holiday.
Who the Heck is Light saber
It always said Lightstar. I totally did not edit that 😁
After playing around with Windowblinds 10 on Windows 11, I do have to say some of the missing elements are annoying. It is clearly made for Windows 10 not windows 11. It may be fun to play around with but do so at your own risk and please make sure you understand how to uninstall explorerpatcher if you wish to experiment as I do not feel this program is for casual users at all. Again I do not feel like explorerpatcher is a longterm solution at all, and that Lightstar's comment is correct in most circumstances here.
Transparent frames, Funny thing is that is one thing I will be implementing when windowblinds 11 makes it's debut. To each their own. Peace.
Actually I'm the opposite. I enjoy making things work even when they aren't supposed to. Rube Goldberging it's an art. Peace 😉
I too like to change things that do not work into something that does, a lot of us are IT guys and gals and that is what we do, also a lot of us can not just ignore Windows 11 until WB 11 is here as we have to use it to offer support for our work, for those who can wait, good for you, but those who can not, we adapt and try to overcome issues, maybe that is why Humans are so Curious, we like to fix things.
I have come to understand there will be NO WB11 for a while yet, but please do not have a pop at those of us who are willing to try new things based on what we need and our Skillset.
This fix is not for your average user and do ask anyone who attempts this, proceed with care making sure you follow the steps to make it work, i got it to work fine, even with the transparent issue, for me it is a big jump forward allowing me to wait, sit back until WB11 gets here without my eyes screaming out for something familiar on my Windows 11 Desktop , whilst still being able to work with Windows 11 , offer support, and actually move forward .
Well said naroon,
If there was no desire to have personalization to ones pc, then there would also be no need for a stardock products in general. We would all just be using windows as is and as intended. But that is not the case. Truth is there is a desire for personalization and that is why start 11 is selling with 4 themes for example. Because everyones tastes are different. Techies may be willing to go a bit further then casual users. And to each there own.
As much as I can't wait for WB11, I am completely happy with Windows 11 as is. I realize I'm in the minority.
That's fine, then create a Forum for just that, trying new innovative ways to make Windows 11 more appealing through your processes, it's just getting off topic of WindowBlinds 11 Planning, in my humble opinion. I believe that the subject of this Forum is to find ways to improve WindowBlinds (through suggestions) in Windows 11 environment, maybe I'm wrong here (wouldn't be the first time). What you guys are doing is admirable, but I think it would be better served in a Forum for just that, because what you're doing could be brought back here as a suggestion on what could be incorporated into the new build of WindowBlinds, hope I'm making sense here, cause no one is taking a "pop" at what you are doing. Have a great day y'all
Please do not have a pop at those of you who are willing to start a new thread about the subject.
I find windows 11 more familiar than 8 or 10. I've never cared for tiles or the ribbon. I wouldn't have even upgraded to 11 if it wasn't for one engineering program that I use that requires either Windows 10 or 11. I had never left windows 7. As far as planning for windowblinds 11, I plan on making my windows 11 as close as possible to Windows 7 with a modified arrow theme. If that is possible when it comes out. I know it's not very imaginative nothing compared to what some of the people on the boards here do. I will be interesting to see what Stardock and the people here do with windowblinds 11.
Don,
I have actually tried to steer this direction back towards windowblinds 11 planning with my comment of how awesome I think a skinned theme for windows 10 / 11 theme in start 11 would be. It just so happens everyone is more inclined to talk about what is going on with windowblinds 10. But users like to keep users humble here so I would say it has actually been constructive.
We now know several areas that Windowblinds needs updated to work fully on windows 11.
* The command bar is what is causes the explorer bar to crash
*there are some issues with transparency on windows 11
* (here is a new one) the top right buttons in explorer are actually different in windows 11. i.e. minimize, close, ect. They actually added a 4th button in a lot of instances I never even noticed until I used Windowblinds 10... That will also need to be fixed.
I believe that is still Beta level feedback for Windowblinds 11 through our conversation
What 4th button?
An example would be. When using an app from microsofts store, there is a 4th button that allows the app to go into fullscreen mode. That button is not present when using windowblinds 10 on windows 11
I apologize for not being more clear. Let me start over.
Maybe I should not have used the word explorer at all. A better way to state the issue is that windows 11 has a new ui for their built in programs such as microsoft store, and xbox, ect.
With it the close button aligns with the skinned close button. The window sizing button aligns with the skinned. The minimize button aligns. And even the newly programmed roll up button all work fine.
The issue is when windows 11 introduces a new button like with the store apps. For example, with the full screen arrows that are set in a position of a 4th button end up painted over and no longer exist when skinned. The roll up does, but it does not ever go to full screen mode.
Of course all the built in features could be added to the exclusion list, but that is also a lot of ui from windows 11 that is being excluded.
So if that were to function with windowblinds 11. That would be a nice improvement.
I agree with PhoenixRising1 and as there is no WB11 right now, some of us are actually doing something that may help out the peeps who will create WB11 by showing screenshots that present some early possible issues that will when taken in the bigger picture all help towards Planning the next Windowblinds, that to me is still on topic. The company have told us numerous times about the possible problems in planning a new WB11, what we are doing (spending untold hours going through settings for several programs) can only serve to help this process, we see it first, report back what we find, and these findings form part of a bigger picture
We understand some members have the luxury to sit back and and wait for WB 11 before they even try Windows 11, some of us do not have that luxury and need to migrate to Windows 11 and move with the times, and due to that fact, we are at least trying to create an Operating system that looks like what we are used too with the tools we have right now, adapting and overcoming the limitations in front of us.
Put that way narron1, it now makes sense to me, thank you, sometimes us (speaking for myself) old timers take a bit to catch on.
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