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Ask YC: why doesn't Microsoft have a Windows App Store?

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Ask YC: why doesn't Microsoft have a Windows App Store?

#22

Post by aneesh »

rythie wrote: post #5
nreece wrote: post #3

Windows Marketplace? http://www.windowsmarketplace.com

Looks like they have abandoned that idea. Edit: It no longer sells non-Microsoft software was what I meant.

Windows Marketplace used to sell third-party apps until 2008. Now it basically just points to store.microsoft.com

Re: Ask YC: why doesn't Microsoft have a Windows App Store?

#23

Post by trezor »

gtufano wrote: post #19
fauigerzigerk wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple hasn't cut out the middle-man so much as replacing him by ... Apple itself. They have become the super middle-man, not just for marketing but for distribution and conflict resolution and what have you.

You are somewhat right, but there are two faces in Apple being the super middle-man: 1) the good fact that it is "fair". The underdogs leave to them the same amount of money of the big brasses (30%). Any application starts the same, and you don't need special marketing effort to start up. At least, not the same effort you should have to start from scratch. You can use your time to have a better application, not to ma…

1) the good fact that it is "fair".

I guess this is why Google maps got a "go" despite using undocumented APIs the regular developers of the AppStore are not allowed to use?

It's not a as level playing field as you think.

Re: Ask YC: why doesn't Microsoft have a Windows App Store?

#25

Post by philwelch »

trezor wrote: post #23
gtufano wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are somewhat right, but there are two faces in Apple being the super middle-man: 1) the good fact that it is "fair". The underdogs leave to them the same amount of money of the big brasses (30%). Any application starts the same, and you don't need special marketing effort to start up. At least, not the same effort you should have to start from scratch. You can use your time to have a better application, not to ma…

1) the good fact that it is "fair". I guess this is why Google maps got a "go" despite using undocumented APIs the regular developers of the AppStore are not allowed to use? It's not a as level playing field as you think.

Google Maps are included with the iPhone, they're not a third party app. I'm sure if you could convince Apple to bundle your app with every iPhone you would get to use undocumented API's, too.

Re: Ask YC: why doesn't Microsoft have a Windows App Store?

#26

Post by ahoyhere »

access_denied wrote: post #12

The appstore makes sense for Apple, because... - quality control for end-users. Like when Nintendo started with the NES. - cutting the middle-man out of app marketing - good for third-party developers. Microsoft does not care for neither party. Microsofts strategy with DOS/Windows was always about tight-knit contracts with OEMs.

You left off the most important thing... the App Store is on the phone. The App Store is practically hardware. It is the one way in / one way out on a closed device that you take with you everywhere.
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