Fed up with Windows 11s look? New mod lets you revamp the desktop, including the floating taskbar once seen in a Windows 12 leak

Date:
Fri, 18 Oct 2024 16:11:11 +0000

Description:
Want to have Windows 11 your way? A freshly released mod promises a fully customizable desktop and it looks pretty nifty.

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Not everyone is a fan of Windows 11s interface especially the lack of ability to customize in some respects but if you really want to go to town with personalizing and revamping the desktop of Microsofts OS, a new mod offers this chance.

Neowin spotted the release of the Seelen UI utility which promises a fully customizable desktop environment for both Windows 11 and Windows 10, and indeed the options provided to tinker with are quite sweeping.

Seelens bigger interface modifying features include a Tiling Windows Manager, which the developer explains means windows automatically arrange themselves
to support multitasking to help streamline your workflows. (Image credit: Eythan David)

Then theres a much neater system tray, and a floating taskbar as seen in a Next Valley Prototype Design leak , which may have been a brief glimpse of next-gen Windows which can also be repositioned vertically (an ability some Windows 11 users have been begging for since the launch of the OS).

A media player is bolted on, too, and an app launcher (based on Rofi ) is another part of the Windows desktop makeover provided here.

Note that Microsoft Edge is required for Seelen UI to work, so if youve
junked the browser ( it can be done ), youll need to reinstall and also if youre on Windows 10, the installer will put the WebView runtime on your PC. (Its preinstalled with Windows 11, so this isnt necessary for the newer OS). (Image credit: Eythan David) Analysis: Serene Seelen with caveats

The overall look that Seleen graces Windows 11 with is rather Mac-like,
modern and nicely streamlined and calming (for us). We approve in general, although were not sure about the Windows Manager and how this might be
better than Snap Layouts (unless were missing something here, and we havent tried the app to find out, we should note).

For those who are keen on really changing the look of Windows 11 without too much fuss, it seems like an interesting piece of software but we should underline that there are caveats here.

Do remember that any third-party software for Windows needs to be treated
with caution you install the tool at your own risk, naturally. Not that were suggesting theres anything nefarious going on behind the scenes, but it pays to be careful what you download. If youre going to grab the app, as the developer recommends, get it from the Microsoft Store .

At any rate, if youre taking the plunge, it may be worth waiting a while for further development of Seleen as the mod isnt yet finished. Yes, this is a release version, but some features are a work in progress there will apparently be a Start menu replacement eventually (rather than just a simple app launcher).

For the time being, then, this might be a project to watch, and also monitor the wider feedback from users who do install Seleen. And if you are at all tempted, as Neowin observes, trying out software is something you can do more safely in a virtual machine . You might also like... Cant upgrade your PC to Windows 11? Buy a new one, is Microsofts laughable solution Why Microsoft should give up on Windows 11 and throw everything at Windows 12 Dont make these 5 big mistakes when using Windows 11



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/fed-up-with-windows-11s-look-new-m od-lets-you-revamp-the-desktop-including-the-floating-taskbar-once-seen-in-a-w indows-12-leak


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