Microsoft’s unused logos for Windows XP are delightfully weird
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Although the logo of the beloved Windows XP is now considered iconic, it could have looked very different.
Windows XP introduced the 3D twist on the classic OS logo in 2001, but according to Creative agency Frog Design and reported by CreativeBloq, that twist could easily have been a complete revitalization of the logo. Creative Director Casey Potter stated that Microsoft came to them because they wanted an outside perspective for the next operating system’s logo.
“The Windows brand needed to maintain the brand value it had built over its long history while expressing its evolution towards a more flexible, user-friendly brand.” As a result, Frog Design came up with 50 different logos for the tech giant, ranging from “simple to major changes.”
You can see the logo designs below and it’s really fascinating to see how unique some of these versions are.
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The Hidden Dangers of Windows XP
It’s no secret that, more than two decades after its initial release, Windows XP is still one of Microsoft’s most popular operating systems. As late as 2021, Lansweeper found that of the 50 million devices running a Windows operating system, 3% ran Windows XP that is about 1.5 meters.
And this despite the fact that Microsoft stopped supporting XP in early April 2014. And while it’s nice to take a closer look at the operating system with this kind of new information, it’s also essential to remember that it’s time to let go of XP forever.
And while it’s understandable that people are reluctant to let go of a trusted operating system, running XP in this day and age poses a huge cybersecurity risk because it’s outdated and not protected against the latest cyberattacks. And it’s not just personal and work PCs that are at risk, as many of these devices still running the operating system are in critical infrastructure deployments.
In 2014, it was estimated that 95% of global ATMs were still using Windows XP, and there is a significant number of them still using it today. There have also been notable attacks in recent years, from the infamous WannaCry ransomware to the attack on Australia’s Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Nostalgia is fun, but it’s best to look back at early designs. Otherwise, it’s time to move on and embrace the present.