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Want the Aero Glass back in Windows 8? Try this program


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An enterprising programmer has released a new and free program that lets Windows 8 desktop users recreate the popular aero glass look that was a fixture of Windows Vista and 7.

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When Microsoft announced plans for the desktop UI in Windows 8 in 2012, they mentioned that the aero glass look, which was introduced in Windows Vista and continued in Windows 7, would not return for the new version of the OS. Since then, there's been speculation that modders would try to return the aero glass look to the desktop for Windows 8.

A couple of weeks ago, a programmer who goes by the handle "bigmuscle" on the MSFN message boards announced he had completed the first version of a new and small program called simply Aero Glass for Win8. He has since released two more versions of the software, including one that was launched earlier this week.

The programmer says that the app recreates the aero glass look in the desktop for Windows 8 via the Desktop Window Manager. He states:

I have developed DLL library in C++ which is injected into dwm.exe process (no system files replacement is required). Then, the functions used for window border drawing are hooked with my own implementation. This ensures that anytime DWM wants to draw the window border, the code is redirected into my library where I can change the parameters of vertex buffer, blend state and other stuff. Then I redirect back to the original drawing function. Transparent window border is drawn!

"Bigmuscle" says that this program should be considered a preview version, so needless to say you should download and install it at your own risk. It's also just for the 64-bit version of Windows 8. Having said that, the early reviews from users seem to like the results.

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Nice effort.

But I still don't get why others should do the work for MS and create tools like this or the startmenu replacements?

Why the f... did they had to remove those options from W8?

I just don't get it.

I hope MS will fail with their current attitude and the users (like seen here) win and finally get the integrated solutions back.

Now that Aero glass is also available I may reconsider using one of my 2 free Win8 copies to try to find something good in Win8.

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why would hou want that tacky, overly glossy, theme back, the new win8 theme is much more stylish and elegant and in fact looks a lot like the look I always tried to create on my linux desktops

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The tweak just adds slight transparency and blur to the window edges, no gloss or rounded theme.

86Mqwrd.jpg

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Had been experimenting with translucency long before that bloke came out with his version - realized that on my dark theme, translucency sucks. :(

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Nice effort.

But I still don't get why others should do the work for MS and create tools like this or the startmenu replacements?

Why the f... did they had to remove those options from W8?

I just don't get it.

I hope MS will fail with their current attitude and the users (like seen here) win and finally get the integrated solutions back.

Now that Aero glass is also available I may reconsider using one of my 2 free Win8 copies to try to find something good in Win8.

When did MS become fanservice?

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Nice effort.

But I still don't get why others should do the work for MS and create tools like this or the startmenu replacements?

Why the f... did they had to remove those options from W8?

I just don't get it.

I hope MS will fail with their current attitude and the users (like seen here) win and finally get the integrated solutions back.

Now that Aero glass is also available I may reconsider using one of my 2 free Win8 copies to try to find something good in Win8.

Don't you see the MS plan is make desktop less and less atractive, to make us use the modern UI? desktop will desappear in a close future.

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The desktop is fitting for Desktop PC's. I don't see vertical monitors disappear from the workplace. If anything, the simplistic colors of the 'modern UI' will become boring on big screens. It's hard to imagine they will not improve again on this graphic return to the past.

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The tweak just adds slight transparency and blur to the window edges, no gloss or rounded theme.

86Mqwrd.jpg

Yeah sorry my post was in reply to the guy above me who was complaining about glossyness etc.

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The tweak just adds slight transparency and blur to the window edges, no gloss or rounded theme.

...

Yeah sorry my post was in reply to the guy above me who was complaining about glossyness etc.

Ah, I see. No problem then. :)

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