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?
Unless you have real need to upgrade to Windows 11 I would not do so right now. You will find software compatibility will take some time for things like WindowBlinds.
Very few people currently have Windows 11 on their computer other than those users running insider builds. This really is a Windows release that will be going slowly with some people not being offered it until well into 2022 according to Microsoft.
Well into 2022? Well, that's good to hear!
I'm liking Windows 11 just fine.
Just sayin.
Right now the schedule is:
As Windows 11 appears to kill Curtains (and Uxtheme.dll) we have our work cut out for us.
Oh that bites. No skinning of windows till 2022 - 2023.
2023 for Windowblinds and SkinStudio???? I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooo disappointed. Why so long?
Oh, I see now. Microsoft was lying about the October 5th, 2021 release date. Middle of next year maybe now. Sheesh!
I think 2023 may well be a typo.
I installed WindowBlinds on Windows 10 - 212H1 and it works perfectly.
However, on Windows 11 it crashes my opened windows/folders to the desktop and does not work with the upper-right controls like resize, full-screen ect...
For me, I am sensitive to bright white backgrounds and through "WindowBlinds 10" I can modify my system colors/ folder background / from blinding white, to any shade of gray. I hate the three ugly options in default windows, jet black, blinding white and dark excreta-brown.
I hope future WindowBlinds 11 allows me to continue to modify my system windows/folders background to light or medium grays. I will not upgrade to Windows 11 at all - without "WindowBlinds 11". So, I the next time I purchase another "Object Desktop" WindowBlinds 11 must be able to modify all blinding-white backgrounds to a custom off-white/gray. So I just have to wait and see if WB11 can let me do that in 2022 (2023?!!). So thank you for your hard work because it saves me from very painfull eye-strain and thank you for allowing me to express my opinion. Please keep up the fine work for us enslaved windows users, ‘cause microsoft sure as hell won't. Cheers
2023 ??? That's a long wait dude, it better be a typo.
Crap!
WTF 2023 ?????????? So you even not started to work on WB11? or Stardock is one person ?
But Windows 11 still support unsigned themes but you must patched themeui.dll and uxinit.dll
Check reply #182 ....from the person who will know....
But can you alter the titlebar frame and shadows?
Shouldn't there be a post/article stating what programs and when they will be updated? Something other than this post.
Thats a good point, I think we have one somewhere but I will see if someone can pin it and update it.
OK so i have dutifully followed your lead and upgraded to the new full Start 11, so any idea when we will at least see a Windowblinds 11. Even though this Planning thread is almost ten months old, and considering Windows 11 Final build release is now ready, i am starting to worry a little about when if ever we will see a WB 11.
I only ever went down the Start 10 and now 11 route as it was needed for Windowblinds to work correctly. To be honest, if a start menu replacement was all i needed i could have used a free edition, but i stayed loyal to Stardock as Windowblinds has been my go to program for many years so now have a premium start menu replacement just waiting for Windowblinds.
Can a staff member or Admin who i am sure will know so much more about this, please jump in and update us .
I hope the none response from any of the above does not mean there will be no WB 11 as i will be left with a start replacement Program (Start 11) i only purchased to future proof and be able to use Windowblinds compatible with Windows 11.
Look at reply #179 for a timetable dating from 2 days ago.(and I think they meant 2022, not 2023. )
I do hope 2023 is a typo. To be honest if it is 2023 then why did you even start this thread? You had to know when this thread was started. Stardock you should have been upfront and honest and say the schedule.
Typo or not typo. That is the question, Brad.
Here's my vote for what I believe the schedule should be.
I did look at #179 and like others i assumed it must be wrong or just an opinion as this thread is 10 months old, and Windows 11 has been around for Insiders (so thought the Windowblinds Planners may have been busy in the background) putting together a Beta or something.
Over the weekend since the release of the Win 11 final, there has been a glut in Start Replacement programs released, many of them free. Those who use WB have understood it needs Stardock Start (10 and 11) to work. If i had of known it would be a further year for WB to be released, i never would have paid for Start 11. It was never about the start menu for me, more so about what WBs did for me and my desktop (been using it since XP). And to have Windowblinds to actually function with all OSs since Win 7, we all need Start 10 or 11.
So if 2023 is a true future date for WB release, i would never have needed Start 11 in the first place, so would never have paid for it, yes peeps can benefit from it's use in Win 11, but there must be a lot of users just like me, who only paid for it to have Windowblinds to work on Windows 11.
Not a good day.
I have an installation USB drive prepared with Windows 11. Can anyone here tell me what Stardock programs will, and which will not, work if I upgrade now? Will any Stardock program interfere with the installation - should I remove any program before attempting the upgrade?
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