Windows Store goes past 20,000 apps

The Windows Store in Windows 8 has gone past 20,000 apps after almost a month since its launch. The Windows 8 store added 7,000 apps in the last two weeks. Though it's not known when it hit the landmark, but Win App Update, which keeps tracks of the totals, claims the Windows Store hit the milestone on Tuesday this week.

According to Win App Update, about 17,958 of the apps (87 percent) are free. It's notable not all apps are available in all regions and languages. Almost 13,000 of those are available in the U.S., 14,000 in Canada and 11,000 in the U.K.

Earlier this month, the Windows 8 store had about 12,895 apps. This means the store went on to add about 7,715 apps in the last 17 days, averaging more than 453 apps per day. The milestone means the Windows store's growth has once again accelerated, as it initially averaged 500 apps additions daily and then dipped to 300 apps per day recently.

At this rate, the Windows 8 store is estimated to go past 30,000 mark by end of this year or may close in on 40,000 apps. The coming holiday season may see developers adding more apps to Windows 8. Developers would be looking to cash in on 'massive' sales of the Windows 8-ready devices around the world.

The Windows 8 store is likely to see 'new-style' apps, which are optimised for the Metro UI. Check out The 10 best new-style Windows 8 apps.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Apps/Windows-Store-goes-past-20000-apps_11481.html

Microsoft to replace Metro UI codename with Modern UI

Microsoft was recently in trouble for using “Metro UI” for its tablet and smartphone interface. The Metro UI name, that originally began as a codename, stuck on in the final version of Microsoft’s mobile OS, Windows Phone 7 and translated to their new desktop OS, Windows 8.

Recently, we reported that Microsoft would be changing the “Metro UI” name but the new and final name wasn't clear. For some time we thought it would be replaced with Windows 8, leading to Windows 8 UI, or Windows 8 apps, etc.

Lately, however, Microsoft representatives have started calling the new OS UI as the “Modern UI Style”.  As reported by The Verge, employees are calling referencing the new name in blog posts and training courses, with examples like - Modern UI design language and principles, Modern UI Style apps, and Modern UI Style UI (this last indicates it might be a rushed copy-paste job). Check out one blog post example, here.

It is still unclear whether this will be the final name, or if Modern UI is another placeholder till Microsoft decides on another one. The change in name from Metro UI started when Microsoft started facing copyright infringement issues.

During the development of the Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft used a variety of names like immersive, modern, fast, and fluid to describe its new desktop operating system. But the most common name that the company used and the one which stuck was the “Metro-style”.

The launch of the new OS is just around the corner and we are wondering whether this is the final name of the OS or will we see some more tweaks and changes as far as the naming game is concerned.

Windows 8 is expected to launch on October 26. You can read everything about Windows 8 here.

What do you think? Is the change in the name of the UI, apps and interface really that big a deal? Let us know in the comment section below.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Software/Microsoft-to-replace-Metro-UI-codename-with_10458.html

Microsoft dropping 'Metro' name in Windows 8

Since Microsoft first showed off Windows 8 last year, the company has consistently referenced the operating system's dual interfaces - the standard, Windows desktop with which we're all familiar and the more mobile-friendly Metro-style option that replaces icons with apps.

Now it appears that we will bid adieu to the phrase "Metro style" before Windows 8 makes its official debut in October.

"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," a Microsoft spokeswoman said in a statement today.

News of the switch was first reported yesterday by The Verge, which said Microsoft was notifying its developers not to use the word "Metro" within their apps and swap that term for "New User Interface."

Despite the insistence from Redmond that Metro is simply a code name that it always planned to phase out, there are reports that the move was prompted by a trademark challenge from Germany-based Metro AG.

Metro AG did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Verge later pointed to an internal memo from Microsoft to its employees, which said that "discussions with an important European partner" prompted it to ditch the Metro moniker.

At the Windows 8 Consumer Preview launch in Barcelona earlier this year, Microsoft handed out a product guide that included a brief section on Metro style app principles.

"More than just an app platform, Metro style is a design philosophy that helps you build attractive, easy-to-use apps that will delight your customers with their intuitive and common interaction model," the guide said.

Common principles associated with Metro-type apps, according to Microsoft, include: fast and fluid; support for multiple states; support for the right contracts; live tiles; and settings and data that roam through the cloud.

The news comes several days after Microsoft released Windows 8 to manufacturers. It will roll out to several other groups in the coming weeks before its general availability on Oct. 26.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Software/Microsoft-dropping-Metro-name-in-Windows-8_10363.html