Stardock targets this week for WindowBlinds 5.5

Vista version for registered users and Object Desktop users...

https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt
from WinCustomize Forums

WindowBlinds 5.5 has gone into final release candidate mode.  WindowBlinds is the program that enables users to change the look and feel of the Windows GUI to whatever they'd like. Version 5.5 adds support for Windows Vista. This week, Stardock plans to release WindowBlinds 5.5 officially to Object Desktop users and registered users of WindowBlinds.

Making WindowBlinds work on Windows Vista was non-trivial. There were two challenges Stardock had to make WindowBlinds work on Vista. 

The first challenge Stardock has faced with running WindowBlinds on Windows Vista is the most obvious -- there are over 5,000 skins already made for WindowBlinds. Since Windows Vista has a lot of new user interface parts, Stardock had to find a way to take skins designed for Windows XP and make them look native to Windows Vista.  The result was a new technology called SmartSkinning(tm) which automatically converts pieces of a skin to be used on new controls.

The second challenge is making use of the new Desktop Window Manager (DWM) on Vista.  Rather than simply "port" WindowBlinds onto Windows Vista, Stardock wanted to make sure that WindowBlinds made use of the new 3D accelerated desktop that Windows Vista users have.  The result is that WindowBlinds 5.5 isn't just faster on Windows Vista (due to making use of some off-screen caching that Aero doesn't make use of) than Aero, it uses much less power. In a recent internal test involving Dell and Lenova laptops, a machine running WindowBlinds gained an extra 42 minutes in battery life over the one running Aero. 

Along with working on WindowBlinds, Stardock has a new version of SkinStudio in development that makes it easier to create Windows Vista specific skins. A shareware version of WindowBlinds 5.5 will be made available later this month.

 

10,036 views 19 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Its great, When it doesnt trick me into downloading the beta 5.50 when its really 5.10 - then making me unable to now activate 5.49t.

One thing that seems to be forgotten is Font overrides.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
We will be revisiting font control in future versions of WB.
SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm excited to see where this is going.Kudos to Neil and Stardock.  
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
We will be revisiting font control in future versions of WB.

Glad to hear it
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

  

Can't wait for SkinStudio, I've got an itchy skinning finger   

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oh the ~w00tness!!   
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 

Can't wait for SkinStudio, I've got an itchy skinning finger  

*warns small animals away from Fuzzy's house*

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can't wait to see what these 5.5 skins are going to look like on my Dell Monitor.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
gh33da!!
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So how's Object Desktop doing w/ Vista? Is it running great? Should I wait till they fix all the quirks? I really wanted to get it but maybe I should wait till they release the final version of WB?
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well if you go ahead and get the ObjectDesktop subscription, the WB 5.5 beta is available to subscribers (I've been using it for a while now, though I don't have Vista). Even it it takes a bit more time you'll still get all the updates for free.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You know, I keep hearing this thing about WindowBlinds 5.5 and how its skins use up less power, except for one thing - to the best of my understanding the Vista Aero GUI has animated glare effects (i.e. those glares you see on the vista windows actually shift around as you move the windows) across the entire glass surface, correct me if I'm wrong. Plus, and this I know for certain, anything obstructed by the glass portion of a window becomes blurred. As far as I know, neither of these things exist in any current windowblinds skins - the closest I know is that some skins have animated portions of the GUI, such as title bars, start menu etc.

I imagine those two effects take up considerable resources and I think to fairly judge the performance gains that you get from using WindowBlinds you would need to use a skin that uses these, or similar, effects.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
those glares are probably the reflection mask and WB does that.I think the blur is coming later.  
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey - nice skin on that screenshot
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WB's for Vista work really great! Can't wait for The Skin Studio...
Good work Stardock!!

SGT  
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Cant wait for the first vista-specific skins!
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
anything obstructed by the glass portion of a window becomes blurred.


Yes, the gaussian blur of things behind the glass is an awesome feature. (Thus, I'd say it's more akin to polycarbonate than glass.)

Would be wonderful if we could achieve that easily through SkinStudio.


Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If your an Object Desktop Subscriber - check for updates in the Stardock Central Browser

If your a registered user of Windowblinds then go here and enter the email address you ordered under originally.

If you are not an Object Desktop Subscriber or a registered WB user, you will have to wait until the trial version is released.