Via The Verge:
Microsoft is killing off the use of its Metro design name to describe a tiled interface in Windows Phone and Windows 8. We brought you news of the change earlier today, but a tipster has provided an internal memo sent to Microsoft employees confirming the move. In it, Microsoft reveals that “discussions with an important European partner” led to the decision to “discontinue the use” of the Metro branding for Windows 8 and other Microsoft products — one that employees must adhere to immediately.
This is what sets Microsoft apart from Apple. The willingness to change things based on what one “important” partner has to say about it. Remember the Linksys iPhone? Apple just decided to use the iPhone name, even though Cisco owned the trademark. Just over a month after it was announced, Apple had an agreement with Cisco over the iPhone brand. Microsoft has talked about Metro style for years, and now one of its few brands that had a positive buzz is dead. What a shame.
