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WindowBlinds™ 7.90 beta is available for download now!

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WindowBlinds™ 7.90 beta is available for download now!

May 20, 2013 12:07 PM from

Today we updated your Object Desktop subscription with the WindowBlinds 7.90 beta. Featuring Windows^® 8 / 7 support, an all-new user interface and performance enhancements.

Current Object Desktop subscribers
Visit your Stardock account now to download the beta and you will also have free access to the final release version in the near future.

Note: WindowBlinds 7.90 beta supports Windows 7 and 8 only.

Info about upgrades for current WindowBlinds (non-Object Desktop) customers will be available at a later date.

263,890 views 104 replies

Reply #26 May 20, 2013 4:21 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 10

If you are using Win8 and you want the start menu skinned, you need Start8.

First off, let me say that I greatly appreciate what's been done SO FAR.

That being said...

Unless the plan for "Blue" is to bring back the traditional Start MENU vs just a Start button to open the modern UI Start MENU (and don't even begin to call it anything else.. it's just the start menu...), then WB8 really does nothing for a Windows 8 user other than change the taskbar and the look of explorer windows. I ( MY PREFERENCE ) am not going to rely on a 3rd party app to take a step backwards (again.. MY OPINION ).

If "Blue" is going to continue with the Modern UI Start MENU, then I feel that your efforts would have been wisely spent with providing a means to customize that MENU.

My 2-cents..

Reply #27 May 20, 2013 4:22 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

The stuff that drea..... blinds are made of !

GREAT work Neil $\o/$

DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.

Reply #28 May 20, 2013 4:22 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Bug in Task Manager/Performance.

Reply #29 May 20, 2013 4:25 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

I noticed that I cannot change the Explorer background texture or create my own texture. Is this normal right now for this beta ? -- Ace --

Reply #30 May 20, 2013 4:26 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 28

Bug in Task Manager/Performance.

Reduced 37%Original 1600 x 800

Uninstall WB8, and download the build again. There were some missing files in the first build we put up that were causing that.

Reply #31 May 20, 2013 4:26 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Quoting AceMatrix, reply 29

I noticed that I cannot change the Explorer background texture or create my own texture. Is this normal right now for this beta ? -- Ace --

No. Those features should work.

Reply #32 May 20, 2013 4:29 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Phoon, reply 26

Quoting Zubaz, reply 10If you are using Win8 and you want the start menu skinned, you need Start8.

First off, let me say that I greatly appreciate what's been done SO FAR.

That being said...

Unless the plan for "Blue" is to bring back the traditional Start MENU vs just a Start button to open the modern UI Start MENU (and don't even begin to call it anything else.. it's just the start menu...), then WB8 really does nothing for a Windows 8 user other than change the taskbar and the look of explorer windows. I ( MY PREFERENCE ) am not going to rely on a 3rd party app to take a step backwards (again.. MY OPINION ).

If "Blue" is going to continue with the Modern UI Start MENU, then I feel that your efforts would have been wisely spent with providing a means to customize that MENU.

My 2-cents..

We already offer Decor8 which allows you to customize the background and colour scheme used by the Windows 8 full screen start menu.

I am unsure why the lack of a start button in the OS would impact the usability of WindowBlinds. That's a tiny part of what WB has always skinned.

Of course if you have Start8 then you get a skinned start button and start menu with WB too and if you have ModernMix you can even have your fullscreen Modern UI applications running in windows which will therefore have skinned titlebars.

Reply #33 May 20, 2013 4:32 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

I must be some kind of idiot. Because I can't find a link for download.

Reply #34 May 20, 2013 4:34 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Can we use any skin that's for Win 7..... On win 8?

Reply #35 May 20, 2013 4:38 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting delve-miller, reply 33

I must be some kind of idiot. Because I can't find a link for download.

https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

Reply #36 May 20, 2013 4:38 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Quoting delve-miller, reply 33

I must be some kind of idiot. Because I can't find a link for download.

If you have an active ObjectDesktop subscription the download link should be in the store under My Products. (https://store.stardock.com)

Reply #37 May 20, 2013 4:38 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Robbie_Boy, reply 34

Can we use any skin that's for Win 7..... On win 8?

Yes. Even XP / Vista skins can be used, though they may be less optimal.

Reply #38 May 20, 2013 4:38 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Robbie_Boy, reply 34

Can we use any skin that's for Win 7..... On win 8?

They should all work.

Reply #39 May 20, 2013 4:41 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 37

Yes. Even XP / Vista skins can be used, though they may be less optimal.

Amazed

Reply #40 May 20, 2013 4:43 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

I install WB8 today and just want to say that stardock software team once more have demonstrated that they are one of the best software developers in the world. Great job was done. I realy like your software.

Thak you. Greetings from Slovenia.

Reply #41 May 20, 2013 4:50 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 38

Quoting Robbie_Boy, reply 34Can we use any skin that's for Win 7..... On win 8?

They should all work.

Thanks for the quick Answer Zubaz...

Reply #42 May 20, 2013 4:53 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Can't seem to find a link to download?

Reply #43 May 20, 2013 4:54 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Can't seem to find a link to download?

Reply #44 May 20, 2013 4:56 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Can't seem to find a link to download?

https://store.stardock.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/myaccount/products

Reply #45 May 20, 2013 5:01 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Just a note:

This beta is currently only available for Object Desktop Subscribers.

You can download here - http://download.stardock.com

Reply #46 May 20, 2013 5:02 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

I was able to get the Explorer background function to work after a reboot, but I am still unable to create or add my own custom explorer backgrounds from the "create texture" button. It takes me to my texture folder and when I click on the image it just reverts back to the texture options and won't add or create. Here is my System info. -

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 5.9 Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 6.9

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.90 (008 - Windows 7 Edition) - 64 bit OS

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

(AOC 2752Q) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT

Wblind.dll 2013/05/20 11:43:ll Wblind64.dll 2013/05/20 11:43:48 Wbsrv.dll 2013/05/20 10:18:07 WB8Config.exe 2013/05/20 12:03:20 Wbload.exe 2013/05/07 13:30:24 Wbhelp.dll 2013/04/18 14:51:37 Tray.dll 2013/04/18 14:51:19 Wbload.dll 2013/05/20 10:18:39 Screen.exe 2013/05/09 14:07:23

thanks. -- Ace --

Reply #47 May 20, 2013 5:06 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

The wait was well worth it. The release is stable on my rig

MB:Intel DZ77GA-70K Extreme Series

Memory:Corsair 2x4 GB CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B 2kits 16GB

CPU:Intel I7-3770K "OC 4.0GHz"

GPU:EVGA GeForce GTX 680

PhysX:EVGA GeForce GTX 460

SSD:2 Crucial 256 GB m4 2.5-Inch

OS: Windows 8 64Bit

The desktop Looks great the start menu looks great. the start button looks great. fences makes my life more organized. I am a happy camper

Reply #48 May 20, 2013 5:11 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

If you have any issues, please post them in the following thread so we can keep track of them.

https://forums.wincustomize.com/444609/page/1/

Reply #49 May 20, 2013 7:25 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 32

We already offer Decor8 which allows you to customize the background and colour scheme used by the Windows 8 full screen start menu.

Neil,

Just to make doubly sure the air is clear: I do like having the ability to use what WB8 provides and am grateful for it.

Decor8 is great at what it does - so far. However the ability to customize the tiles, add perhaps transparency to them, things like that are painfully absent. I have to use something like OblyTile to do that, and it could use some work.

Quoting Neil, reply 32

I am unsure why the lack of a start button in the OS would impact the usability of WindowBlinds. That's a tiny part of what WB has always skinned.

It doesn't. But WB8, for someone that doesn't use Start8 (more on that below) is not as full of an experience.

Quoting Neil, reply 32

Of course if you have Start8 then you get a skinned start button and start menu with WB too

I choose not to rely on Start8. I have it installed but set to only engage if I use the Win Key. I hardly ever use it. I see Start 8 as a (quite nice) crutch and step back from the (IMO) improved and more efficient modern UI start menu.

To me, the bulk of eye candy that WB always provided was the cool things of the start menu design. Thus, my comments of having WB address the customization aspects of the modern UI menu...

Reply #50 May 20, 2013 8:02 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

I am sure that no one will be disappointed when they buy and use WindowsBlind 8, I knew the team at Stardock would do a Great Job, always great quality and in a class by themselves.

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