Skinning in Windows 7

napilopez · 30 Jan 2009

I'm interested in seeing what will come in terms of skinning in Windows 7. While I quite like the default look, I'm sure many will want to customize. Check this out:

WindowBlinds 7 sneak screenshot - An Article by Frogboy

The most interesting part is that this skin ran without any modifications to the skin at all. I haven't tried skins on windows 7 because everything is so prettyful, but its interesting to note. I wonder If aero peek would still work correctly with skins(leaving the glass effect and stuff).

What would you guys like to see for Windows 7 Skins?

smarteyeball · 30 Jan 2009

I haven't gotten bored with the default skin yet, apart from the caption buttons.

Realistically, I'd prefer more MS allowed / pre-installed customising instead of having to patch files or use apps like WindowBlinds.

napilopez · 30 Jan 2009

smarteyeball said:

Realistically, I'd prefer more MS allowed / pre-installed customising instead of having to patch files or use apps like WindowBlinds.

True, although WindowBlinds runs extremely smoothly, I believe it uses Microsofts own skinning system? But yea, it costs money, which is boo. I can't see myself switching past the default skin unless I see something amazing though.

garbanzo · 30 Jan 2009

i'm looking forward to skins too. i think Aero is too chunky, i'm used to much slimmer caption bars and such. i don't mind patching the uxtheme.dll file to run custom visual styles, i did it all the time in XP and never ran into problems. i even made a few themes of my own :)

here's another shot of someone playign with skinning Windows 7:

damoh · 30 Jan 2009

you would think after all these years with uxtheme being patched constantly that MS would give up and let us use custom themes. We pay for the OS after all and because we want a new theme then we have to cough up for software that supposidly does it. Stardock have a deal with MS. Thats well known. But i would like a windows that i can choose what theme i have without getting error messges. Come on MS give us what we want lol.

garbanzo · 30 Jan 2009

i think the reason they don't allow themes is simply to keep windows easily recognizable. 95% of the screenshots you see online use the default themes. you see one, and you can instantly recognize that it's windows.

but with patched uxtheme, windows can look like ubuntu, kde, leopard, or something else entirely.

by keeping the average user from changing this look, microsoft ensures brand recognition.

of course, i think most people wouldn't use custom themes, even if they knew they could. my wife's XP laptop has the defulat Luna theme on it. it drive me crazy when i have to use it, but she doesn't want a custom theme for some reason. my XP install is tweaked beyond recognition, and she hates it!

smarteyeball · 30 Jan 2009

Yep, I've been using patched uxtheme.dll in XP and Vista for a while too and never encountered any real problems (apart from from the occasional incompatible shell32.dll's that use to break the OS in a big way

). I used to take certain elements from quite a few different themes I liked to create 'tailored themes'.
But since windowblinds does cost $$$ and finding/creating custom themes sometimes can end up being time consuming (not to mention finding icons), it would be nice to just have a bit more 'out of the box' customizing options available for a change.

Different colours and boring wallpapers is a pretty poor substitute, especially since MS want the 'wow' factor returned to Windows.

garbanzo said:

by keeping the average user from changing this look, microsoft ensures brand recognition.

Too true unfortunately

win7 · 30 Jan 2009

UxTheme.dll (well its a few files actually that need patching now) patch is already out for win7, if its allowed i will post it here??

I have only found one theme that actually makes use of it though, and it also changes explorer.exe and other dll files to change the start orb and more.

Bellerophon · 30 Jan 2009

Hi Win7,

Very Interesting...got any more details, software, how to etc? I want to take a look at skinning. Know about WindowsBlinds software, have had a quick look at that but if you know of any freeware that can be used or what files to change etc. would be most welcome and appreciated

THX.

garbanzo · 30 Jan 2009

let's see - transparent address bar and search box, new buttons, new gloss effect on windows, new start orb, blue progress bar... these are pretty minor tweaks. nothing too exciting yet.

but a few months after RTM, we'll get some good looking skins. i've seen some transparent Vista skins that look absolutely fantastic. i hope those talented artists get to work on 7 skins in the future!