A new Windows 8 logo has apparently been spotted in both a leaked build of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview (beta) and also on a new tablet.  The logo, which is a Metro’fied version of the standard Windows squares is seen on the new Charms menu and seems quite fitting for Metro.  The new images come from Chinese site cnbeta.

It is also reported that the existing Windows logo remains on the boot screen for the operating system, which implies that either Microsoft are trying to create a distinct identity for metro or that the build the images were taken from wasn’t complete.

NeoWin has had a crack at deciphering the Chinese text and it appears the Charms bar image is a rendering of what the Charms bar could look like with the new logo.  This it’s impossible at this stage to determine the authenticity of this logo or its use with Windows 8.

The Windows logo that we are all familiar with has been with us for several decades and is easily identified around the world.  It is unlikely then that Microsoft would move away from it completely or even partially.  If however the company wants to create a completely separate identity for either Metro or Windows tablets then such a move is possible.  It would be a good way to differentiate Windows running on ARM from its desktop counterpart.

We will have to wait another week or two to know whether this new logo is real or just a hoax, and if and where it will be associated with Windows 8 and Metro.  Why not tell us what you expect Microsoft to do, or also what you think of the alternate logo design.  You can leave your comments below.

UPDATE:

It doesn’t take much digging to discover a hoax!  See below…