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WindowBlinds 5 is Out!

11.29.05 | Comments

I’ve been a big fan of Stardock’s WindowBlinds software for a few years now. I’m the sort of person who quickly gets annoyed with looking at the same UI over and over, which is why skinning apps are a big thing for me. They inject new life into old programs. WB in particular is simply the best way to skin your Windows user interface.

Yes, there are free options out there, including complete explorer shell replacements, but WB offers simplicity and stability that you can’t get from any other option. Believe me, I’ve spent way too much time during my undergrad career trying to make Windows look just right. I settled on WB about two years ago, and never looked back. With great skin repositories like WinCustomize, I always have new ways to change the look and feel of my UI. Not only does WB offer incredibly simple customization, it also speeds up the way Windows runs. Its methods for painting the interface are significantly more optimized than Microsoft’s standard APIs, and it even uses your video card when necessary.

WindowBlinds 5, the latest version that comes out today, improves upon these features and also does an excellent job of emulating the “Aero” effects that we’ll be seeing come Win Vista. WB 5 is also the first version to be exclusive to XP, so you know that whatever legacy support that has been holding it back is now gone for good.

If you’ve ever thought about changing the way Windows looks, there’s really no other option that’s as simple and efficient. It costs $20 to buy, but you can get a basic version from Download.com.

As a side note, I really wish something similar existed for Macs. While OSX’s UI is all great and minimalist-like, it does get boring after a while.

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