I’m still reserving judgement on the ribbon UI in Windows 8′s Explorer application until I can spend some time using it. Nevertheless I can still appreciate a ribbon when I see one, a real one.
Thanks to a heads up from Richard Burte, Ilana Smith, an Aussie (oi oi oi) Microsoft designer who apparently worked on the team responsible for the Explorer ribbon, posted a photo teasing some of the 600 ribbons she had made for an internal event with the words “Windows Explorer” printed on.
According to Ilana, if the real thing is any indication, it was in popular demand.
We in the UK and Europe aren’t oblivious to the fact that you Americans are having yet another day off, but it’s a very well worthwhile one so we’ll let you off. Here you can download a special Martin Luther King Windows 7 desktop theme to commemorate the man and his life.
The pictures, four of which are below, are excellent and well worth exhibiting on your Windows 7 desktop. So happy Martin Luther King day all. You can download the theme here.
Those of you familiar with Windows 7 will have noticed the glowing Windows logo that pulsates when Windows 7 starts up. Well Microsoft hosted a questions and answer session with its designer Rolf Ebeling so we could find out a bit more about it.
Rolf Ebeling, a senior user experience lead for the User Experience Design and Research Team for Windows, Windows Live, and Internet Explorer, is the man who designed the 105-frame Windows 7 boot animation that millions of Windows users see every day. Have a look at some of the early sketches of it below.
Ebeling said he looked for inspiration every where for the new boot logo, including street lights in the rain, light reflecting off water, and fireflies. He wanted to reflect what the new feeling of operating system — light color and energy. He also claims to have an incurable addiction to indie rock—especially flavor-of-the-moment UK bands which helps him do his best work.
We never lost sight that we wanted the boot-up to be faster, but thought, ‘Well, if people are going to be there we should make it attractive and something that inspires confidence
The start up logo was first revealed in December 2008 in Windows 7 6950 + builds. He’s a self-taught designer with a degree in English literature, Ebeling was a creative director for Newsweek.com in New York before joining Microsoft in April 2008, his first software job. When asked what his biggest challenge facing the animation he said
Biggest challenge? Having only been with the company for four months and suddenly finding myself working on the first thing millions of people would see when they started up Windows 7. That was a peculiar realization to wake up to each morning
He also confirmed that he is working on the next Windows operating system, Windows 8
In February 2009, Microsoft confirmed that they would not confirm support for changing the Windows 7 boot animation for those who wanted to customize their systems further then themes. Why not have a look at our large collection of themes or wallpapers
What do you think of the new Windows 7 boot logo? Do you like it? Let us know in the comments
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