After two and a half decades of using the old logo, Microsoft has brought in a new look, making it the fifth emblem since the company's inception in 1975. This was announced in an official blog post by Jeff Hansen — General Manager, Brand Strategy. The new logo will now be used in every MS product, as Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, Office, and the Xbox move towards a unifying look and feel in the near future. Could this be a hint about the next-generation Xbox sporting a Windows 8 based OS?

With the official unveiling, the logo change has already been rolled out on Microsoft's site, while its retail stores all over the world will sport the new symbol in a few months, probably in time for the launch of Windows 8. The next few months will be an important time for the software giant, as its new OS, mobile platform, and office suite all release within quick succession. Needless to say, you can expect major changes in the X360's interface as well — which has to be said, is a welcome move. Hopefully, considering the Redmond-based company's shift towards "simplicity" in its OS, it will be able to match the intuitiveness and elegance of the PlayStation's XMB interface.

The new symbol harks back to the Windows 95 logo and the commercial used for promoting it, shown below. If you suffer from epilepsy though, you probably do not want to see this one.
 

Finally, here's a quick look at the evolution of MS logos since Bill Gates and Paul Allen co-founded the company in 1975. If there's one thing that can be said of MS, it's that it has no idea what constitutes a cool emblem.