When browsing Microsoft.com (US version) today I noticed that the site’s design has been tweaked since the last time I looked at it. I don’t know how long the site has looked like this. Gone is the background image and in are flat, block backgrounds which bring it much more inline with the Metro UI principles that the site is trying to conform to.

Personally the site still feels too cluttered for metro but if things are still being tweaked then maybe there is still hope for a more Metro like design. One thing to note is the bar at the top of the site, I have spotted a similar bar on another Microsoft site that was recently redesigned to comply with the Metro UI which makes me wonder if all Microsoft sites will soon be featuring that navigation bar.

Currently the bar at the top only offers a drop down list of Microsoft products and online destinations. (The Windows Phone icon needs to be updated!)

It’s a shame that this more Metro like design is currently only available in the US.

What do you think of the design without the background image? Anyone know how long the site has looked like this?