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WindowBlinds 5 now available!

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WindowBlinds 5 now available!

Start personalizing Windows!

http://www.windowblinds.net
from WinCustomize Forums

Stardock has released WindowBlinds 5 to the public today.  WindowBlinds allows users to completely alter the look and feel of the Windows interface by applying visual styles (skins) to title bars, buttons, the Start bar, borders and more. Consumers customize nearly everything else in their environments: their cars, homes, clothing and cell phones are based on their personal preferences and needs. With WindowBlinds 5, users can now make their Windows desktops look and feel the way they want.

WindowBlinds 5 introduces a broad range of new features, including per-pixel alpha blending, resulting in smooth or glassy title bars and borders that realistically distort the content behind them; as well as the ability to change toolbar icons, progress animations and the hue and saturation of the Windows interface.

With over over 8 million users worldwide, WindowBlinds 5 is the most popular desktop-enhancement utility of all time according to CNET’s Download.com where it recently passed the 9 million download mark. It is also used by companies such as Microsoft, ATI, nVidia, Alienware, Nintendo and many others to provide custom Windows user interfaces for their customers.

WindowBlinds 5 is $19.95 as a stand-alone program or for $49.95 by purchasing Stardock’s award-winning Windows enhancement suite, Object Desktop. A shareware version of WindowBlinds is available for free download.

64,710 views 161 replies
Reply #76 from WinCustomize Forums Top
c242: transparency is not left out of the shareware version. We include Aura, 5imple Alpha, Cyclops & DogMax4 which all support transparency in WB5 shareware, we just don't support it on downloaded skins.


Okay. Now I can give that explanation to people complaining about that.
Reply #77 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, I downloaded the final release version on Monday with my OD subscription, and it really seems to be as buggy as the beta version. Or maybe all of the skin authors are just not very good at making skins.

I want to like Window Blinds, I really do. Afterall, I spent $50 for a one year subscription to OD primarily because I wanted Windowblinds. Unfortunately, the skins all have bugs of one type or another, and I've switched both my Laptop and my Desktop back to using Shell styles from that other skinning site.

The problems I see are inconsistancies with some applications, bad font displays, buttons not rendering correctly, etc. etc.

Is there a 100% stable, everything looks and works correctly skin out there that someone can reccomend for me to try? Before I decide I wasted my money?
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #78 from WinCustomize Forums Top
to post #73

I just went and tried on my nearly 2 yr old machine which has Radeon 9800 pro 256mb
the glass crap didn't work is it just the shareware version or what it suck. my other machine which is only a cheapy but only 6 months old didn't like windows blinds 5 on it it slowed it down i had uninstalled it but has left traces of a vista theme on it only the menue when you right click the desktop. And that blue highlight thing that on everything, will i have to system restore to get rid of it?
Reply #80 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just went and tried on my nearly 2 yr old machine which has Radeon 9800 pro 256mb
the glass crap didn't work is it just the shareware version or what it suck. my other machine which is only a cheapy but only 6 months old didn't like windows blinds 5 on it it slowed it down i had uninstalled it but has left traces of a vista theme on it only the menue when you right click the desktop. And that blue highlight thing that on everything, will i have to system restore to get rid of it?

I'm running on a R9800Pro too... except 128MB here. I'm currently running Catalyst 5.9 drivers and everything looks fine on my end. My system isn't, by all means, old, but the video card is showing its age (oh Battlefield 2, how heavy you are). If any, check your drivers first and foremost.

I just installed some hours ago. Things are looking smooth so far. Stardock is gonna have a hard time trying to top this release in the next major version bump. I honestly don't see how in the world they'll be able to do it. But hey, they may... so may they surprise me and prove me wrong.
Reply #81 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So ok, how do i find driver updates for the 9800pro 256mb? and how di i know if it's the right one for it? i was at the radeon site and i couldn't find it.

To a previous pose, i system restored to just before i installed WB5 and has taken away that light blue highlight thing.
Reply #83 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Has Stardock finished sending out the e-mails yet? I'm a bit worried, as it's been 24 hours now since the release and still nothing for me. I bought WB 4.6 on 18th Nov., so I qualify for the free upgrade, don't I? I feel lonely and left out My Windows feel left out and ugly
Reply #84 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Izzee: a 9800 does support per pixel.  You can see if your drivers are ok by going to the system information page in wbconfig.

Try the aura skin and you should see per pixel alpha running just fine on your PC (without nagging you about it as its an included skin)

Reply #85 from WinCustomize Forums Top

jsawiuk: I would guess the server is still processing upgrades.  Unsure why it is taking quite that long.

I will get the status of the e-mail sending checked & post here to let you know.

Reply #86 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Neil, can you explain a little what you meant by the shareware version only supporting the 4 skins you mentioned? thanks
Reply #87 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The shareware version of WB5 will only enable per pixel on the 4 per pixel skins included.  Any other per pixel skin will act just like it does on machines which do not support per pixel borders.

So if you downloaded the arrow skin, it will work, but without per pixel borders.

Reply #89 from WinCustomize Forums Top
For ATi video cards, latest drivers can be found at...
Link

For nVIDIA video cards, latest drivers can be found at...
Link

There's also Neil's approach... which would save you some download/reboot/upgrade time.
Reply #90 from WinCustomize Forums Top

jsawiuk: I would guess the server is still processing upgrades. Unsure why it is taking quite that long.

There was a couple glitches in the job during last night.  The last of it was completed this morning.    Everyone should have their upgrade information now. Sorry for the delay.

If for some reason you do not have your upgrade information, please first go to the Stardock's Support page at https://www.stardock.com/support.asp and enter your email address and have your registration information sent to you.  If your WB5 Upgrade is not included in your registration then please contact [email protected] for further assistance.

Reply #91 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, I got it now, looks and works great. Sorry for getting all jumpy and frustrated, but just couldn't wait to get it. Thanks for great job.
Reply #92 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Is there a 100% stable, everything looks and works correctly skin out there that someone can reccomend for me to try? Before I decide I wasted my money?


sure. but there's no point. it won't meet your standards. maybe you could create and upload an example for others to follow? you know, kinda set the bar?
Reply #93 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use the Arrow skin by Mike which seems to be carefully created. Not an issue here, all glass thing works great on a GF5700go/laptop.

On the other hand, VistaXP seems a bit heavy and needs some polishes cause I had in the past some gliches.
Reply #94 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Congratulations Stardock !!!
Reply #96 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You think all the per pixel transparency is done using cpu only?
Reply #97 from WinCustomize Forums Top
to post #83: yes the e-mails i think i've had like 30 from wincustomize, very annoying.

to post #84: tried all the skins that came with WB5, no glass, which is why i tried a downloaded vista glass.

to post #89: i didn't download a latest driver because i wasn't experiencing anyhing it said.

Just looks lke i can't have glass unles i pay $20. You would at least be able to have 2 or 3 downloaded glass skins as well. All the themes included with WB5 are crap. I do love WB - version 4 was good but this 5 i can't get it to work properly. (I Know i sound bit of a winger)
Reply #98 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just looks lke i can't have glass unles i pay $20


I would not buy the full version HOPING that you get the glass effect. If you don't get the glass effect with the skins that the Stardock employee says has the effect with the shareware . . . you proably won't with the full version. Look at new drivers first.

And I think the new skins are excellent. Thank goodness we are all allowed our own opinions {even if some of us [you] show a lack of manners in expressing that opinion}.


Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #99 from WinCustomize Forums Top
to post #98

Yes we all have own opinions. Also i'm not trying to bag off WB5 (Sorry if offend anybody previously) i'm sure it's good, just having a PC that'll use it to it's fullest. I suppose it's not WB mob who made it as they would have tested it on later computers and expect most people to have later ones say 2 yrs max.
Reply #100 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Most of the heavy lifting (as I understand it) is done by the video card in this build of WB. And you indicate that you have a Radeon 9800 which should be fine according to Stardock. [I have a Radeon 9200se with no problems seeing glass effects.]

Have you updated your drivers yet? There should be no harm even if it doesn't help.

And if you are not trying to offend skinners, you might want to find better adjectives than "sucks".

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central