Download nostalgic with new Microsoft Teams backgrounds – windows XP. It’s that time of the week again: #ThrowbackThursday. The day we reflect on old pictures, funny GIFs, and the nostalgic moments that have defined us over the years.
Because a little trip down memory lane can be good for the soul, and because after well over a year of remote and hybrid work we could all use some excitement on video calls, we asked our designers to give a few memorable Microsoft moments their debut as Microsoft Teams backgrounds.
Invite Clippy to your next Microsoft Teams meeting
The standouts have cemented their place in Microsoft history for different reasons, for better or worse—including Clippy. Whether you love or loathe Clippy, it’s hard to not smile—just admit it—when you see it pop up in a meme somewhere. We know the feelings can be complex. You may think Clippy was too persistent, too eager, perhaps even too polite. We like to think that Clippy, the true OG virtual assistant, was just a bit ahead of its time. No, Clippy is not a part of Microsoft 365, but regardless, we can only hope that this high-definition portrait of it as your next Teams background will bring some levity to your next meeting. It’s okay, Clippy’s in on the joke.
Show your hand with Solitaire
This past May, Microsoft Solitaire celebrated its 31st birthday (er, anniversary). The game, which first appeared in Windows 3.0 in 1990, was inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame in 2019 and remains one of the most played video games of all time. Solitaire was also cutting edge without knowing it. Before meditation apps and scheduled breaks, Solitaire was just subtly there when you needed a little brain break. It may have been a bit taboo to be caught playing it at the office back in the day, but now we know your brain really needs those breaks, and that taking them actually increases your productivity, so play away.
Bliss-fully attend your next meeting
In 1996, Charles O’Rear took a photograph in the Los Carneros American Viticultural Area of California’s Wine Country. Microsoft bought the rights to the stunning image, Bliss, and eventually chose it as the default wallpaper for Windows XP which was released nearly two decades ago in 2001. It’s estimated that billions of people have seen the picture, making it one of the most viewed photographs in history. The original was a virtually unedited photograph—seriously, #nofilter—but for a new take on the lush landscape for your Teams meetings, we shifted the shadows, softened the clouds, and added a dappling of dandelions across the field.
Get creative with Microsoft Paint
Last but not least, our designers created a Teams background with a fresh take on Paint. A product of the 1980s, Paint was first introduced in November 1985 as part of the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0. And while the original Paint is still loved by many artists in the making, its successor Paint 3D was eventually released in 2017. Next time you need creative inspiration, post this up on your Teams call. Or take it a step further by opening Microsoft Paint and letting your inner Van Gogh go wild.
We hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane. If you’re ready to bring more nostalgia to your next Teams meeting (or Skype), the backgrounds are ready to download here and use today.
