Activity Centers: Difference between revisions
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'''Activity Centers''' was a [[Microsoft Windows]] feature | '''Activity Centers''' was a [[Microsoft Windows]] feature initially intended for [[Windows Neptune]],<ref name = "slivka">{{cite web | author = Ben Slivka | title = Before Slack and Teams: The Windows Service (1998) | url = https://benslivka.com/2020/11/20/before-slack-and-teams-the-windows-service-1998/ | date = 20 November 2000 | accessdate = 17 April 2022}}</ref> then [[Windows ME]], then again Neptune,<ref name = "winme-gold">{{cite web | ||
|last=Thurrott | |last=Thurrott | ||
|first=Paul | |first=Paul | ||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
|archivedate= 16 August 2000 | |archivedate= 16 August 2000 | ||
|accessdate= 8 April 2022 | |accessdate= 8 April 2022 | ||
}}</ref> then [[Windows XP]],<ref name = "winme-ac">{{cite web | }}</ref> and then [[Windows XP]],<ref name = "winme-ac">{{cite web | ||
|last=Thurrott | |last=Thurrott | ||
|first=Paul | |first=Paul | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
|archivedate= 4 May 2000 | |archivedate= 4 May 2000 | ||
|accessdate= 8 April 2022 | |accessdate= 8 April 2022 | ||
}}</ref> before being scrapped early | }}</ref> before being scrapped early in XP's development. | ||
Activity Centers would have been single-window applications, written in a combination of HTML and the Win32 API, that facilitate easy ways to complete common tasks. By default, Activity Centers would have opened to a "home page", which would contain links to the top priority tasks exposed by the application. Secondary Task pages would have provided the user with obvious ways to complete single tasks.<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | Activity Centers would have been single-window applications, written in a combination of HTML and the Win32 API, that facilitate easy ways to complete common tasks.<ref name = "ac-preview" /> In [[Windows Neptune/5.5.5111.1|Neptune build 5111]], Mars.exe serves as the framework (hence, the name "Mars Framework") for running such web pages as framed applications.<ref name = "Ken">{{cite web | ||
|author=Ken | |||
|title=Re: Windows Mars in Windows Neptune | |||
|url=https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=150455#p150455 | |||
|publisher=BetaArchive | |||
|date=12 May 2010 | |||
|accessdate=8 April 2022}}</ref> Mars uses the XML file in the folder of an Activity Center as the page's main layout. The <code>msjava.dll</code> also appears to be the number one dependency of this app, which Ken found when fiddling around | |||
with various msjava installations to get the Game Center in that build working.<ref name = "Ken1">{{cite web | |||
|author=Ken | |||
|title=Re: Windows Mars in Windows Neptune | |||
|url=https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=164825#p164825 | |||
|publisher=BetaArchive | |||
|date=28 July 2010 | |||
|accessdate=8 April 2022}}</ref> | |||
By default, Activity Centers would have opened to a "home page", which would contain links to the top priority tasks exposed by the application. Secondary Task pages would have provided the user with obvious ways to complete single tasks.<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | |||
The user interface would have been divided horizontally into a "navbar" and a larger content area. The navbar would have provided a simplified navigational scheme similar to that in a Web browser, so that "back" and "forward" buttons are provided along with other common buttons.<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | The user interface would have been divided horizontally into a "navbar" and a larger content area. The navbar would have provided a simplified navigational scheme similar to that in a Web browser, so that "back" and "forward" buttons are provided along with other common buttons.<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | ||
Windows | ==History== | ||
In 1998, a team of 15 Microsoft employees (among them Ben Slivka, Joe Belfiore, and Steve Capps) worked on codename "RedShark", a new user interface for Windows based on the assumption of being project-based. The team proposed that the interface would organize all content according to pages, use the full screen with no window management, have unified search/history, and allow for use by multiple users with roaming features. The interface was intended to debut with Neptune, described as "The Windows Service 1.0" and estimated by Slivka to be released by June 2002.<ref>{{cite web | author = Brad Silverberg 🇺🇦 (@bradsilverberg) | title = Ben Slivka @BenSlivka posted his Neptune presentation from August 1998. It’s brilliant but just too far ahead of its time for Microsoft then. Ben has a series of brilliant memos from the mid 90’s. | url = https://twitter.com/bradsilverberg/status/1376265401668042753 | publisher = Twitter | date = 29 March 2021 | accessdate = 17 April 2022}}</ref><ref name = "slivka" /> | |||
It is not clear if Activity Centers were then moved from Neptune to Windows ME, before being moved again to Neptune. | |||
The Start page, Photo Center, Music Center, Help Center, and [[System Restore]] are available but hidden by default in [[Windows ME/4.90.2358.0|Windows ME build 2358]]<ref name = "overdoze">{{cite web | |||
|author=Overdoze | |author=Overdoze | ||
|title= | |title=RELEAK Windows Me build 2358 | ||
|url = https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=439184#p439184 | |url = https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=439184#p439184 | ||
|date = 20 March 2019 | |date = 20 March 2019 | ||
| Line 49: | Line 70: | ||
|accessdate = 8 April 2022}}</ref> However, according to Paul Thurrott, by the release of [[Windows ME/4.90.2380.2|Beta 1]] in the fall of 1999, it was clear that the underlying Activity Center technology was not going to be far enough along to provide the needed HTML hooks into the more traditional Win32 interface. Therefore, only the Help Center (renamed [[Help and Support Center]]) and System Restore shipped in [[Windows ME/4.90.3000|Windows ME RTM]]. [[Windows Update|AutoUpdate]], intended to be an Activity Center, became a traditional application. [[Windows Media Player]] was expanded and redesigned to perform the features intended for the Music Center.<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | |accessdate = 8 April 2022}}</ref> However, according to Paul Thurrott, by the release of [[Windows ME/4.90.2380.2|Beta 1]] in the fall of 1999, it was clear that the underlying Activity Center technology was not going to be far enough along to provide the needed HTML hooks into the more traditional Win32 interface. Therefore, only the Help Center (renamed [[Help and Support Center]]) and System Restore shipped in [[Windows ME/4.90.3000|Windows ME RTM]]. [[Windows Update|AutoUpdate]], intended to be an Activity Center, became a traditional application. [[Windows Media Player]] was expanded and redesigned to perform the features intended for the Music Center.<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | ||
== | Neptune build 5111 came with the Start page, Photo Center, Music Center, Game Center, [[Windows Neptune/5.5.5111.1#Help Center|Help and Support Center]], and [[Windows Neptune/5.5.5111.1#AutoUpdate|Microsoft AutoUpdate]]. The first four could be installed by following [[Windows Neptune/5.5.5111.1#Installing Activity Centers|these steps]]. According to Twitter user Albacore (@thebookisclosed), these Neptune Activity Centers could also run on [[Windows ME/4.90.2380.2|Windows ME build 2380]],<ref name = "albacore-ac1">{{cite web | author = Albacore (@thebookisclosed) | title = Build 2380 is the only available build which contains all the internal plumbing for Activity Centers to work. Even Neptune which the centers themselves are taken from doesn't include all the web objects required for them to work. Until now there was no proper way to run these. | url = https://twitter.com/thebookisclosed/status/1381660032090185730 | publisher = Twitter | date = 13 April 2021 | accessdate = 16 April 2022}}</ref> and made available [https://github.com/thebookisclosed/activity-centers two files] that should be copied into the <code>WIN9X</code> folder of the build's ISO before installation so that the Activity Centers work by default.<ref name = "albacore-ac2">{{cite web | author = Albacore (@thebookisclosed) | title = If you'd like to try them on your own get a copy of Windows Me Beta 1 (build 2380) and put the files from this repo in the WIN9X folder in the ISO: https://github.com/thebookisclosed/activity-centers Once the OS is installed they are ready to use. To get the Start Page simply set this file as your wallpaper | url = https://twitter.com/thebookisclosed/status/1381661507575017474 | publisher = Twitter | date = 13 April 2021 | accessdate = 16 April 2022}}</ref> | ||
[[Windows XP/5.1.2250.main.000628-2110|Windows Whistler build 2250]] contained a Startpage (no spaces) at <code>%SystemRoot%\Web\Startpage</code>.<ref>{{cite web | |||
|author=Kenneth | |||
|title=Whistler 2250 Startpage | |||
|accessdate = 8 April 2022}}</ref> | |url=https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?&t=2480 | ||
|publisher=BetaArchive | |||
|date=30 August 2007 | |||
|accessdate=8 April 2022 | |||
}}</ref> [[Windows XP/5.1.2257.idx01.000810-2103|Build 2257]] contained the same Activity Centers in Neptune build 5111.<ref name = "albacore-2257ac">{{cite web | author = Albacore (@thebookisclosed) | title = Remember the full screen Start Page that appeared in Microsoft Neptune, the cancelled "prequel" to Whistler/XP? A similar thing turned up in build 2257. Once again web based, but also unfortunately broken due to missing APIs. After that brief stint it disappeared again. | url = https://twitter.com/thebookisclosed/status/1312444167776215040 | publisher = Twitter | date = 4 October 2020 | accessdate = 16 April 2022}}</ref> [[Windows XP/5.1.2410.main.001208-1937|Build 2410]] contained a redesigned Startpage.<ref name = "Albacore-2410startpage">{{cite web | author = Albacore (@thebookisclosed) | title = As Microsoft was shifting from web based shell experiences to DirectUI based ones, they also recreated the Whistler full screen Start Page. Build 2410 contains fully functional code for it hidden behind a cryptic registry value. Broken out of box but I was able to get it work! | url = https://twitter.com/thebookisclosed/status/1312444750243405824 | publisher = Twitter | date = 4 October 2020 | accessdate = 16 April 2022}}</ref> According to Twitter user Albacore (@thebookisclosed), the Start button in build 2410 is mapped to the Startpage.<ref name = "albacore-2410-1">{{cite web | author = Albacore (@thebookisclosed) | title = In case you wonder, the Start button does map to it. The regular Start menu is nowhere to be seen. It's kinda funny that we could've faced the Windows 8 predicament 10 years early. | url = https://twitter.com/thebookisclosed/status/1312445707303809025 | publisher = Twitter | date = 4 October 2020 | accessdate = 16 April 2022 }}</ref> | |||
</ | |||
=== | == Gallery == | ||
=== Concept images shared by Paul Thurrott === | === Concept images shared by Paul Thurrott === | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Ac preview 01.gif|"Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center "home page."" (Source: Paul Thurrott)<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | |||
Ac preview 02.gif|"Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center secondary task page." (Source: Paul Thurrott)<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | |||
Ac preview 03.gif|"Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center secondary task page." (Source: Paul Thurrott)<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | |||
Ac preview 04 activewin.gif|"Neptune concept shot that features several proposed Activity Centers. Image courtesy of ActiveWin." (Source: Paul Thurrott)<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 95: | Line 104: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Ac preview 05.gif|"Microsoft conceptual design for an "Entertainment Center", which was never part of the original Millennium spec." (Source: Paul Thurrott)<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | |||
Ac preview 06.gif|"Microsoft conceptual design for "Photo Center"." (Source: Paul Thurrott)<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | |||
Ac preview 07.gif|"Microsoft conceptual design for "Search & Explore", an Activity Center that was not part of the original Millennium spec." (Source: Paul Thurrott)<ref name = "ac-preview" /> | |||
Wxp gold dvorack 05.gif|"Not Neptune, but an interesting Activity Center design study" (Source: Paul Thurrott)<ref name = "xp-gold" /> | |||
Wxp gold dvorack 06.gif|"Not Neptune, but an interesting Activity Center design study" (Source: Paul Thurrott)<ref name = "xp-gold" /> | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== Concept images shared by NTDEV === | |||
NTDEV credits Ben Slivka's presentation,<ref name = "NTDEV">{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/NTDEV_/status/1696175966773473647 | title = Looks like Microsoft's desire to make the Start menu a full-screen experience started way before Windows 8. Here are some mockups from 1998 showing a proposed Start screen and full-screen apps for Windows Codename Neptune. Basically, it's Metro but with 90's ✨aesthetic✨. | author = NTDEV (@NTDEV_) | publisher = X | date = 28 August 2023 | accessdate = 22 October 2023}}</ref> but the images below do not appear on it.<ref name = "slivka" /> | |||
<gallery> | |||
NTDEV_AC.jpg | |||
NTDEV_AC1.jpeg | |||
NTDEV_AC3.jpeg | |||
NTDEV_AC4.png|[[Microsoft Office|Microsoft Word]] | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== Windows ME === | |||
<gallery> | |||
Windows ME build 2358 Help Center 1553083884.or.62629.png|Help Center and System Properties in [[Windows ME/4.90.2358.0|build 2358]] (Source: Overdoze)<ref name = "overdoze" /> | |||
|accessdate = 8 April 2022}}</ref> | |||
Windows ME build 2358 Start page 1553103695.or.55271.png|Start page, with links to the Music and Photo Center, in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)<ref name = "lukasmarsik" /> | |||
Windows ME build 2358 Customize Start page 1553103946.or.57316.png|Customize Start page in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)<ref name = "lukasmarsik" /> | |||
Windows ME build 2358 Music Center 1553103735.or.21628.png|Music Center in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)<ref name = "lukasmarsik" /> | |||
Windows ME build 2358 Photo Center 1553103745.or.84583.png|Photo Center in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)<ref name = "lukasmarsik" /> | |||
2380.gif|Help and Support in [[Windows ME/4.90.2380.2|build 2380.2]] | |||
ME2380 System Properties Startpage.png|System Properties with Start page in build 2380.2 | |||
Millennium Build 2394 Setup 34.jpg|Microsoft System Restore (or SystemRestore) Welcome screen in [[Windows_ME/4.90.2394|build 2394]] | |||
Millennium Build 2394 Setup 35.jpg|Microsoft System Restore (or SystemRestore) "Choose a date to restore your computer to" screen in build 2394 | |||
Millennium Build 2394 Setup 36.jpg|Microsoft System Restore (or SystemRestore) "Choose a point to restore your computer to" screen in build 2394 | |||
Millennium Build 2419 Setup30.png|Microsoft AutoUpdate in [[Windows ME/4.90.2419|build 2419]] | |||
ME2419 20231101-230358-619.png|[[Windows Update|Microsoft AutoUpdate in true color mode | |||
ME2419 20231101-230416-751.png|Microsoft AutoUpdate Help Part 1 | |||
ME2419 20231101-230430-471.png|Microsoft AutoUpdate Help Part 2 | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== Windows Neptune === | |||
<gallery> | |||
Activitycenter 5.5.5111.jpg|[[Windows Neptune/5.5.5111.1|Build 5111]] Start page, with links to the Music, Photo, Games, and Help and Support Centers | |||
Neptuneauclient.PNG|Build 5111 AutoUpdate first page | |||
Neptune build 5111.1 Setup 38.png|Build 5111 AutoUpdate placeholder End User License Agreement | |||
Helpsupport 5.5.5111.png|Build 5111 Help and Support Center, with Start page on the desktop | |||
Neptune build 5111.1 Setup 26.png|Build 5111 Help and Support Center - "Report a bug to the Windows Neptune Beta team." | |||
Neptune build 5111.1 Setup 27.png|Build 5111 Help and Support Center - "Section III: System Information" | |||
Neptune build 5111.1 Setup 28.png|Build 5111 Help and Support Center - "Submitting Bug Report" | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 112: | Line 163: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Monthly view from XP source code 1601088280.or.67849.png|"<code>./NT/windows/advcore/duser/resources/monthlyview.bmp</code>" (Source: TinaMeineKatze)<ref name = xpsc" /> | |||
Daily view from XP source code 1601118082.or.39850.png|"<code>./NT/windows/advcore/duser/resources/dailyview.bmp</code>" (Source: TinaMeineKatze)<ref name = xpsc" /> | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 121: | Line 172: | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
===BetaArchive forum=== | ===BetaArchive forum=== | ||
* [[forum:2480|Whistler 2250 Startpage]] | |||
* [[forum:2900|Im Trying to Fix Neptune's Activity Center :D]] | |||
* [[forum:3189|Neptune's Activity Center...]] | |||
* [[forum:6062|Neptune's activity centers image?]] | |||
* [[forum:7954|Activity Center in Longhorn]] | |||
* [[forum:8016|Whistler Build 2250 and the "Activity Center"]] | |||
* [[forum:13471|Neptune Activity Center Vid *Trimmed down*]] | |||
* [[forum:15757|Windows ME Activity Centers]] | |||
* [[forum:24010| Design similarities between Metro and Whistler\Neptune UI?]] | |||
* [[forum:27671|Windows Neptune concepts...]] | |||
* [[forum:30877|Windows Neptune Build 5111]] | |||
* [[forum:30265|"MARS.EXE" Question Neputne 5111]] | |||
* [[forum:32190|Neptune Activity Center Problem]] | |||
* [[forum:32455|Neptune Activity Center (by KenOath)]] | |||
* [[forum:33595|Windows Neptune Activity Centers Working in WindowsME & 2419]] | |||
* [[forum:39573|[RELEAK] Windows Me build 2358]] | * [[forum:39573|[RELEAK] Windows Me build 2358]] | ||
* [[forum:44155|Activity Centers retrospective: From ME to Neptune to XP]] | |||
* [[forum:45035|Activity Centers Windows ME Millennium Edition Build 2358]] | |||
== External links == | |||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIattYSDYiA Activity Centers Windows Me Neptune XP Whistler look back - Emir's BTIN Balik Tanaw / In Hindsight] | |||
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Oysf74rgY Activity Centers Windows ME Millennium Edition Build 2358 - Emir's BTIN Balik Tanaw / In Hindsight] | |||
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHu3TuEenVg System Restore & File Protection Windows ME Millennium 2358 - Emir's BTIN Balik Tanaw / In Hindsight] | |||
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OADM8Fn_aYs Short Activity Centers Windows ME Millennium 2358 - Emir's BTIN Balik Tanaw / In Hindsight] | |||
* [https://twitter.com/thebookisclosed/status/1381658839720792070 Albacore on Twitter: "Here are Microsoft's cancelled Activity Centers. An idea from 1999 all about making it easy to carry out your day to day tasks, all while harnessing the power of web technologies. Want to listen to music, edit some photos, play a game or read your mail? There's a Center for that. https://t.co/47HJO01ohS" / Twitter] - Getting Neptune build 5111 Activity Centers to work on [[Windows ME/4.90.2380.2|Windows ME Beta 1]]. | |||
* [https://benslivka.com/2020/11/20/before-slack-and-teams-the-windows-service-1998/ Before Slack and Teams: The Windows Service (1998)] by Ben Slivka | |||
[[Category:Applications]] | |||
[[Category:Canceled Projects]] | |||
[[Category:Microsoft Windows]] | |||
Latest revision as of 03:34, 7 November 2023
Activity Centers was a Microsoft Windows feature initially intended for Windows Neptune,[1] then Windows ME, then again Neptune,[2] and then Windows XP,[3][4] before being scrapped early in XP's development.
Activity Centers would have been single-window applications, written in a combination of HTML and the Win32 API, that facilitate easy ways to complete common tasks.[4] In Neptune build 5111, Mars.exe serves as the framework (hence, the name "Mars Framework") for running such web pages as framed applications.[5] Mars uses the XML file in the folder of an Activity Center as the page's main layout. The msjava.dll also appears to be the number one dependency of this app, which Ken found when fiddling around
with various msjava installations to get the Game Center in that build working.[6]
By default, Activity Centers would have opened to a "home page", which would contain links to the top priority tasks exposed by the application. Secondary Task pages would have provided the user with obvious ways to complete single tasks.[4]
The user interface would have been divided horizontally into a "navbar" and a larger content area. The navbar would have provided a simplified navigational scheme similar to that in a Web browser, so that "back" and "forward" buttons are provided along with other common buttons.[4]
History
In 1998, a team of 15 Microsoft employees (among them Ben Slivka, Joe Belfiore, and Steve Capps) worked on codename "RedShark", a new user interface for Windows based on the assumption of being project-based. The team proposed that the interface would organize all content according to pages, use the full screen with no window management, have unified search/history, and allow for use by multiple users with roaming features. The interface was intended to debut with Neptune, described as "The Windows Service 1.0" and estimated by Slivka to be released by June 2002.[7][1]
It is not clear if Activity Centers were then moved from Neptune to Windows ME, before being moved again to Neptune.
The Start page, Photo Center, Music Center, Help Center, and System Restore are available but hidden by default in Windows ME build 2358[8][9] However, according to Paul Thurrott, by the release of Beta 1 in the fall of 1999, it was clear that the underlying Activity Center technology was not going to be far enough along to provide the needed HTML hooks into the more traditional Win32 interface. Therefore, only the Help Center (renamed Help and Support Center) and System Restore shipped in Windows ME RTM. AutoUpdate, intended to be an Activity Center, became a traditional application. Windows Media Player was expanded and redesigned to perform the features intended for the Music Center.[4]
Neptune build 5111 came with the Start page, Photo Center, Music Center, Game Center, Help and Support Center, and Microsoft AutoUpdate. The first four could be installed by following these steps. According to Twitter user Albacore (@thebookisclosed), these Neptune Activity Centers could also run on Windows ME build 2380,[10] and made available two files that should be copied into the WIN9X folder of the build's ISO before installation so that the Activity Centers work by default.[11]
Windows Whistler build 2250 contained a Startpage (no spaces) at %SystemRoot%\Web\Startpage.[12] Build 2257 contained the same Activity Centers in Neptune build 5111.[13] Build 2410 contained a redesigned Startpage.[14] According to Twitter user Albacore (@thebookisclosed), the Start button in build 2410 is mapped to the Startpage.[15]
Gallery
!["Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center "home page."" (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/images/thumb/0/0a/Ac_preview_01.gif/120px-Ac_preview_01.gif)
"Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center "home page."" (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]
!["Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center secondary task page." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/images/thumb/2/24/Ac_preview_02.gif/120px-Ac_preview_02.gif)
"Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center secondary task page." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]
!["Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center secondary task page." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/images/thumb/0/04/Ac_preview_03.gif/120px-Ac_preview_03.gif)
"Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center secondary task page." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]
!["Neptune concept shot that features several proposed Activity Centers. Image courtesy of ActiveWin." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/images/thumb/e/e1/Ac_preview_04_activewin.gif/120px-Ac_preview_04_activewin.gif)
"Neptune concept shot that features several proposed Activity Centers. Image courtesy of ActiveWin." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]
!["Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center "home page."" (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Ac_preview_01.gif)
!["Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center secondary task page." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Ac_preview_02.gif)
!["Microsoft conceptual design for an Activity Center secondary task page." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Ac_preview_03.gif)
!["Neptune concept shot that features several proposed Activity Centers. Image courtesy of ActiveWin." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Ac_preview_04_activewin.gif)
Thurrott credits John C. Dvorak for the images below. According to Microsoft, these images were not intended to be the final UI, but only a study to see what a task-based Windows interface might look like.[16]
!["Microsoft conceptual design for an "Entertainment Center", which was never part of the original Millennium spec." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/images/thumb/3/31/Ac_preview_05.gif/120px-Ac_preview_05.gif)
"Microsoft conceptual design for an "Entertainment Center", which was never part of the original Millennium spec." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]
!["Microsoft conceptual design for "Photo Center"." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/images/thumb/9/91/Ac_preview_06.gif/120px-Ac_preview_06.gif)
"Microsoft conceptual design for "Photo Center"." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]
!["Microsoft conceptual design for "Search & Explore", an Activity Center that was not part of the original Millennium spec." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/images/thumb/0/01/Ac_preview_07.gif/120px-Ac_preview_07.gif)
"Microsoft conceptual design for "Search & Explore", an Activity Center that was not part of the original Millennium spec." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]
!["Not Neptune, but an interesting Activity Center design study" (Source: Paul Thurrott)[16]](/wiki/images/thumb/0/02/Wxp_gold_dvorack_05.gif/120px-Wxp_gold_dvorack_05.gif)
"Not Neptune, but an interesting Activity Center design study" (Source: Paul Thurrott)[16]
!["Not Neptune, but an interesting Activity Center design study" (Source: Paul Thurrott)[16]](/wiki/images/thumb/7/7a/Wxp_gold_dvorack_06.gif/120px-Wxp_gold_dvorack_06.gif)
"Not Neptune, but an interesting Activity Center design study" (Source: Paul Thurrott)[16]
!["Microsoft conceptual design for an "Entertainment Center", which was never part of the original Millennium spec." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Ac_preview_05.gif)
!["Microsoft conceptual design for "Photo Center"." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Ac_preview_06.gif)
!["Microsoft conceptual design for "Search & Explore", an Activity Center that was not part of the original Millennium spec." (Source: Paul Thurrott)[4]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Ac_preview_07.gif)
!["Not Neptune, but an interesting Activity Center design study" (Source: Paul Thurrott)[16]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Wxp_gold_dvorack_05.gif)
!["Not Neptune, but an interesting Activity Center design study" (Source: Paul Thurrott)[16]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Wxp_gold_dvorack_06.gif)
NTDEV credits Ben Slivka's presentation,[17] but the images below do not appear on it.[1]
Windows ME
![Help Center and System Properties in build 2358 (Source: Overdoze)[8]](/wiki/images/thumb/2/2c/Windows_ME_build_2358_Help_Center_1553083884.or.62629.png/120px-Windows_ME_build_2358_Help_Center_1553083884.or.62629.png)
Help Center and System Properties in build 2358 (Source: Overdoze)[8]
![Start page, with links to the Music and Photo Center, in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]](/wiki/images/thumb/c/cf/Windows_ME_build_2358_Start_page_1553103695.or.55271.png/120px-Windows_ME_build_2358_Start_page_1553103695.or.55271.png)
Start page, with links to the Music and Photo Center, in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]
![Customize Start page in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]](/wiki/images/thumb/4/47/Windows_ME_build_2358_Customize_Start_page_1553103946.or.57316.png/120px-Windows_ME_build_2358_Customize_Start_page_1553103946.or.57316.png)
Customize Start page in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]
![Music Center in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]](/wiki/images/thumb/7/7e/Windows_ME_build_2358_Music_Center_1553103735.or.21628.png/120px-Windows_ME_build_2358_Music_Center_1553103735.or.21628.png)
Music Center in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]
![Photo Center in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]](/wiki/images/thumb/5/50/Windows_ME_build_2358_Photo_Center_1553103745.or.84583.png/120px-Windows_ME_build_2358_Photo_Center_1553103745.or.84583.png)
Photo Center in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]
Help and Support in build 2380.2
System Properties with Start page in build 2380.2
Microsoft System Restore (or SystemRestore) Welcome screen in build 2394
Microsoft System Restore (or SystemRestore) "Choose a date to restore your computer to" screen in build 2394
Microsoft System Restore (or SystemRestore) "Choose a point to restore your computer to" screen in build 2394
Microsoft AutoUpdate in build 2419
Microsoft AutoUpdate in true color mode
Microsoft AutoUpdate Help Part 1
Microsoft AutoUpdate Help Part 2
![Help Center and System Properties in build 2358 (Source: Overdoze)[8]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Windows_ME_build_2358_Help_Center_1553083884.or.62629.png)
![Start page, with links to the Music and Photo Center, in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Windows_ME_build_2358_Start_page_1553103695.or.55271.png)
![Customize Start page in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Windows_ME_build_2358_Customize_Start_page_1553103946.or.57316.png)
![Music Center in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Windows_ME_build_2358_Music_Center_1553103735.or.21628.png)
![Photo Center in build 2358 (Source: Lukas Marsik)[9]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Windows_ME_build_2358_Photo_Center_1553103745.or.84583.png)
Windows Neptune
Build 5111 Start page, with links to the Music, Photo, Games, and Help and Support Centers
Build 5111 AutoUpdate first page
Build 5111 AutoUpdate placeholder End User License Agreement
Build 5111 Help and Support Center, with Start page on the desktop
Build 5111 Help and Support Center - "Report a bug to the Windows Neptune Beta team."
Build 5111 Help and Support Center - "Section III: System Information"
Build 5111 Help and Support Center - "Submitting Bug Report"
Windows XP source code
BetaArchive user TinaMeineKatze pointed out that what look like Activity Centers concept art screenshots are available in the Windows XP source code that leaked in 2020.[18]
!["./NT/windows/advcore/duser/resources/monthlyview.bmp" (Source: TinaMeineKatze)[18]](/wiki/images/thumb/a/ac/Monthly_view_from_XP_source_code_1601088280.or.67849.png/120px-Monthly_view_from_XP_source_code_1601088280.or.67849.png)
"
./NT/windows/advcore/duser/resources/monthlyview.bmp" (Source: TinaMeineKatze)[18]!["./NT/windows/advcore/duser/resources/dailyview.bmp" (Source: TinaMeineKatze)[18]](/wiki/images/thumb/c/c5/Daily_view_from_XP_source_code_1601118082.or.39850.png/120px-Daily_view_from_XP_source_code_1601118082.or.39850.png)
"
./NT/windows/advcore/duser/resources/dailyview.bmp" (Source: TinaMeineKatze)[18]
!["./NT/windows/advcore/duser/resources/monthlyview.bmp" (Source: TinaMeineKatze)[18]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Monthly_view_from_XP_source_code_1601088280.or.67849.png)
!["./NT/windows/advcore/duser/resources/dailyview.bmp" (Source: TinaMeineKatze)[18]](/wiki/index.php?title=File:Daily_view_from_XP_source_code_1601118082.or.39850.png)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ben Slivka (20 November 2000). Before Slack and Teams: The Windows Service (1998). Retrieved on 17 April 2022.
- ↑ Thurrott, Paul (5 July 2000). The Road to Gold: The development of Windows Me. Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
- ↑ Thurrott, Paul (5 March 2000). Activity Centers, A Windows Me technology showcase. Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Thurrott, Paul (5 July 2000). Activity Centers Preview. Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Archived from the original on 4 May 2000. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
- ↑ Ken (12 May 2010). Re: Windows Mars in Windows Neptune. BetaArchive. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
- ↑ Ken (28 July 2010). Re: Windows Mars in Windows Neptune. BetaArchive. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
- ↑ Brad Silverberg 🇺🇦 (@bradsilverberg) (29 March 2021). Ben Slivka @BenSlivka posted his Neptune presentation from August 1998. It’s brilliant but just too far ahead of its time for Microsoft then. Ben has a series of brilliant memos from the mid 90’s.. Twitter. Retrieved on 17 April 2022.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Overdoze (20 March 2019). RELEAK Windows Me build 2358. BetaArchive. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Lukas Marsik (21 March 2019). Re: [RELEAK Windows Me build 2358]. BetaArchive. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
- ↑ Albacore (@thebookisclosed) (13 April 2021). Build 2380 is the only available build which contains all the internal plumbing for Activity Centers to work. Even Neptune which the centers themselves are taken from doesn't include all the web objects required for them to work. Until now there was no proper way to run these.. Twitter. Retrieved on 16 April 2022.
- ↑ Albacore (@thebookisclosed) (13 April 2021). If you'd like to try them on your own get a copy of Windows Me Beta 1 (build 2380) and put the files from this repo in the WIN9X folder in the ISO: https://github.com/thebookisclosed/activity-centers Once the OS is installed they are ready to use. To get the Start Page simply set this file as your wallpaper. Twitter. Retrieved on 16 April 2022.
- ↑ Kenneth (30 August 2007). Whistler 2250 Startpage. BetaArchive. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
- ↑ Albacore (@thebookisclosed) (4 October 2020). Remember the full screen Start Page that appeared in Microsoft Neptune, the cancelled "prequel" to Whistler/XP? A similar thing turned up in build 2257. Once again web based, but also unfortunately broken due to missing APIs. After that brief stint it disappeared again.. Twitter. Retrieved on 16 April 2022.
- ↑ Albacore (@thebookisclosed) (4 October 2020). As Microsoft was shifting from web based shell experiences to DirectUI based ones, they also recreated the Whistler full screen Start Page. Build 2410 contains fully functional code for it hidden behind a cryptic registry value. Broken out of box but I was able to get it work!. Twitter. Retrieved on 16 April 2022.
- ↑ Albacore (@thebookisclosed) (4 October 2020). In case you wonder, the Start button does map to it. The regular Start menu is nowhere to be seen. It's kinda funny that we could've faced the Windows 8 predicament 10 years early.. Twitter. Retrieved on 16 April 2022.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Thurrott, Paul. Windows XP: The Road to Gold. Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Archived from the original on 28 August 2001. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
- ↑ NTDEV (@NTDEV_) (28 August 2023). Looks like Microsoft's desire to make the Start menu a full-screen experience started way before Windows 8. Here are some mockups from 1998 showing a proposed Start screen and full-screen apps for Windows Codename Neptune. Basically, it's Metro but with 90's ✨aesthetic✨.. X. Retrieved on 22 October 2023.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 TinaMeineKatze (26 September 2020). Re: M$ source code leak apparently contains XP. BetaArchive. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
See also
BetaArchive forum
- Whistler 2250 Startpage
- Im Trying to Fix Neptune's Activity Center :D
- Neptune's Activity Center...
- Neptune's activity centers image?
- Activity Center in Longhorn
- Whistler Build 2250 and the "Activity Center"
- Neptune Activity Center Vid *Trimmed down*
- Windows ME Activity Centers
- Design similarities between Metro and Whistler\Neptune UI?
- Windows Neptune concepts...
- Windows Neptune Build 5111
- "MARS.EXE" Question Neputne 5111
- Neptune Activity Center Problem
- Neptune Activity Center (by KenOath)
- Windows Neptune Activity Centers Working in WindowsME & 2419
- [RELEAK] Windows Me build 2358
- Activity Centers retrospective: From ME to Neptune to XP
- Activity Centers Windows ME Millennium Edition Build 2358
External links
- Activity Centers Windows Me Neptune XP Whistler look back - Emir's BTIN Balik Tanaw / In Hindsight
- Albacore on Twitter: "Here are Microsoft's cancelled Activity Centers. An idea from 1999 all about making it easy to carry out your day to day tasks, all while harnessing the power of web technologies. Want to listen to music, edit some photos, play a game or read your mail? There's a Center for that. https://t.co/47HJO01ohS" / Twitter - Getting Neptune build 5111 Activity Centers to work on Windows ME Beta 1.
- Before Slack and Teams: The Windows Service (1998) by Ben Slivka
