For the first time in eons, Microsoft has changed its logo. “The logo has two components: the logotype and the symbol. For the logotype, we are using the Segoe font which is the same font we use in our products as well as our marketing communications. The symbol is important in a world of digital motion. The symbol’s squares of color are intended to express the company’s diverse portfolio of products.” Nice logo, clean, concise. With Windows Phone 8, Office 2013 and Windows 8 on the way, the company could use a fresh coat of paint. Confusing that they’re using what would’ve been a better Windows logo than the Windows 8 logo, but alas.
[-|-] Mehcrosoft
Heh, the logo even works with minimal ASCII characters. Handy!
logging in to say they’ve finally lost all their marbles
this logo marks ballmer’s last action “in a world of digital motion.”
The Microsoft’s new logo looks like a logo of some popular toy or candy manufacturer. It has bright colours and very soft font.
I like it.
I agree. The font is nice and it looks clean and modern.
If I would be Microsoft, I would wait to see if my new Metr… err… Windows UI style and Windows 8 is successful before “burning my brand” using that so flat design.
By the way, I prefer the gray tones of UI and logos of Apple rather than the rainbow-esque new MS style.
Edited 2012-08-23 15:49 UTC
Stylization of a brand usually means bad things afoot. Lets hope it is not true in this particular case.
Also i think it is rather ugly, I much more prefer the NT3 windows flag to those four coloured lego pieces.
(reference: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J-rZMVb1cjo/TFdUxxV-5iI/AAAAAAAAAB8/kPLYU…)
“[Using what everyone knows as the Windows logo is] intended to express the company’s diverse portfolio of products…”
“boring” was my first thought, when looking at the new logo. in my opinion it’s a step backwards … but i am of course no expert in such things …
“Logo” means “word” (from the latin “lÅgus” and that from the greek “λόγος”). But nowadays some people add confusion to all that, for example saying “logo” when they mean “logotype” and Microsoft says now:
Edited 2012-08-23 18:10 UTC
Could be worse. Considering Intel’s original logo was basically just the word “Intel” with a scribble around it.
So, now Microsoft *is* Windows? I’m not sure why the Windows logo is there right beside the Microsoft name, when the company does so many other things…
Also, while the font looks clean, it also looks pathetic compared to its predecessor. It looks like, compared to the original more masculine logo, this one’s lost its balls. It’s an ugly gray, its boldness was butchered, no italics… it just looks weak.
Wow… Microsoft really is trying to make every little thing they do and everything about them reek of Windows 8. Given what a turd that OS is for anyone who wants a real desktop, it should be interesting to see what all these dumb changes do to their image as they try to “refresh” themselves.
Really, it looks just like the Windows 8 logo, but in different colors with the icon more square and a different word. I wouldn’t exactly call that an improvement.
Edited 2012-08-23 18:58 UTC
It kind of made me realize that Microsoft is trying to be ‘cool’ like Apple, but they never will be. At least not in the minds of iTards who worship at the alter of Jesus Jobs. Therefore, MS should concentrate on building a practical OS for productivity and business needs, instead of trying to cater to mouth breathers by dumbing down the interface and making everything colorful.
Very good point.
I think people are reading too much into a logo. Its primary facet is that it needs to be recognizable (without being offensive). Apple has the “apple” logo. Microsoft has the window frame. Whether it’s color or grayscale is irrelevant, really. Brand folks will tell you that it needs to be recognizable first. Everything else is secondary.
The curvy rectangles, resembling to a flag, were recognizable.
These logos are bland and not unique.
Apple does not own the rounded rectangle, Microsoft does not own the “four rectangles/trapezoids” arrangement.
The new logo isn’t offensive but its more than bland and corporate. It shows intent an intent that the Metro look and Metro is the future and will be with us for a long time. However, Microsoft may find this logo in fact dates very quickly, I also think the Windows 8 logo is awful, but I don’t suppose it will be with us for long.
(Yes I do know its not called Metro now)
It’s about time.
…because all Microsoft tech leads to Windows
“The symbol is important in a world of digital motion”
“The symbol’s squares of color are intended to express the company’s diverse portfolio of products”
but especially “We’re excited about the new logo”.
I’m always amazed at the amount of ‘symbolism’ that is charged onto those graphical signs (which is often seen only by the marketing staff)
“Excited” about a logo? One that is made of four colored squares, in a squared pattern? Really?
It’s like my Dad trying to dress like a hipster. They think it looks minimalist and modern, it just looks cheap and bland.
Hipsters have never been cool to anyone except other hipsters.
The Real irony is that most hipsters are trying to dress like your Dad or Grandad in the 60s and 70s.
Too true
Man, I so want to vote you up but alas…
Butt-ugly is the new black.
So…much…marketing…bullsh…err..buzzwords. Must…resist urge…to…stab self…in ear.
That said, it’s not bad logo. It works rather well, at least on the MS site. I’ve seen much worse re-invented logos.
It fits in with the rest of the brand that they are trying to push.
most of the MSDN pages have the Metro look. As a Web dev I prefer these flatter straight forward interfaces and colour schemes.
The New logo is “tidy” and that is all I feel about it.
“The problem with Microsoft is that they have no taste.” – Steve Jobs
And they prove it again and again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw-GGT6900s
hmmm, not much ….
wow.. that’s just sad..