The Metro design language familiar to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and developers since 2010 is now gone. The language once known as Metro UI is now the Window 8 user interface. Reportedly, the new label is the product of a dispute with Metro Group, a European partner of Microsoft. Sources of ZD Net's Mary Jo Foley seem to have confirmed the change, but it has not yet been officially announced by Microsoft.

"Here's the official guidance, my sources say: Anything currently/formerly known as a 'Metro-Style application' (with or without a hyphen) will now be known officially as a 'Windows 8 application.' References to the 'Metro user interface' will now be replaced by 'Windows 8 user interface.' And instead of saying 'Metro design,' the Softies and those adhering to their official guidelines will be using the words 'Windows 8 design.'"

Some in the software community have expressed concern about the decision, since the design is used in several different Microsoft products with more to come. The change raises a question about what will become of the design language and its moniker in the future when Windows 9 comes around.