WindowBlinds v10.5 Update Introduces Universal App Skinning and More

from Stardock Forums

Plymouth, MI. – November 2, 2016 - Today, Stardock announced the release of WindowBlinds 10.5, the latest iteration of its popular desktop customization software. WindowBlinds allows users to completely customize their desktop interface by choosing from unique skin options for their Start panel, taskbar, window frames, control buttons, and more.

What’s new in 10.5:

  • Apply skins to universal applications!

  • Blur the area behind skinned areas (Windows 10 Anniversary [and later])

  • Taskbar preview skinning on Windows 10

  • Skin OS ribbon controls and blend in better with titlebars

  • Completely hide the Windows Explorer ribbon

  • Improved handling of high and mixed DPI settings

  • Option for using standard Windows menus which skin better on desktop

  • Option for applying system accent color based on the skin selected (either auto generated or via AccentColour setting under System Colours)

  • Improved skinning for Mozilla applications

"We are excited to be able to create a more seamless desktop environment for our users," said Angela Marshall, Stardock COO and Vice President of Software. "We are always looking for ways to improve WindowBlinds so skinning Universal applications was a natural fit.  We are also happy to bring back blurring for users with the Anniversary Update of Windows 10."

WindowBlinds is available as a standalone application or through Stardock's comprehensive Object Desktop service. Through Object Desktop, users will be able to access the latest versions of WindowBlinds, Start10, Fences, Deskscapes, and more.

WindowBlinds supports Microsoft Windows 10 and is available to download now for $9.99, and those who own a previous version can upgrade for just $4.99.

For more information about WindowBlinds 10, please visit www.windowblinds.net.  

Screenshots:
Screenshot 1  |  Screenshot 2  |  Screenshot 3  |  Screenshot 4  |  Screenshot 5

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Please contact [email protected] for all media inquiries.

About Stardock: Stardock is a developer and publisher of PC games and desktop software founded in 1991 by nationally recognized technology expert Brad Wardell. Located in Plymouth, Michigan, Stardock is a powerful leader in the video gaming and software development world.  Its PC games include Sins of a Solar Empire, the critically acclaimed Galactic Civilizations series, and Ashes of the Singularity. Stardock puts the user experience first through software that enriches the Windows experience for everyone from casual computer users to highly technical professionals. Products offered by Stardock include Start8, Start10, Fences, WindowBlinds, Multiplicity, and more at www.stardock.com.


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97,375 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:thumbsup:

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Focus on appealing skins. That's the reason I never use this package - the skins are largely poor quality on WinCustomize and the default skins in the package all look worse than Microsoft's. Guess I'm the sucker for buying it, but come on.

TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

This sounds G R E A T !!!  :sun: :sun: :sun: 5* 5* 5*

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting deeplogic, reply 2

Focus on appealing skins. That's the reason I never use this package - the skins are largely poor quality on WinCustomize and the default skins in the package all look worse than Microsoft's. Guess I'm the sucker for buying it, but come on.

Probably time for you to step up and show everyone where they have gone wrong....;)

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You got me. What got my attention was that you can use older skins and they will still look good. Are we talking Vista or XP? One I really like is Airlock by Mike Brandt. Got a lot of his older skins (Recoil, Sirius, Ozone), so if I buy an older skin I can use it on Win10? 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* :jafo: :thumbsup:

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Something went wrong...

upgraded via object desktop manager, rebooted , got a message missmathc in DLL... please uninstall reboot and install, did that , thats when shit hit the fan...

did not get a blue or black screen , got a half white half black screen, reboot...pink screen...reboot ...login with Ctrl pressed got to the desktop , uninstall...reboot...install fresh....yes you guessed it...same problem ...reboot with Ctrl pressed,,,uninstall...reboot, install 10.4.6 everything works....

other Stardock products installed , Tiles,Start 10, object dock, fences. All latest release

 

Any tips before I install on work pc....

 

 

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Bob, reply 5

What skin is that in screenshot 2?
7 Plus by Adni18

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Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The first part won't interest me because I don't use MS's Universal Apps at all.  However, I welcome the other changes, especially hiding the 'ribbon' and better skinning for Mozilla applications.  I use both Fiefox and Thunderbird, so this is good news.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: To Stardock again.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting starkers, reply 9
The first part won't interest me because I don't use MS's Universal Apps at all.

Yes you do. Many parts of the Windows 10 interface (control panel applets, etc...) are now UWP. So hurray to Neil! Color me impressed! :)

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting JcRabbit, reply 10


Quoting starkers,
reply 9
The first part won't interest me because I don't use MS's Universal Apps at all.



Yes you do. Many parts of the Windows 10 interface (control panel applets, etc...) are now UWP. So hurray to Neil! Color me impressed! :)

Okay, though what I meant is the apps MS plastered all over the Start Menu, etc... the stuff from the Store.

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm getting "kernel_security_check_failure" error (i.e., new blue screen) when installing this. W10 build 161111-1700

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Panu, reply 12

I'm getting "kernel_security_check_failure" error (i.e., new blue screen) when installing this. W10 build 161111-1700

Disable hyper-v on your machine.  It is causing a problem on the latest insider preview.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Love what you've done with the option to hide the ribbon and giving us back the command bar, menu bar and such! I'd like to see the command bar support transparency if it was possible. It's an integral part of several of my skins actually.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 13


Quoting Panu,
reply 12

I'm getting "kernel_security_check_failure" error (i.e., new blue screen) when installing this. W10 build 161111-1700



Disable hyper-v on your machine.  It is causing a problem on the latest insider preview.

 

Hi Neil,

Hyper-V is disabled, I have never enabled it. In "windows Features" all Hyper-V checkboxes are unchecked

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Panu, reply 15

Quoting Neil Banfield,
reply 13






Quoting Panu,

reply 12


I'm getting "kernel_security_check_failure" error (i.e., new blue screen) when installing this. W10 build 161111-1700



Disable hyper-v on your machine.  It is causing a problem on the latest insider preview.



 

Hi Neil,

Hyper-V is disabled, I have never enabled it. In "windows Features" all Hyper-V checkboxes are unchecked

Is it crashing instantly on install or on a theme apply and if so what theme are you applying?  Does it happen with the Modern skin included with WindowBlinds?

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 16

Is it crashing instantly on install or on a theme apply and if so what theme are you applying?  Does it happen with the Modern skin included with WindowBlinds?

I get the blue screen when the install is almost finished. So WB is not installed at all, the installer crashes with the error I reported.

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Panu, reply 17

Quoting Neil Banfield,
reply 16

Is it crashing instantly on install or on a theme apply and if so what theme are you applying?  Does it happen with the Modern skin included with WindowBlinds?



I get the blue screen when the install is almost finished. So WB is not installed at all, the installer crashes with the error I reported.

Has it previously had a working WindowBlinds installed?

I am trying to work out if it is applying a skin at the end of the install or not.

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 18


Has it previously had a working WindowBlinds installed?

I am trying to work out if it is applying a skin at the end of the install or not.

 

 

Yes I have had the OD version installed, but I uninstalled it when trying all kinds of things to make another program crash less. As it was OD version I couldn't install it since then. It would be good to have pointers how to remove possible remnants of it if it confuses the new WB.

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Just to let you know, my problem with the crashing installer went away after running purge_WB.bat http://sd.stardock.com/zubaz/apps/Purge_WB.bat

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Nice!
One thing though, Photoshop still hates WB on my machines.
It starts without top-bottom-side frames and has no close min max buttons until i minimize it and maximize it using keyshortcuts.
Afterwards it works like a charm. Dunno weird and wanted to point it out.
PS CC btw.
Have this problem with the Win01x64 machine.

Dunno if there is a workaround for this yet if so please let me know 
Otherwise great news looking forward to it.