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Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps

arstechnica.com

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Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps

#11

Post by kenjackson »

tree_of_item wrote: post #7
ebiester wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If Microsoft were to shut down the other channels, that would be true. However, nothing stops you from making a traditional windows app. It just won't run with the Metro UI.

Which is barely a defense: Metro is the future of Windows applications and I doubt users will be very excited about their ability to install "traditional" apps. I'm surprised that Microsoft beat Apple to locking down their desktop OS in the style of iOS, but in either case this is extremely disturbing.

I think its a positive development, across the board. The ability to better combat malware (no plugins is part of this too) will generally make these platforms safer.

If you really must distribute an app that needs to go outside of these walls non-metro apps are perfectly fine. You can accomplish a lot of what Metro apps can do today outside of Metro (at least from a look and feel perspective). And as Apple has noted, there is the web too.

I personally like the fact that you now have a CHOICE of where you get your apps. A curated app store, the old wild west of native apps, or the web. Choice is good.

Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps

#12

Post by dexen »

megamark16 wrote: post #6
orangecat wrote: post #3

Microsoft controlling what software you can run on Windows used to be the reductio ad absurdum I used to argue against the iOS model. Now Android is the only platform standing between us and a Right to Read world ( http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html ).

Just until the day when it moves to the hardware level, where your hardware will refuse to run certain processes unless they are digitally signed. Good times. See also "Intel Trusted Execution Technology": http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-trusted-execu...

Things got quite close by now: mandatory driver signing in 64bit Windows Vista & 7. You need to select extra boot option to be able to load unsigned driver. Like the venerable ext2fsd: driver for ext2 & ext3 FS [1]. It won't work for Joe the Average User.

Terrorists win, game over.

[1] http://www.ext2fsd.com/

EDIT:

it's a clever move, limititing that requirement only to 64bit Windows. No need for one-time big switchover; the balance towards 64bit will shift gradually over time and before people raise enough opposition it may be too late for independet driver development.

We already know security based on centralized Certification Authorities did not work well for securing HTTPS.

Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps

#13

Post by alex_c »

kenjackson wrote: post #11
tree_of_item wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is barely a defense: Metro is the future of Windows applications and I doubt users will be very excited about their ability to install "traditional" apps. I'm surprised that Microsoft beat Apple to locking down their desktop OS in the style of iOS, but in either case this is extremely disturbing.

I think its a positive development, across the board. The ability to better combat malware (no plugins is part of this too) will generally make these platforms safer. If you really must distribute an app that needs to go outside of these walls non-metro apps are perfectly fine. You can accomplish a lot of what Metro apps can do today outside of Metro (at least from a look and feel perspective). And as Apple has noted…

How are you spinning this to be about choice? You're conflating the app type with the distribution channel.

I agree that curated native app stores are generally great. Users get higher quality apps with great discoverability, developers get a great distribution channel, and let's not forget, the platform owner gets 30%.

It's hard to argue that this is about choice of where you get your apps, though.

Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps

#14

Post by AndrewDucker »

kenjackson wrote: post #11
tree_of_item wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is barely a defense: Metro is the future of Windows applications and I doubt users will be very excited about their ability to install "traditional" apps. I'm surprised that Microsoft beat Apple to locking down their desktop OS in the style of iOS, but in either case this is extremely disturbing.

I think its a positive development, across the board. The ability to better combat malware (no plugins is part of this too) will generally make these platforms safer. If you really must distribute an app that needs to go outside of these walls non-metro apps are perfectly fine. You can accomplish a lot of what Metro apps can do today outside of Metro (at least from a look and feel perspective). And as Apple has noted…

Except that the ARM tablets will only run Metro apps.

Which means that if you have one of them then you have no choice at all.

Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps

#15

Post by AndrewDucker »

protomyth wrote: post #8

Let me get this straight, if I create an app using C++ / Metro interface / WinRT and compile it for x86, I still have to use the App Store to distribute it to PCs (not tablets / slates)?

Yup. Windows is locking itself down harder than OSX is.

Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps

#18

Post by mikesaraf »

It seems odd to me, for years developers have been one of the few groups of people that could publish something and not have to pay the "gatekeepers" and actually have a shot at success. Finally after years of having to deal with the publishing, music and movie cartels; writers, bands and indie movie producers can reach the world without having permission to do so. However somehow we (software devs) have gotten into a position where we are beholden to 3 companies (Apple, Google & Microsoft) if we want widespread access to a mainstream audience. For that privilege we have to pay 30% for these companies to host a few megabytes of program files and they tell us that its breaking even. For 99 cent apps I can believe that, but I write applications for small businesses and those apps are worth way more than 99 cents. There is a big difference in 30% of 99$ vs 99 cents.

I don't know what the answer is, but I do know that its going to have the following effects (some good, some bad): 1. Software prices are going to go up for any app that is more serious than a fart app. 2. Web apps are going to become more mainstream for small businesses. Which means... 3. SaaS is going to become more mainstream, because I don't want to run a web service and not get a monthly payment for it.

Apple has done a number of good things for consumers in this industry, too bad they felt they had to screw developers over in the process.

Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps

#19

Post by crenshaw »

AndrewDucker wrote: post #14
kenjackson wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think its a positive development, across the board. The ability to better combat malware (no plugins is part of this too) will generally make these platforms safer. If you really must distribute an app that needs to go outside of these walls non-metro apps are perfectly fine. You can accomplish a lot of what Metro apps can do today outside of Metro (at least from a look and feel perspective). And as Apple has noted…

Except that the ARM tablets will only run Metro apps. Which means that if you have one of them then you have no choice at all.

Has that been stated or confirmed?

Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps

#20

Post by AndrewDucker »

crenshaw wrote: post #19
AndrewDucker wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except that the ARM tablets will only run Metro apps. Which means that if you have one of them then you have no choice at all.

Has that been stated or confirmed?

They've said that x86 apps will not work on ARM:

http://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/231601663/microsoft-...

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