Any more news on Skinning 11 ??

I would sooooo like to use at least Groupy and Curtains.

I do know that Windowblinds 11 is currently in the "oven" ... Hopefully it bakes at 450 degrees so it will be done soon.  

It'll be done when it's done. Like most all SD software it'll probably be released as a beta, initially with a good deal of scrutiny as to software conflicts. Here's hoping MS gets its act together with the W11 GUI.

I wouldn't be surprised to see an alpha version of Windowblinds 11 first. There could be benefits of letting the subscribers getting their eyes on it first.

As far as w11 GUI is concerned, I do think the beta channel is starting to settle in some. Although Microsoft is known for throwing curve balls. I think the real problem child is going to be the dev channel. I do hope the demand for that channel goes down compared to beta

-It was mentioned in one of the posts/threads that it was indeed cooking, so I was hoping for an update regarding this.    

sdRohan of Stardock wrote:

-I started this thread to maybe get an update on the Status of this

I would be...surprised, that is. Alpha releases are rare in propritary software, more common in open source programs. I can't remember SD ever releasing an alpha. I think the complaints would far outweigh any possible gain. What might happen is an article in WC News with screen shots of the new WB beta shortly before or at the time of its release. I could be wrong, though.

The last alpha SD released was Fences 4. This is something they do from time to time and the releases are only available to OD subscribers. That way no one actually pays for the alpha releases specifically in case there are rough edges.

Windows 11 has an entire channel dedicated to alpha releases, it is called the dev channel. So, it is something that is becoming more common.

Object Desktop has an option to 'show beta downloads' ....for early access.  It has always been the option because generally Skinners were the Subscribers and also understood the development process and what to expect [and not expect] from the 'beta' program, something the general user was oblivious about...assuming all things released were supposed to be problem free.

Then along came Windows 10 and everyone is required to put up with betas...even with the OS itself.

Stardock's alpha program is 'internal' only...;)

Edit - I have found proof that Fences 4 alpha existed here. The thread closed when Fences Beta 1 was released. It was bothering me because I remembered it so well.

https://forums.stardock.com/507683/page/1/#3824231

Now we just need some news on Windowblinds 11 as well   

https://www.stardock.com/news/507199/now-announcing-fences-4---get-into-the-alpha-today

First time I've SD do that. The ad I saw was for Fences 4 beta. But then again, I never install alphas and only rarely late betas.

That might or might not be tied to Fences 4 alpha.   

It is hard to say whether it was a one time thing or not. Fences 4 was kind of a pilot test for alphas I think.

The better question is if an alpha would work with Windowblinds 11 or not? In my opinion, probably only if it is backwards compatible with windowblinds 10 era of skins.

An even better one might be how one alpha might interact with another alpha (which W11 seems to be), and whether one would have a functional machine afterward.

MS seems to forget to tell early users and regular users how to fix things when they head south.

An even better question. If Windows 11 is an alpha, does that then make all software on Windows 11 also alpha.   

Hopefully they finish Windows 11 sometime

sdRohan, where art thou.......  

I still remember that MS said W10 would be their last OS being updated periodically. 

When we say "finished", we're talking MS finalizing the W11 GUI. MS's W11 GUI is unlike W10's, and is being changed with features being added and removed from build to build.

It's pretty clear that every OS can be considered a beta by virtue of being periodically updated.

As we now know something is in the oven, when can we see something for beta testing, no harm in updating peeps to what stage and how brown the cooking  is.    

Nope, it's not hard at all.  I've been here a little longer.

It's simply the exception that proves the rule...;)

I didn't notice that the Alpha for '4' was released into the wild...but it would have been a reaction to the situation that BOTH OS's were barely Betas themselves, with well documented eternal revisions of the GUI.

Object Desktop is still the mechanism by which early access is granted.

Unlike Microsoft, Stardock prefers to limit access to 'things' that may have issues.

operator33....yes, there are probably millions of users who see no issues with Windows 11.  There will also be millions of users who actually do have problems but are blissfully ignorant of the fact.

And there are millions of users who know the OS is not yet baked for consumption.

Not forgetting the users who understand what is going on with Windows11, who take steps to make the OS as safe as possible, then use it and like it. I have made no secret of Liking Win 11 Enterprise, as long as i plug all the wholes and share that info with others is all we can do.

Lets hope what is in the oven is the best bit of Baking we have ever tasted as a lot of us are Hank Marvin (Starvin), Scouse for really Hungry.    

I'm sure many members would appreciate hearing about those plugs.

Neil's team is working on it daily while still maintaining updates for Start11 as needed.

I talked with Brad Sams (VP of Software) yesterday about pinging the community (that's you all btw😉)for new skins as we get something we would like to show off.  That is not imminent but on the radar.

Thanks for the continued interest and support.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

It is no big secret Doc, i have always told you and others, MS pushes something on us, and others Push Back. Windows 11 being a Data stealing Entity created a whole side line for Software developers, they pushed back by creating numerous programs to help even basic users achieve this.

Think After Windows 7 when the Start Menu Changed, peeps did not like the direction MS was going in, so multiple software creators helped the user Bring back a Start menu , making there Windows look and feel just how they wanted, even Stardock jumped in that Band Wagon with Start 10 and 11, so you must see why huge changes do not bother me, as others will find a way to negate the changes MS try to push on us

"DoNotSpy11"

"Optimizer"

"SophiApp"

"O&O ShutUp10"  Not being rude, that is what it's called

"Privatezilla"

"W10/11Privacy"

"Gilisoft Privacy Protector"

"WPD"

These are just a few of the top of my Head, almost all of the above will make both Win 10 and 11 more Data Friendly for the end user and not MS, there are so many more.

Surely i am not the first to list this kind of Program, we have talked about MS stealing our Data for ages now. I see more and more of this kind OS program almost daily, hope that helps you Doc and anyone else who is interested in using Win11 in a better safer way.

I am Sure Doc you did not want me to list all those setting changes individually when they come in nice little packages like above.  

I have used Windows previews since Windows 95. ;-)