For the launch of Windows 8 (2012), Microsoft & RGA designed the “Times Square Takeover”: for 3 days, on 39 screens, the famous New York intersection showcased the new OS. Visitors could test devices on the ground, with their content beamed to some of the massive 39 displays. 🤩
Windows Me build 2332.2 is the 1st known build of the original, MS-DOS-based line of Windows to block access to real mode DOS. Owing to this, Windows no longer exits to DOS to display the shutdown screen, with it instead handled by the 32-bit virtual machine manager (VMM32.VXD).
In December 1997, Microsoft released the Windows NT 4 (1996) Option Pack. Aimed as a stop-gap release while businesses & power users waited for Windows 2000 (1999), it included Windows NT 4 Service Pack 3, Internet Explorer 4.01 & introduced the Microsoft Management Console. 👀
Bloom is the default wallpaper of Windows 11 (2021). Made by Spanish design studio Six N. Five, it shows a piece of blue fabric folded with a semblance of flower petals. 🌹 It is the first Windows wallpaper to come with separate light & dark mode variants. 🌝🌚
Windows 2000 (1999) updated the default Windows Classic theme: the original grey colour changed to beige, title bars became a lighter shade of blue & the font Tahoma replaced MS Sans Serif. This is how the default Classic theme would remain until its removal in Windows 8 (2012).
During Windows 8’s (2012) development, Microsoft utilised a security feature in builds, known as Redpill. Its job was to hide features in the builds in case they leaked. Microsoft also deliberately obfuscated features in other ways, such as naming the Windows Store “MS Help”. 👀
Windows 3.1 (1992) includes an Easter egg showcasing the developers involved. As part of its execution, the following graphics can be discovered. The head displayed varies randomly between Bill Gates, Brad Silverberg, Steve Ballmer & a bear (the Windows 3.1 team’s mascot). 🐻❄️
Working on lightening up a Microsoft dev presentation, @kclemson (@kclemson), inspired by artist Jason Heuser, came up with Ninja Cat. Soon, presentation-goers were asking for merch. Ninja Cat would later be adopted as the unofficial mascot of Windows 10 (2015). A feline legend was born. 😼
Windows has traditionally included hidden media called Easter eggs. Many referenced the team working on a particular version. In 2002, Microsoft ended the practice via its Trustworthy Computing Initiative. In 2022, a 35-year-old Windows 1 Easter egg was found by @mswin_bat. 🤯
VoteNow was an app found in various development builds of Windows Vista (2006). First seen in build 4033, from 17th July 2003, it was designed to allow testers to quickly & easily submit feedback on builds. Each build’s feedback was logged on its own page on Microsoft’s intranet.
Olive Green is one of three colour schemes for Windows XP’s (2001) visual style, Luna. Based around various shades of green (hence its name 🫒), it was introduced in build 2474 from May 2001, in which it was referred to by the earlier name of Homestead.
Bubbles is a screensaver introduced in Windows Vista (2006). It shows bubbles of various colours that move around the screen in front of the user’s desktop. It is one of a few screensavers still included by default in Windows 11 (2021). 🫧
Windows 7 (2009) shipped with 7 (get it?) Aero themes: Windows 7, Architecture, Characters, Landscapes, Nature, Scenes & a region-dependent theme (e.g. United Kingdom for copies sold in the UK). Each contained a selection of wallpapers & sounds. Which was your favourite? 🖼️🎶
Windows 1 (1985) included an analogue clock app to show users the time. Simply called Clock, a digital mode was added in Windows 3 (1990). In Windows 95 (1995), its function was absorbed into the Notification Area in the new Taskbar. It last appeared in Windows NT 4 (1996). ⏰
Before the Start menu & Taskbar, the Windows 95 (1995) team tested this UI. They found users had issues deciding what each button on the Taskbar (at this point called the Tray) did. E.g. to search Help, do you go to Find or Help? 😵💫 Did they make the right call scrapping this? 👀