In early builds of Windows Vista, testers were shown a new 3D interface powered by the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) that was filled with animations of all sorts. This interface was very cool looking. However, because of delays, Microsoft had to cut the use of WPF in the UI and most of the “WOW” was removed.
Thankfully, there are some very talented developers out there that have made utilities to bring back the excitement of the cut features. The one I am covering in this article, is the animated user picture shown on the Start Menu.
Using a great utility called 3D User Picture, you can easily make your start menu look just like the video above. Read More»
Posted in Computer, Windows Vista | 1 Comment »
According to Microsoft Areo represents, “new transparent and three-dimensional visualizations require[ing] a graphics card that supports a new graphic driver model called the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). These effects are part of the Windows Vista Aero desktop experience and include glass effects, advanced window management features, and a more stable experience through desktop composition. This rich graphical functionality is built on the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) graphics subsystem, formerly called Avalon.”
The default Aero color scheme is clear glass. It is active by default if you have a supported video card. It allows you to see other items behind your window through a slightly blurred glass effect. You also have lots of options to tint the glass the way you like: Read More»
Posted in Windows Vista, Windows XP | 8 Comments »
DirectX 9.0c is a very useful application for running and displaying applications rich in multimedia elements
Microsoft DirectX is a group of technologies designed to make Windows-based PCs an ideal platform for running and displaying applications rich in multimedia elements such as full- color graphics, 3D animation, video and rich audio.
DirectX 9.0 includes security and performance updates, along with many new features across all technologies, which can be accessed by applications using the DirectX 9.0 APIs. Read More»
Posted in Hardware, Software, Windows Vista, Windows XP | No Comments »
