There is this "small detail" that Microsoft is not advertising anywhere, but you can find it dug deep in the developer documentation:
One cannot release a tiled UI application by any other means, but only through Windows Store!
I cannot even begin to stress out just how horrible this idea is! There is no side-loading, except for corporate use inside one company, and that works only on the enterprise edition of Windows 8. Do we all understand what that means? You cannot download an application from the Internet and run it on your computer. You have to get it from Microsoft's store. Even if it is a free app!
If it was just about "being downloaded from Windows store", it would not be a problem. It would be nice to have a common hub to download things from. But to get an app onto that store, it has to be certified by MS. This means bringing the "console experience" onto your desktop. Each app that you will get through the Windows Store will have to adhere to certain requirements imposed by MS. So far, we know that they've banned mature games, like Skyrim, CoD, and Serious Sam.[*] They have forbidden modding. They could very well forbid Open Source if they want. But even if these terms were not there, this is still a certification system. With all of its downsides, including uncertain release dates, rare and late patches, and everything turning out to be more expensive and sucking more.
While, theoretically, desktop applications are exempt from these requirements, it looks more and more like just a foot-in-the-door technique. A large number of developers have expressed their concern with possibility that, probably in Windows 9 or something like that, the ability to get even desktop apps in any other way than through Windows app store may very well be removed. When that happens it will be too late.
I would not invest into supporting the tiled UI apps (which MS now conveniently calls "Windows Store apps" - does that ring a bell?), until MS removes the requirement that they have to be shipped through Windows Store on desktop at least - and thereby remove the requirement of certifying them with MS. Certification is a broken concept and should be abolished.
Now, while in current state Windows 8 do look like they support plain desktop apps seamlessly, the removal of start menu and use of "charms" even on the desktop looks like a pretty blunt attempt to force users to "get used" to the tiled UI. It would be fine by me if it wasn't for the aforementioned certification issue.
So, it is a vicious circle. And not an accidental one. This one was carefully designed to be that way. I say: no thank you, I'll skip on that one.
* (Our footnote, not Alen's): He seems to have missed this story).
NegaDeath wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 17:20:
-Removing gadgets from the desktop. Wtf MS? Gutted entirely and requires ANOTHER mod to correct. Yet another exile worthy idea.
Dades wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 14:36:what is the importance of these WinRT apps?DrSquick wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 14:31:
I don't get what all the hoopla is about, I only look at the start menu for a couple seconds; I dragged all my important apps to the left side, so I hit the windows key, and click the app I want, then the metro interface goes away. I'm guessing this is about people who want to make fullscreen metro games?
WinRT developed apps are what he was referring to. [...]
NegaDeath wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 17:20:
If Croteams fears come true about Windows 9 being even more walled then they've lost me as a customer permanently.
NegaDeath wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 17:20:
-Performance improvements. I have a small 60GB SSD and 4 megs of ram (that I will not be expanding until mid next year) and Windows 8 takes up less of that. Nice.
theyarecomingforyou wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 16:53:And yet they haven't, and in turn other companies are emulating said behavior because regulators aren't regulating. Apples DRM restrictions though aren't the same thing as the app store that Apple runs, Google runs, or now that MS runs either. Though there appears to be more competition in terms of apps, and 'who can run what and where'.
]See above. Just because they haven't come under much scrutiny yet that doesn't mean they shouldn't. The EU was in the process of investigating Apple with regards to iTunes' DRM restrictions, unless Apple dropped it altogether.
DangerDog wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 16:12:Google Play is optional on Android, as you can use any competing store - that's exactly what Amazon has done. As for Apple, my opinion is that they should come under scrutiny for limiting the market.
Because Apple can, and to a small extent Google with the play store.
Mashiki Amiketo wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 16:12:See above. Just because they haven't come under much scrutiny yet that doesn't mean they shouldn't. The EU was in the process of investigating Apple with regards to iTunes' DRM restrictions, unless Apple dropped it altogether.
So, has apple come under regulatory scrutiny yet?
Mashiki Amiketo wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 16:12:theyarecomingforyou wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 15:52:So, has apple come under regulatory scrutiny yet?
I'd be incredibly surprised if Microsoft didn't come under regulatory scrutiny, as the requirement to use the Windows Store to distribute WinRT apps is fundamentally anti-competitive. I honestly don't understand why Microsoft thinks it can get away with it.
theyarecomingforyou wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 15:52:So, has apple come under regulatory scrutiny yet?
I'd be incredibly surprised if Microsoft didn't come under regulatory scrutiny, as the requirement to use the Windows Store to distribute WinRT apps is fundamentally anti-competitive. I honestly don't understand why Microsoft thinks it can get away with it.
theyarecomingforyou wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 15:52:
I'd be incredibly surprised if Microsoft didn't come under regulatory scrutiny, as the requirement to use the Windows Store to distribute WinRT apps is fundamentally anti-competitive. I honestly don't understand why Microsoft thinks it can get away with it.
Dades wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 14:43:
There is no financial incentive for microsoft to keep supporting them in the long term.
Prez wrote on Nov 17, 2012, 14:40:One cannot release a tiled UI application by any other means, but only through Windows Store!
How many times have I heard this would not be the case by people here pitching Windows 8 as the greatest thing since sliced bread? No way in hell I'm buying Windows 8, or any other Windows OS ever if this is where they are headed. Time to start learning Linux.