While the world has gotten used to the Metro UI term used to describe the ‘new look and feel’ of the tiled layout in Windows 8, certain disputes have led the Redmond-based giant to search for an alternative. And guess what they might land up calling it? The Windows 8 interface.
The Metro UI which first appeared as a part of the Media Center and Zune software, is actually a codename that managed to stick as a branding with the Windows Phone 7 platform taking flight. And based on a report, the moniker is going through its final days, after which it will no longer used to represent the interface via any source including documents, packaging, websites, training materials and so on.
Sources told ZDNet, “Anything currently/formerly known as a ‘Metro-Style application’ (with or without a hyphen) will now be known officially as a ‘Windows 8 application.’ References to the ‘Metro user interface’ will now be replaced by ‘Windows 8 user interface.’ And instead of saying ‘Metro design,’ the Softies and those adhering to their official guidelines will be using the words ‘Windows 8 design.’”
It looks like a couple of OEMs have been updated with the recent change as well. While applications designed specifically for the tiled UI fall under the Metro apps category, Lenovo’s recently unveiled ThinkPad Tablet 2 product page states ‘Windows 8 Apps’ under highlighted features, in place of the former. And where the WP8 platform is concerned, the tech giant will seemingly adopt the same approach reported for the desktop OS.
Microsoft hasn’t officially announced anything as yet, but taking the easy road and changing the Metro UI moniker to just the Windows 8 interface sounds like a good enough plan.