This week Microsoft launches its latest operating system for tablets, laptops and desktops—Windows 8. Windows 8 features a completely resigned user interface that’s optimized for touch. The UI and apps feature a consistent look and feel that Microsoft now refers to as the "Microsoft Design Style."
This style is trickling down to the apps that run on Windows 8 – and not just the ones Microsoft created (such as Mail, Calendar, and Internet Explorer). Microsoft makes all of its icons, fonts, screen transitions, templates and more available for developers to build apps that match the Microsoft Design Style.
Take a look below at the screen shots of Evernote, a popular recordkeeping app, running in three different OSes—Android, iOS and Windows 8.
Microsoft Design Style typically requires the user to swipe left and right to see more content, rather than up and down. Buttons tend to have circles around them and fonts are mostly Segeo. These rules are just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll notice in the screen grabs below that Evernote changes its navigation and appearance to blend in with the Microsoft Design Style.
Evernote for Android
Evernote for iOS
Evernote for Windows 8
Since Windows 8 is in its infancy, they are very few apps available that exists across all three OSes. But that may quickly change, since popular apps seemed to enter the Windows Store each day.
Want to learn more about Windows 8? See all our coverage:
Five Reasons Why Microsoft’s Windows RT Is Right for You
Preparing Grandma for the All-New Windows
