For more posts in this series, see the series index.
During development of Zune, then Windows Phone and finally Windows 8 the term Metro was used to define the UI design style, this was later extended to explain what a desktop app is versus a Windows 8 app is. However Microsoft has stopped using the name and recommended developers stop using the name too so what should we call these things?
Metro apps – these are now called Windows Store apps. Visual Studio uses this name too so shouldn’t be too surprising. Note one pedantic pro-tip: app’s is ALWAYS lowercase.
Metro as in the style – As I explained Metro started out as a way to explain the UI design, that is now known as the Microsoft design style.
Metro principals – Finally we often talk of the 8 traits or principals of a great Metro Windows Store app and one of those is Embrace Metro Windows design style principals:
- Show pride in craftsmanship
- Do more with less
- Be fast and fluid
- Be authentically digital
- Win as one
Source: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh464920.aspx