Microsoft reveals team working on Windows 8 'App Store'
Microsoft on Wednesday revealed that it will follow in Apple's footsteps by building an "App Store" for the next generation of its flagship OS, codenamed Windows 8.
Windows boss Steven Sinofsky said on the company's newly-launched Building Windows 8 blog that the company has an "App Store" team. Though he neglected to specify the exact duties of the team, the reveal serves as evidence that the software giant has taken notice of Apple's successes with the App Store and the Mac App Store.
Earlier this week, the Redmond, Wash., company said it was finally ready to begin talking at length about Windows 8 on its new blog.
Rumors of a Microsoft Windows application store built into the next version of the OS have existed for some time, gaining credence when a June preview of the software showed a Store tile with the Windows logo.
CEO Steve Ballmer got the company off to a bit of a false start with its next-gen OS in May when he publicly used the name "Windows 8" for the first time, noting that the "next generation of Windows systems" would arrive next year. Microsoft subsequently retracted his statements, calling them a misstatement.
"To date, we have yet to formally announce any timing or naming for the next version of Windows," a spokesperson said.
A couple weeks later, Microsoft provided an official preview of Windows 8, highlighting the new HTML5 application platform. However, the Microsoft development community was reportedly "horrified" by the revelation during the demo that the new developer platform is "based on HTML5 and JavaScript."
Leaks of an early build of Windows 8 have suggested that Microsoft hopes to make the OS scalable across a range of devices and form factors, possibly including smartphones and tablets. A company executive confirmed its tablet strategy last month when he said, "We view tablet as a PC."
Source: Within Windows
It has also been suggested that Microsoft will replace its Windows Phone 7 mobile OS with Windows 8 as part of its mission to bring Windows "everywhere on every device without compromise."
The existence of a Windows 8 App Store team could also explain Microsoft's strong opposition to Apple's "App Store" trademark. The company has been Apple's most vociferous opponent of the mark, calling it too generic to be fairly registered.
Windows boss Steven Sinofsky said on the company's newly-launched Building Windows 8 blog that the company has an "App Store" team. Though he neglected to specify the exact duties of the team, the reveal serves as evidence that the software giant has taken notice of Apple's successes with the App Store and the Mac App Store.
Earlier this week, the Redmond, Wash., company said it was finally ready to begin talking at length about Windows 8 on its new blog.
Rumors of a Microsoft Windows application store built into the next version of the OS have existed for some time, gaining credence when a June preview of the software showed a Store tile with the Windows logo.
CEO Steve Ballmer got the company off to a bit of a false start with its next-gen OS in May when he publicly used the name "Windows 8" for the first time, noting that the "next generation of Windows systems" would arrive next year. Microsoft subsequently retracted his statements, calling them a misstatement.
"To date, we have yet to formally announce any timing or naming for the next version of Windows," a spokesperson said.
A couple weeks later, Microsoft provided an official preview of Windows 8, highlighting the new HTML5 application platform. However, the Microsoft development community was reportedly "horrified" by the revelation during the demo that the new developer platform is "based on HTML5 and JavaScript."
Leaks of an early build of Windows 8 have suggested that Microsoft hopes to make the OS scalable across a range of devices and form factors, possibly including smartphones and tablets. A company executive confirmed its tablet strategy last month when he said, "We view tablet as a PC."
Source: Within Windows
It has also been suggested that Microsoft will replace its Windows Phone 7 mobile OS with Windows 8 as part of its mission to bring Windows "everywhere on every device without compromise."
The existence of a Windows 8 App Store team could also explain Microsoft's strong opposition to Apple's "App Store" trademark. The company has been Apple's most vociferous opponent of the mark, calling it too generic to be fairly registered.
Comments
What an original idea!
Its not original in the least, but its something that they do plan on implementing though. I dont see whats wrong with them having a marketplace either
Why would Microsoft need some sort of program marketplace, then.
Wow that is so innovative of them. No wonder they are the greatest corporation in America. What next? Will they just steal the iPhone and iPad and sell them in their Microskank stores?
They never said that it was innovative, AppleInsider is just reporting that they like Apple did will be having a curated central store for downloading applications. Why all the hate? What did Microsoft do to you?
I thought one of the strengths of the upcoming Mango update to Mobile 7 was that you wouldn't need to turn to "Apps" to do things.
Why would Microsoft need some sort of program marketplace, then.
Windows Phone isn't Windows 8. Its just on Mango there is a majority of stuff right off the bat that us integrated at the OS level so you don't need apps but no one said that Windows Phone didn't need apps. All mobile OS'es need apps
What an original idea!
Its not original in the least, but its something that they do plan on implementing though. I dont see whats wrong with them having a marketplace either
Someone forgot to use their sarcasm font!
... while completely ignoring the streamlining of purchasing process, app rating, software verification, installation, and updates.
Giving it the exact same name as a competitor? Bad idea.
What an original idea!
Well, you know what they say: Ballmer-see, Ballmer-do.
So it's not a matter of who copied who, but who implemented the idea first and that's Apple seeing Windows 8 Marketplace(or whatever) will be launched next year.
i liked it when he said we noticed when typing your fingers go to the middle of the screen so we introduced a split key board like they invented the idea
I am curious. What did they copy from ios5?
As for M$ copy-cat moves; it is well known that Apple has performed as Microsoft's research department for the past 25 years.
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/new...-in-august.ars
http://www.winsupersite.com/article/...8-a-first-peek
Yes Apple got it out first, but Microsoft has been working on this a while. So has everyone else, like the links say. I dont buy PC games at a store, have not for 3 or more years. I cant remember when I bought any software in a package.
I know its tough to get your head around the fact that Apple does not invent everything.
What an original idea!
Microsoft already had the idea of Windows Store for Windows 8 a year ago when their plan was leaked. Their problem is getting it first market, and even then it might not be as successful as the Mac App Store.
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/new...-in-august.ars
edit: Looks like bettieblue beat me to it.
Windows Phone isn't Windows 8. Its just on Mango there is a majority of stuff right off the bat that us integrated at the OS level so you don't need apps but no one said that Windows Phone didn't need apps. All mobile OS'es need apps
Could you take the red font out of your sig Please? It's really ugly and annoying and bad etiquette as well.
Apple just made it so much better by innovating the delivery medium and having it curated.
A bit off topic but reminiscing the past also reminds me of my Sony CLIE PDA and this PDF reader app I bought had inertia scrolling (2002)
Well, I don't know who's idea was first but Apple came out with it first. Windows 8 has been in development for the past 2 years(around July 2009) so Microsoft has had the App Store idea from then.(They plan these things. Hence the 'planning stage') The Mac App Store has been around since January but we've known about it since last year.
So it's not a matter of who copied who, but who implemented the idea first and that's Apple seeing Windows 8 Marketplace(or whatever) will be launched next year.
Unless you work for Microsoft working on Windows 8, you have no way of knowing that. The AppStore App, is just that, an App. It's history does not necessarily have to go back years to the planning stages of Windows 8. Hell, they could have just started development on the App last month. (and probably did) Kidding!
I can't know for sure either, since I don't work for Microsoft, but In all likelihood, this is just another case of Microsoft following someone else's lead. At the very least Apple has shown them how to do it right and you can bet, that their store will be surprisingly similar to Apple's, just like the brick and mortar stores.