The rule of thumb seems to be this: if iOS does it then Metro will do it too.
You could also put it as: if consumers demonstrate an appetite for it on iOS, then Microsoft will give it to them too.
Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
31–40 of 54 posts
Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
#32Let 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.
For now, I think microsoft is trying to one up Apple but Apple probably won't sit still and do worse soon.
Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
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 switcho…
Only allowing signed drivers to run in ring 0 by default makes a lot of sense though. The average user is way less likely to need ext2fsd and much more likely to install randommalwared.
Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
#34Microsoft 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 ).
Well, if you don't count Linux, the BSDs, webapps and even the venerable freedos (yes, somebody did clone DOS http://www.freedos.org/ and yes it runs the old DOS programs) I guess you are right.
and OSX.
Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
They've said that x86 apps will not work on ARM: http://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/231601663/microsoft-...
OK. And Windows on ARM won't run Amiga apps either. You and I both know that's not really related to what the poster stated. The poster said that ARM will only run Metro apps. You can not run x86 apps and still run non-Metro apps. And you can run x86 apps, but not run non-Metro apps. It's a completely orthogonal statement.
Actually there is no good reason Microsoft didn't write an X86 virtual machine so that their tablets could run the old programs.
The instructions set is obviously different, but Android does that with Java (on an ARM processor too) and Microsoft has enough smart people who could make sure that the performance would be great.
Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
#36Apple -> IOS -> App Store Google -> Android -> Android Store Microsoft -> Metro -> Windows Store The computing world is clearly going all vertical, all the time, and I can't be alone in being fed up with it. I think this locked-down environment that Apple has persuaded everyone to be comfortable with is eventually going to break down. I can't see any compelling reason why anyone would build 3 versions of their servic…
You have confirmation bias. For every one of you (and me) who are fed up with vertically-controlled distribution models, you have 10 people who literally could not use their computers because they can't figure out how to install/use their software (let's not even get into hardware maintenance or data backups).
Metro/iOS to the rescue... this will be a godsend for them, and Microsoft sees Apple laughing all the way to bank (and wants in on that action).
Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
#37Users would prefer developers pay Microsoft, rather than pay geeksquad themselves.
Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, if you don't count Linux, the BSDs, webapps and even the venerable freedos (yes, somebody did clone DOS http://www.freedos.org/ and yes it runs the old DOS programs) I guess you are right.
and OSX.
OS X already has the app store, now it just needs the restrictive policy.
You might think it'll never come; well, people said the same things about Windows. In fact, they were far more outspokenly confident about Windows because Microsoft has historically been much less control-freakish than Apple.
Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
#39Earlier 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.
It's too early to call the desktop-lockdown race between Microsoft and Apple. Microsoft may be locking down a broader class of apps with their Metro restrictions, but Apple already has their locked-down desktop store up and running.
What would Apple's incentive be to do that? Both Apple and Microsoft have too much to lose if a big budget software maker (ie anyone selling stuff over $50) left their platform. Microsoft will never risk driving Electronic Arts into Google's arms, Apple will never risk sacrificing OSX's image as the "platform for creative people" (which would indeed happen if they lost Photoshop and ProTools). The %30 cut of app sales is a blip on both companies' balance sheets.
Re: Only enterprise and developers can bypass Windows Store for Metro apps
#40Earlier 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.
It's too early to call the desktop-lockdown race between Microsoft and Apple. Microsoft may be locking down a broader class of apps with their Metro restrictions, but Apple already has their locked-down desktop store up and running.
Perhaps, but Apple has no "Metro" lockdown - in fact the apps you sell on their storefront for the Mac are the same you can sell and market on your own (for now).
Software publishing freedom exists with equal footing to the locked-down storefront on the Mac.
This is not the case in Windows8. Microsoft will trumpet everything Metro-UI in their new release, and in order to play their game, you need to play their game.