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Where can we actually download this? Stardock central won't show me the beta version.

Make sure Stardock Central updates itself to the last version. Also, make sure you have "show pre-release" versions checked.

Isn't Aero's blur all GPU anyway? As in a pixel-shaded effect?

Video Demo is up showing the Molten animation, and a few other features.

Check out the direct video link here: WB6 Beta Preview Video

there are some annoying issues with WindowBlinds.

first, it doesnt add functionality to the Windows skinning engine, it replaces it. it's a little annoying to have it unload the Windows skinning engine - changing things to a "classic" look, and then load the WindowBlinds engine, then load the skin. When you go back to a native Windows theme, it has to unload the WindowBlinds engine - changing things back to a "classic" look, then load the Windows skinning engine and then the theme you selected.

second, those talented enough to make a WindowBlinds skin seem to enjoy making the most ugly, horrid interfaces known to man.

there are VERY few WindowBlinds skins that are totally usable and pleasant to look at. a lot of the people who make a Vista-looking skin for XP put crap in like fake Start Menus that have fake Search boxes. they don't function, but the skin designer thinks its cool to have the XP Start Menu look identical to Vista. why do they do this?

Here is Xenomorph back with his WB crapping up thinking that the themes make the program.

that's because the WB engine is faster, more streamlined than the default windows one. modifying windows would only cause issues

as for the skins.....maybe you just suck at finding skins? authors make winxp look like vista because, *SHOCK*, they like the look of vista but don't want to deal with driver and compatibility issues it still has.

i've found many skins that are fully functional and i love the way they look. if you don't' like any of the skins, heres a thought: make one yourself. that's what Skin Studio is for

wow, i really like the way you can make .msstyles transparent. i wasn't actually interested at all in that video until i saw a transparent luna element i might actually consider buying the final version of WB6 then.

Bleh, uninstalled WB5, installed WB6, and now WB6 doesn't work at all. Windows, themes, icons, etc nothing is skinned, its all like XP Classic now. Nothing seems to work to get it working. Bleh.

In your opinion maybe. There are a wide variety of skins for WB that can fit all kinds of styles whether you like bulky, industrial type skins, or maybe just minimal skins with minimal transparency. I would be happy to list links to all my favorite "usable" skins, but I really don't think it would help much.




What "functionality" do you want?




Make sure you have the latest version of Stardock Central installed, then uninstall and reinstall again. If you still have issues please report it to the WB6 feedback thread.

http://forums.wincustomize.com/?forumid=16...=159218&p=5

Decided to put something I noticed in the WB6 on XP images I'd seen since the first one to the test. To see if I was imagining it or if it really wasn't blurring it's own window borders (no biggie that it doesn't, I imagine it's a performance boost to not do so).




Pleasant surprise in the test, VMR9 (specifically the renderless option in MPC) video actually gets blurred too. It's definitely not updating every frame if there's a lot of motion in the video such as a camera pan but I was amazed to see it doing this at all.


Kudos Stardock.

I am glad someone finally said it. Props to you my friend.

I'm guessing Xenomorph has never used WB6 and has had very little experience, if any,with WB5.

As for the lack of quality WB skins, I can direct you to numerous quality blinds. There's actually a few quality "msstyles" skins that have been ported to WB format.

Admit it, WB gives a skinner and end-user more options without having to change system files. I used "msstyle" skins when XP first came out, I admit. I'll even admit I purchased StyleXP when it still in beta. I know for a fact that WB is far superior to "msstyles". Now, if you guys who think you have to constantly trash WB in order to make yourself feel "adult" would kindly go to your msstyles threads, we who use WB would appreciate it. Have a great day, folks!

I agree with you COMPLETELY. I don't think WB is a bad program at all, I used to use wb5 myself. The only theme I could find that I liked was the Vista one, the other ones were all very disgusting. Hopefully that will change with 6 coming out. I really like that you can take msstyles and make them transparent. That looked awesome.

This post has been edited by Master Shake: Aug 8 2007, 05:42

Wow, this looks very nice. I might just buy this down the track if they include some decent Vista themes (there aren't many of those around atm).