Apparently Microsoft could be on the way to ceasing use of the name Metro UI for it’s trademark User interface in use for Windows 8 and Windows 7.5. That is if The Verge is to be believed that Microsoft is notifying all Windows developers and employees to stop using the Metro brand when referring to the Windows 8 user interface. Apparently the name Metro is a trademark associated to a German retail giant Metro AG. So developers have been told that for the time being they should call it “Windows 8 style UI” and not Metro UI.
Microsoft has allegedly confirmed this move, a spokesperson told The Verge:
“We have used Metro style as a code name during the product development cycle across many of our product lines. As we get closer to launch and transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog, we will use our commercial names.” In documents mailed to developers and media earlier this year, Microsoft said it selected Metro because the name is “modern and clean. It’s fast and in motion.”
Img source: Techdows.com
Before everyone gets in a panic, its just the name “Metro” that is getting changed. not the design language. Really the only people who knew what “metro” was were techies. The design name could have been “BigBlockSquares” and the majority of consumers would not care.
Thanks for that, but remember they will also need to come up with a nice name that people will want to remember if they like the UI, like what HTC did with Sense, Samsung with TouchWiz and the Sony UI for Sony Xperia.