Aero GlassBar for Windows XP

[VIPE]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/ActualPyro/Ahem.jpg <--- Simple trans with custom start button (Check line carefully and you'll know it's full transparent taskbar). Nothing special for me.

what theme is shown in this screenshot?

[javagreen]

what theme is shown in this screenshot?

It's Blackbox, an alternate shell for windows

[VIPE]

thanks..got link 2 it?

[Dean W]

wow, that cools well cool for longhorn, im gunna do that, thx for this topic....

[Blackice]

ok, well as i've got a comsiderable increase in workload (I'm studying for the IB diploma), I'm gonna give you all a link to a Photoshop file which you can use to make your own ones as a temporary fix until I make a nice GUI app to do it all for you ;)

what you need to do is edit the layer called "layer1" (original, huh?), replacing it with a strip from your the bottom (or top, depending on where your taskbar is located) wallpaper (at its current resoltion), and if needbe resize the alpha map and customise opacity whatever. I've got nothing to hide - anybody could do the same in a little while.

Once you have your picture, save it as a Bitmap and use something like Resource Hacker or StyleBuilder to apply it.

Link to PSD: http://www.freewebtown.com/razielim/GlassBarPSD.rar

BTW, Get your current wallpaper (in its resolution) from:

%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Wallpaper1.bmp

so, for me this would equate to (I'm using german xp):

C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Admin\Lokale Einstellungen\Anwendungsdaten\Microsoft\Wallpaper2.bmp

Edited August 31, 2004 by Blackice

[Blackice]

oh, and I also made the bar look more authentic now (start button light pixels removed, and i fixed that the longhorn bar at the top doesn't have such a big line, check the first post for an updated screenshot.

get it here:

http://www.freewebtown.com/razielim/GlassBar.rar

also, choosing WinHEC will cause an error. This is becuase it was a one-off concept and all future concepts will only use Aero Grass, because its so much easier to read. In LH, MS has the advantage of a new shell with allows gradients on the top and bottom of the tabs. Unfortunatley, if I included a gradient ,the TransparentColor property would not work. In the final version, you will be able to choose the font colour, so you can make it black and readable.

[macmax]

LOL ok well evn i have a score of 1354/1600 in GRE so leave aside the english thing ....

I couldn't type the long one's because i was in the college @ttending the lecture ...

Well i said that this is much better than the PREVIOUS release ... good work ....

I just wanted to say that if the text on the taskbar was Black in colour then it would be better for reading purpose right now its white font so its a little distracting and the FONT also isnt clear i think that's the VS problem ....

anyways do we need any extra font's for clear viewing ?

thanks .... well i cant type like this all the time i just waste ma time :)

Edited August 31, 2004 by mohan_168

[Blackice]

please speak in proper english. The occasional abbreviasion is fine, but please refrain from using words like "tat","comin","peob".

Also, I would advise you to recheck your grammar, since "clear n not much readable" isn't Egnlish.

Someone who's very particular in their language, after achieving an A* grade in the corresponding exam ;)

[PKHelloNasty]

please speak in proper english. The occasional abbreviasion is fine, but please refrain from using words like "tat","comin","peob".

Also, I would advise you to recheck your grammar, since "clear n not much readable" isn't Egnlish.

Someone who's very particular in their language, after achieving an A* grade in the corresponding exam ;)

you will find on forums people dont like to use proper english. :) Something you just have to live with.

[macmax]

allrt fine i hav modified hope tat's much more clear n easy 2 read n understand :)

[darkmark327]

LOL ok well evn i have a score of 1354/1600 in GRE so leave aside the english thing ....

I couldn't type the long one's because i was in the college @ttending the lecture

anyways do we need any extra font's for clear viewing ?

It's not as though I didn't point this out a few posts ago. Here's a tip: when you're going to pick on someone else's grammar and/or spelling, or flaunt your own, it's a very good idea to ensure your own work is immaculate. It's not as though this is an obscure apostrophe use issue; it's basic "how to make plurals." Sheesh.

Edited August 31, 2004 by darkmark327

[42n81]

Blackice, thanks for your Aero Glassbar - I love it!

Also thanks to those people who care about clear communication. Some people seem to think that it's somehow cool to be three-fourths illiterate - it isn't, its merely lame. Moderators should issue "disabled" stickers to people who are challenged by the simple child-level task of learning the language.

[Night.Hawk]

It's not as though I didn't point this out a few posts ago.  Here's a tip: when you're going to pick on someone else's grammar and/or spelling, or flaunt your own, it's a very good idea to ensure your own work is immaculate.  It's not as though this is an obscure apostrophe use issue; it's basic "how to make plurals."  Sheesh.

English irritates the heck out of me. My mother's an English teacher and I guess it just got passed down through the bloodline. :p

[noroom]

good luck with your exams, blackice...

just don't forget about us... we're waiting for the final version :D

[vcv]

Adriana, you too "busy" with "real life things" or something?

Ah well. Blackice, if you don't get a chance to do this how you wanted, I may end up doing it. Good luck.

[macmax]

how abt doing it for windows classic as well ..... universal huh

[macmax]

saw @ ur BLOG that ur busy and ur thinking about handing over this 2 someone who can continue with it .... why dont you post it so that some interested person might continue your good work :)

[Long]

Here is my developed-in-3-hours application that emulates Aero Glass under Windows XP.

I know I'm a bit late and I'm aware of the facts. I just find it shocking to see this part being ignored.

He says "developed-in-3-hours"

As far as I know, it does not take 3 hours to put a bitmap in a theme.

application that emulates

1. It is not an application

2. It does not emulate, its a pure visual trick.

I know I'm being quite harsh here, but don't you think misleading the public is not right?

[ptiliffe]

I know I'm a bit late and I'm aware of the facts. I just find it shocking to see this part being ignored.

He says "developed-in-3-hours"

As far as I know, it does not take 3 hours to put a bitmap in a theme.

application that emulates

1. It is not an application

2. It does not emulate, its a pure visual trick.

I know I'm being quite harsh here, but don't you think misleading the public is not right?

Hes just stating that it took him 3 hours to make it work. just because it may be done really quicky etc by people who knew what they were doing doesnt mean others can. **** off and back off.

[macmax]

man believe me " HE MADE IT IN 3 HRS "

[Angryman]

HEY IS THIS FORUM ALL ABOUT FLAMING ????

Here is a guy, who works for a community, by doing something useful. Some things start as a small idea and grow later on to something great. ALL FLAMERS IN HERE don`t seem to understand that!

They HELP NOTHING / DO NOTHING / AND DON?T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY ANYTHING...

I am here for the first time and i must say... Oh my god CHILDS GO PLAY OUTWARDS PLEASE ! ! !

Bye bye !!!

[noroom]

how is this coming along, blackice?

[TheQuark]

Please account for multiple rowed taskbars. Thanks. :)

AWESOME WORK DUDE. This program you are making RULES. :D (Y)

Edited September 13, 2004 by [Bacon]

[TheQuark]

I did not say it would work for every one, but like I did say I really don't enjoy other people telling me I'm wrong when I'm not. SO my point was that I could accomplish exactly what he was trying to do with TClock2, and have no limitations. The both of you are using 2003 SP1, I'm using 2002 SP1, and I'm not using WindowBlinds, or a VS for that matter. And this guy just might be able to accomplish the clear taskbar for every one. But he would need to do a lot more work, right now all he's got is a VS with the bottom of a wallpaper in? the taskbar.

So I don't know where this is going to end up,ALL> I was trying to say is that I could do the exact same thing with TClock2. Nothing more, nothing less, that is ALL I was trying to say. So I was not ridiculing some one else's efforts at all. All I was doing is pointing out that I could do that with TClock2.

Because frankly I don't give a crap whether it works for any of you, if it doesn't work oh well. From the way you all act you don't even deserve this guy's "efforts" ok. And I did not actually uninstall it, if you were a BB user you would know you gotta type Blackbox.exe -uninstall to revert back to Explorer. Then you log off and back on and Explorer has loaded as the default shell once again. But I don't use Explorer so I don't need to do that very often, so I wouldn't need a shell switcher.

Thank you for your contribution to neowin.net!

I have spent the last 45 minutes scrutinizing the last 7 pages of this thread, and have come to the conclusion that 10% of posts were useful, and entertaining. The rest were either flames or spam. Seriously, do I have to request Invision Power Board to patch a KILL button to the bottoms of every single post? The block feature has it's uses, but once every blue moon, there will be a good post by your common forum troll, that you won't want to miss.

Posts separated for future KILL button goodness.:))

Edited September 13, 2004 by [Bacon]

[raduking]

very nice idea :) i just love visual tricks :)

it's like the one putting a shadow under the taskbar by modding the wallpaper (i'm using that one :D)

this mod is all about having the idea ! and I like that !