Microsoft Internally Worked on a Mac OS X Aqua Inspired Windows XP Theme

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Microsoft tested a Windows XP theme that closely resembled Mac OS X's Aqua GUI, reports The Verge.

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A recent Windows XP source code leak has revealed various unreleased themes that Microsoft developed in 2000, at a time when Microsoft was in heated competition with Apple regarding desktop operating systems.

One of the themes, codenamed "Candy," mirrors the design of Apple's Aqua interface, which was first introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo in 2000. Aqua was an iconic Apple design and gave a sense of depth through the use of shadow and translucency, metallic textures, and rounded liquid-like assets.

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The theme was described as a "Whistler skin with eye candy," with "Whistler" being the codename for Windows XP, and was marked as "for internal use only." Though the theme was never finished, fundamental aspects such as the Windows Start button and various UI elements were a close match for Aqua.

Most striking is the replication of Mac OS X's rounded water-like buttons. Windows developers reportedly used the theme as a placeholder to build the theme engine for Windows XP.

The theme was ultimately rejected in favor of the blue and green Luna theme for the final version of Windows XP released in 2001. The source code leak reveals another instance of the influence of the Mac on Windows behind the scenes.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows

Top Rated Comments

macsplusmacs Avatar
macsplusmacs
11 months ago
Truly "Redmond, start your copiers" was both bang on truthful and behind the curve.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
AngerDanger
11 months ago
I remember spending hours as a teen, theming the family PC to look like OS X.

Never knew Microsoft had already done so much work for me.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
quaresma Avatar
quaresma
11 months ago

Can nobody do anything without Apple doing it first? Jeez... the creative bankruptcy of other tech companies is palpable and the nerve with which they blatantly steal the IP of others is criminal.
yes... Apple is the inventor of all tech in the world. /s
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maflynn Avatar
maflynn
11 months ago

do anything without Apple doing it first? Jeez
I know seriously, it's not like Apple visited Xerox and copied the idea of the mouse, gui and what not. They would never do that

And then inventing the MP3 player :oops:
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sracer Avatar
sracer
11 months ago

Can nobody do anything without Apple doing it first? Jeez... the creative bankruptcy of other tech companies is palpable and the nerve with which they blatantly steal the IP of others is criminal.
It was an experimental theme and not released to the public. As for Apple doing it first, Apple rarely does things first. They didn't produce the first laptop, mp3 player, nor smartphone, nor tablet. Their offerings weren't even the first successful ones.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
almondwine Avatar
almondwine
11 months ago

Can nobody do anything without Apple doing it first? Jeez... the creative bankruptcy of other tech companies is palpable and the nerve with which they blatantly steal the IP of others is criminal.
Apple almost never does anything first. This is a well understood and well documented tenant of their business model. Sheesh.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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