Turns out that Bill Gates was not the only famous Microsoft identity to be spotted at the Olympic opening ceremony.
Numerous bloggers also observed the cameo played by the so-called Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) - the Windows error screen that flashes up on your computer, signifying that it's time to reboot.
The screen was projected onto the roof of the National Stadium during the grand finale to the four-hour spectacular as veteran Chinese gymnast Li Ning, suspended 70 metres above the stadium floor, "jogged" towards the Olympic torch.
The BSoD message begins with the following sentence: "A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer."
Usually, the only way to remove the BSoD is to restart your computer pressing the Ctrl+Alt+Delete buttons at the same time.
Images of the malfunction have popped up on Chinese forum sites showing the clearly visible error message projection.
The ceremony, which featured 14,000 performers depicting 5000 years of Chinese history, also involved the use of advanced technology to control the sound, lights and projectors.
At various times during the event, images of whales, clouds, and the faces of young children were superimposed on the roof the stadium - also known as the Bird's Nest.
Off The Field - News - Olympics - smh.com.au