Thanks to some enterprising sources at Microsoft, I've obtained the first concept screen shots for Aero, the UI for Longhorn, the next version of Windows. And although the details of Aero's design could still change dramatically before Longhorn's release in late 2005, the UI screen shots I have are indeed real, according to people I've spoken with at the company. They show an evolution of the task-based interface in today's Windows XP, with Activity Center-like windows that provide simple and easy-to-find front ends for common tasks. Microsoft representatives with whom I've discussed the screen shots note that the company is committed to ending user confusion by providing clear entry points to user tasks.
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