WindowBlinds 7: A guided Tour

Monday, November 16, 2009 by Frogboy | Discussion: Personal Computing

Windowblinds[1]

VERSION 7

Info & Requirements

 

Introduction

WindowBlinds is a program that empowers users to customize the look and feel of Microsoft Windows. By applying skins, users can change nearly every element of the Windows interface including:

  • title bars
  • borders
  • taskbar
  • Start menu
  • push buttons
  • and virtually every other part of the Windows UI

 

The WindowBlinds Experience

Windows XP user example:

index.7[1] to index.17[1]

Windows Vista/7 example:

image   to clip_image002

There are literally thousands of different skins to choose from

What’s new in WindowBlinds 7 over WindowBlinds 6

There are hundreds of changes and new features in WindowBlinds 7 over previous versions. Below is a summary of some of the more significant changes.

  1. Native support for Windows 7
  2. Native Aero skinning for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users
  3. Native 64-bit support for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users
  4. Auto-conversion of Windows XP era skins to Windows Vista or Windows 7
  5. Ability to apply textures to skins
  6. A new, easy to use configuration program
  7. Native Clear-Type support for better font handling
  8. New Skin format called UIS0 for skinning Aero (takes hours instead of days to create a new skin).
  9. New WindowBlinds 7 skins included such as Submline, Aero Metals, Corporate, Aero Woods, Aero Clay, Sabertooth along with new WindowBlinds 7 skins being released soon after to the public such as Altitude.
  10. Option to have a random skin applied each logon
  11. Much better customization of fonts
  12. Massive performance improvements in applying of skins.
  13. Optimization of Windows Vista and Windows 7 DWM drawing to improve battery life on laptops.
  14. Aero skinning (UIS0) is 100% compatible (it’s Aero) with all Windows programs.

Screenshots of new features:

clip_image002[4] clip_image002[10]

clip_image002[6] clip_image002[12]

clip_image002[8] image

 

Features of WindowBlinds

There are so many individual features of WindowBlinds that it would take many pages to explain them all. Instead, we will focus on the primary features of the program.

  1. Changes the look and feel of the entire Windows graphical user interface by applying a WindowBlinds skins.
  2. There are thousands of free WindowBlinds skins to choose from.
  3. Improves performance of the Windows GUI due to optimizations it makes to Windows drawing routines
  4. Uses very little memory
  5. Easy and safe to use. Does not modify any system files. Can be turned off with a single click at any time.
  6. Gives Windows XP users the ability to have per-pixel alpha blending, gives Windows Vista/7 users the ability to skin the native  glass (Aero) look and feel.
  7. Users can assign mouse actions to roll-up windows, minimize to tray and many other options.
  8. Supports animated title bars, start menus, and much more.
  9. Can skin even “non-theme aware” programs meaning even older programs that look like old Windows will get skinned natively.
  10. Microsoft certified. Used by millions of users worldwide and by major PC manufactures such as Dell and HP.

Screenshots in action

 

clip_image002[18]
WindowBlinds can skin virtually every part of the Windows GUI.

 

clip_image002[16]
Windows 7 gets a retro-look with this Windows XP skin

 

image_4[1] 
Like the native Windows Vista/Windows 7 look and would just like to spice it up? WindowBlinds 7 can skin Aero itself.

image_18[1]
Skinners can customize as much or as little as they want and share their creations with the world

First Previous Page 1 of 2 Next Last
Rubenernesto
Reply #1 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 11:53 AM
The best program of all its kind, thank you very much "Stardock" WWW Link
RPGFX
Reply #2 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:19 PM
I saw the Diamond skin in there for Windows 7... Is that going to be included with the final release of WB 7? I miss it!
RPGFX
Reply #3 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:20 PM
Oh, also... are the tabs of IE8 going to be skinnable in the final release? Ok, enough questions.
CCdeQueen
Reply #4 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:01 PM
Windowblinds 7 rocks!
ablev1
Reply #5 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:50 PM

I love the new feature "fade texture" but how can i change the font color ?

RedneckDude
Reply #6 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:58 PM
Hours to make a skin? An uploadable skin? Really?   
ablev1
Reply #7 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 3:16 PM

I don´t understand what you mean, RedneckDude.

Latinofox
Reply #8 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 5:42 PM
The best WB-Version ever
jscogg
Reply #9 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 7:48 PM
I've been waiting a long time for this--a beautiful, new, feature-full WindowBlinds release to perfectly accentuate an amazing new OS! Incredible work, Stardock!!!
RedneckDude
Reply #10 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 8:50 PM

I don´t understand what you mean, RedneckDude.

Ok, wrong thread. The other WB 7 thread says you can now make a skin in hours, rather than days.

CarGuy1
Reply #11 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:01 PM

Ok, wrong thread. The other WB 7 thread says you can now make a skin in hours, rather than days.

No...it's in this thread. #8 in the what's new section up above.

RedneckDude
Reply #12 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 11:07 PM

CarGuy1

Ok, wrong thread. The other WB 7 thread says you can now make a skin in hours, rather than days.


No...it's in this thread. #8 in the what's new section up above.

Thanks CG!! You Da Man!! 

PLZdeleteTHISaccountTHANKS
Reply #13 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 1:41 AM

I just bought this a few minutes ago, and I have a slight issue.  I previously had MyColors, but it's uninstalled. However, the mycolors WoW skin is showing up in windowlbinds and it's distorted.  How do I remove the skin?

 

The-Reaper-Man
Reply #14 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 1:44 AM
An embarrassment of riches--and I mean that in the "good" way! One doesn't know where to begin!
Neil Banfield
Reply #15 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 5:09 AM

DarthSidiousTheDarkLord
I just bought this a few minutes ago, and I have a slight issue.  I previously had MyColors, but it's uninstalled. However, the mycolors WoW skin is showing up in windowlbinds and it's distorted.  How do I remove the skin?

Select the skin and then click the skin options menu on the top bar and select Delete.

ablev1
Reply #16 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 6:19 AM

Can nobody help me with the font color?

Tunghur
Reply #17 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:31 AM
Hi! I have problems with the program on Windows Xp SP2. I can not change the skin, and do not know why! ( Help!!
ZubaZ
Reply #18 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:42 AM

have problems with the program on Windows Xp SP2. I can not change the skin, and do not know why!
What skin are you trying to change to?  Can you change to sublime or corporate?

Tunghur
Reply #19 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:57 AM
With whatever skin is the same... I have the free version. Once you choose the skin nothing happens, pressed continue and nothing happens.
ZubaZ
Reply #20 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 12:20 PM

In the WB confic, go to the "About WindowBlinds" click the [Copy to Clipboard] button adn post it here.

Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

  • Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
  • Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
  • Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
  • It's simple, and FREE!



web-wc01