win8 Hey Look: Aero is NOT Gone in Windows 8 RTM!

[Ambroos]

Has anyone actually tried installing the Windows 7 Aero glass in Windows 8? I'd try it but just removed 8 since I can't get any GPU driver to install.

[Steven P. Administrators]

I liked Glass, but it was poorly implemented. Depending on the desktop background Window titles were barely readable anyway?

[Deihmos]

But everything that was attractive about Aero IS gone, so your point is nothing but semantics.

That is exactly it. I can't get over how bland Windows 8 desktop looks in comparison. I don't see myself switching from Win 7 anytime soon which is a first for me.

[Noir Angel]

Has anyone actually tried installing the Windows 7 Aero glass in Windows 8? I'd try it but just removed 8 since I can't get any GPU driver to install.

Doubt it would work without hacking the theming engine to bypass the integrity check.

[Deihmos]

You clear didn't see the "Why did Microsoft remove aero?" topic then. People are getting confused because Microsoft hasn't been clear about the situation.

The reality is that Aero still exists, it's just been updated. Like a new model of car there will be some people that like the changes, some that don't and most people won't care / notice the difference. And like a new model of car the reason it changes is not because the old version was bad or that the new version is better but rather to differentiate the new version, to keep it fresh in the minds of consumers. Microsoft did exactly the same when moving from Vista to 7. For what it's worth I like the new theme. I don't love it; I don't think it's the biggest improvement in history; I don't think it's going to redefine the world. There are simply subtle changes that I appreciate.

No one is confused and no one is concerned about the Aero engine. The new look of the desktop is what is of concern. According to Microsoft the eye candy was removed so Windows can become touch friendly. The whole thing is ridiculous.

[anidais]

I liked Glass, but it was poorly implemented. Depending on the desktop background Window titles were barely readable anyway?

Yes, that was one of the issues with the aero glass interface. In Windows 8 this has been partially solved, because using a dark window frame results in the window titles being unreadable.

[Ambroos]

Doubt it would work without hacking the theming engine to bypass the integrity check.

That's just it, Aero Glass is signed, it shouldn't require a hack.

[Raa]

Can I has "Classic Aero" theme now? :p

[Excelsis]

The Win8 RP theme works in the RTM but Aero Glass still doesnt work, the borders/titlebar stay opaque.

[Panda X]

The Win8 RP theme works in the RTM but Aero Glass still doesnt work, the borders/titlebar stay opaque.

Yeah that opaque-ness isn't controlled by any property in the msstyles unfortunately :(

[devHead]

Something I did notice: there is a slight transparency to the taskbar in the RTM. But no chrome. Not even the hint of it.

[Quillz]

Yeah, the taskbar transparency is new to the RTM build. It was completely opaque in the previous public betas, unless you ran the old Glass theme.

[0nyX]

Oh god,that monitor icon is still there?I could somehow lets say handle the vista icons on desktop and explorer but this...

Is there a petition we can sign somewhere to get Microsoft's (lazy?) designers to actually design some new icons?

[rorrr]

ok. so, you can enable Aero Glass in the leaked RTM... but it doesn't draw correctly. simply change ColorizationGlassAttribute to 2 in regedit.

the window will distort the moment you move it. screenshots don't capture this. so, I took a photo: http://i45.tinypic.com/28jzn20.jpg

(I added entries ColorizationGlassReflectionIntensity ColorizationOpaqueBlend to the DWM directory in regedit, but they aren't necessary to replicate this result.)

[George P Global Moderator]

Yeah, it's just borked with the changes to the DWM that they've done it seems. That said I'm fine without glass, I think getting some chrome back that was taken away by "glass" will let us have some better theming going forward and also you can do some transparency without having glass which I think is a better option as well.

[Panda X]

ok. so, you can enable Aero Glass in the leaked RTM... but it doesn't draw correctly. simply change ColorizationGlassAttribute to 2 in regedit.

the window will distort the moment you move it. screenshots don't capture this. so, I took a photo: http://i45.tinypic.com/28jzn20.jpg

(I added entries ColorizationGlassReflectionIntensity ColorizationOpaqueBlend to the DWM directory in regedit, but they aren't necessary to replicate this result.)

Ha, the way I was doing it was a pain in the ass, a simple reg edit to do so is much better. It's still awful tough.

[.Neo]

ok. so, you can enable Aero Glass in the leaked RTM... but it doesn't draw correctly. simply change ColorizationGlassAttribute to 2 in regedit.

Without blur it also becomes next to unusable.

[Preppy Veteran]

Unlike in Windows Vista and 7, YOU CANNOT EVEN TURN OFF AERO in Windows 8.

...

Unlike Windows 7 or Vista, you cannot turn off Aero in Windows 8.

...

FWIW on that front, and depending upon what you're trying to do: you can switch to a high contrast theme.

[Nazmus Shakib Khandaker]

FWIW on that front, and depending upon what you're trying to do: you can switch to a high contrast theme.

Sigh...

I will say it once again, even the high contrast themes in Windows 8 is running through Aero (Desktop Windows Manager to be technical). This is a good thing. I am totally happy that DWM is always on. This is just an experiment to see if it can be turned off.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Sigh...

I will say it once again, even the high contrast themes in Windows 8 is running through Aero (Desktop Windows Manager to be technical). This is a good thing. I am totally happy that DWM is always on. This is just an experiment to see if it can be turned off.

That's why he said "depending what you're trying to do" :-)

If what you're trying to do is run without DWM, you cannot do that in Windows 8.

[MtnDewCodeRedFreak]

I have always liked Aero Glass since Vista - seems futuristic.

I was disappointed to see the transparency removed in Win 8.

[BeerFan]

I have always liked Aero Glass since Vista - seems futuristic.

I was disappointed to see the transparency removed in Win 8.

Same here. I love the transparent look - sleek and clean. The tiles / Metro / "modern" look feels to me like reverting back to Fisher Price era, but with less sense.

[devHead]

I see that in fact there is a slight transparency to the taskbar in the RTM build.

[Nazmus Shakib Khandaker]

I love the RTM theme way more than the Aero Glass in Windows 7 and Vista. I think the new theme looks clean and unintrusive. You get to appreciate the cleanness of it and the fact that it doesn't distract you from productivity. As much as Microsoft claim that Aero was designed to be faded away in the background, Aero glass was, in actuality, a "hey look at me and see how cool I look" UI. Windows 8's UI does try to blend in the background and be nodistracting.

[Quillz]

I love the RTM theme way more than the Aero Glass in Windows 7 and Vista. I think the new theme looks clean and unintrusive. You get to appreciate the cleanness of it and the fact that it doesn't distract you from productivity. As much as Microsoft claim that Aero was designed to be faded away in the background, Aero glass was, in actuality, a "hey look at me and see how cool I look" UI. Windows 8's UI does try to blend in the background and be nodistracting.

I agree. I've always felt that flat, minimal UIs were the way to go when it comes to operating systems.