Microsoft wants iTunes for Windows 8; Apple not interested
Microsoft would love for Apple to bring iTunes ? one of the world's most popular software offerings ? to its Windows 8 "Metro" platform, but executives at the Redmond giant say Windows 8 users shouldn't expect a touch-friendly version of the application any time soon.
Apple doesn't appear to be too keen on developing a version of iTunes that integrates the Modern UI face of Windows 8, Microsoft representatives told CNN this week.
"You shouldn't expect an iTunes app on Windows 8 any time soon," the chief financial officer of Microsoft's Windows division said. "iTunes is in high demand. The welcome mat has been laid out. It's not for lack of trying."
iTunes is available for Windows 8, but the lack of a Modern UI version, otherwise known as "Metro," means that users in tablet mode, working without a keyboard and mouse, have a harder time navigating the program. It also means that users running the none too popular Windows RT are completely unable to use the software, as that version of Windows ? built to run on ARM processors ? does not run non-Microsoft desktop software.
Apple has in the past readily ported its most popular Mac applications to Microsoft's Windows, the operating system on which most computers run worldwide. In the rapidly growing tablet segment, though, Apple is king. Even with Windows 8 tablets grabbing some market share, Apple could likely ignore the platform for some time and see no ill effects.
Windows 8 now has over 60,000 apps available, and users have downloaded roughly 250 million apps in total. Microsoft aims to have Windows 8 versions of all of the most popular apps in the iTunes App Store available by the holiday season.
These most recent app figures and estimations from Microsoft underscore just how badly Windows 8 has stumbled out of the gate. In October, ahead of the platform's launch, Microsoft was predicting it would hit the 100,000-app mark by February, three months after its release. At the six-month milestone, the platform has just over half that total.
Apple doesn't appear to be too keen on developing a version of iTunes that integrates the Modern UI face of Windows 8, Microsoft representatives told CNN this week.
"You shouldn't expect an iTunes app on Windows 8 any time soon," the chief financial officer of Microsoft's Windows division said. "iTunes is in high demand. The welcome mat has been laid out. It's not for lack of trying."
iTunes is available for Windows 8, but the lack of a Modern UI version, otherwise known as "Metro," means that users in tablet mode, working without a keyboard and mouse, have a harder time navigating the program. It also means that users running the none too popular Windows RT are completely unable to use the software, as that version of Windows ? built to run on ARM processors ? does not run non-Microsoft desktop software.
Apple has in the past readily ported its most popular Mac applications to Microsoft's Windows, the operating system on which most computers run worldwide. In the rapidly growing tablet segment, though, Apple is king. Even with Windows 8 tablets grabbing some market share, Apple could likely ignore the platform for some time and see no ill effects.
Windows 8 now has over 60,000 apps available, and users have downloaded roughly 250 million apps in total. Microsoft aims to have Windows 8 versions of all of the most popular apps in the iTunes App Store available by the holiday season.
These most recent app figures and estimations from Microsoft underscore just how badly Windows 8 has stumbled out of the gate. In October, ahead of the platform's launch, Microsoft was predicting it would hit the 100,000-app mark by February, three months after its release. At the six-month milestone, the platform has just over half that total.
Comments
Say , after MS Office is available on iPad ?
(and, BTW, totally useless, because, you know, Surface is for SERIOUS creation work, as opposed to frustrating iPad)
How the tables have turned. Now who needs who's help?
Perhaps Apple will invest $100 million and pledge to produce a touch version of iTunes for an undisclosed number of shares of non-voting Microsoft stock and other concessions and be regarded as the saviors of Microsoft? /s
I don't see why Apple wouldn't want to do this eventually, but there's likely no need to rush to do it right now. I'm actually surprised Microsoft is asking for it, are they getting that many complaints and/or requests from their customers about/for it? It would seem to be a good opportunity for them to push their own service.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheUnfetteredMind
Perhaps Apple will invest $100 million and pledge to produce a touch version of iTunes for an undisclosed number of shares of non-voting Microsoft stock and other concessions and be regarded as the saviors of Microsoft? /s
<...>
Yes, the whole deal being announced by S Ballmer, with Tim's (moderately) smiling face on a giant screen ... (NB : credit to Simtub member for the image creation)
If there is a cut, then even 5% might be a show-stopper, it might nullify any profit from those users.
Quote:
Originally Posted by umrk_lab
Say , after MS Office is available on iPad ?
(and, BTW, totally useless, because, you know, Surface is for SERIOUS creation work, as opposed to frustrating iPad)
Yeah, no kidding. I thought Microsoft was supposed to release their "Free" version of Office for iOS by now. I guess Microsoft is waiting for Surface to take off first.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdasd
I don't see why - excepting technical difficulties - Apple wouldn't do that.
Let's count the reasons:
By most reports, Apple has moved almost all of it's engineering staff onto iOS 7, so not many people available.
I'm sure the vast majority of engineers at Apple have little to no Windows experience, so it's not like they can just pull people from other projects to work on it.
It's a huge undertaking to port an app written and designed for desktop/Win32 (as iTunes has been) to tablet/Metro. It's not only about getting it to run, it's also about rethinking the entire user interface for tablets. iTunes wasn't ported to iOS for that very reason.
Tablet-only Windows 8 isn't a very large market.
In general, Apple has plenty of bigger fish to fry.
Yep. Sorry that its not RT but there is a version which fine on those desktops it was meant for.
Selling point. Same as not having Office for iOS is a selling point for the Surface.
Obviously there is a windows team in Apple. However you're probably right iTunes is probably in MFC ( or some mid level apple code which compiles to MFC and OS X - Carbon?)
Not in .Net.
So as I said technical reasons.
( on 2 points you are incorrect. The iTunes team probably works on both iTunes on OS X and iOS - videos, music and iTunes already. Apple has functional teams not per OS teams. So that team can't be used on iOS where they already are). And apple has windows experience in iTunes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
Something about MS's comment seems off. I can see an issue with having a Metro UI touch version that runs on x86, x86_64, and ARM but I'd think still think Apple would do it if they thought there was a big enough market for it. Isn't MS's app store similar to Apple's insofar that MS also would also want 30% for all purchases through the iTunes for Metro UI app? If that the fine print on the "welcome mat" no wonder Apple isn't interested.
30% of 0 is still 0. Apple does not charge for iTunes so MS would not take any cut.
Ignore my comment, re-read yours and can see the point you're making.
They have it. It's called iWork
They have it. It's called iWork
Quote:
Originally Posted by dasanman69
Misleading headline. There is a iTunes for Windows 8 non-touch desktop version.
You're being as misleading as the headline. ITunes for Windows 8 non-touch is really iTunes for Windows 7.