gHacks technology news » windows aero http://www.ghacks.net A technology blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:31:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Windows XP Aero http://www.ghacks.net/2008/12/25/windows-xp-aero/ http://www.ghacks.net/2008/12/25/windows-xp-aero/#comments Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:19:15 +0000 Martin http://www.ghacks.net/?p=9344 One of the most talked design changes – or additions – in Windows Vista is Windows Aero. Microsoft calls it a more dynamic user-interface system compared to the basic interface system known from Windows XP. Windows Aero is actually a set of interface enhancements in Windows Vista. One of these is called Windows Aero Glass. Glass adds translucency to all windows of the operating system.

This Windows Aero Glass feature is now available in Windows XP thanks to Fast Aero. Fast Aero, a portable software, is a work in progress with the ultimate goal to provide the Aero Glass feature for all Windows XP users. The current version of Fast Aero provides the Glass effect on most – if not all – windows that are open in Windows XP. Please keep in mind that only new windows will display the Windows Aero Glass effect. Some can be minimized and maximized again while others need to be closed and reopened.

The default language of the software is Polish but it can easily be changed in the config.ini to English so that the language line looks like this: language=english. The only options provided by the interface are to enable or disable the blur effect. Version 1.3 which is supposed to come out in December will offer additional features like finetuning the blur intensity and refresh interval.

windows xp aero

The Windows XP Aero Glass effect looks pretty solid in this version. Users who like to add some special bling to their operating system will surely love Fast Aero. Other users might feel that its resource usage does not justify the visual gain. It comes down to personal choice and preference in the end.

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]]> http://www.ghacks.net/2008/12/25/windows-xp-aero/feed/ 26 3D Desktop for Windows XP http://www.ghacks.net/2007/03/05/3d-desktop-for-windows-xp/ http://www.ghacks.net/2007/03/05/3d-desktop-for-windows-xp/#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2007 14:00:48 +0000 Martin http://www.ghacks.net/2007/03/05/3d-desktop-for-windows-xp/ Most versions of Windows Vista ship with Windows Aero which offers a function called Windows Flip 3D which makes it possible to organize and use Windows in a 3D environment. The main advantage of this method is that it is possible to display more content on the same amount of desktop space which makes it much easier to keep an overview over all windows that are currently open and not minimized.

The program that offers a similar function for older Windows versions is called Madotate. It adds another icon to every window next to the icons on the top right corner. If the new icon is pressed the window will be changed from 2d into 3d. Every window has a short tab that displays the title of the window. Left-clicking a 3D window changes it again from 3d into 2D mode, you can move it around by keeping the left mouse button pressed. Right-clicking the window makes it possible to change the point of view for that window which means that you can give it more space or less space on your desktop.

3d desktop

The most important aspect of the application is that it uses only a few megabytes of system memory will the feature in Windows Vista requires a lot.

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