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Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

zdnet.com

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Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#31

Post by r3bl »

tantalor wrote: post #24
JakeWesorick wrote: post #11

Chromebooks do not allow any other browser besides Chrome. I don't see how this is different.

No, you can install any browsers from the Play Store on a Chromebook that supports installing Android apps. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7021273?hl=en Firefox runs on a Chromebook just fine: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.fi...

Well, it's the same thing: you can install any browser from Microsoft's Store on Windows 10 S.

So, Google will either have to release Chrome targeted for Windows platform (same way Firefox did on Android) or not be available to Windows 10 S users.

Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#32

Post by majewsky »

ungzd wrote: post #23
jarym wrote: post #5

Have I understood correctly: if you have Windows 10 S you won't be able to get Chrome (or any app) not approved by Microsoft? If that's true, then anti-trust issues will once again loom. This time, MS will not be able to drive their competitor (Google) out of business like they did Netscape.

Now it's an industry practice (iOS, Chrome OS) so they're not villains anymore. Users that install unapproved apps (via jailbreaks and vulnerabilities) are villains now.

s/villains/customers/

Windows 10 S is "only" 50 bucks away from running all those unapproved apps.

Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#33

Post by majewsky »

h_r wrote: post #22
iplaw wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Likely signing by Microsoft? Based on what I've read, you will not be able to run your own executables. This is a big issue for University students who are often required to install textbook-sourced software for labs, class participation, etc. Perhaps if you install a Visual Studio app from the Windows Store and use that to generate an executable, it will somehow sign the executable? Meta: At what point does the post…

One option, from the article: If people would like to access apps from other stores and services, they can switch to Windows 10 Pro at any time.

There's a huge difference between "let students run wild and install any shit" and "publish a whitelist of allowed non-UWP apps via group policy".

Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#34

Post by youdontknowtho »

rootlocus wrote: post #19
youdontknowtho wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its a combination of signing and app packaging. The technologies to look into are APPX, app container, and the Centennial Bridge. Basically, any application can be included in the store. They are using application virtualization from a prior product called APP-V to protect the system from applications tampering with important pieces. It's long over due. It also provides a unified way to update applications through th…

If, for instance, I build my game with Unity, and would like to distribute this alpha build to friends to test it before it ships, how would I do that?

They have ways to do that. You would have to check with the store.

Also, this doesn't mean that if your friends are using Windows 10 home or pro that they won't be able to install Appx packages. They can. Seriously, it's just a zip file with a manifest. On home/pro and up, users can install Appx packages by double clicking them.

Only Windows 10 S has the restriction that all software installs have to use the store. The thing to watch will be the way that Windows 10 S actually maintains performance and security in ways that the other versions of Win10 can't. As long as users can install services or device drivers as part of an install it's always going to have the same problems.

For something to change it actually has to change. We all know that Windows installers do dumb sh1t. Appx packages run with the same performance and have the same power as normal win32 apps. The only thing they can't do is modify the system in dangerous ways.

Also, there is an Appx for Servers that is being used for Nano server. It does allow service installation and more serious modification of the system...because it has to. It's still a great packaging technology even if you don't use the store or other elements of their plan.

Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#35

Post by jjuel »

ungzd wrote: post #27
iplaw wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Likely signing by Microsoft? Based on what I've read, you will not be able to run your own executables. This is a big issue for University students who are often required to install textbook-sourced software for labs, class participation, etc. Perhaps if you install a Visual Studio app from the Windows Store and use that to generate an executable, it will somehow sign the executable? Meta: At what point does the post…

> This is a big issue for University students who are often required to install textbook-sourced software for labs, class participation, etc. They will be able to code in Visual Basic for Applications. Why teach ancient languages for 70s mainframes in universities? Universities should prepare people for modern offices. Even MIT dropped Lisp long time ago. Why teach multiplication of columns of numbers when you can te…

While I agree with this sentiment the problem is all the old professors with tenure who will never leave and are stuck in their 1970s ways.

Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#36

Post by dragonwriter »

JakeWesorick wrote: post #11

Chromebooks do not allow any other browser besides Chrome. I don't see how this is different.

> Chromebooks do not allow any other browser besides Chrome.

Current Chromebooks support Android apps, including sideloading APKs, so that's not true at all. Not only can you install browsers from the Play Store, you can install a browser packaged as an APK even if Google policies would not allow it in the store.

Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#37

Post by dragonwriter »

tantalor wrote: post #24
JakeWesorick wrote: post #11

Chromebooks do not allow any other browser besides Chrome. I don't see how this is different.

No, you can install any browsers from the Play Store on a Chromebook that supports installing Android apps. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7021273?hl=en Firefox runs on a Chromebook just fine: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.fi...

> No, you can install any browsers from the Play Store on a Chromebook that supports installing Android apps.

Chromebooks that support Android apps also support the "unknown sources" setting that allows sideloading APKs, so you aren't restricted to the store.

Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#38

Post by dragonwriter »

rootlocus wrote: post #6

> Windows 10 S, announced last week, allows users to install only apps that are distributed through the Windows Store. What if I want to compile and run my own executables? How does this restriction work?

> What if I want to compile and run my own executables?

Then you pay money to upgrade to the real Windows 10.

Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#39

Post by dragonwriter »

h_r wrote: post #17
youdontknowtho wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

so, there's no reason why chrome couldn't be included in the store. They should also get Opera and Firefox onboard.

Actually if you read the article, it clearly states another criterion which is the same on iOS and ChromeOS. That is, a web browser must use the HTML renderer and JavaScript engine from the host OS.

> Actually if you read the article, it clearly states another criterion which is the same on iOS and ChromeOS.

ChromeOS has no such policy, even if the Play Store does (which, AFAICT, it doesn't) since ChromeOS, like Android, allows sideloading Android APKs and isn't limited to Store apps.

Because of sideloading, Play Store restrictions are not Android/ChromeOS restrictions. But Win 10S is Store apps only, so Windows Store restrictions are also Win 10 S restrictions.

Re: Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

#40

Post by tantalor »

r3bl wrote: post #31
tantalor wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, you can install any browsers from the Play Store on a Chromebook that supports installing Android apps. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7021273?hl=en Firefox runs on a Chromebook just fine: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.fi...

Well, it's the same thing: you can install any browser from Microsoft's Store on Windows 10 S. So, Google will either have to release Chrome targeted for Windows platform (same way Firefox did on Android) or not be available to Windows 10 S users.

Except Firefox on Android uses its own rendering/scripting engine; there's no requirement to use the "platform" engine.
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