And here we are again after the v25.9 release.

So, for the next release I obviously want to add the Disk Monitor module we discussed in the previous "what's next..." topic.

Something else that has been bothering me (well, pissing me off if I am to be honest about it) are disparaging comments on how the UI looks "outdated" (one case citing that as the reason to uninstall the software!).

Considering this is skinnable software with literally thousands of themes available online (especially for the dock), citing the UI as an issue is kind of mind boggling to me.

Not only that, with the different UI modes (such as dark and light mode, etc) it's actually not that jarring, at least IMO. For the most part I'm also using the MS Common Controls, which MS updates every Windows version.

What most users don't understand is that the UI used in most UWP and other "modern" apps, etc, normally use completely different frameworks. Win32 apps is even worse, because if they don't want to use comctl32 they have to come up with their own user controls, layouts, etc

In the end, without something as universal as the MS Windows Common Controls for Win32 applications, it's almost every app for itself. Notice how the UI of every application is now completely different from the UI of every other application, sharing only a more-or-less "common look" (one where if you look carefully a checkbox in application A is completely different from a checkbox in application B) usually with an also shared gigantic waste of UI space. There is no longer any consistency between Windows apps.

Personally for me the peak of Windows in terms of look was Aero Glass in Windows 7 - and I know I am not alone in thinking this. Microsoft eventually came up with something it called "Acrylic" to replace Aero Glass, and then it pivoted to "Mica". As usual, they can't stick to anything, it's wherever the wind blows and woe to those who follow MS "lead".

Anyway, what I find amusing is that Apple just came up with "Liquid Glass" for macOS 26 (“Tahoe”) - basically making Glass trendy and modern again.

So, something else I was thinking to help "modernize" the UI after seeing one of the screenshots ChatGPT came up for the v25.9 release announcement (hopefully one of those low hanging fruits in terms of effort to pull off) was to add one more UI mode: Glass.

Look at this:



I actually like that a lot.

Windows 10 and 11 cannot blur irregular shapes as you could in Windows 7, but they can blur the background of whole windows. So with a little bit of sub-classing, I probably could make the UI background see through, just like in the screenshot above. And with the use of some subtle alpha gradients etc, it might be possible to make the whole UI look modern again without actually having to change anything regarding the layout of the controls and the UI.

Something else I want to finally tackle is the Winstep Gallery. Again, the main reason it is not publicly available is because of how (bad) it looks in terms of layout. But with the help of ChatGPT and CoPilot I might actually be able to change that myself, despite not being a web designer.

The way it currently looks is this:

Functional but the header and the links are pretty bad.

I asked the AI for a couple of ideas and it came up with something like this (don't focus on the look/colors or no the details, but more on the general layout)

and


Finally, something else I would like to work on is a full User Guide, since the AI can also help with the formatting and text clarity (keep in mind I am not a native English speaker).

Eventually after that even finish the Winstep Theme Builder, who knows?

So, in essence tie up the loose ends.

I also need to find a way to monetize the free version of Nexus. On the Winstep web site alone, the free version of Nexus has many tens of thousands of downloads per month. With that many monthly downloads I am sitting on a goldmine of wasted user engagement.

The problem is that to make Nexus ( at the time a relatively late newcomer) able to compete with the popular free docks (RocketDock, ObjectDock, etc, all gone now) I had to give it so many features that now the free version is "good enough" for most people.

So although I feel proud that so many thousands of users (Nexus has had millions and millions of downloads over the years) are enjoying the free version of Nexus, as a business this came back to bite me in the proverbial bottom. Especially now that I have a ravenous two-year-old toddler at home who, if given a chance, would devour this world and the next. It's not cheap to feed the little bugger and I have to be careful not to feed him after midnight.

I know for a fact that there are users running the free version of Nexus for YEARS! Either they don't actually need the extras in the paid version or cannot afford the paid versions.

Things I would NEVER do to monetize the free version - that I personally hate with a passion - is add adware (nice and quick way to destroy your company's reputation) or cripple existing features.

So what is left without annoying the users are voluntary "donations" - the "buy me a coffee" that is currently trending. Grateful users of the free version might not need the features of the paid versions or even be able to afford them, but they might still be willing to send a couple of bucks my way as a token of appreciation.

So, I could perhaps add a kind of "Buy me a coffee" button to the About tab of Nexus Preferences (the actual "Buy me a Coffee" phrase is actually trademarked, so perhaps "Buy me a Beer" instead lol), linking to a simple, quick and easy payment page.

Even if the percentage of users who actually do this is extremely low, it still beats the zero percent that I am currently getting from users of the free version.

You said it - not us!
Even Nexter will be pleased

In terms of the gallery views I like the first one, although an ability to jump to a specific page (if there are a lot of them) would be useful, rather than just forward / back. May not be necessary if the search ability is sufficient, but don't think that it hurts.

I can sympathise with wanting to gain any income from the free version. I haven't run that version for a long time so can't remember if it does any subtle prompting (a bit like the updates available). It may be that you can pop-up the about box each time the application is started (or multiples thereof, or each month, or...) and indicate how long the user has been benefiting from the product, together with a message stating that if they like the application how about buying you a sandwich?

I would still like the double click issue to be addressed please.

As a Nexus Ultimate user for the past four years, I have witnessed the software’s growth and evolution firsthand. With each new version, Nexus Ultimate has continued to impress me with its powerful features and reliable performance.
I recently updated to version 25.9, and I must say, the latest update has exceeded my expectations. The enhancements and improvements are evident from the moment you start using it. The user interface feels even more intuitive, and the new features contribute to greater productivity and ease of use.
It’s clear that the development team listens to user feedback and is committed to providing top-quality experience. I am very impressed with the latest update, and I look forward to seeing how Nexus Ultimate continues to evolve in the future. I highly recommend Nexus Ultimate to anyone seeking a robust and feature-rich software solution.
Can you please do a little video tutorial on the Launch Pad Stack shortcut? Even after 4 years of using this software, I haven’t mastered the ins and outs.

No. It just has a couple of buttons pointing to features only available in the paid versions that when clicked on show the following dialog;

But you just gave me an idea, actually!

I don't want the free version to nag the user (although nagging works, and I know that because of the renewal dialog) it also alienates some users enough for them to uninstall the software, especially if it supposed to be free.

Initially I was thinking about showing them a "buy me a beer/sandwich" once a month perhaps, but after discussing it with a friend even that might be too much. A static "buy me a beer" button on the About tab of Preferences might not do much either, as people normally need gentle "nudges" into action (just basic human psychology).

But a new update is the PERFECT time to show them a "buy me a beer" dialog. Not only are they going to get a pop up notifying them of the new update anyway, as they would actually feel they are getting something for that beer.



Would still prefer a nice refreshing beer, but ah well...



Sure, did not forget about it, but provided I am able to reproduce it here, which I haven't yet.

First of all, thanks for the thumbs up.

Regarding the Launch Pad, what do you need to know? It works pretty much like a Grid Stack except that when clicked on it launches all the shortcuts you placed in it at the same time.

If you have a bunch of applications you usually launch together, that is the intended use, so you don't have to click on those apps one by one.

From the Launch Pad entry in the News section of the Winstep website:

Launch Pads: Instant Workspaces at Your Fingertips

A Launch Pad is a stack of shortcuts—apps, documents, URLs, internal commands—that launch together with a single click. Whether you're coding, designing, writing, or just switching gears, a Launch Pad lets you start an entire workflow instantly.

Launch Pads are similar to Grid Stacks in form and function, but unlike Grid Stacks they only accept shortcuts to applications, documents, URLs and Internal Commands.

To add a Launch Pad right-click any dock, shelf, drawer, or grid stack → Add New Item → Launch Pad.

Launch Pads expand automatically as you drag items into them, making setup fast and intuitive.

To open an existing Launch Pad, right-click and select Open, or hold Alt and left-click.

Clicking the Launch Pad icon starts the whole set at the same time.

By default, items launched from a Launch Pad follow the global setting "Do not launch multiple sessions of the same application". To force a new session click the Launch Pad icon with your middle mouse button instead of the left button.

If any of the items in the Launch Pad requires elevation, it is critical that you check the 'Run as Administrator' setting in that item's Properties dialog. This ensures that any UAC prompt appears full screen, not minimized, and prevents Windows from discarding elevation requests for other apps launched at the same time, guaranteeing that all elevated apps in the Launch Pad are launched properly.

Windows will ignore elevation requests if a UAC prompt is already active - so setting this option is essential for seamless multi-app launches.

Ah but the younger generations are supposed to be more abstinent where alcohol is concerned - coffee on the other hand!!

However you have already mentioned that it is trademarked. How about Mocha or Capucinno, or are derivatives included?

You could just call it 'a hot beverage!'

Out of curiousity - would there be any benefit to selling Workshelf as its own product?

I don't use docks but I do find workshelf to be very useful.

Or would it be too difficult to separate it?

Can you provide the option for grid stacks to auto-hide when you move along the workshelf from them - or does Windows not allow that?

Too much fragmentation.

We already have Nexus free -> Nexus Ultimate -> Winstep Xtreme

The only thing that would perhaps make sense to sell separately would be NextSTART (which is actually the first product developed and sold by Winstep) but I don't think there would be much interest these days.

Besides, Nexus Ultimate is basically WorkShelf without the desktop modules.



You mean when you mouse away from them?

Wouldn't work properly and it would become extremely confusing with grid stacks, sub-docks, etc, popping in and out of view with slight movements of the mouse pointer in and out the activation area etc... it would become very annoying, very fast.

Besides, currently you can open a Grid Stack, click on an item in the parent container (or even multi-select several items) and drag it to the Grid Stack without it closing. With what you purpose that would be impossible.

The "problem" is that you have grid stacks, etc, to open automatically on mouseover with zero delay., so as you mouse along the shelf they open immediately but only close when you click on something else (or open another grid stack). Personally I would add a slight delay.

I think I'm unfortunately going to have to add a confirmation dialog to the "Lock Icons" option in the right click context menu of docks & shelves.

Seems some users accidentally activate it and then become convinced a dock as advanced as Nexus does not support such a critical function as drag & drop.

Sigh.

Yeah, pissing me right off too Jorge! A completely fatuous, facetious remark.

IOW, everything is a complete effing mess really.

Not sure I'd quite agree that to be a good thing necessarily.

OK, fine. I'm ambivalent but, OK.

Good it finally gets some attention, not so good about the particular "AI"s - toxic!

The first three work best for me.


Hey, you're doing terrifically well though Jorge! Nobody would necessarily guess. And I wouldn't even bet that the "AI"s would necessarily do a better job.

Anyway, yes, very long overdue, for all Winstep apps. The thing is, it will of course need regular updates to take account of new features, etc.

[splutters!] LOL! Now you're really taking the p...err, mick, Jorge! You really reckon you'll be bored sufficiently? I'd believe that when I see it, sorry.

All together, that's one heck of a lot of loose ends, Jorge. Granted, I wouldn't expect to see all of them in one update, that would be ridiculous. But, quite an undertaking, all the same, even if one loose end per update.

Alas, that is the problem really that's come back to bite your ... err, purse!

LOL! Well, like a late friend of mine used to be fond of saying, to paraphrase, "Just put little buggers in a solid cage and throw the odd bits of raw meat at them."

Well, ordinary nags to register or rather get the regd. version of anything would annoy the living daylights out of me and have a counter-productive outcome - me going elsewhere. But yes, an occasional "Buy me a beer/sandwich,glass of wine/whatever" surely could do no harm, surely. Or how about, "Buy a healthy meal for my ever-hungry toddler/child/son/boy?" Play on people's emotions a bit can't hurt. And pointing out your own not inconsiderable height and that he looks determined to follow daddy won't hurt either.

Pleased? Me? I? Err, more like apoplectic! I just would not believe it till it's done and dusted. I suspect Jorge was only teasing us back for all the times we've teased him with "The Thing that must not be Named!"

Some interesting ideas there, yeah, esp. reminding the user how much he's benefited from the app since first use. 'So how about, "whatever", blah, blah'?

Unfortunately had to give up on this after a few experiments. Works fine on SDR displays, but on HDR displays anything drawn with GDI (and that includes all the form controls) does not appear on the window/form (although stuff rendered with GDI+ does).

Apparently this is because HDR rendering uses a different color space and bit-depth (often 10-bit YCbCr or RGB), which can break legacy GDI compositing. And Microsoft will not fix it - so there goes my idea for the low hanging fruit.

Aww - so near, and yet so far. Bit like "The Thing that must not be Named?"

Ahah!

But what really pisses me off: imagine if all my monitors were SDR... I would have been none the wiser about the HDR issue and would have happily painted myself into a corner,