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There is no dearth of those who would like to see nothing more than a mea culpa from Microsoft apologizing for wrongly trying to shove the Metro design language down their throats with Windows 8. But we’re sure these critics wouldn’t mind an unceremonious dumping of Metro one bit either. And guess what? Microsoft has just granted their wish by quietly doing away with Metro. But unfortunately, the company is merely getting rid of the name and not the typography-based design language itself.
Despite initial reports suggesting that the decision to dump the name is meant to avoid a legal dispute with Metro AG, which owns the trademark for the name Metro in its native Germany, Microsoft is saying otherwise.
“We have used Metro style as a code name during the product development cycle across many of our product lines,” a spokesperson for the company told veteran Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley (ZDNet). “As we get closer to launch and transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog we will use our commercial names.”
The Verge claims to have gotten its hands on an internal company memo apprising employees of Microsoft’s decision to discontinue the name with immediate effect. According to the memo, Microsoft arrived at this decision following “discussions with an important European partner.” Further, the company expects to “land” on a replacement term by the end of the current week.
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maxeeemum
August 04, 2012 at 9:28pm
Lets face it M$ finally sees Windows 8 will be a huge failure. It looks like they release the RTM version and their is a manufacturer revolt. Two days after the RTM Microsoft states "Metro" will not be used. To me it looks like the PC makers are saying WTF we're going to take a beating.
It should be interesting to see what M$ will try to pull next. If big changes to Win8 are not made this will be M$ biggest failure to date.
maxeeemum
August 03, 2012 at 4:20pm
You nailed it! I was thinking the same thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXrKO33Rc2g
John Pombrio
August 03, 2012 at 11:22am
HP split into two companies, HP and Agilent. The Agilent HTTP name was owned by some small company so Agilent had to use www.agilenttech.com for a while until money could slip under the table and they bought the name.
By dropping Metro for a bit, it gives MS an edge to pay less for the privilege of getting Metro AG to agree to let MS use the name.
You watch. Metro will be back in a couple of months and Metro AG will be richer by a few million dollars.
bloodgain
August 03, 2012 at 11:47am
Unlikely. Metro AG is one of the world's largest retailers -- we're talking Top 5 in revenue. This scenario is roughly like Microsoft paying The Kroger Co. enough money for the rights to use their name on a Microsoft product in the US. Kroger is one spot higher on the list, with similar revenue.
Newk Yuler
August 03, 2012 at 10:40am
I'll use the term "Metro" for the Windows 8 UI for as long as there's a need to remember Windows 8. The name has suddenly become an officially denigrating stamp.
Watching MS attempt subtle damage control in preparation for Win 8 is fun and entertaining!
iheartpcs
August 03, 2012 at 8:45am
“As we get closer to launch and transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog we will use our commercial names.”
That's a blatant lie. If it was true, they would have been using the commercial name all along. What kind of company uses a name for the MAIN aspect of their OS and then decides to change it (to what? no one knows!) 2 months before release?
I'm starting to wonder if MS is messing Win 8 up (in all aspects - product design, marketing, etc.) on purpose to increase sales of Win 7.
None of this Win 8 experience makes sense. Average PC users come into my shop and have no idea that Win 8 is coming out. Apple users know a year ahead when a new phone/os is coming out.
I remember when Win 95 was released and you couldn't turn on the TV without hearing the Stones lol. Now THAT was marketing.
mellamojay
August 03, 2012 at 9:30am
No that is complete BS. Most Mac users have no damn idea when the next os from apple is coming out and saying different is a lie. The ones that do know it is coming out are the tech savvy Mac users just like the tech savvy Windows users know when the next Microsoft os is coming out. Also, Microsoft is not going to purposely screw up an OS for the sole purpose of boosting the sales of the previous OS because that makes zero sense. If windows 7 was not good enough to upgrade to why would Windows 8 being crap make a person want to upgrade?
Also your experience with people coming into your shop not knowing about windows 8 is a TERRIBLE example of the knowledge of the general population regarding windows 8. The people who come to your shop, a pc repair shop, are non tech savvy people who don't know a damn thing about computers hence going to your shop. Their lack of knowledge on the subject is like saying no one knows about the new Ford Fiesta coming out because the people going to jiffy lube for an oil change don't know about it.
Microsoft is doing their standard cycle nothing more nothing less. An amazing break through OS (Windows 7 & XP) then an attempt at improvements that is at best slightly better Windows 2000) or complete crap (Windows Vista). From everything I have seen in the Windows 8 releases, Windows 8 will be another Windows 2000 type OS that it is fine but nothing that will blow you away.
Eoraptor
August 03, 2012 at 8:33am
"hey! if we get rid of this name everyone is spitting on, everyone will love our new product!"
nice reasoning there microsoft.
Morete
August 03, 2012 at 5:44am
For the love of the spaghetti bowl in the sky, just don't give it a Linux distro name.
loozer
August 03, 2012 at 5:33am
Probably something stupid, like RT, or Runtime, or Really, we think you're stupid.
Not that it matters. "metro" style apps on windows 8 are worthless anyways. I hope the windows store dies a painful death.
dentaku
August 03, 2012 at 5:09am
I wonder what the Loudermilks are going to do now :)
They recently changed their podcast name to
http://themetrodevelopershow.com/MS rarely keeps their code names once a product RTMs so this isn't surprising.
