If you’re bored with the Windows “crayon” (sorry, Luna) theme, you could always check out the Royale Noir theme — while waiting for a similar one to appear with Vista.

According to legend (”I read it on the Internet, so it must be true”), the theme originates from Microsoft but was never released to the public. The Royale Noir theme is supposed to be a half-made re-hash of the Royale theme, this one intended for the Windows Media Center.

Legend also has it that since the theme wasn’t really polished (and there was no reason/project to do it for), it was left to oblivion, until recently discovered/leaked by a geekster known as W3bbo (and a member of Channel Nine, a Microsoft dev site).

Since the theme is signed, you can install it without any trickery. And since it’s dark as night, it suits the current Finnish weather conditions rather fine…