Microsoft’s Metro UI for Windows 8 PCs. tablets, and Windows Phone 7 has certainly been creating waves in the tech world. The complete re-imagining of the UI is more than just an aesthetic overhaul, bringing the OS up-to-date with the touch-centric world we now live in. The User Interface features a series of tiles which offer straightforward access to apps and hubs along with live widgets that provide access to real time information to weather, social hubs and more.
The Metro UI has received positive reviews from critics across the board. That being said, it is difficult to imagine Android loyalists leaving behind their trusty Android devices in favor of a WP7 device. Thankfully, you are not limited with Android, and f you would like to sample what Microsoft’s latest has to offer, there is a solution for you.
We have already seen the Metro UI ported to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 created by senior XDA developer BroBot175. Thanks to the efforts of another developer nicknamed mrevankyle, in collaboration with Brobot175, this custom ROM is now also available for ASUS Transformer owners too. While most of the features work properly, as with any new custom release, there are some bugs and glitches. While the ROM operates quite well, there have been some complaints regarding some of the widgets such as the music widget which has a tendency to not work correctly, but and a fix is being promised with future updates. Check out the ROM on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 below.
Video
You can now get the Metro UI for your Android handset now too, with the release of the WP7 ROM. The custom ROM follows the form of the Metro UI for WP7 , but seemingly without the same smoothness as the original. It is also not available for most Android devices yet, but that is likely to change as we go along. It does do a good job of mimicking the WP7 launcher which, most will agree, is the most appealing feature of the OS.
Flashing your device with a custom ROM comes with a standard set of warnings. There is always a risk of something going wrong and you being left holding a very expensive rock. Go ahead with this only if you have a rooted device and, more importantly, are somewhat familiar with the flashing process. Always backup your device before attempting such an installation. You can check for device compatibility and install instructions here.
If you are unsure about going through with flashing your device with a custom ROM, you can try the safer Metro UI app available on the Google Play Store here. While not as flashy as the custom ROM, this launcher gives you a similar experience to what you can expect from Metro UI.
Will you be trying the WP7 ROM on your Android device? Let us know in the comments section below.
