If you have a Microsoft Xbox, Zune MP3 player, or Windows 7 Phone then you’ve experienced and seen Microsoft’s Metro User Interface. Metro is an internal code name for a typography-based design language created by Microsoft, originally for use in Windows Phone 7. Early uses of the Metro principles began as early as Microsoft Encarta 95 and MSN 2.0, and later evolved into Windows Media Center and Zune. Later the principles of Metro were included in Windows Phone, Microsoft’s website, the Xbox 360 dashboard update, and just recently announced for Windows 8. A key design principle of Metro is better focus on the content of applications, relying more on typography and less on graphics. Microsoft looks to be putting a lot of stock in this design and presentation since they’ve already revealed that Windows 8 will be using the interface. Take a look at the new Start Screen below:

But what does this mean for Office 15 and SharePoint 15. Rumors have already leaked that this new line of products will stick with the year moniker. So with Office 2013 and SharePoint 2013 right around the corner, what can we expect? With Microsoft’s focus and support of the Metro design, it seems highly certain that both SharePoint 2013 and Office 2013 are likely to have new interfaces based on the Metro look and style. What else can we expect out of SharePoint 2013 Servers? Here are some of the rumors that we have seen around the internet:

Support for viewing business intelligence content on Apple iPad devices Improved Web Apps

SharePoint 2013 Metro User Interface

SharePoint 2013 will take a heavy dependence on Windows Azure (makes sense since that site was recently designed to be more “metro” – see the trend?)

SharePoint 15 will be called SharePoint 2013 and be released early 2013

Expect SharePoint 2013 to boast its own AppStore

Expect a Public Beta by the end of the Summer/Early Fall 2012

SharePoint Hoster will be offering SharePoint 2013 Foundation and Enterprise hosting as soon as it becomes publicly available. Keep an eye on our blog for more information.