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It's the latter. For now it seems like Microsoft is doing what Apple has never considered - building a streamlined frontend interface with a certified app store

It's the latter. For now it seems like Microsoft is doing what Apple has never considered - building a streamlined frontend interface with a certified app store so casual users can safely and easily access a wide range of software, and maintaining a fully tinker-able backend and not closing off other software distribution channels for expert users. Unless this is all a prelude to their master plan to pull an iOS in W9, it seems like a highly prudent move. Microsoft is a company, and needs to remain competitive against Apple, and they best achieve this by simplifying the front-end. But they don't seem to be forgetting their expert-user roots. The only question for me now is how moddable the Metro interface will be. I think it would be smart if Microsoft left it relatively open for expert users to experiment with.

ameen 14y ago
I would like to point out that it isn't actually the latter. If your app is a "Metro-Style Windows 8 app", then you can't sell it on your own, you have to put it up on the Windows Store or make a desktop application if you want to sell it on your own. Metro apps will not be available from elsewhere.
zevyoura 14y ago
> It's the latter. For now it seems like Microsoft is doing what Apple has never considered - building a streamlined frontend interface with a certified app store so casual users can safely and easily access a wide range of software, and maintaining a fully tinker-able backend and not closing off other software distribution channels for expert users. Isn't that exactly what Apple has done on OS X with the Mac App Store?
rimantas 14y ago
> For now it seems like Microsoft is doing what Apple has > never considered - building a streamlined frontend > interface with a certified app store so casual users can > safely and easily access a wide range of software, and > maintaining a fully tinker-able backend and not closing > off other software distribution channels for expert users. Interestingly, model that you just described works fine on OS X and have been this way for more than a year now.
- reddit_clone 14y ago
  Not quite. I got quite a jolt when I couldn't install Emacs on my new MBP with Mountain Lion at first. (I am not a Mac user. This is my first apple computer). I had to tweak something in control panel to be able to install the downloaded dmg file. How long before that option disappears? I don't know. But I am afraid it will, some day.
- corporalagumbo 14y ago
  I would hardly call the front-end of OS X streamlined. Metro is streamlined and user-friendly, OS X is, despite (or increasingly because of) the few tacked-on iOS-esque elements, a train wreck for usability. Apple needs to face the fact that small tweaks will not get you the best of both worlds. A comprehensive rethink a la Metro is essential.

ameen 14y ago

I would like to point out that it isn't actually the latter. If your app is a "Metro-Style Windows 8 app", then you can't sell it on your own, you have to put it up on the Windows Store or make a desktop application if you want to sell it on your own. Metro apps will not be available from elsewhere.

zevyoura 14y ago

> It's the latter. For now it seems like Microsoft is doing what Apple has never considered - building a streamlined frontend interface with a certified app store so casual users can safely and easily access a wide range of software, and maintaining a fully tinker-able backend and not closing off other software distribution channels for expert users. Isn't that exactly what Apple has done on OS X with the Mac App Store?

rimantas 14y ago

> For now it seems like Microsoft is doing what Apple has > never considered - building a streamlined frontend > interface with a certified app store so casual users can > safely and easily access a wide range of software, and > maintaining a fully tinker-able backend and not closing > off other software distribution channels for expert users. Interestingly, model that you just described works fine on OS X and have been this way for more than a year now.

reddit_clone 14y ago
Not quite. I got quite a jolt when I couldn't install Emacs on my new MBP with Mountain Lion at first. (I am not a Mac user. This is my first apple computer). I had to tweak something in control panel to be able to install the downloaded dmg file. How long before that option disappears? I don't know. But I am afraid it will, some day.
corporalagumbo 14y ago
I would hardly call the front-end of OS X streamlined. Metro is streamlined and user-friendly, OS X is, despite (or increasingly because of) the few tacked-on iOS-esque elements, a train wreck for usability. Apple needs to face the fact that small tweaks will not get you the best of both worlds. A comprehensive rethink a la Metro is essential.