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Many Windows enthusiasts like the Aero blur effect. In Windows, blur has existed in some form for a long time, and after years of development, the Aero effect is still the standard for some people. Software archaeologists have discovered what may be the first instance of Aero effects running on a Windows version. A Twitter user named evil_pro_ tested the impact on actual hardware running Windows Longhorn build 4020 (via Albacore on Twitter). The code for this effect is in versions 4015 and 4017, but it is reported to work differently from version 4020.

The Longhorn build included several features during its initial development, but due to several issues, the branch was reset in 2004. Although Microsoft had to start over, some elements of Longhorn have entered later versions of Windows, including the Aero effect in Windows Vista.

The desktop portfolio research is worth it! I am glad to let you see the earliest "Aero" frame hidden in build 4020 for the first time. Thank you @evil_pro_ for testing on real hardware. At this time, only window icons and title buttons use textures, and the frame is a D3D grid image. twitter.com/HA1nz9Yxzl

The Aero blur effect uses PC graphics to render part of the Windows interface. Since then, Microsoft has taken a different approach to obscuring the elements of its operating system. Windows 11 has a mica effect that uses less system resources because it only samples the desktop wallpaper once. This allows the PC to blur certain parts of the screen without having to continuously sample anything behind the active window.

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