Windows 8 installation screenshot leak hints at Metro UI

By Tom Warren, on 29th Mar 11 7:51 pm with 34 Comments

A recent Windows 8 setup screenshot hints that the company could be planning a Metro UI look and feel for Windows 8.

Microsoft’s Metro design language is an internal code name for a typography-based design languages created and used by the company. Microsoft originally started using Metro in Media Center and showcased a full version in the company’s Zune products. Microsoft’s latest mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7, also features the Metro look and feel throughout. Microsoft has started to use the Metro UI on more of its web properties to produce a clean, fast and simple look.

The setup screenshot from build 7955 of Windows 8, leaked onto the Internet on Tuesday. Forum users at My Digital Life posted several versions of the Windows 8 setup routine. The screenshots appear to confirm that Microsoft is looking to its Metro design language for the next generation of Windows. Microsoft is also expected to include some Metro UI elements in the next Office version.

Leaked screenshots, posted earlier this month, also show a flattened Metro UI interface codenamed “Aero Lite”.  The screenshots show a flattened interface consistent with Microsoft’s Metro UI. Microsoft’s primary Windows 8 interface is believed to be fully 3D. The interface will be “fully dynamic” and able to adapt to user habits. Icons and shortcuts will adapt to different usage scenarios to speed up daily tasks. Windows 8 is also rumored to include a new fast hibernation system. The system will hibernate in around three to six seconds and save all open documents and running tasks. Rumors suggest that Microsoft will create a dual-UI for Windows 8. A tile-based user interface codenamed “Mosh” will reportedly be included.

Microsoft has so far been extremely quiet on the Windows 8 front. Windows Chief, Steven Sinofsky, took to the stage at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January to introduce a technology preview of Microsoft’s Windows ARM support and show off an early build of Windows 8. Microsoft is partnering with ARM-based manufactures NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments to produce new Tablet devices.

Microsoft has started to distribute Windows 8 builds to key OEM partners via its Connect testing site. The company has distributed build 7971.0.110324-1900 to OEMs in a special invite only “Windows 8 and Server vNext Pre-Release Program.”

Thanks to Winreview for second screenshots.

Windows 8 installer

 

Windows 8 installation

  • Frylockns86

    Whoa! That actually looks quite sexy!

  • http://openid.tomservo.eu/ Tom Servo

    I hope the Metro guided UI changes in Windows 8 will get rid of that ugly-ass green progress bar.

    • Anonymous

      There’s still a chance…

    • trashoner

      same here. I hate the green. even if they changed the color I would be much happier then.

    • GP007

      Better yet if they let you change the color yourself like before. I remember in older versions, XP and older, you could change it. Well, it would just be whatever your window color was iirc, but it was something.

    • Anonymous

      I agree but at the same time what colour could they choose? Red would be wrong portraying danger or errors. Yellow too bright and blue too Mac. I think they’re stuck with green

  • http://twitter.com/Sszecret Florin ✔

    This gets more and more interesting by the day. I won’t be surprised to see a build leak ahead of the beta release somewhere in september this year. (so I’ve heard) It would be nice if Windows vNext (I really hope they call it Infinity or something, and not Windows 8) would get rid of the outdated booting sequence and use UEFI, or at least use something similar to Chrome OS, a more simplified way of booting. (after all, I think Win Next will be pretty lightweight, so I’m guessing faster booting times). Thanks for the info :)

    • Anonymous

      Why not call it Windows Me? ;p

  • http://twitter.com/ArturoRyes Arturo Ryes

    I totally love the Metro UI, I would be so happy to see it on Windows 8!!

  • http://twitter.com/ArturoRyes Arturo Ryes

    I totally love the Metro UI, I would be so happy to see it on Windows 8!!

    • http://twitter.com/#!/timrfox Tim

      I’m excited for the Wind leaks

  • Miro

    don’t forget MIX11 is coming up. It’s possible (hopefully) we might see the beginnings of Windows 8 there

    • GP007

      Maybe, or at least we’ll get a good idea of any new APIs and probably the windows marketplace etc, since devs need to know about it early on.

    • Anonymous

      I don’t think so. Mix is more of a web/mobile thing. Think we’ll have to wait for PDC later this year.

  • Miro

    don’t forget MIX11 is coming up. It’s possible (hopefully) we might see the beginnings of Windows 8 there

  • http://technileaks.com/ Salman Saeed

    Interesting!

  • http://technileaks.com/ Salman Saeed

    Interesting!

  • http://www.Nave360.com Sebastian Gorgon

    As far as i am aware only the font is really Metro

    • http://twitter.com/Chris123NT Chris123NT

      The font is a new one called “Segoe UI Semilight”

  • http://www.Nave360.com Sebastian Gorgon

    Look at the “date modified” it says 2009

  • http://twitter.com/isrob Rob Wright

    These ‘Shhh’ background pictures – is the cryptic text in them dynamic, perhaps identifying the leaker?

    • http://twitter.com/Chris123NT Chris123NT

      lol no, but some of us have guessed that the cryptic text is a puzzle lol

  • http://twitter.com/isrob Rob Wright

    These ‘Shhh’ background pictures – is the cryptic text in them dynamic, perhaps identifying the leaker?

  • http://twitter.com/Admiredluke Matthew Beadle

    Looks like Windows 8 is shaping up very nicely

  • Paul Thurrott

    I’m not sure using a certain font qualifies as an example of the Metro UI. Just sayin’ :)

    • http://www.facebook.com/BrodyM Brody McKee

      I think Windows Live Messenger 2011 proved that Metro UI can be taken out of context…

  • Sphex

    Funny how it shows its installing Windows Server 2008 R2?

  • http://hackerscrackers.myopenid.com/ Nicola

    Do you know where you can download the build? zukona also know if you have a website?

  • http://w1ngnut.myopenid.com/ w1ngnut

    The Metro UI is one of the big hits of MS lately. Hope they introduce some concepts seen in IE9 (less menus, more transparency, stylish back and arrow buttons) and WP7 (Hubs especially) to Win8. It will be amazing!

  • http://w1ngnut.myopenid.com/ w1ngnut

    The Metro UI is one of the big hits of MS lately. Hope they introduce some concepts seen in IE9 (less menus, more transparency, stylish back and arrow buttons) and WP7 (Hubs especially) to Win8. It will be amazing!

    • http://w1ngnut.myopenid.com/ w1ngnut

      Ah, we also can see an image in the last screenshot, bottom right – live ID integration??. So, Win8 will be (quoting ubuntu) “social from start”.

      Great!

  • DukeMacGyver
  • TechNed

    It still looks ugly and clunky, as Vista. But if the performance is better than Win7 – I might be ok with it.

    To be quite honest, it’s too soon for a follow-up to Win7, as it has not reach saturation point yet or wide spread corporate use.

    Hopefully, M$ will follow a pricing strategy that is similar to Apple’s, as Win 8 does not seem to really offer anything over Win 7. as far I can tell.

    • http://profiles.google.com/socialzero Social Zero

      How would you know at this point? Many leaked features already put Windows 8 a big step above Windows 7