Microsoft's logo gets a makeover

Microsoft has updated its corporate logo for the first time in 25 years. Ta-da:

Not being much of a visually-oriented design person, I don't have much to say about the makeover. Just like when Microsoft redid its Windows logo, the significance of the changes are largely lost on me.

Images: Microsoft's new logo - new image?

If you are someone who cares about brands and logos, however, you might be interested to know that "the new Microsoft logo takes its inspiration from our product design principles while drawing upon the heritage of our brand values, fonts and colors," as the Softies explained it in an August 23 blog post.

The font is Segoe; the intention is meant to imply "digital motion." Segoe and motion are both key to the Microsoft's Metro interface/design philosophy, which has been a key component in a number of recent Microsoft products, services and Web sites. But because Metro is now on Microsoft's banned words list, Microsoft isn't able to say that the new logo reflects the company's Metro UI/design principles.

I've had a number of readers ask if we know what the substitute is for "Metro." We do not. Microsoft officials are not commenting on this, though employees in different divisions at the company seem to be using different terms. I've heard and seen Microsoft officials suggesting everything from "Windows 8" to "Windows Store" to "modern" (lowercase m), to "WinRT" as working substitutes.

Microsoft officials said they are revealing the new corporate logo on the cusp of the upcoming wave of releases of "new versions of nearly all of our products." Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Visual Studio 2012, Windows Phone 8, Office 2013 and a variety of other products are launching in the coming months.