Microsoft also is attempting to improve the overall sense of Metro styling within themes by drawing its own window chrome, which is the term Microsoft applies to the frame that surrounds a workspace within a window. "By drawing our own window chrome we have succeeded in both making more efficient use of space and in increasing the overall sense of Metro styling," Hammontree said.

Addressing usability concerns, Microsoft has reintroduced color to select commands, IntelliSense, and Solution Explorer hierarchy icons. "Post-beta we have employed a simple rule set that combines icon selection heuristics for common actions and content conventions with a basic five color palette," Hammontree said. "When taken in conjunction with the flatter and simpler glyph style shapes of our Visual Studio 11 icons these rules give us a recipe for applying color in a very straightforward and consistent manner."

in InfoWorld's Application Development Channel.