If you're not a fan of the Windows Phone-inspired Metro UI found in Windows 8 and Windows RT, we've got some good news and bad news.
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.
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.
MSI MPG Velox 100R Chassis Review
October 14 2021 | 15:04
Want to comment? Please log in.