Microsoft Teases Launch Of ‘Windows 1.0’

Microsoft has launched a video teasing the launch of “Windows 1.0” on social media, causing users to wonder what might be in store.

“Introducing the all-new Windows 1.0, with MS-Dos Executive, Clock, and more,” Microsoft said on Twitter.

The video features a 1980s pop soundtrack that plays as Windows logos from the present day back to 1985, the year of Windows 1.0’s launch, scroll past.

The 1985 logo curiously resembles that used for Windows 10 today, with both featuring an array of four quadrilateral shapes in a similar light blue tone.

Microsoft/Twitter

‘Gnarly’

In responses to users’ queries, Microsoft administrators on Twitter used 1980s slang terms such as “gnarly” and “stoked”.

Microsoft posted the video on its official Windows Twitter account and on the Windows Instagram account, after deleting all its past Instagram posts.

It is also using the 1985 logo on the Twitter and Instagram accounts, while the Twitter account features a 1980s-style promotional image.

Microsoft declined to fill users in on its plans for the “launch”, telling them only to “stay tuned” and to “wait for updates”.

A number of industry watchers, however, noted that this week sees the debut of the third season of the popular Netflix television programme Stranger Things, which is set in 1985, the year of Windows 1.0’s launch.

The programme’s previous seasons, taking place in 1983 and 1984, have been structured around 1980s-style science-fiction imagery and pop culture references, with the show’s creators disclosing that the upcoming series incorporates references to the 1985 film Back to the Future.

Microsoft

Reversi.exe

Windows 1.0’s premiere in the same year may therefore also be featured.

The Windows news site Windows Central also speculated that Microsoft may be preparing to open source Windows 1.0, as it has done with MS-DOS and the Windows Calculator, both of which are hosted on Microsoft-owned GitHub.

Microsoft’s comments on Twitter made repeated references to the game Reversi, which was included with Windows 1.0, something onlookers said may be a further reference to Stranger Things, with its pair of ordinary and “Upside Down” universes.

Reversi typically features pieces in inverse colours, such as black and white.

Microsoft
Matthew Broersma

Matt Broersma is a long standing tech freelance, who has worked for Ziff-Davis, ZDnet and other leading publications

Recent Posts

Google Jarvis AI Extension Leaked On Chrome Store

Seemingly accidental leak reveals Google is developing Jarvis AI extension that can browse the web…

10 hours ago

Amazon Mulls New Multi-Billion Dollar Investment In Anthropic – Report

Amazon is reportedly in talks to pump billions of dollars more into AI start-up Anthropic,…

14 hours ago

FTX’s Caroline Ellison Begins Her Two Year Prison Sentence

Star witness for the US prosecution of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, has begun her two…

15 hours ago

More Layoffs For iRobot Staff After Abandoned Amazon Deal

After axing 31 percent of its workforce when it failed to be acquired by Amazon,…

1 day ago

Mozilla Foundation Confirms Layoffs, Eliminates Advocacy Division

Mozilla Foundation axes 30 percent of its staff, and is eliminating its Advocacy Division that…

1 day ago

Google To Make MFA Mandatory Next Year

Improving security. Mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) is coming to the Google Cloud by the end…

1 day ago