Microsoft: Metro is dead, long live Metro
Microsoft has confirmed plans to rename its Metro UI, following rumours of a copyright claim against the company.
The good news is that Microsoft has decided that Metro UI will be no more, and won't be appearing in any future version of Windows. The bad news: that's only because it's renaming the system to an as-yet unconfirmed release name.
According to ZDNet, the reason for Microsoft's sudden departure from the Metro name is a pending copyright dispute with an unnamed company, while The Verge is more specific with its claims of a leaked internal memo which blames the sudden shift in branding on 'discussions with an important European partner.' That partner, The Verge claims, is German company Metro AG.
Microsoft is adamant that, while the rumour of a pending last-minute rename is true, it has nothing to do with any potential copyright claims. 'We have used "Metro style" as a code-name during the product development cycle across many of our product lines,' a Microsoft spokesperson claimed in a statement to press, referring to Windows Phone, Windows 8, Windows RT, Outlook, Office and the Xbox 360 Dashboard, all of which use what was previously known as the Metro UI. 'As we get closer to launch and transition from industry dialogue to a broader consumer dialogue, we will use our commercial names.'
That transition is coming at the very last possible moment, however: the company announced Release To Manufacturing for Windows 8 on the 1st of August, but won't be officially announcing the 'commercial name' for the-interface-previously-known-as-Metro-UI until some time next week.
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19 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplySame here I thought, they were getting rid of the stupid metro interface fully but I was wrong so still no windows 8 for me.
Me too!
Damage control for the 0.001% of people in the world who have even heard of "Metro UI" because they're on tech forums like Bit-Tech?
*Most* people don't even know Windows 8 is coming out soon let alone know that it's got a different user-interface.
Besides, if Microsoft were so worried about reputations, they'd have rebranded THEMSELVES years ago!
I would normally agree with Aracos, but the 1 and only thing that makes him wrong is from what I recall, the name Metro isn't actually used in Windows 8 - it's just called the Start Screen. This means that no matter what they change it to, people aren't really going to know the difference.
I would have to disagree with MS rebranding themselves. While to tech people they really do have a bad reputation, most people and companies still associate them as a succesful company, which is why they're still by far the most popular in PCs. Besides, they're big enough that if they changed the name, everyone would know.
It was a joke...
*sigh*
Since we're less than 0.00001% of the market I have a feeling Microsoft does not care
Vista still sold well despite its slating from most foke.
Hardcore enthusaists are very few, but general computer enthusiasts are higher than the number of linux users (considering that like 99% of all linux users are enthusiasts of some degree, and there are PLENTY of enthusaists who have never used linux) and linux usage is around 2% I think?
In a general economic standpoint, Vista sold well. Compared to MS's other OSes, it did pretty bad. Let's face it - Vista did poorly enough that I've been finding software compatible with XP and 7 but actaully skips over Vista.
@XXAOSICXX
No need to be condescending about it... the idea wasn't entirely unreasonable.
Pretty much anything that goes on 7 will go on Vista. They are pretty much the same O/S
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/06/windows-8-may-not-let-you-boot-to-the-desktop/
Metro is now being called "modern" and "Windows 8," depending on context. How terribly dull.