Windows 8 “Aero Lite” screenshots leak

By Tom Warren, on 15th Mar 11 1:41 pm with 27 Comments

Windows 8 "Aero Lite" UI

Microsoft’s rumored Aero Lite” UI for Windows 8 screenshots leaked on Tuesday.

Leaked resources surfaced on Sunday and additional elements of the theme were revealed on Monday. The “Aero Lite” UI will likely replace the Windows 7 Basic interface. Microsoft originally invented the Basic UI for those unable to run the full Windows Aero experience. Windows 8 is rumored to include a full 3D interface which has so far failed to leak out of Redmond’s tight ship. The Aero Lite UI has now been fully revealed in screenshots posted on winreview. The new user interface is rumored to feature some flat Metro styles, similar to those found in Microsoft’s Media Center application and Windows Phone 7.

Windows 8 "Aero Lite" UI leak

The leaked screenshots show a flattened interface consistent with Microsoft’s Metro UI. Microsoft’s primary Windows 8 interface is believed to be fully 3D. The interface will be “fully dynamic” and able to adapt to user habits. Icons and shortcuts will adapt to different usage scenarios to speed up daily tasks. Windows 8 is also rumored to include a new fast hibernation system. The system will hibernate in around three to six seconds and save all open documents and running tasks. Rumors suggest that Microsoft will create a dual-UI for Windows 8. A tile-based user interface codenamed “Mosh” will reportedly be included.

Microsoft has so far been extremely quiet on the Windows 8 front. Windows Chief, Steven Sinofsky, took to the stage at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January to introduce a technology preview of Microsoft’s Windows ARM support and show off an early build of Windows 8. Microsoft is partnering with ARM-based manufactures NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments to produce new Tablet devices.

Microsoft Office 15 screenshots also surfaced this week. Outlook screenshots have revealed that Microsoft is considering implementing a Metro UI across its next Office product. Microsoft’s Metro design language is an internal code name for a typography-based design languages created and used by the company. Microsoft originally started using Metro in Media Center and showcased a full version in the company’s Zune products. Microsoft’s latest mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7, also features the Metro look and feel throughout. Microsoft has started to use the Metro UI on more of its web properties to produce a clean, fast and simple look.

  • Anonymous

    Looks weird.

  • http://twitter.com/TheRackow Andrew Rackow

    I dont see this as much different than Win7 Basic…

    • GroundPeak

      It’s using the DWM, for starters.

    • GroundPeak

      It’s using the DWM, for starters.

    • Grannyville7989

      You can’t use Areo Peak on Windows 7 Basic and the close, minimise and maximise buttons look ugly.

  • http://www.Nave360.com Sebastian Gorgon

    Like Andrew said… its like Windows 7 basic…

  • http://twitter.com/ankitshah_12 ankit shah

    oh i guess its not a leak it should be a theme can be found here http://thepanda-x.deviantart.com/art/Aero-Lite-for-7-Alpha-200998224

    wallpaper too can be found on net…

    • Anonymous

      that is a REMAKE

    • http://www.winrumors.com Tom W

      This isn’t a remake, it has the folder up arrow that has featured in a number of other screenshots.

    • http://twitter.com/ankitshah_12 ankit shah

      i highly doubt this image is original. Tom- i guess its not that difficult to hv folder up arrow.
      there should be some solid proof.

    • Anonymous

      You’re right. I’m not going to believe any screen leaks anymore until the first public beta of Windows 8

  • PorcU

    Not finished at all, you can see that on the “run” window, the blue side borders are to thick to be MS style…

  • Anonymous

    I’m starting to think Windows 8 isn’t going to be as big of a departure as we’ve been led to believe. I mean, sure, this is only a minor facet of the overall UI of the OS (one most people likely will never see), but don’t you think they’d not bother with a slight modification of Aero if the primary UI was going to be so different?

    I’ll gladly be wrong, though.

  • Adam Shaw

    Cant wait for beta want to try this one out! Should be intresting……

  • Suckmydick

    this is fake……shame on u guys….be credible….can easily see the windows 7 theme -.-

    • http://www.winrumors.com Tom W

      A lot of resources in Windows 8 still say Windows 7…doesn’t mean a thing.

  • http://twitter.com/williamtm/ WilliamTM

    That looks…..terrible. The “basic” theme should look more like MetroTwit does, IMO: http://www.metrotwit.com/

  • http://twitter.com/clindhartsen Chris Lindhartsen

    Although these may be real, it looks like people with free time have worked on duplicating what we’ve seen so far, ala http://bit.ly/ep3VOI , though I don’t think anyone’s made the user icon in the bottom right yet.

  • http://twitter.com/clindhartsen Chris Lindhartsen

    Although these may be real, it looks like people with free time have worked on duplicating what we’ve seen so far, ala http://bit.ly/ep3VOI , though I don’t think anyone’s made the user icon in the bottom right yet.

  • Anonymous

    Wow! It looks so revolutionary, a completely new Windows experience………….. not!

  • Steve

    I would much rather see MS fix more underlying issues like how to more easily migrate a Windows install from one machine to another, or more realistic, from an old hard drive to another without having to freaking reinstall lots of apps/settings. I spent 3 days migrating from x86 olde hard drive to new hard drive and x64…what a joke!

  • http://josedmorales.net Josè Daniel

    So what happened to the ‘other’ leaked UI part, like the back and forth arrow? http://www.winrumors.com/windows-8-aero-lite-metro-ui-resources-leak/

  • http://twitter.com/rickdiv RICK DIV

    I believe it’s true, but it’s horrible… Hope they have better things till PDC 2011

  • A340-600

    What is “Lite” about this? It looks more like a cheap skin version of Windows 7 Basic.

    That color on the close button (Is that orange??) looks nasty.

  • ShMaunder

    Does this mean that the classic theme on Windows will disappear in place of this? I do hope not – i have grown to love the classic theme over the years.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ClockworkKnight Ashiedu Nwadiei

    If they have one UI for work and one for home, this will be awesome once it’s finished. If the work part was basically like Zune player and the Home part being like Xbox or Windows Phone it could be awesome.