Once it was called Sparkle.

Then, Microsoft Interactive Designer.

Now it looks like they are calling EID "Blend". And making it look pretty hip too.

Long Zheng got the skinny.

"We all know Microsoft Expression is a set of graphics-creation applications for uses of image composition, interface design and website design, with the names of Graphics Designer, Interactive Designer and Web Designer respectively. So what is Blend? It was clear from the functionality and tools (e.g. timeline editor), this was is Interactive Designer. Therefore, I speculate Blend is the official name crafted by the branding team to make the product hip. Although I think Interactive Designer makes a lot more sense, but when has common sense ever been marketable, right?"

No wonder they haven't been spreading the love on the CTPs recently (which is a shame because running Sept CTP of EID made my .NET 3.0 RTM machine go bananas when I tried it).

While we are talking about Long Zheng (I love his blog) check out his piece on the Vista multi-dimensional scrolling and Royale Noir, the secret (black) XP theme that we werent supposed to see.