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WindowBlinds 11 planning

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WindowBlinds 11 planning

from WinCustomize Forums

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?  

windowblinds
2,439,913 views 670 replies
Reply #26 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting ALMonty, reply 24

Not on my machines. I’ve been trying to get to work for 2 years now. 

WB works correct on Edge Chromium, but you must add this:

 

--disable-features=Windows10CustomTitlebar

--disable-windows10-custom-titlebar

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Robert84MK, reply 26

WB works correct on Edge Chromium, but you must add this:



--disable-features=Windows10CustomTitlebar

--disable-windows10-custom-titlebar
No. Tried this and several other tricks & hacks.

CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #28 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting JanOscar, reply 27

No. Tried this and several other tricks & hacks.

 

Yes its works.

 

EdgeeEdge

Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Robert84MK, reply 28

Yes its works.
So, basically what you're saying is that when it works for you, it must work for everybody else? Go trolling somewhere else.

Reply #30 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting JanOscar, reply 29

So, basically what you're saying is that when it works for you, it must work for everybody else? Go trolling somewhere else.

I have tested these settings on many Windows 10 computers and it works. Apparently you can't do such a simple thing. 

 

https://forums.stardock.com/486023/windowblinds-support-faq?utm_source=stardock-software&utm_medium=windowblinds-10&utm_campaign=in-app-support#chromeskin

Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Robert84MK, reply 30

I have tested these settings on many Windows 10 computers and it works. Apparently you can't do such a simple thing.
You're probably right. I'm pretty stupid, but at least among peers.

Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Robert84MK, reply 26


Quoting ALMonty,
reply 24

Not on my machines. I’ve been trying to get to work for 2 years now. 



WB works correct on Edge Chromium, but you must add this:

 

--disable-features=Windows10CustomTitlebar

--disable-windows10-custom-titlebar

I already know about this. Doesn’t work for me. 

Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting JanOscar, reply 31


Quoting Robert84MK,
reply 30

I have tested these settings on many Windows 10 computers and it works. Apparently you can't do such a simple thing.

You're probably right. I'm pretty stupid, but at least among peers.

Hey Jan, I’m stupid with you. :grin:  

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Reply #34 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting ALMonty, reply 32

I already know about this. Doesn’t work for me. 

If it doesn't work for you, you are doing something wrong.

Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Guess I'm in the middle then...  it only works partway for me, when it wants to.

When I first open Edge, with the (--disable-windows10-custom-titlebar) fix applied, it opens like this;

If I then MIn/Max the window, or click elsewhere on the desktop, then back into Edge, it then redraws the titlebar fully to this;

Chrome does the same thing, as does Brave browser.

Vivaldi and OperaGX just refuses to skin at all.

I'd be willing to bet that skinning ANY browser is going to be problematic, as you're always coding against a fast-moving target.

Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Well, Edge work for me too. And I don't have issue as mentioned by GAIAStevef above. Might need to look into extension/add-on compatibility too. My Edge is running without any extension at all.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #37 from Stardock Forums Top

I have only Ublock Origin, NoScript, SpeedUp, AutoTab Discard and WB works correct on Edge Chromium and nVidia + Intel config. If somebody has problems maybe some addions or flags has conflict.

Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If I have Edge open and change a theme it applies. If I close the Edge window and open it up again Win 10 theme titlebar is applied.

Reply #39 from Stardock Forums Top


What would you like to see in WindowBlinds 11?

 

Maybe you fix correct centering in skins ?

 

Second photo is from Windows skins and First photo is from some WB skins. Some WB skins It doesn't want to align to the left and is shifted right and down.

nonOkok

Reply #40 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ALMonty, reply 38

If I have Edge open and change a theme it applies. If I close the Edge window and open it up again Win 10 theme titlebar is applied.

After starting Edge again try clicking on the + to create another tab. That seems to work for me.

Reply #42 from Stardock Forums Top

The problem with trying to skin most Chromium browsers is, many of them don't look proper...,

Also, for me anyway, I like to slam my cursor hard against the top screen bezel to open and close tabs with middle click quickly, without having to 'bulls-eye' the X or center of the tab; can't do that when they're skinned. 

Reply #43 from Stardock Forums Top

I'd like to see an easy way to load or convert Windows .msstyles/.theme files.

If I'm being honest I see a lot more variety, modern, and simply better themes being created as .msstyles than what I am able to find for WindowsBlinds. This is understandable given that WindowsBlinds is shareware and has a smaller userbase.

I personally find using a UxThemePatcher unattractive as it's harder to verify that it's from a trustworthy source, and the themes seem to break with every update.

That said, it would be really cool to be able to download one of these .msstyles themes and then load it into WindowsBlinds and just have it work.

Reply #44 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I would like to see the ability to disable taskbar skinning because as it is StartIsBack will break with any windowblinds skin applied

T

Reply #45 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Two things that work on Windows 7 (with Windowblinds 7), but are excluded from Windowblinds 10 :

 

1.) Explorer (folder) background image. (with transparency support)

2.) Taskbar, titlebar and menu background animations. 

 

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Reply #46 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting TheDrunkMage, reply 43

I'd like to see an easy way to load or convert Windows .msstyles/.theme files.

If I'm being honest I see a lot more variety, modern, and simply better themes being created as .msstyles than what I am able to find for WindowsBlinds. This is understandable given that WindowsBlinds is shareware and has a smaller userbase.

I have a lot nice theme for XP, Vista and Win7 an it will be nice to if WB will load or conver it.

Reply #47 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting TheDrunkMage, reply 43

it would be really cool to be able to download one of these .msstyles themes and then load it into WindowsBlinds and just have it work
Not gonna happen... If you understod the nature of skinning and it’s complexity you wouldnt even say such a thing :cylon:  

Reply #48 from Stardock Forums Top

Possible to implement Aero Glass to Windows Blinds 11? Kinda like Glass8 in a way, though it seems the developer isn't updating it anymore, it would be cool to see full aerogass (with the reflections in the titlebar moving aswell), then the ability to skin the jumplists, enable the classic context menus on the taskbar, and skinning the system tray.. With maybe the ability to restore the classic clock from windows 7/8? Since this is going to be a big update, would be pretty cool to have these features, along with the ability to edit the navigation pane node tree height with a theme.

One more thing, with skins I noticed that taskbar buttons (that allow realtime reflection, for example when the mouse moves around the button and it gives off a color similar to the icon). I noticed that WindowsBlinds only does Windows 10's accent color chose in settings. Would be cool to have the colors of the reflection light to be of a similar color OF the icon itself.

(windows blinds with mouse hovered over explorer on windows 10) vs Win7 (hovered on the explorer icon) kinda hard to see, but on the windows 10 image, its just blue like the accent color of the overall accent. While Windows 7/8 does colors OF the icon itself

 

Right now my taskbar has a glitch with the transparency where it shows WHAT the color should look like when the mouse is hovered over it.

The colors UNDER the taskbar icons are what SHOULD be shown when the mouse is hovered over the taskbar button.

Reply #49 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting -CALEB-, reply 45

1.) Explorer background image. (with transparency support)
-We all Pray & Hope :pout:  

Reply #50 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting neone6, reply 47

Not gonna happen... If you understod the nature of skinning and it’s complexity you wouldnt even say such a thing
Just as a fun sidenote: There actually was an option in SkinStudio many years ago that allowed importing msstyles. Never worked 100% and was removed for numerous reasons.

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