60 Transform Your Desktop with WindowBlinds
on top of each other to group them, then
use the tabs to switch. Upgrade to the
Pro version (a measly $9) and you can
automatically group windows from the
same application together, plus group
more than three windows at once.54
Get the Aero Glass Look
If you’re a tech-savvy Windows 8.1
user, head to http://www.glass8.eu to download
Aero Glass for Windows 8 if you’d like to
restore the translucent Aero effects from
Windows 7. Aero Glass technically works
with Windows 10, too, although we haven’tA
DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL
Download the trial version of
WindowBlinds from http://www.stardock.
com/products/windowblinds—after
the program has installed, choose the
30-day trial, and enter your email
address. Once activated, pick a
style from the “Style” section of the
program to preview it.B
MODIFY SKIN
Click “Modify Style” to make
changes—work through the “Colors,”
“Transparency,” “Textures,” and
“Fonts” sections to customize it exactly
the way you want it to look. Aching to
recreate the old Windows 7 glass-like
style? Select “Diamond” and choose
“One click blur” under “Transparency.”C
APPLY NEW SKIN
Once you’ve finished making your
changes in WindowBlinds, click “Stop
modifying” followed by “Apply style to
desktop.” After a short pause, you’ll see
the Windows desktop update. Continue
making tweaks—increase transparency
using the sliders, for example—and
apply them in real time.had much luck in getting any of the effects
to work.55
Try a New Shell
The most radical change you
can make to Windows is to replace the
default shell with another one. One of
the simplest to deploy is Cairo (https://
cairodesktop.com)—during installation,
leave the default settings, so it installs
alongside File Explorer, not in place of it.56
Set Up Apps
After installation, Cairo opensthe App Grabber to enable you to choose
which app shortcuts to add to the
Programs menu at the top of the screen.
Drag those you want into the left-hand
pane, then click “Continue” to place them
in subfolders such as “System Tools” or
“Office.” Click “Finish.”57
Use the Menu Bar
Cairo’s menu bar offers shortcuts
to Programs, Places (user folders, This
PC, Program Files, and the Recycle bin),
Documents, and Downloads. There are
various system tools and shortcuts on
the right—click “<” to reveal your Taskbar
notification area icons. Click the Cairo
menu button in the top-left corner for a
slimmed-down Start menu (plus access
to Cairo’s settings, or choose “Exit Cairo”
to return to the regular desktop).58
Navigate Folders
with Cairo
You’ll see a list of files and folders on
the desktop that correspond to those
that are on your desktop. A floating bar
enables you to change the folder shown
using the navigation buttons to move
up and down the folder tree, go back to
the “home” desktop folder, or jump to a
different folder.59
Cairo’s Dock
Last, but not least, is Cairo’s
dock—its replacement for the Taskbar.
It exclusively displays shortcut icons and
open windows—click to open, right-click
for more options, or “=” to open Task
View for a preview of open windows.The Cairo desktop offers a completely different way of navigating and working with your PC.maximumpc.com SEP 2019 MAXIMUMPC 41