Updated: July 10, 2020 (November 19, 2012)

Windows 8 Nomenclature

Michael analyzed and wrote about Microsoft's operating systems, including the Windows client OS, as well as compliance and governance. Michael... more

Windows 8 brought new names for existing technologies and new technologies whose names have shifted during development. This chart describes some of the names and code names used for Windows 8—related technologies prior to the general availability of the OS and the names Directions on Microsoft will use in this report.

Previous Name or Code Name	Technology or Feature	Name Used in This Report
Windows Live ID	Microsoft-managed account used to authenticate users, store user configuration information, and control access to Microsoft services on the Web	Microsoft Account
Metro UI	New touch-enabled UI	Modern UI
Metro-Style Apps	Touch-enabled applications written to the WinRT environment	Windows Store applications
Windows 8	The successor to Windows 7, which runs on devices based on the AMD and Intel x86 and x64 architectures	Windows 8
WinRT	The Windows Runtime environment for developing and running Windows Store

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