Microsoft ditching 'Metro' everything

All capacities will now be 'Windows 8'

Microsoft is wiping out Metro

We already knew Microsoft was chucking the term "Metro" in favor of "Windows 8" when it came to promoting some elements of the new OS, but now we can add "Windows 8 design" and "Windows 8 application" to the list of renamed capacities.
For those keeping track, we now have "Windows 8-style UI," "New User Interface," "Windows 8 design" and "Windows 8 application" where "Metro" once was used to describe them all.
The hub-bub started when Microsoft found out a German company may be filing a lawsuit against them over the term "Metro," a phrase Microsoft adopted to refer to just about everything having to do with its new OS.
Initially, they claimed "Metro" was just a code name used during the development cycle across many of its product lines.
The plan was to then switch to something else as the launch date - October 26 - approached, but the change has apparently come sooner than expected.
The Windows 8 rebranding new branding reportedly extends to the Windows Phone, too.
You can start attempting to wipe "Metro" from your memory now.

Acer Aspire S7 Windows 8 touchscreen Ultrabook release detailed

Rival to the ultra-thin MacBook Air has a number of optional upgrades

Acer is beating the IFA 2012 rush by revealing this now

 

It's only been two months since Acer revealed the Aspire S7 Ultrabook at Computex 2012, and the Taiwanese manufacturer has already revealed pricing and release info for the new device.

The Aspire S7's release date has been confirmed as the end of September, and the ultrabook will drop for $1,465 (£1,149.99).

That means the initial runs will be equipped with Windows 7, as Windows 8 will release on October 26, three to four weeks after the Aspire S7 launch.

The thin S7 should get a Windows 8 reboot after the OS hits the public market.

The specs

Acer's Aspire S7 Ultrabook by default sports an Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor, 128GB of SSD storage, 4GB RAM, and HDMI, USB and memory card reader ports.

A 12-hour battery cycle and backlit keyboard also serve to sweeten the deal.

The Aspire A7 comes in 11.6- and 13.3-inch flavors, but the thin machine can be beefed up significantly with a number of upgrades, including more RAM and SSD space and the option for a Core i7 chip.

In addition, it turns out the Aspire S7's much-hyped touchscreen is another optional add-on, though there's no word yet on how much extra it's going to cost.

TechRadar reached out to Acer to confirm details on the optional touchscreen.

Aspire S7 stands out

Acer is going to some lengths to ensure that the Aspire S7 stands out.

Its attractive "white glass" coating helps differentiate it from the current reigning king of ultra-thins, Apple's MacBook Air.

TechRadar predicted that Acer would reveal the pricing and release date for the Acer Aspire S7 at Berlin's IFA 2012 consumer electronics mega-show at the end of August.

But the company may have dropped the news now to ensure it wouldn't be lost in the inevitable rush of news from the convention.

The fold-back touchscreen is an addition that will no doubt impress Apple fans, but without Windows 8 the Aspire S7's initial runs may lag as would-be buyers wait for Microsoft's OS upgrade.