Apple’s Internal Nickname For iOS 7 Is The Same One Microsoft Uses For Windows 8

iOS 7 is clearly how Apple sees the future of mobile design. It’s a radical departure from anything the company has ever done before. The general aesthetic also feels a lot more like Android and even Windows Phone 8.

Whether it’s intentional or by pure coincidence, Apple’s internal nickname for iOS 7 happens to be the same as Microsoft’s for Windows 8, according to a new report.

The Wall Street Journal is saying that Apple employees have been calling iOS 7 “Modern UI.” Ironically, Microsoft employees call the Windows 8 “Metro” interface the same thing. It’s a fairly generic term, but still interesting when you consider how the two companies have battled in areas like advertising for years.

But Apple isn’t keen to encourage comparisons to its archrival. So, Apple presenters have been told not call it “Modern UI” in demonstrations, the people familiar with the matter said.

9to5Mac’s Mark%20Gurman%20has%20previously%20reported%20that%20Apple%20internally%20called%20iOS%207%20″ data-lasso-id=”99917″>@markgurman “Modern UI” not official codename for whole release. I trust your reporting and Innsbruck is right on that one :)

— Jessica Lessin (@Jessicalessin) June 13, 2013

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Image: John Menard

Alex Heath

Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.