Today Microsoft unveiled their fifth logo change and the first in over 25 years on the Official Microsoft Blog – Microsoft Unveils a New Look.
Starting today, you’ll see the new Microsoft logo being used prominently. It will be used on Microsoft.com – the 10th most visited website in the world. It is in three of our Microsoft retail stores today (Boston, Seattle’s University Village and Bellevue, Wash.) and will shine brightly in all our stores over the next few months. It will sign off all of our television ads globally. And it will support our products across various forms of marketing. Fully implementing a change like this takes time, so there may be other instances where you will see the old logo being used for some time.
We’re excited about the new logo, but more importantly about this new era in which we’re reimagining how our products can help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential.
Check out this short promotional video for the new logo which also highlights recently updated logos for Windows and Office.
The reason for featuring these three product groups is that they are seeing major updates come out in the near future and are the real work-horses of Microsoft’s business. A logo change for a company as big and well known as Microsoft is not a spur of the moment decision. It makes sense though as you look at the major overhauls to these three key product areas in the company.
Microsoft Windows
Controversial interface or not the next version of Microsoft’s flagship OS, Windows 8, is already at the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) and is in the hand of developers and IT Pros around the world. While they put the OS through its paces in their environments the RTM gold code continues towards a 26 October 2012 General Availability (GA). When GA hits Windows users everywhere can purchase either a physical copy or a downloadable copy of Windows 8 to upgrade their current version of Windows. Until the end of January 2013 they can get that downloadable upgrade for less than $40 – Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99.
Also coming out at GA and tied directly to Windows 8 is the Microsoft Surface RT tablet, an ARM based device, that is being built by Microsoft themselves. This new device was unveiled at a mysterious press gathering in California back in June – Microsoft’s New Tablet Floats to the Surface. There is still a lot to be learned about the device, including its price and more specific specs, but what was revealed that day looked very promising indeed. Want further proof that it shook up the OEM market for Windows devices? Take a look at recent comments by Acer, Lenovo and HP about their position concerning the tablet as competition – Dear PC makers- Don’t whine about Microsoft’s Surface, top it.
Microsoft Office
Microsoft recently made a preview of their next version of Office, aka Office 15 or Office 2013, available for testing purposes – This is not Your Father’s Microsoft Office- Preview of 2013 Version Now Available. This next version of Office is making a shift towards subscription based product delivery under the Office 365 banner which can be installed on up to five machines under one subscription. Yes, there will still be a boxed version available that can be installed on a single machine as well as the normal volume licensing many businesses use.
Xbox
What was once a cash sink hole has now become the best selling console for 19 straight months in the US – Hey 19 – Xbox 360 Top-selling Console Again in July. With the addition of the Kinect hands free controller, major media expansion and availability on the Xbox 360 and an upcoming dashboard update that has users overwhelming the sign up process things are very good in Xbox 360 land. A recent price drop for the Kinect hands free device for the Xbox 360 from $149.99 to $109.99 should continue to keep Xbox 360 in a leading position while everyone waits for the next generation Xbox to come out.
It is going to be an interesting few months on the Microsoft Redmond Campus to say the least.
