This is a terrific discussion.

A few thoughts and responses in no particular order.

Windows customization

Screen time today is dominated by mobile devices.  Thus, people aren't having to stare at ugly computers nearly as much as they used to.  At the same time, Windows has gotten incredibly locked down and the perceived value of software, in general, has been greatly reduced.

Another challenge we face is finding programming talent.  OS customization requires low level understanding of how the operating system works.  

When we look at WindowBlinds 11 (or whatever it will be called) the issues we deal with now are things like high DPI, backwards compatibility, third party apps using their own skinning, ease of skinning and ease of maintaining it.   And some of those goals conflict.

What part of a WindowBlinds skin matters the most to you?

1. Skinning the frame of the window?
2. Taskbar skinning?
3. Client area skinning?
4. Something else

That would help us focus our development effort.

Object Desktop Evolution

Our big project focus is on DeskScapes 10.  We also want to create a successor to ObjectDock that would become part of Object Desktop itself.   Another area is audio.  The audio situation on Windows is terrible.  It's still Windows NT era tech and that's something we think we can improve.

DesktopX was very near to my heart but Windows is just too locked down now to bring it back.  

Apps like Groupy, Fences, Launchers, virtual desktops, Start10, and others that add functionality to Windows are in a better place imo than the others.    

Support Issues

The support situation on Windows has been a challenge.  I think going forward, we will probably have to move to a subscription model because a large % of our support budget, which comes right out of the development budget too, comes from customers who bought a $5 program 2 years ago and need support.  We want to give them great support but we can't afford to give support for $5 one time purchases. 

WinCustomize

Under the covers, WinCustomize keeps getting upgrades.  But bandwidth wise, it's a tough thing as you get into a chicken or egg thing.  With most of the other skinning sites gone, pretty much everyone comes here but few buy subscriptions.  Subscriptions determine the bandwidth we pay for. 

Mainly, what we need to do is take a top to bottom look at at the business model and make some changes so that people who are passionate about this can keep getting cool stuff while it still being a viable business model.

Regarding Windowsblinds, I agree with what Starker's says is important insofar as the top two being the highest priority.  I too realize that once another program launches, they are pretty well in charge of how it looks, at least being able to frame it and have the overall feeling that you have control and like the appearance of the first two things mentioned goes a very long way.  When you're just in the realm of opening up Explorer and are copying a file, it's really nice to have a design and color scheme that reflects what you want and makes you happy.  That sort of environment is what I would hope could be maintained in Windowsblinds.  We wrong if we expect people at Stardock to be miracle workers beyond what is practically doable.   I think if we could have that maintained and have new aspects within Object Desktop or other programs, that would be great.    That is my opinion, and I really appreciate the opportunity to be listened to regardless of the eventual outcome.

Thank you!

I'm not getting into which number is needed or not. For me skin as much as possible for the Window versions 7/10 a most people are using. 

I have watched post after post about 3rd party apps not skinning correctly. Firefox and so many more. Stardock must have spent months and big dollars over the years trying to keep up with it. I don't care about Opera, Chrome, Microsoft Office being skinned or again any 3rd party applications being skinned. This alone should save a lot of time and money only having to skin a couple Microsoft windows version and lower cost greatly. 

I consider myself to be a very active member here. I truly enjoy helping people on the forums especially with people that what to change something in a WB and need SKS help. I also continue to upload WB skins. I agree SKS could use improvements. On the other side it is very hard to learn but can be done. There are other people here that will help. If someone really wants to learn it learning can be achieved. There may be only a few of us left but WB's at a good pace are still being uploaded and free ones included. Those of us still making them all have a passion with skinning.

Last. To let WindowBlind go, NO not the answer. I understand the investment takes money. So before it comes time to pull the plug on it just spend resources to keep it working on Microsoft Window. Really you only have to keep it going on Win10. As long as you don't remove any code and only add changes for win10 it will continue to work fine on previous versions. This should greatly reduce any cost of keeping it going. After all I'm an old guy and making this stuff really helps me pass time. So hell, keep it going for the seniors. ( Lightstar isn't any spring chicken either but loves to skin.) There is me, Lightstar, Don, Neone6, adni18, gmc, IceBabee, and sorry if I missed anyone as I only looked at 2019. There are free and paid skins, but the free ones are great quality. 26 skins in just 7 weeks is plenty for the amount of people skinning. It is alive. Thank you.

For me, it's all or nothing.  I don't want a half skinned GUI.  I realize that some of it is unskinnable now, but not much. I see very few parts not skinned.

Any chance getting back something "like" RightClick?  I know I'm not the only one who would love that.

What I'd like to see is to bring back the programs for 98 and XP. I have noticed in the past years that Retro gaming is making it's way back. Old 98 and XP machines are being refurbished, I for one just restored an old Dell XP tower. It would be nice to be able to download the Stardock programs for those OS's. 

If you look at it another way, there are hundreds of WB, IP skins for 95, 98 and XP that are just sitting in their galleries not being used taking up valuable server space. So why not have the option to download the programs for these.

You could sell it as a package: XP package or 98 package and explain that these programs worked on that current OS at that time and no changes or support will be offered.  

The app, Wallpaper Engine, generates more revenue per month than WindowBlinds has in  years.

Then "some", please.   

Some please, or my last subscription to Object Desktop will be my last.

uxthemepatcher .....  

Quoting ALMonty,

reply 120

uxthemepatcher .....  

Yeah, now I really wish TGTSoft and Stylebuilder were still around.  

-Startmenue

-Frames 

-Taskbar

With those parts skinned it makes sense to get a WindowBlinds skin installed on your pc.

These three needs to be skinned for a feeling of having a completely skinned OS.