Microsoft's new Windows 8 logo looks like a window

Microsoft announced that Windows 8 is a complete reimagination of the Windows operating system. Nothing has been left unexplored, including the Windows logo.

Sam Moreau, principal director of user experience for Microsoft, said in a blog post that the new Windows 8 logo redesign was approached with a few key goals in mind:

1. We wanted the new logo to be both modern and classic by echoing the International Typographic Style (or Swiss design) that has been a great influence on our Metro style design philosophy. Using bold flat colours and clean lines and shapes, the new logo has the characteristics of way-finding design systems seen in airports and subways.

2. It was important that the new logo carries our Metro principle of being “Authentically Digital”. By that, we mean it does not try to emulate faux-industrial design characteristics such as materiality (glass, wood, plastic, etc.). It has motion - aligning with the fast and fluid style you’ll find throughout Windows 8.

3. Our final goal was for the new logo to be humble, yet confident. Welcoming you in with a slight tilt in perspective and when you change your colour, the logo changes to reflect you. It is a “Personal” Computer after all.

The new logo is already drawing various levels of criticism on the Web from technology blogs. 

Evolution of Microsoft's Windows logo

Mirror Mirror

The year of 2012 will see two Snow White movie releases competing for the top reflection.

This is the official trailer for Tarsem Singh's upcoming film Mirror Mirror. This is Julia Roberts' second film playing an iconic fairy tale role; two decades earlier, she played Tinkerbell in Hook. 

In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Oscar-winner Charlize Theron) out to destroy her. 

In the end, why choose?

South African Bank Notes to bear Mandela’s image

The South African Reserve Bank is pleased to announce that we are in the process of producing a new South African Bank Note series

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma holds up a banknote bearing the face of former president Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, 11 February 2012. Zuma on Saturday announced the launch of new notes bearing the image of Mandela to coincide with the 22nd anniversary of Mandela's release from prison.

Credit: Reuters/Stringer

International best practise is that the security features of bank notes are upgraded every seven to ten years, particularly given the constant improvements in technology. Such proactive upgrades endeavour to prevent counterfeiting. The current note series was upgraded in 2005, and while the security features remain effective, we decided that it was time to produce a new note series.

In consultation with President Jacob Zuma and the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, it was agreed that the new note series will be designed. The currency will have the same denominations, sizes and colours but the front of all notes will carry a specially designed engraving of former President Nelson Mandela. The reverse side of each denomination will have an image of one of the big five.

The redesign is being accompanied by a significant recapitalisation of the South African Note Company (SABN), which is being modernised with state of the art printing equipment. The upgrading also entails significant training and up-skilling of the SABN staff.

11 February 1990 stands as one of the most significant days in the history of South Africa as it is on this day, twenty-two years ago that President Nelson Mandela walked out of prison a free man. The iconic image that will be carried on the Rand, the South African currency that is widely used in Sub-Saharan Africa and traded globally, is a tribute to one of Africa and the world’s greatest leaders and statesmen.

We need to stress that the current notes remain legal tender and there will be a programme of replacement with the new notes over time. It is expected that the note will be introduced towards the end of 2012 and further details will be communicated to the public during the course of the year.

EXCLUSIVE: Charlize Theron Dogs the Fur Trade

by Paula Moore

ARCHIVE: African Mirror inc.

Oscar-winning actor Charlize Theron and her dog, Tucker, seen here in an ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have a heartfelt message for “furry” fashionistas: “If you wouldn’t wear your dog, please don’t wear any fur.”

As Theron’s ad illustrates, the only difference between our “best friends” and animals killed for their fur is how they are treated. And how they’re treated should sicken anyone who has a fur coat or fur-trimmed jacket hanging in the closet. Visit FurIsDead.com to watch the first-ever video exposé of fur farms in China - the world’s largest exporter of fur - and you’ll see what I mean.

During a year-long undercover investigation, Chinese fur farmers were caught on tape roughly grabbing animals by their hind legs and slamming them head-first against the ground, in a crude attempt to kill them. Other animals are bludgeoned with metal rods or wooden sticks. Some animals are killed, some are merely stunned. Many are skinned while they are still alive.

One investigator recorded a skinned raccoon dog, tossed onto a heap of carcasses, who had enough strength to lift his bloodied head and stare into the camera.

Why should this concern fur-wearers in South Africa? Because the globalisation of the fur trade has made it impossible to know where fur products come from. Raw-fur pelts often move through international auctions before being sewn in other countries. Even if a fur jacket was “made” in Europe, the animals were likely raised and killed somewhere else.

If you’re going to wear fur, you should watch the investigators’ video. I promise, you’ll never look at a fur coat the same way again.

Paula Moore, senior writer for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). 

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Lil Wayne - Mirror ft. Bruno Mars

Samsung announces the availability of App for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations

As an official sponsor of the Orange Africa Cup on Nations Gabon-Equatorial Guinea 2012, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., is excited to announce the availability of the ‘Africa Cup of Nations’ App, on the Samsung SA Apps store.

Says Deon Liebenberg, MD of Samsung South Africa: “As Samsung has been a long-time supporter of African football, we felt it only natural for us to invest in such an application; the application will offer fans an opportunity to keep up to date with the latest information and results around the event, with ease and while on the move.”

The application features competitions, galleries, live scores, downloads and fixtures for the 2012 tournament and is available for fans to download for free.

“We are committed to our customers and through this app we aim to offer the best possible enjoyment of the tournament. Fans can now follow the tournament passionately and not miss out as we understand that it is not always possible to catch all the live action. We, at Samsung, are again meeting the needs of our consumers - in this case sports fans - and are providing them with content that not only allows for great entertainment, but fuels the spirit of African soccer,” concludes Liebenberg.

Deon Liebenberg, MD of Samsung South Africa