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Microsoft Drops 'Metro' Name For Windows 8 UI

Posted by Soulskill on from the a-rose-by-any-other-name-would-look-as-blocky dept.

hawkinspeter writes "The BBC is reporting that Microsoft is dropping the 'Metro' name for the new Windows 8 UI. Apparently, the catchy new name they've settled on is 'Windows 8 style UI!' This has happened due to a (potential) trademark dispute with Metro AG, a German retail giant. Microsoft said, '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 dialogue to a broad consumer dialogue we will use our commercial names.' I'm wondering if Microsoft planned this to get publicity for their new OS and UI or whether they just forget to check on how 'Metro' is used around the world."

11 of 356 comments (clear)

  1. Codenames are common. by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Me for stuff I work on I give my products Latin Code Names for the product. That give me time to get the product done and working well before I can come up with a more creative or marketing friendly name.

    The code name Metro doesn't really tell us anything, it is just a place holder name to work on your project... Mainly because all your code is placed in a folder with a name and in a project with a name.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    1. Re:Codenames are common. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Not strictly true. Metro was chosen originally for the UI because the tiles slide from side to side, like the windows of a metro train when you're standing on the platform.

      Dont ask how i know. ;)

    2. Re:Codenames are common. by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Remember when Carl Sagan got upset with Apple for using Carl Sagan as a code name for the Power Mac 7100? They renamed the project BHA for "Butt-Head Astronomer".

    3. Re:Codenames are common. by camperdave · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Not strictly true. Metro was chosen originally for the UI because the tiles slide from side to side, like the windows of a metro train when you're standing on the platform.

      Dont ask how i know. ;)

      Close. Microsoft's design team says that the Metro UI is partly inspired by signs commonly found at public transport systems, for instance on the King County Metro transit system, which serves the Seattle area where Microsoft is headquartered.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    4. Re:Codenames are common. by todfm · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You have the wrong username, because I don't think you CAN read. Carl Sagan was a code name. I wasn't used in public. And last I checked you have the freedom to express negative opinions about buttheads all you want.

  2. isn't it ridiculous? by circletimessquare · · Score: 5, Interesting

    just look up metro on google

    a bunch of transit authorities use the word, there's metroPCS, some library consortium, a few other government entities, etc.

    clearly, the word is common and abstract enough that anyone can claim it's usage

    trademark law, copyright law, intellectual property: it is such an absurd, useless pox on civilization. i foresee and fervently hope that history will write of this century about how the whole concept of intellectual property law became abolished. it's such useless wasteful, lawyer mongering nonsense by trolls

    we really need to just lose the entire concept of intellectual property from our societies. it is utterly destructive to the free flow of culture and ideas and does NOT do what it purports to do: protect creators. no, it empowers litigious rent-seeking parasites. so much wasted money energy and time

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
    1. Re:isn't it ridiculous? by Vanderhoth · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I'd guess that over the last year there has been a huge amount of bad press from tech forms and publications where authors have written about how much they hate metro. Changing the name is MS way of re-branding the UI and getting away from the bad press.

      The same sort of thing happened with vista, there was a ton of press on the OS when it went by it's "code name" Longhorn before it was released, a lot of the press was pretty bad. So MS changed the name to Vista just before the release to re-brand it at the last minute and confuse the public. It's the equivalent to "Oh! I read this really terrible review about Longhorn, I'm not putting that on my machine. What's this? Vista! Well I haven't read anything bad about that I'll give it a try!"

    2. Re:isn't it ridiculous? by ceoyoyo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      My guess is that Microsoft is using it as an excuse to yank the Metro name, in line with the old theory that changing the name gets rid of the bad connotations.

  3. Not Chicago by michaelmalak · · Score: 3, Interesting

    No, Metro was supposed to be more than e.g the "Chicago" codename for Windows 95. Microsoft promotional materials showed photos of the New York subway signs to illustrate the big bold fonts and clutter-free design they were after.

  4. The real reason by JDG1980 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I don't believe that this is the real reason Microsoft is changing the branding. If they thought it was valuable enough to keep, they would fight for it. But among tech-savvy users, Metro has become a punchline and a negative brand, just like Vista. I smell another Mojave coming up.

  5. Re:Hows the Obama doing for unemployed geeks? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Political trolls should be ground up and fed to regular trolls.

    Vote AC in 2012