Say hello to the more literal, monochromatic Windows 8 logo
Microsoft's quad-colored Windows flag is getting retired. With the complete overhaul of Windows 8 and its Metro UI makeover, Microsoft felt its new operating system needed a new logo — one that looked more like a window. New Windows 8 logo, meet user; user, meet new Windows 8 logo. You're going to be new best buds.
As a primer on why Microsoft chose to redesign Windows' logo for Windows 8, Microsoft compiled a useful blog post on the evolution of the Windows logo over on the Windows Team Blog:
The Windows 8 logo was designed by Pentagram and is supposed to "be both modern and classic" by "using bold flat colors and clean lines and shapes." Basically, its flat and square design is supposed to represent that of the flat and square tiles found in Windows 8's new interface.
Fun fact: when you change your tile colors, the logo color changes, too. Apparently, that's Microsoft's way of putting the "personal" back into PC.
Pentagram's design is also supposed to be "humble, yet confident" and filled with "motion." Honestly, I don't see it. Is that little slight angle of the window supposed to show the motion?
Regardless of whether you like or hate the Windows 8 logo, PC users are going to have to get used to it. You'll be seeing it on lots of computer, peripheral and software boxes.
Don't forget to flip through the gallery below to see how the Windows logo has evolved over the last 26 years.
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Windows 3.1 Released in 1992, Windows 3.1's logo paved the way for the flag logo that Microsoft's rocked since. "The introduction of the âwaving effectâ gives the logo a sense of motion. This logo would be the basis of the Windows versions throughout the 1990s."
Windows XP By far, the most famous and ubiquitous version of Microsoft's Windows ever created was and is still is 2001's XP. Despite Microsoft dropping support for it, it's still used by millions. As far as its logo, it "gained a sense of materiality (plastic?) and a 3D effect from the rich gradients and shadows."
Windows Vista With even more powerful graphics came the need for a logo with much more detail. Windows Vista's logo was internally called "pearl" because of its glass-like design. Did you even notice the lighting effects on the logo?
Windows 8 And well, this is what the future looks like.
Windows 1.0 The first and original Windows logo debuted in 1985. "Using simple lines and clear straight forward concept, this logo reminded us of what a great and evocative name we have with âwindows.â Microsoft says that it wanted to hark back to this flat window-like design for Windows 8's logo.
