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WindowBlinds 7: A guided Tour

By on November 16, 2009 4:32:45 PM from JoeUser Forums JoeUser Forums

Windowblinds[1]

VERSION 7

Info & Requirements

 

Introduction

WindowBlinds is a program that empowers users to customize the look and feel of Microsoft Windows. By applying skins, users can change nearly every element of the Windows interface including:

  • title bars
  • borders
  • taskbar
  • Start menu
  • push buttons
  • and virtually every other part of the Windows UI

 

The WindowBlinds Experience

Windows XP user example:

index.7[1] to index.17[1]

Windows Vista/7 example:

image   to clip_image002

There are literally thousands of different skins to choose from

What’s new in WindowBlinds 7 over WindowBlinds 6

There are hundreds of changes and new features in WindowBlinds 7 over previous versions. Below is a summary of some of the more significant changes.

  1. Native support for Windows 7
  2. Native Aero skinning for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users
  3. Native 64-bit support for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users
  4. Auto-conversion of Windows XP era skins to Windows Vista or Windows 7
  5. Ability to apply textures to skins
  6. A new, easy to use configuration program
  7. Native Clear-Type support for better font handling
  8. New Skin format called UIS0 for skinning Aero (takes hours instead of days to create a new skin).
  9. New WindowBlinds 7 skins included such as Submline, Aero Metals, Corporate, Aero Woods, Aero Clay, Sabertooth along with new WindowBlinds 7 skins being released soon after to the public such as Altitude.
  10. Option to have a random skin applied each logon
  11. Much better customization of fonts
  12. Massive performance improvements in applying of skins.
  13. Optimization of Windows Vista and Windows 7 DWM drawing to improve battery life on laptops.
  14. Aero skinning (UIS0) is 100% compatible (it’s Aero) with all Windows programs.

Screenshots of new features:

clip_image002[4] clip_image002[10]

clip_image002[6] clip_image002[12]

clip_image002[8] image

 

Features of WindowBlinds

There are so many individual features of WindowBlinds that it would take many pages to explain them all. Instead, we will focus on the primary features of the program.

  1. Changes the look and feel of the entire Windows graphical user interface by applying a WindowBlinds skins.
  2. There are thousands of free WindowBlinds skins to choose from.
  3. Improves performance of the Windows GUI due to optimizations it makes to Windows drawing routines
  4. Uses very little memory
  5. Easy and safe to use. Does not modify any system files. Can be turned off with a single click at any time.
  6. Gives Windows XP users the ability to have per-pixel alpha blending, gives Windows Vista/7 users the ability to skin the native  glass (Aero) look and feel.
  7. Users can assign mouse actions to roll-up windows, minimize to tray and many other options.
  8. Supports animated title bars, start menus, and much more.
  9. Can skin even “non-theme aware” programs meaning even older programs that look like old Windows will get skinned natively.
  10. Microsoft certified. Used by millions of users worldwide and by major PC manufactures such as Dell and HP.

Screenshots in action

 

clip_image002[18]
WindowBlinds can skin virtually every part of the Windows GUI.

 

clip_image002[16]
Windows 7 gets a retro-look with this Windows XP skin

 

image_4[1] 
Like the native Windows Vista/Windows 7 look and would just like to spice it up? WindowBlinds 7 can skin Aero itself.

image_18[1]
Skinners can customize as much or as little as they want and share their creations with the world

+912 Karma | 26 Replies
November 17, 2009 11:53:23 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
The best program of all its kind, thank you very much "Stardock" WWW Link
November 17, 2009 12:19:38 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
I saw the Diamond skin in there for Windows 7... Is that going to be included with the final release of WB 7? I miss it!
November 17, 2009 12:20:50 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
Oh, also... are the tabs of IE8 going to be skinnable in the final release? Ok, enough questions.
November 17, 2009 2:01:13 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
Windowblinds 7 rocks!
November 17, 2009 2:50:26 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I love the new feature "fade texture" but how can i change the font color ?

November 17, 2009 2:58:35 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
Hours to make a skin? An uploadable skin? Really?   
November 17, 2009 3:16:06 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I don´t understand what you mean, RedneckDude.

November 17, 2009 5:42:54 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
The best WB-Version ever
November 17, 2009 7:48:36 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
I've been waiting a long time for this--a beautiful, new, feature-full WindowBlinds release to perfectly accentuate an amazing new OS! Incredible work, Stardock!!!
November 17, 2009 8:50:08 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I don´t understand what you mean, RedneckDude.

Ok, wrong thread. The other WB 7 thread says you can now make a skin in hours, rather than days.

November 17, 2009 9:01:53 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Ok, wrong thread. The other WB 7 thread says you can now make a skin in hours, rather than days.

No...it's in this thread. #8 in the what's new section up above.

November 17, 2009 11:07:44 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting CarGuy1,

Ok, wrong thread. The other WB 7 thread says you can now make a skin in hours, rather than days.


No...it's in this thread. #8 in the what's new section up above.

Thanks CG!! You Da Man!! 

November 18, 2009 1:41:30 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

I just bought this a few minutes ago, and I have a slight issue.  I previously had MyColors, but it's uninstalled. However, the mycolors WoW skin is showing up in windowlbinds and it's distorted.  How do I remove the skin?

 

November 18, 2009 1:44:36 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
An embarrassment of riches--and I mean that in the "good" way! One doesn't know where to begin!
November 18, 2009 5:09:07 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting DarthSidiousTheDarkLord,
I just bought this a few minutes ago, and I have a slight issue.  I previously had MyColors, but it's uninstalled. However, the mycolors WoW skin is showing up in windowlbinds and it's distorted.  How do I remove the skin?

Select the skin and then click the skin options menu on the top bar and select Delete.

November 18, 2009 6:19:31 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Can nobody help me with the font color?

November 18, 2009 11:31:18 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
Hi! I have problems with the program on Windows Xp SP2. I can not change the skin, and do not know why! ( Help!!
November 18, 2009 11:42:25 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

have problems with the program on Windows Xp SP2. I can not change the skin, and do not know why!
What skin are you trying to change to?  Can you change to sublime or corporate?

November 18, 2009 11:57:44 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
With whatever skin is the same... I have the free version. Once you choose the skin nothing happens, pressed continue and nothing happens.
November 18, 2009 12:20:53 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

In the WB confic, go to the "About WindowBlinds" click the [Copy to Clipboard] button adn post it here.

November 18, 2009 12:54:14 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
Uninstalled and reinstalled and now it works. Had the version 6 and above installed this version, so not working. Also thanks for the help!
November 19, 2009 2:26:05 AM from Stardock Forums Stardock Forums

that's good to hear.

November 20, 2009 5:08:39 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums
In the WB confic, go to the "About WindowBlinds" click the [Copy to Clipboard] button adn post it here.
Here it is, what public anyway... WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.0 (build 79 x86) - Shareware WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins. (Monitor Plug and Play) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7025 / NVIDIA nForce 630a Wblind.dll 2009/11/13 11:11:ll Wbsrv.dll 2009/11/12 11:35:02 SevenConfig.exe 2009/11/13 12:27:15 Wbload.exe 2009/11/10 13:53:12 Wbhelp.dll 2009/06/04 15:14:07 Wbui.dll 2009/06/04 15:13:24 Tray.dll 2009/10/23 19:12:19 Screen.exe 2009/11/10 13:52:48
November 26, 2009 10:34:42 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Can anyone recommond a skin site besides wincustomize?

 

Also, anyword when stardock will release that demigod skin?

May 9, 2010 3:12:35 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Hello! Have a question for you fine people

I just purchased this also and it's a very nice program I used the free trial up so I had plenty of time to decide if I wanted to spend money on it. Of course after using it I wanted it and got it with my upgrade discount.  

This is my problem however I can't figure out how to set the progress animations. I am using Aero Colors from stardock and it still shows the default icons when I download files. Can you not change the progress animations to any skin you use like you could in windows 6? Or do you have to be using a theme with progress animations included with it?

 I don't think the aero skins come with progress animations because I don't see them. Same for toolbar icons I don't see them in here either. Seems windowblinds is not as customizable as its older versions were. Other then that I find it a very nice program that runs smoothly.

Thanks for your time.

* Alio0p *

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