WindowBlinds 5 Beta 1 Released

Notes

from Stardock Forums

WindowBlinds 5 beta 1 (4.90) has been released on Object Desktop (it's only available if you have Object Desktop presently).

UPDATE: 4.9A now up -- support for older nVidia cards added!

Release Notes:
------------

This build is the first beta for the upcoming WindowBlinds 5. There are going to be some rough edges as it gets out in wider distribution, so please be as detailed as possible with any feedback.

Requirements:
Windows XP.  Does not support Windows 2000 or Windows XP 64-bit (64-bit version will come later though).

The Big One - Per-pixel borders on XP

-Per-pixel (alpha-blended) titlebars and borders. It's been an internal struggle over the last year or more as to whether we would be able to implement these on Windows XP with reasonable performance. We have, _if_ you have a relatively modern video card and good drivers for it.

What does that mean? Your video card needs to have hardware support for alphablending and a driver with SHADEBLENDCAPS support implemented and functional. ATI Radeon's 9000+ or later should be fine, NVIDIA GeForce 6000+ or later should be fine, and even chips that you wouldn't expect like the integrated Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME run fine with it.

Some boards are not going to work with this release, though we hope to be able to work with the driver vendors to find a workaround. GeForce 4600/5200 and related seem to be a common trigger for that (like they are losing the alpha channel for the images). The top/bottom borders with per-pixel skins seem oversaturated, but the left/right borders are working (and you can click "through" the top border).

Yes, you can put shadows on your borders and make them part of the skin. See the Arrow sample that is included. The shadows are part of the skin.

Other new features:

By Per-Pixel, we mean elements that have full alpha blending support (anti-alias themselves to whatever graphical elements are around it).

  • -No wbload.exe process. The binary is still there for installing skins.
  • -Per-pixel menus
  • -Per-pixel taskbar
  • -Per-pixel progress bar overlay
  • -Per-pixel "Please wait" dialog
  • -New wbconfig previews
  • -New skincast features (not in this build)
  • -Lots of optimizations under the hood.

When reporting problems, please check the Troubleshooting section of WBConfig. Select the text with the left-mouse button and press Ctrl-C to copy the text. Please include that when reporting any visual-bugs along with a screenshot (cropped if appropriate for size).

There is an updated SkinStudio beta available to Object Desktop customers with support for creating per-pixel skins. You must still include the non-pp images for systems that don't support the new frames, so the skins should still work with WB 4.x.

Note: To change skins you have to load WBConfig now.  There's no system tray icon yet.  You can change skins from display properties (msstyles now show up side by side with WindowBlinds skins btw) or you can put a short-cut to WindowBlinds config somewhere handy like on the Quick Launch or use Keyboard LaunchPad to assign a hot-key to bring it up.

Enjoy!

Support: https://forums.stardock.com/?forumid=167

53,580 views 76 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So far so good here. I'm using the Aura skin (since you said you would make it your hypothetical OS skin), with an ATI Radeon 9550 on XP SP2.

It actually seems a little faster, though that could be my imagination.

I lost all my Per App settings, though on the couple of those programs I've tried so far, Aura seems to work fine in them. So hopefully that won't be as necessary anyway.

I like the way the glass border is considered separate from the window, so when docking, it extends off the screen/below the taskbar. That looks cool.

I like the distended Start menu.

I like the new config display, especially the way it shows the taskbar.

I'm having a minor display problem in Maxthon, where a white line is left where the bottom of the window was, when scrolling down. I'll post more details later, if someone doesn't beat me too it.

Nice job.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like the way the glass border is considered separate from the window, so when docking, it extends off the screen/below the taskbar. That looks cool.


I now see that doesn't work for the top of the screen. I hope that can be fixed. (BTW, I'm using Shove-it to push windows back onto the edges of the screen; that's what I mean by docking.)

One more Maxthon problem. I have it set up to show the side menu when hovering over the icon bar. With WB5 installed, the CPU jumps up to 100% and it never shows; I have to click on it before it will extend out.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
So far - so good!

This is considerably faster than previous versions. Way-2-go!!

Q: I noticed that Skinstudio is not an option from the WB menu. Is that a permanent change? ... did I overlook it?

Oh baby, I can't wait to see what the skinners are going come up next
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've installed the latest WB5 (4.90a) build and most everything is working fine, except:

1. On shutdown and startup I'm getting a message about logonUIx.exe, apparently trying to write through a null pointer (0000:0000). This is the first I've seen this and it just started since the install. Happened with the earlier WB5 version too.

2. I tried setting a User Over-ride for right-click on the titlebar to do rollup/rolldown, and there was no change - using 5imple Alpha skin.


WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:


WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.

Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE

'WebDialogs Mirror Driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is a mirror driver.

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV3', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Man I'm posting a screenshot at my site in the photo's section of the alpha 5imple - no problems at all - looks like it should and everything is running just as fast as it did with 4.6 and all. Very nice trans effects - even better taskbar - buttons are brighter in color and look smoother. Man I'm in love ... ya hoooo....ooooooo~!

I just need anion alpha now - gona give hippy's new 1 a try also - this is great~!

Thanks Brad if there are others with bugs - well I hope it works out for them soon - they are really missing a good thing here for sure - extra nice -

Oh ya - is there a skin studio for this new version soon to be released also - WoW - Ihope so soon -

Thanks again and keep up the great work love it [ oh ya everything including all my networks and all are working completely with not 1 problem at all... excellent

SGT
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
well done brad !

this is an excellant release...i'm using the 5imple alpha skin..it's fast and it's beautiful....

there will always be probelms with a beta release, which is why it's a beta...vocally people with problems will always make themselves heard loudest (quite rightly), but i have had no problems with my computer beyond those already mentioned...

2. I tried setting a User Over-ride for right-click on the titlebar to do rollup/rolldown, and there was no change - using 5imple Alpha skin.


this is apparently becuase Right click overrides are not operational for per pixel skins yet, as answered by Neil Banfield is the "WB 5 beta issues >" thread

for me this release is faster than 4.6 and visually is fabulous
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My old version of windowblinds continues to show as being installed after updating to WB5. Do I need to uninstall it? Also while updating to V5, I was told archive of last version faild. Why is that?
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So does the new Stealth OS alpha too ! it is the best Mike has done with these new features - NO Problems at all - looks great - see my photo's section

Right on Brad - excellent ~!
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When playing a video in Zoom Player, and with an Aura titlebar over part of the screen, the video flashes off and on through the titlebar. IOW, the entire part of the titlebar covering the video becomes transparent intermittently.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Ugh. I just encountered an error

It appears that my WB 4.9a cannot find msstyles skins (I have a bunch)
I can open them in Skinstudio but when I go to apply them it reads,"you must start WB to use this theme ..." Ironically, I already have WB running

The good news is that my msstyles skins are still in their folder, I just can't load 'em up.

Any ideas?

PS: My WB is installed ok and I can use Alpha blend etc...
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
while updating to V5, I was told archive of last version faild.

Same here. Installed great, changed to 5imple Alpha fine, Changed to Aura fine, tried to change to Stealth OS and it locked up. I looked in the process list and ther was a WB3to...something, had to use the Taskmanager restart as my OD+ docks dissapeared. Everything came up fine on reboot including Stealh OS. Running fine again.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I had the same issue with the Stealth OS skin. It froze up my whole machine and I had to do a hard shutdown, but everything was great when I signed back on. Weird! But that's what Beta is for. It will give Stardock an idea of little kinks in the program...
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
First of all let me say I am quite impressed with what I've seen. The only think i've noticed up to this point is somme overlapping of windows using the 5imple alpha skin, like below:


This occurs on some windows when I select one window that is behind another, but so far it's only happend on the mspaint window and this object dock dialog window.

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:


WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.

Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(Default Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200

'NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 ' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Im very happy with the new build no problems so far here
skins looks awesome and i notice a slight increase in performance but it
could be that im too exited and its on my imagination lol
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So far, so good! The Arrow theme is looking awesome! There is one thing I noticed, however.

I really can't supply a screenshot, showing the cursor as it is hidden using print screen... (and I'm too lazy to grab some snapper program), but if I put my cursor approximately 8 pixels over a window border, in order to resize it, it finally appears as the Up-Down arrow. If I have my cursor ON the border, to resize it, it still shows the normal cursor, not allowing me to resize it, unless moved up a bit. This may just be a skin issue, but it's worth a note...
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
FWIW, I don't have that resizing problem here, using Aura.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Other than the LogonUI crashing at startup and no user overrides not working, everything seems to be in order
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
Updated to this version but still not working

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:


WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.

Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(SyncMaster 703(M)s/ 753(M)s/750(M)s/753(M)v, SyncMaster Magic CM173A(M)) 1 is attached to ASUS RADEON 9600SE

'ASUS RADEON 9600SE - Secondary' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.

'UltraMon Display Mirror Driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV3', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

PLEASE report all this information when submitting a problem report, especially anything related to per-pixel skinning. We don't know what's in that Dell you bought last July or the notebook the office gave you. Per-pixel skinning requires your drivers to at least claim to support the functions needed for it.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
About the lock up at "skin apply", I had once. I killed explorer.exe and relaunched it and everything was fine.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
*sigh*...I've tried alot of things to get WB5 working but nothing seems to do anything. It installs fine, then when I find a skin and press "Apply this skin." n-o-t-h-i-n-g happens...at all. Anyone have ideas?

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:


WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.

Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(LG StudioWorks 78i) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

PLEASE report all this information when submitting a problem report, especially anything related to per-pixel skinning. We don't know what's in that Dell you bought last July or the notebook the office gave you. Per-pixel skinning requires your drivers to at least claim to support the functions needed for it.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Here everything installed fine, works great. So far the only thing that I have noticed is that on the user overrides in the advanced settings it will not let the skin perform the roll up/roll down feature for the skins. Also as mentioned previously windowblinds 4.90a(b).002 shows as still being installed along with windowblinds 5 4.90a(b).002 is this just a glitch, this show in the stardock central browser as to programs that are installed. But overall this is really cool, I will have some fun. Thanks stardock

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:


WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.

Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(Dell M991) 1 is attached to SAPPHIRE RADEON 9600 ATLANTIS

'SAPPHIRE RADEON 9600 ATLANTIS - Secondary' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.