Microsoft designer shares Windows 11 "dynamic wallpaper" designs that never were

zohaibahd

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In context: Nearly every major operating system comes with sleek live wallpapers. iOS has them, Android does too, and so does macOS. Microsoft had been working on a similar feature for Windows 11, but for reasons unknown, the project never made it to completion.

Former Microsoft designer Sergey Kisselev, who worked on the Windows team, has unveiled some intriguing concepts he helped develop. On Behance, you can now explore the dynamic desktop backgrounds Microsoft had been experimenting with.

Kisselev explained that these "living wallpaper" designs were initially intended for low-cost Windows devices aimed at educational users. However, the broader vision was to "celebrate a new centered signature composition for Windows 11," aligning seamlessly with the redesigned Start menu and taskbar.

The concepts shared by Kisselev are a vibrant collection, featuring gentle animations designed to introduce subtle motion to the Windows desktop. These designs showcased abstract shapes and patterns that shifted and flowed, creating a dynamic yet distinctly "Microsoft" aesthetic.

Kisselev also revealed that the wallpaper engine was designed to adapt seamlessly to both light and dark modes in Windows 11. This elegant approach could have brought a refreshing new look to the otherwise static Windows desktop.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Despite these ambitious designs – and hints of the feature appearing in Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 – dynamic wallpapers never became an official offering. According to Windows watcher Albacore, the capability has now been scrapped entirely, with the remaining traces removed in the recent 24H2 update.

This omission is puzzling, especially given that Microsoft had previously explored similar territory with the DreamScene feature in Windows Vista. DreamScene allowed users to set video files as animated wallpapers, hinting at the company's interest in dynamic desktop experiences.

So, what went wrong? It's anyone's guess. Perhaps the performance overhead of such a feature was considered too significant, or maybe Microsoft shifted its focus to other priorities in the Windows 11 development process.

The good news is that if you're open to using third-party apps, options like Wallpaper Engine on Steam can provide similar functionality.

For now, you can still admire those delightful "might-have-beens" on Kisselev's Behance. Even without the animations, some of these designs would make for sleek static backgrounds.

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Microsoft designer shares Windows 11 "dynamic wallpaper" designs that never were

 
My work PCs started changing wallpapers randomly after some update. Now I don't recognize any pc anymore from the thumbnails of my remote viewing software.
Thanks Microsoft! You're always there for my inconsistent user experience.
 
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I've always used a custom wallpaper on my PC desktops... generally a photo I took (often of my numerous Transformers)... why would I want someone else choosing what my wallpaper looks like when there are literally millions I can choose for myself?
 
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Squid Surprise said:
I've always used a custom wallpaper on my PC desktops... generally a photo I took (often of my numerous Transformers)... why would I want someone else choosing what my wallpaper looks like when there are literally millions I can choose for myself?
Click to expand...
We are nerds. We want to tinker and play with our tech. But most people just want to use their computer to get something done and be done with it. Those people have MS or their IT administrator choose their wallpapers.

In fact I just looked, my iphone 15 pro max still has its factory wallpaper on it. I have had that phone for over a year, clearly I dont care either.
 
manowar51 said:
We are nerds. We want to tinker and play with our tech. But most people just want to use their computer to get something done and be done with it. Those people have MS or their IT administrator choose their wallpapers.

In fact I just looked, my iphone 15 pro max still has its factory wallpaper on it. I have had that phone for over a year, clearly I dont care either.
Click to expand...
Yes... but not caring is different from wanting someone else (aka MS) choosing "special" wallpapers for me... I understand if you just go the "default" route - but if you want something "special", wouldn't YOU rather be the person who picks it out?
 
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Good...the more MS try and do this sort of bloatware nonsense the worse Windows gets.

Any MS effort would have been a CPU hog and used 3 times as much RAM as necessary and no doubt broken numerous games.
 
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Is it only me, or does anyone else feel that mish-mash of random color splotches, misguided attempt at abstract art, hideous?

If you want wallpaper on any topic, that caters to pretty much every taste imaginable, go to Alpha coders https://wall.alphacoders.com/

If you want monstrosities like that in this article, then by all means, stick with M$.
 
On a slightly different note, I don't get wallpapers. Since Windows 95, I have been using the default wallpaper. For my current Windows 11, it is the default "Bloom" wallpaper and has been for years.
 
manowar51 said:
Those people have MS or their IT administrator choose their wallpapers.
Click to expand...
I remember 'hacking' my works PC with its enforced setup, back when we moved from SunSparcs in '93, to a plain colour to reduce the memory wasted by the corporate wallpaper. I felt it made a difference, at least to my operating ability.
 
Squid Surprise said:
Yes... but not caring is different from wanting someone else (aka MS) choosing "special" wallpapers for me... I understand if you just go the "default" route - but if you want something "special", wouldn't YOU rather be the person who picks it out?
Click to expand...
Not really, no. I've used Bing Wallpaper for years on all my PC's because it gives me something new to look at every day, complete with description of where to find the thing/place. Besides the photos are just well made, high res and often interesting in their own right. Also, I don't have to spend time to look for some wallpapers myself.
In the last years Microsoft integrated an equivalent fuction as Windows Spotlight into Win10/11. If you don't want to use it, then don't. Set your background to whatever you desire, but understand, that some people might enjoy having something nice to look at without putting in the work.
 
This omission is puzzling, especially given that Microsoft had previously explored similar territory with the DreamScene feature in Windows Vista. DreamScene allowed users to set video files as animated wallpapers, hinting at the company's interest in dynamic desktop experiences.

Previously they had the Microsoft Plus pack for windows 95 which also had dynamic wallpapers and I miss being able to have an animated gif as a wallpaper
 
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Athlonite69 said:
This omission is puzzling, especially given that Microsoft had previously explored similar territory with the DreamScene feature in Windows Vista. DreamScene allowed users to set video files as animated wallpapers, hinting at the company's interest in dynamic desktop experiences.
Click to expand...
Actually it's not the least bit puzzling. M$ is so busy, trying to upload your data, stuff AI down your throat, and finding new ways of selling you more of their products, that they really don't want to waste employee's time developing frills that customers might enjoy.

And then there's the issue of repairing updates that break customer's machines.

Despite the fact that it blew up in their face, the Windows 8 desktop wasn't all that bad of a concept, particularly for business machines. You have to figure many people were on their phones riding the train to work. So, confronting the same type of interface at work, (theoretically), would have almost forced employees to "hit the ground running" so to speak. It bombed badly, It seems that people were sick of looking at their phones by the time they got to work. Whoops, and a revolt was born

As to GIFs, I sort of have mixed feelings about them as wallpaper. But then, my principal exposure to them is when they're used by someone out to make a strong point in forum posts.

I could definitely live without the wallpaper dancing around under my carefully placed icons. Video seems even less desirable. I do however, set my wallpaper stills set to change as frequently as Windows will allow.

I usually do a lot of post processing on found images. Mostly sharpening, color saturation, contrast, (getting rid of watermarks, shush, nothing get resold), correcting skin tones on people pics, and what have you. The images can be excellent, while at the same time being lackluster and needing a fair amount of pop put into them.

As for the "art photography" coming out of eastern Europe and Russia these days. it seems every female on the continent imagines themself a super model. Sadly, 99 out of 100 are badly mistaken. Maybe this whole AI "grow her the way you want her", isn't such a bad thing after all. Jus' Sayin'
 
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