WindowBlinds 4 release date set to March 25th

https://www.stardock.com/order.asp?product=objectdesktop
from WinCustomize Forums
Stardock has set the release date for WindowBlinds version 4. Tuesday, March 25th. WindowBlinds 4 will initially only be available for Windows XP. Version 4 for Windows 98, ME, and 2000 users is expected out not too long after.

The main new features of WindowBlinds 4 include:
1) Vastly increased performance. WB 4 makes heavy use of new internal Windows XP technologies that allow much faster GUI drawing. One particular new technology is called "Smart Painting" which greatly decreases the number of excess redraws programs perform. The result is that on some skins, WindowBlinds 4 will seem about as fast as "classic" Windows.

2) Full skinning of virtually every part of the Windows XP GUI. WindowBlinds 3 skins most elements of the Windows GUI, version 4, skins essentially all of them. This includes "shell styles" (the task panel on the left of explorer folders).

3) Skinning of new elements of the Windows GUI such as the logon/logoff dialogs, the "please wait dialogs", Control panel backgrounds, and more.

4) Command prompt skinning. If you want Windows XP to really be truly "native", WindowBlinds 4 is the first and only way to skin the Windows command prompt.

5) A new, easier to use, and more functional config dialog. WindowBlinds will continue to allow users to change their settings via the Windows display properties. But power users will now be able to make use of a new, greatly enhanced config dialog.

6) A rewrite of the underlying skinning engine for vastly greater compatibility. Even non-standard programs that add their own buttons to the title bar will work fine.

7) Tons of other tweaks and enhancements.

WindowBlinds 4 beta is currently available on Object Desktop. You can learn more about Object Desktop at www.objectdesktop.com. It is a suite of desktop enhancements that allows users to turbo-charge their Windows systems.
20,869 views 32 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i'm sure this has been asked before, but will registered WB3 users be eligible for a free upgrade?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
will there be any new skins included as part of this new version or as a special pack?
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It depends on when WB 3 was purchased. If it was within the last 60 days, yes. Otherwise there will be a modest upgrade cost.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hummm.... i went to the link and didn't see the Beta version there..... Where is it?
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Will there be a new beta on OD soon ?
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
?(Are there any new features in it for win9x,ect?)
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, can't wait. Only a couple more weeks to go
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i see all this mention of XP. what features have been added for windows 2k users?
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Correct me if i am wrong,but as a windowblinds 3 registered user i thought you were entitled to free upgrades up to a year after you purchase.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think Rdefx is correct, free WB upgrade for a year. When I purchased OD in December, I knew WB4 was on the horizon and was told that I would be entitled to the upgrade for free.

Frogboy, has something changed?
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Object Desktop is free upgrades for a year, WB is free upgrade untill the next version number.
Which works out better, as ,in theory, if you bought WB4, if it took 1 and a 1/2 years to get up to WB5, you'd still get all the upgrades inbetween after a year was up.
If you have an OD subscription though, you can go from V3 to V4 for free, if your subscription is still active.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
but with an OD subscription WB could go from 4 to 6 in a year for free. That would probably never happen, but still
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Object Desktop subscriptions last for a year.

WindowBlinds stand alone is from major version to major version.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
so i see that a fee will be charge to upgare to wb4. I wouldn't pay any more than what i've paid in the past.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Historically upgrading from one version to another has been $10.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ok, is it just me? I installed the WindowBlinds 3.96 with component manager on my machine (which is running WinXP), and it was horrible. Buttons were all corrupt, and it crashed ObjectBar right off the bat. I also noticed that the general prefernce tab in the new interface doesn't have an apply button (for when I tried to enable explorer backgrounds.) I love OD(2 years), and WindowBlinds(3 years), but this looks like it should still be an alpha build to me.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Reiterating and refining Jark's concern regarding Windows 2000 support (and other versions of Windows, I suppose): The wording of the feature descriptions (item #1) seems to imply that "Smart Painting" is a feature exclusive to Windows XP. Is this true? If so, isn't the bulk of the raw performance increase over WindowBlinds 3 exclusive to Windows XP (understanding, of course, that every supported Windows platform will gain other additional features)?

What I'd really like stuck in the WindowBlinds web-site is a comparison chart letting us know what features are supported by which versions of Windows...
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Frugus: Can you post screenshots of the corrupted buttons in the stardock newsgroups so we can look into it.

The crash of ObjectBar may have been unrelated to WB.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Maybe I'll try reinstalling it again, and I'll get some screenshots when I have some extra time. As for the ObjectBar crash, it wasn't a coincidence. I've had ObjectBar running since it was just a baby on this machine, and not had problems, once I uninstalled WindowBlinds I haven't had a problem with it again. The crash happened just after I applied a theme for the first time with the new WB build. after that, it was fine.