Windows 8 Style Apps?

2 Replies

Windows 8 Style Apps?

While watching the live video from the Microsoft Office Preview event, me and my colleagues all had the same reaction (almost simultaneously in different locations) and we posted it to Twitter at roughly the same time:

Microsoft all made us scratch our heads because I think we’ve all gotten used to the term “Metro style apps”.  Originally this term seemed awkward (especially the use of the work ‘style’ in it), but we all got used to it.  We wrote posts about it.  We gave presentations about it.  The term maybe even grew on us a bit.  So now Microsoft seems like they’re going to replace it with “Windows 8 Style Applications”?  Immediate reaction from my colleague @brianlagunas:

I think we’ve had some time to digest this (pun intended) and maybe it’s time to revisit the term and whether or not Microsoft meant this as a replacement term because I have my doubts.  Here’s my theory:

There is a lot of confusion in the software world regarding the Metro design language.  For starters, when it is applied to an immersive, full-screen Windows 8 application that is launched from the Start screen, we have been calling that a “Metro style app”.  But what do you call a desktop application running on Windows 8 that has been styled using the Metro design language in an attempt to fit in with the system even though it is running in the classic desktop?  It is still technically “Metro style”.  Is it possible that Microsoft was just referring to this scenario?  That’s my theory at the moment but I’d really like some clarification from Microsoft on this soon.  It’s hard to communicate these things to customers when there are competing terms floating around.

What are your thoughts?  I’d really be interested in hearing them, so comment on this post or find me on Twitter @brentschooley.

Related posts:

  1. Filling in the UX Gaps in Metro style Apps – TechBash Edition
  2. Windows 8 Consumer Preview Installation Experience (with screenshots!)
  3. Metro Snack #1: Choosing XAML or HTML5 for Windows Developer Preview apps
  4. Metro WebView Source and HTML workarounds
  • http://elegantcode.com Brian Lagunas

    I think it’s great you are giving Microsoft the benfit of the doubt. Let’s say that they absolutely intended to distiguish between all Metro designed apps (desktop, Windows Phone, etc..) and the apps formally known as “Metro Style” that are “fast and fluid” and run full screen in Windows 8. I still don’t believe that “Windows 8 Style” apps would help the cause. Windows 8 is made up of two sides; desktop experince and the tablet experience. Both of those comprise Windows 8. So technically both desktop apps and the tabekts apps are Windows 8 apps.
    I think it is good to differentiate bewteen desktop and tablet applications. A “Metro Style” application should probably refer to any application that is built using the metro design language. I can totally agree with that. No matter what device or form factor, if it’s metro by design, it should be considered a “Metro Style” application. Cool I get it. I can live with that.
    Now, the task of naming the apps formally known as “Metro Style” apps. I don’t have the answer here. They could take a page out of Prince’s (or the artist formally known a Prince.. whatever) book and just give it a symbol. Microsoft just recenlty announced their new Surface device, so maybe we just refer to them as Surface apps. I don’t now. I guess I will just sit back and see what MS will do next. Or take the bull by the horns and just make up my own terminology and see what happens :0). Should be fun either way.

    • Brent Schooley

      Me and Nick were just discussing similar. All I know is some sort of disambiguation is needed. We keep coming up with terms like “Metro themed” or “Metro-like” or “Metro’ish” to describe something that’s not a Windows 8 app that uses the Metro design language. Would be really cool if we didn’t have to be so creative.

      Also, this might be one of the few times I’ve given Microsoft “the benefit of the doubt”. Note it, it doesn’t happen often.