[Steve Bosell]

wouldn't it be cool if background windows were transparent instead of just the top?

[iNeusch]

Think of all the RAM, and speed it would use!

What is that with transparent things everywhere???
It's cool, but do you really think it's useful?

[ 12-18-2001: Message edited by: iNeusch ]

[Adam Betts]

Originally posted by Steve Bosell:
<STRONG>wouldn't it be cool if background windows were transparent instead of just the top?</STRONG>

WindowShade 1.5 - Get it here

[iNeusch]

ok... it looks good

I'll try that one

[Steve Bosell]

I mean the background windows are automatically made transparent. For example, the active window is solid and the other windows from that application are transparent, and maybe other windows from a different open application in the background are even more transparent.

[dr. zoidberg]

somehow a nice idea... this could look really cool, OR absolutely terrible. however, somebody should try it out. 3rd party developers anyone?

[Adam Betts]

Originally posted by Steve Bosell:
<STRONG>I mean the background windows are automatically made transparent. For example, the active window is solid and the other windows from that application are transparent, and maybe other windows from a different open application in the background are even more transparent.</STRONG>

I'm sure Apple will never allow this but maybe you could by editing some files. Check http://www.MacOSXHints.com and see if they have any hints on that.

This feature would be nice but can be very confusing when you have multiple windows on. Maybe around 80-95% transparency would be great.

[Apfhex]

I don't think this would be a very good feature. I like to actually be able to see what's in my open windows in the background (I ususally have a text document or an IM window open...transparency would make it harder to read). Transparency is nice and all, but there is such a thing as "too much."

[Oink]

About as cool as 512p by 512p icons, drop shadowed text, flare trousers, plastic cutleries...

[sadie]

Originally posted by Oink:
<STRONG>About as cool as 512p by 512p icons, drop shadowed text, flare trousers, plastic cutleries...</STRONG>

Now that's harsh...

It would be even cooler if the transparency was dynamic - ie, instead of just flicking dynamic, they slowly faded over a few minutes until they reached 80%. So recent windows look stronger than older ones.

[DamnDJ]

Neat idea, but I think transparency should be kept minimal. I just made all my background windows transparent (Since I use WindowShade) and it's impossible to make anything out. Even having them fade out over time will still cause text-soup.

[Jelle Monkmater]

Originally posted by DamnDJ:
<STRONG>Even having them fade out over time will still cause text-soup.</STRONG>

Shouldn't that be alphabet soup?

I just downloaded WindowShade and, boy, does it come in handy! Thanks for the link, and thanks to whoever made this little app.

But yeah, the idea is cool, though with 80% transparency probably unworkable in daily usage. However, to have transparent windows in the background isn't all that crazy. After all, the top of window becomes transparent when it's in the background, so why not the contents too? As long as you don't go under 30% transparency, it should look just fine.

Anybody want to haxie the WindowShade haxie?

[sadie]

Originally posted by Jelle Monkmater:
<STRONG>
But yeah, the idea is cool, though with 80% transparency probably unworkable in daily usage. However, to have transparent windows in the background isn't all that crazy. After all, the top of window becomes transparent when it's in the background, so why not the contents too? As long as you don't go under 30% transparency, it should look just fine.</STRONG>

I meant 80% visibility - just 20% transparency. I'm not that nuts.

[starfleetX]

First of all, I think that this would be a horrible idea. I just wanted to clarify this one point:

Originally posted by iNeusch:
<STRONG>Think of all the RAM, and speed it would use!</STRONG>

Transparent windows will use no more RAM than 100% opaque windows. No matter their state, windows are (or should be) always stored in a buffer. A hundred solid windows will use as much memory as a hundred 99% transparent windows. The key difference is CPU usage. As more alpha layers have to be composited, CPU usage will skyrocket!