6 ms·

Name some major new software for Windows (i.e., not updates of older applications). I'd especially be interested in whether there is new consumer software.

slantyyz 8y ago
I'm not sure I understand the point of asking for the names of "major new software for Windows". Most major areas of consumer software have been satisfied in some form or another on both of the dominant operating systems. Is there any "major new software for Mac" that isn't simply a re-interpretation of something else that already exists?
- criddell 8y ago
  It might just be a case of the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence, but I hear much more about new software on macOS than I do on Windows even though there are 10 Windows machines out there for every Mac. Pixelmator, Bear, Things, Highland, and Drafts are all newish Mac-only applications that I know about because of Twitter and podcasts. With Windows having an installed base an order of magnitude larger, I should be able to name 50 cool Windows applications and I can't think of many. ResophNotes is the last new application I installed.
  - slantyyz 8y ago
    Pixelmator and Things are hardly new. I've been off Mac for maybe four years, and I had been using those apps for at least a couple of years before I switched back to Windows. As for Bear, Highland and Drafts, Bear is the only one worthy of mention. Highland and Drafts on the surface seem a lot like remixes of iAWriter to me. Keep in mind that Mac users seem to be more likely (yeah, yeah, citation required) to evangelize apps than Windows users do. As for cool Windows apps... off the top of my head: I just bought a license of Groupy (https://www.stardock.com/products/groupy/ https://www.stardock.com/products/groupy/), and it was money well spent for me. I get that a future version of Windows will probably make it a feature, but I get a lot of value out of it now. DisplayFusion (https://www.displayfusion.com/ https://www.displayfusion.com/) is another utility I can't live without. It's great whether you use one or multiple monitors. If you are thinking of buying it, Steam is the cheapest way to get it on multiple computers. People switching from Mac might like Quicklook (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NV4BS3L1H4S https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NV4BS3L1H4S). If you've got a lot of sound sources and want to manage playback volumes, EarTrumpet is pretty great (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH516XP https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH516XP). Mailplane users on Mac would probably like Easymail on Windows (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH626NC https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH626NC). The first thing I always install on Windows is CMDer (http://cmder.net/ http://cmder.net/), which is also great for switchers who think they're going to miss the Mac terminal. Codesector (http://www.codesector.com/ http://www.codesector.com/) makes a couple of great utilities worth paying for in Teracopy and DirectFolders.
    - criddell 8y ago
      > Mac users seem to be more likely [...] to evangelize apps than Windows users do I 100% agree and I think it's a shame. There's not enough joy in Windows world. Thank you for the list of applications. I'm going to check them out. Groupy looks immediately interesting to me because I prefer to work on a single monitor (I do use virtual desktops though).
      - slantyyz 8y ago
        Groupy is great. You can create your own "Coda" (the Panic app for Mac) by grouping Sublime, a shell and a browser in the same group. Makes development and testing much less painful on a single screen. I usually throw in a db query tool and source control app into the group as well.
        nailer 8y ago
        Ah I was just missing Sets (which was in recent fast ring Windows builds, and does the same thing, but was pulled due to bugs and slowness). Giving Groupy a try as a replacement!
- forapurpose 8y ago
  I should have said, 'name major new software for desktops'. There's plenty for mobile, by comparison. > Most major areas of consumer software have been satisfied in some form or another on both of the dominant operating systems. I think that attitude reflects a lack of innovation in both hardware and software for desktops/laptops. At least migrate some things from mobile, such as more cameras, touch, accelerometers, payment systems, etc. Why can't I pay online as easily on my laptop as I can on my phone? Where's the facial recognition logon?
  - slantyyz 8y ago
    >> At least migrate some things from mobile, such as more cameras, touch, accelerometers, payment systems, etc. Why can't I pay online as easily on my laptop as I can on my phone? Where's the facial recognition logon? That's a hodgepodge of things in your list. Some of those are hardware (cameras, touch, accelerometers). You make it sound like there's a huge divide between paying with your laptop (which is site based, not app based) compared to a phone. I personally don't think it's that much of a big difference (I use 1Password to fill in credit card fields, which works fairly well). I actually prefer to buy and pay for stuff on a computer over a phone, but that's just my own preference. As for the facial recognition logon, you can always use Windows Hello if you've got a supported camera (which, by the way, relatively few people have). That API is available to Windows developers and has been used in apps in the Windows store.
  - whywhywhywhy 8y ago
    > Where's the facial recognition logon? Weird you mention this, the Surface line has been shipping this for years.

slantyyz 8y ago

I'm not sure I understand the point of asking for the names of "major new software for Windows". Most major areas of consumer software have been satisfied in some form or another on both of the dominant operating systems. Is there any "major new software for Mac" that isn't simply a re-interpretation of something else that already exists?

criddell 8y ago
It might just be a case of the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence, but I hear much more about new software on macOS than I do on Windows even though there are 10 Windows machines out there for every Mac. Pixelmator, Bear, Things, Highland, and Drafts are all newish Mac-only applications that I know about because of Twitter and podcasts. With Windows having an installed base an order of magnitude larger, I should be able to name 50 cool Windows applications and I can't think of many. ResophNotes is the last new application I installed.
- slantyyz 8y ago
  Pixelmator and Things are hardly new. I've been off Mac for maybe four years, and I had been using those apps for at least a couple of years before I switched back to Windows. As for Bear, Highland and Drafts, Bear is the only one worthy of mention. Highland and Drafts on the surface seem a lot like remixes of iAWriter to me. Keep in mind that Mac users seem to be more likely (yeah, yeah, citation required) to evangelize apps than Windows users do. As for cool Windows apps... off the top of my head: I just bought a license of Groupy (https://www.stardock.com/products/groupy/ https://www.stardock.com/products/groupy/), and it was money well spent for me. I get that a future version of Windows will probably make it a feature, but I get a lot of value out of it now. DisplayFusion (https://www.displayfusion.com/ https://www.displayfusion.com/) is another utility I can't live without. It's great whether you use one or multiple monitors. If you are thinking of buying it, Steam is the cheapest way to get it on multiple computers. People switching from Mac might like Quicklook (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NV4BS3L1H4S https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NV4BS3L1H4S). If you've got a lot of sound sources and want to manage playback volumes, EarTrumpet is pretty great (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH516XP https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH516XP). Mailplane users on Mac would probably like Easymail on Windows (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH626NC https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH626NC). The first thing I always install on Windows is CMDer (http://cmder.net/ http://cmder.net/), which is also great for switchers who think they're going to miss the Mac terminal. Codesector (http://www.codesector.com/ http://www.codesector.com/) makes a couple of great utilities worth paying for in Teracopy and DirectFolders.
  - criddell 8y ago
    > Mac users seem to be more likely [...] to evangelize apps than Windows users do I 100% agree and I think it's a shame. There's not enough joy in Windows world. Thank you for the list of applications. I'm going to check them out. Groupy looks immediately interesting to me because I prefer to work on a single monitor (I do use virtual desktops though).
    - slantyyz 8y ago
      Groupy is great. You can create your own "Coda" (the Panic app for Mac) by grouping Sublime, a shell and a browser in the same group. Makes development and testing much less painful on a single screen. I usually throw in a db query tool and source control app into the group as well.
      - nailer 8y ago
        Ah I was just missing Sets (which was in recent fast ring Windows builds, and does the same thing, but was pulled due to bugs and slowness). Giving Groupy a try as a replacement!
forapurpose 8y ago
I should have said, 'name major new software for desktops'. There's plenty for mobile, by comparison. > Most major areas of consumer software have been satisfied in some form or another on both of the dominant operating systems. I think that attitude reflects a lack of innovation in both hardware and software for desktops/laptops. At least migrate some things from mobile, such as more cameras, touch, accelerometers, payment systems, etc. Why can't I pay online as easily on my laptop as I can on my phone? Where's the facial recognition logon?
- slantyyz 8y ago
  >> At least migrate some things from mobile, such as more cameras, touch, accelerometers, payment systems, etc. Why can't I pay online as easily on my laptop as I can on my phone? Where's the facial recognition logon? That's a hodgepodge of things in your list. Some of those are hardware (cameras, touch, accelerometers). You make it sound like there's a huge divide between paying with your laptop (which is site based, not app based) compared to a phone. I personally don't think it's that much of a big difference (I use 1Password to fill in credit card fields, which works fairly well). I actually prefer to buy and pay for stuff on a computer over a phone, but that's just my own preference. As for the facial recognition logon, you can always use Windows Hello if you've got a supported camera (which, by the way, relatively few people have). That API is available to Windows developers and has been used in apps in the Windows store.
- whywhywhywhy 8y ago
  > Where's the facial recognition logon? Weird you mention this, the Surface line has been shipping this for years.