Here are the finalists for the top visual style for
WindowBlinds spots. This is a
very challenging event to judge. After all, what exactly makes a visual style
"the best"? Is it the features that they use? The usability of it? The subtle
touches? How innovative it is? And then, which features should matter?
For example, Pixel8 made the best use of the dialog background skinning
feature. Take a close look at its screenshot and see how much that adds. On the
other hand, what about a good use of sound? And by good do we mean useful or
clever?
What it boils down to is this: Why are you changing the look and feel of the
Windows GUI in the first place? Some people just want something that is slightly
more attractive. Other people want something that is really "cool" looking. Each
person uses visuals styles for different reasons. One person might look at a
skin and say "Yuck! Way too busy!" whereas another person may look at it and say
"Oh man, that's cool! That's what I want my computer to look like!" That's why
judging "best" overall is so tough.
So go through these and you'll see how different they all are from one
another. Some are more practical than others to use. Some have animation, others
have sounds, some provide wallpapers (WindowBlinds visual styles can incorporate
wallpapers as part of the visual style itself), others don't.
You can find all these visual styles in the WindowBlinds section over at
www.guiolympics.com.
NeOS by Danillo0c
+ Sounds
+ Progress Animation
+ Toolbar icons
+ Some use of animation
Pixel 8 by Essorent
+ Progress Animations
+ Dialog backgrounds
+ Toolbar icons
+ Unusually clever title bar icons
Blanco by The Morphium
+ Progress animations
+ Toolbar icons
Cardinal by Pixel Pirate
+ Toolbar icons
+ Progress Animations
Legacy by Xino
+ Progress Animation
+ Toolbar icons
+ Animated version
+ Good use of sounds
+ Unusually good Start menu
+ Wallpaper
Dojo by Essorant
+ Progress Animation
+ Toolbar icons
Thunderstorm by Treetog
+ Progress animations
+ Toolbar icons
+ Sound support
G-Pod by Gabriel
+ Progress animations
+ Toolbar icons
+ Animation
+ Clever use of sound
- Minimize to system tray button is where the resize grip normally is
VectorCell by b0se
+ Unusually good title bar design
+ Best included Wallpaper
- No progress animation or toolbar icons
Curulean Jewels by BoXXi
+ Very unique title bar
+ Animations
+ Distinct look
- Not practical
- No progress animations/toolbar icons
Quasar by MikeB
+ Progress Animations
+ Toolbar icons
+ Animations
+ Sound support
Sektor by Danillo0c
+ Unusually good Start menu
+ Progress animations
+ Toolbar icons
+ Animation
+ Outstanding use of sound
Kewk by Erik Holmer
+ Progress Animations
+ Toolbar icons
Mini-OS by Treetog
+ Progress Animations
+ Toolbar icons
FlyOS by Treetog
+ Progress Animations
+ Toolbar icons
Antares by Treetog
+ Progress Animations
+ Toolbar icons
+ Sound support
+ Massive Animation
+ Separate unanimated style
FM by Gabriel
+ Progress animations
+ Toolbar icons
