windowsonwindows

windowsonwindows, 19 hours ago to random

Windows Vista (2006) added a search box to the Start menu. This let users type to search instantly on opening the menu. Previously, users needed to click a Search option within Start to launch the Search UI first. Typing to search in Start still exists as of Windows 11 (2021).

windowsonwindows, 1 day ago to random

Upon its release, Windows XP (2001) received critical acclaim. CNET described it as "worth the hype" & PC Magazine noted improved boot times over its predecessors, Windows 2000 (1999) & ME (2000). But its new visual style - Luna - was criticised by some, calling it “childish”.

windowsonwindows, 2 days ago to random

It’s Eurovision day! And in 2004, the EU ruled Microsoft broke European law by “abusing its monopoly to hurt competing video & audio apps”. They were fined €500m & had to offer a Windows edition sans video & audio apps. The 1st such edition - Windows XP Edition N - came in 2005.

windowsonwindows, 3 days ago to random

Windows Vista moment. 🧭✨🤩

image/png
image/png

windowsonwindows, 3 days ago to random

Windows Codename Blackcomb was the planned successor to Windows XP (2001). When it fell behind schedule, Microsoft began work on a smaller, interim release: Windows Codename Longhorn. It’d acquire many features intended for Blackcomb, before its release as Windows Vista in 2006.

windowsonwindows, 5 days ago to random

On 15th July 2015, Microsoft released Windows 10. Its successor - Windows 11 - arrived almost 6 years later, on 24th June 2021. This has been the longest time span ever between Windows releases, second only to the gap between XP (24th August 2001) & Vista (8th November 2006). ⏳

image/png

windowsonwindows, 6 days ago to random

Windows has shipped with 3 main GUIs (or shells). The first was Windows 1’s (1985) text-based MS-DOS Executive. This was replaced in Windows 3 (1990) by the icon-based Program Manager. Later, Windows 95 (1995) debuted Explorer, which included the famous Start Menu & Taskbar. 💪

windowsonwindows, 7 days ago to random

With the success of Windows 3 (1990), video tutorials for new Windows users became extremely popular. The Windows 3.1 Software Learning Video featured an introduction by Bill Gates himself, proclaiming excitedly that "in this video you are going to see the future - Windows." 📼🪟

windowsonwindows, 8 days ago to random

This was the original design for the Windows 8 (2012) logo. 👀 Director of Program Management for the Windows 8 User Experience, @jensenharris, explained that the now-familiar lines were added as “we didn’t think we could get trademark protection for a simple solid trapezoid”.

windowsonwindows, 9 days ago to random

My TV & Movies is a cancelled app meant for watching & recording TV. It was present in the Media Centre Edition variants of some Windows Vista (2006) - a.k.a. Codename Longhorn - development builds, between build 3706 (29th October 2002) & build 4029 (29th June 2003). 📺🔴

windowsonwindows, 10 days ago to random

Microsoft has accidentally released several Windows development builds over the years, mainly via the Windows Insider Program. A notable e.g. is Windows 10 build 18947, that went to the Fast Ring on 24th July 2019 & featured an early version of Windows 11’s (2021) new Start menu.

windowsonwindows, 11 days ago to random

Windows 95 build 428, from 17th March 1995, includes near-final versions of its famous Safe To Shutdown screens. They use the font Franklin Gothic (the same as the Windows wordmark at the time), rather than (what appears to be) a modified version of Grandison in the final design.

image/png
image/png
image/png

windowsonwindows, 12 days ago to random

Windows Codename Longhorn build 4093, from 19th August 2004, is the last available build of what would become Windows Vista (2006) before its infamous “development reset”. It contains many prototype features that were either vastly reworked for Vista, or scrapped altogether. 👀

windowsonwindows, 13 days ago to random

Windows .Net & Windows 2002 were alternative names considered for Windows Server 2003 (2003) - the server counterpart of Windows XP (2001). This was the first server edition of Windows to receive a different major name compared to its workstation (i.e. non-server) equivalent. 👀

windowsonwindows, 14 days ago to random

Windows XP’s (2001) branding wallpaper (simply called “Windows XP”) shows the Windows wordmark on a coloured background of a 3D rendered Windows logo. Designed by studio REZN8, the colour was edition-dependent & included a variant for XP’s server counterpart, Windows Server 2003.

image/png
image/png

windowsonwindows, 15 days ago to random

Windows Vista dropped the word “Start” from the Start button. But, it may never have been there at all. Derek Hoiem, who worked on usability testing for Start, explained: “One thing that became controversial was whether or not to put the word “Start” next to the Windows logo.” 👀

windowsonwindows, 16 days ago to random

The Windows 95 Usability Testing Builds are the earliest known builds of Windows 95. They are shown in a Microsoft video demonstrating part of the usability testing process for Windows 95, from late 1992/early 1993. They showcase an early taskbar with no clock or Start button.

windowsonwindows, 17 days ago to random

If Windows ever had an identity crisis, it was Windows NT 3.1 build 196. Compiled in September 1991, the CD for this build featured 3 different logos, & the build itself identifies in various places as either NT 1, NT 32-bit Windows, NT-386, NT Windows or Windows NT Version 3. 😵‍💫

windowsonwindows, 18 days ago to random

Windows’s UI has always been customisable. Windows 1-2 (1985-87) let users set manual colour schemes, with Windows 3 (1990) adding a selection of premade schemes. Windows XP (2001) brought support for visual styles, & Vista (2006) debuted its famous “Aero” transparency effects.

image/png
image/png
image/png

windowsonwindows, 19 days ago to random

Windows 3 build 14, from early 1989, is the 1st known prerelease build of Windows to display a watermark in the bottom right corner of the desktop. This now-familiar feature was removed within a year & didn’t reappear (minus debug builds) until build 1351 of Windows 98 in 1996.

windowsonwindows, 20 days ago to random

In the 1980s, Apple licensed parts of its Mac user interface (UI) to Microsoft for use in Windows. After the release of Windows 2 (1987), they felt Windows’ UI was too similar to the Mac’s & filed a lawsuit. But, the court ruled the Mac UI was only protected from exact copies. 👀

windowsonwindows, 21 days ago to random

Windows 95 (1995) introduced a new Windows user interface design, retroactively referred to as Windows Classic. It brought a 3D look & feel, inspired by NeXT's NeXTSTEP operating system (1988-97). Windows Classic served as the default Windows UI design until Windows XP (2001). 🖌️

windowsonwindows, 22 days ago to random

In 1989, Steve Sinofsky joined Microsoft as a software design engineer. 20 years later, he became president of the Windows division. Under his leadership, Microsoft released Windows 7 (2009). It became a massive success, remaining one of the most known & loved versions of Windows. 7️⃣

windowsonwindows, 23 days ago to random

Ascent is a wallpaper included in Windows XP (2001). It depicts the Moon next to Mount Rainier in Washington, USA. It was taken by Mark Karrass, who also took the Blue Hills and Winter sample pictures found in XP. 🌕🗻