From the Department of Redundancy Department ⇥ zdnet.com

Last week, The Verge reported that Microsoft would be forced to drop their “Metro” brand for their flat UI style:

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.

That “important European partner” was apparently Metro A.G., a retail giant based in Germany, but with locations all over the world. I was disappointed when I heard this news—Metro was one of the best brands Microsoft has created in the past decade or so.

Today, Mary Jo Foley reports for ZDNet that Microsoft has settled on a new name:

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.”

That’s so weak. “Windows 8 with Windows 8 UI” is redundant, and “Windows Phone 8 with Windows 8 UI” is just weird. It should appeal to the executives at Microsoft who want Windows in everything, though.