Microsoft Confirms Windows 8 App Store

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The rumors of a Windows 8 app store have been confirmed by a blog post made by Microsoft President Steven Sinofsky.

Many of the teams listed below describe features or areas that you are familiar with or that you can probably figure out based on the name. As we post more, team members will identify themselves as part of these teams. We also have organized these teams in seven larger groups that pull related teams together—fundamentals, devices and networking, core OS, developer experience, user experience, web services, and our engineering system.
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Sweet. I imagine that developer interest in this will be off the charts. I'm looking forward to it as a developer.
 
damn... everyone is grabbing on to Apples coat tails these days. I never thought I'd see the day
 
Serpent said:
trademark lawsuit incoming?
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I don't think it's going to be called an app store but marketplace as it is currently with Windows Phone but if Microsoft does go with app store I would Imagine that they are prepared to defend the name.
 
dr.stevil said:
damn... everyone is grabbing on to Apples coat tails these days. I never thought I'd see the day
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App stores aren't Apple's idea, I think Steam might argue they we're well ahead of Apple, Apple did popularize the concept.
 
heatlesssun said:
App stores aren't Apple's idea, I think Steam might argue they we're well ahead of Apple, Apple did popularize the concept.
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but this isn't a games service... this is an application service. I thought it was stupid when apple did it (for the desktop at least) and both Intel and MS are following suit. I just don't understand the appeal.

For mobile devices... ok, I can see why you might want it... but for a full blown computer, it seems pretty pointless IMO.
 
On thing that just jumped out at me, Sinofsky mentioned XAML by name and there was a lot of bruhaha about whether .NET would be a first class citizen for building Windows 8 tile apps, looks like the mentioning of XAML here would be an pretty strong indication that .NET apps for the Windows 8 UI are going to be part of the developer tool chest.
 
dr.stevil said:
For mobile devices... ok, I can see why you might want it... but for a full blown computer, it seems pretty pointless IMO.
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I used to think it didn't make sense for anything other than phones either but app stores to off a lot of convenience to both developers and customers and Windows 8 is also a tablet OS where app stores are the thing.
 
Microsoft really needs to shake up their leadership. No innovation at that company at all. They just know how to copy their competition, and usually they can't even do that well.

Pathetic.
 
dr.stevil said:
but this isn't a games service... this is an application service. I thought it was stupid when apple did it (for the desktop at least) and both Intel and MS are following suit. I just don't understand the appeal.

For mobile devices... ok, I can see why you might want it... but for a full blown computer, it seems pretty pointless IMO.
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While Apple may have promoted the concept of an online marketplace to the public, its certainly no different from Steam in the sense that it introduces a marketplace where people can come and sell their products, and consumers do their shopping all in one place.

Purchasing software online is something that has been around for a long time. Its just that up till now, there isn't a main location where all users can go there and buy different kind of software. At the moment, i have to go to Norton website to purchase their anti virus software online, I have to go to Diskeeper's webpage to purchase a copy of their software, etc.

Of course Steam is more like a PC game retail store, so they only sell PC games. But I think Microsoft may be looking to create a online software store, where you can go to buy software that could be used on our PC, like anti virus, hard disk management, media editor, word processor, etc etc.
 
When I read this post on the front page I stopped everything and made some popcorn.
I know this thread has great potential.
 
heatlesssun said:
I used to think it didn't make sense for anything other than phones either but app stores to off a lot of convenience to both developers and customers and Windows 8 is also a tablet OS where app stores are the thing.
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Maybe for the ARM version of Windows 8 (assuming it becomes a reality), I can certianly see why they'd want it as it eliminates confusion... especially for people that aren't very computer savy. But for x86 based processors, I still don't see the point. If I want to buy Photoshop, for example, I don't want to deal with MS to get it... I'll just get it directly from the source. The only way that I can ever see this taking off is if microsoft requires it (which would be a disaster)
 
DaWolf said:
Microsoft really needs to shake up their leadership. No innovation at that company at all. They just know how to copy their competition, and usually they can't even do that well.

Pathetic.
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Windows 8 is looking to be on of the radical OS releases ever. A lot of people are saying that a single OS that works across multiple devices, tablets, laptops, desktops, etc. won't work. Microsoft is taking a pretty big risk here, definitely few companies radically redesign their flagship product from one version to the next like this.
 
dr.stevil said:
Maybe for the ARM version of Windows 8 (assuming it becomes a reality), I can certianly see why they'd want it as it eliminates confusion... especially for people that aren't very computer savy. But for x86 based processors, I still don't see the point. If I want to buy Photoshop, for example, I don't want to deal with MS to get it... I'll just get it directly from the source. The only way that I can ever see this taking off is if microsoft requires it (which would be a disaster)
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A Windows app store isn't going to prevent other forms of distribution. It'll take off for the simple reason that it's just another distribution channel for Windows apps, one that will be very popular.
 
heatlesssun said:
A Windows app store isn't going to prevent other forms of distribution. It'll take off for the simple reason that it's just another distribution channel for Windows apps, one that will be very popular.
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I guess we'll see.... I just look back at the disaster that was Games For Windows Live! and can't help but think that they're going down the same route
 
Hornet said:
While Apple may have promoted the concept of an online marketplace to the public, its certainly no different from Steam in the sense that it introduces a marketplace where people can come and sell their products, and consumers do their shopping all in one place.
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You could actually make the argument that MS started it with Live!... Steam just brought it to the PC.

The difference, however, is that gaming is a very social thing... Steam (and live!) brought people together to play games, make friends and keep up on the latest new releases. You don't have that with application type software.

Who knows... it might take off, but I honestly don't see it doing very well unless it's intigrated directly into the OS somehow... but even then, there are so many software vendors on the internet already, many of which are sold by the publishers themselves, I just don't see many people jumping on it.
 
dr.stevil said:
Who knows... it might take off, but I honestly don't see it doing very well unless it's intigrated directly into the OS somehow... but even then, there are so many software vendors on the internet already, many of which are sold by the publishers themselves, I just don't see many people jumping on it.
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Actually it will be integrated into the OS. Plus there's a whole new generation of Windows tablet apps to write, a lot of them by small developers, this is a great way for them to distribute their wares.

I don't see why this shouldn't be as successful as the Mac app store. And Microsoft already has a decent app store setup with Zune and Windows Phone so they have already something better then GFWL.
 
I see app stores as a positive. Instead of CD checks and DRM that screws with your system, you will now have an account that can check once to see you are a valid user, and push updates when they are available. Still DRM, but much much less intrusive.
 
DaWolf said:
Microsoft really needs to shake up their leadership. No innovation at that company at all. They just know how to copy their competition, and usually they can't even do that well.

Pathetic.
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Uhh, they've done pretty well. Over 400 million copies of Windows 7 sold comes to mind and they certainly didn't copy that concept from anyone. Microsoft's market isn't just "Windows". But you're right, Ballmer is a total failure in the X-Box/Kinect, Microsoft Office, Windows Server, etc. Now the Windows Phone front needs to be accelerated after they've bought Skype and brought Nokia into the fold. Mango is very good and it should be the gamechanger for the phone.

Microsoft is very aggressive not in the consumer arena but business and they've very successful at this. Apple is gold-sprinkled turds in the consumer arena they certainly don't innovate but they did copy from others.

With Windows 8 being designed for ARM, this is a big move because the problem before was power running the operating system.

Oh ya, they also do Microsoft Security Essentials for free. Yet everyone bitches at Microsoft for offering such a great product for nothing.
 
Thanks Microsoft for taking months to finally confirm something we all knew about months ago.. Windows 8: App store to be named Windows Store

microsoft_64.png
 
dr.stevil said:
but this isn't a games service... this is an application service. I thought it was stupid when apple did it (for the desktop at least) and both Intel and MS are following suit. I just don't understand the appeal.

For mobile devices... ok, I can see why you might want it... but for a full blown computer, it seems pretty pointless IMO.
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A central repository for applications is pointless? :confused:
 
I think this is a good thing for the average consumer. Many people will trust the programs they see on the app store so they wouldn't have to worry as much about viruses. For the more technically inclined, we can always still download and run programs from the wild.
 
heatlesssun said:
Yeah, Linux fans have clamored for years how great that is.
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linux is a bit different. You're using what amounts to a glorified download manager/installer and pointing it at different repositories. Besides, it's almost necessary with linux considering how convoluted an install can be for certain programs and drivers. :p

Like I said... we shall see. It's entirely possible that they'll do a good job with it but I'm not holding my breath.
 
DaWolf said:
Microsoft really needs to shake up their leadership. No innovation at that company at all. They just know how to copy their competition, and usually they can't even do that well.

Pathetic.
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Go back under a bridge Troll.
 
dr.stevil said:
apples and oranges.

see above post
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Different OS's yes. Apples and Oranges.... NO. It's the same damn process. You open an app with all of the applications available for the platform. You type "mplayer" the DB query returns the selection "Mplayer" you click on Install and it downloads the package or packages and installs what you want. HTF is that different? Looks the same to me. Unless you mean you sometimes have to pay for things that come out of the "app store" or whatever you want to call your app manager. Other than that.....same principle same functionality and virtually the same user experience.
 
kac77 said:
Different OS's yes. Apples and Oranges.... NO. It's the same damn process. You open an app with all of the applications available for the platform. You type "mplayer" the DB query returns the selection "Mplayer" you click on Install and it downloads the package or packages and installs what you want. HTF is that different? Looks the same to me. Unless you mean you sometimes have to pay for things that come out of the "app store" or whatever you want to call your app manager. Other than that.....same principle same functionality and virtually the same user experience.
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Is funny, when i started using Linux and used the repositories I was convinced that the idea of using this as a store was a possible tool for Linux to gain over Windows and OSX.

But once again, Apple takes someone else idea, makes it more "usable" and become the leader to follow.

I should had patented that idea back then.... :)
 
what a shameless money grab. pay for the OS and now pay for the software that'd normally come with it or download for free. if they think i'm paying for my missus to get live movie maker they got another thing coming. i suppose basic apps like notepad and calc will end up costing extra too. sure glad i don't actually use much of the software that comes with windows. come to think about it i can only think of notepad. certainly don't use their crappy media players.
 
gaspah said:
what a shameless money grab. pay for the OS and now pay for the software that'd normally come with it or download for free. if they think i'm paying for my missus to get live movie maker they got another thing coming. i suppose basic apps like notepad and calc will end up costing extra too. sure glad i don't actually use much of the software that comes with windows. come to think about it i can only think of notepad. certainly don't use their crappy media players.
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Huh? Um, no.
 
gaspah said:
what a shameless money grab. pay for the OS and now pay for the software that'd normally come with it or download for free. if they think i'm paying for my missus to get live movie maker they got another thing coming. i suppose basic apps like notepad and calc will end up costing extra too. sure glad i don't actually use much of the software that comes with windows. come to think about it i can only think of notepad. certainly don't use their crappy media players.
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So basically, this doesn't affect you, even in your theoretical example, which you pulled straight out of thin air.
 
gaspah said:
It would affect me if its movie maker.. my missus uses it all the time...
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I don't think the point of the Windows Store is to generate revenue directly for Microsoft but as a way to attract developers for the Windows 8 tiles apps and add convenience for end users which should help sell copies of Windows 8 and drive revenue for Microsoft that way. And I'm certain that standard add ons that have been there will still be there at least for this version as it's 100% backwards compatible with Windows 7.
 
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