Microsoft debuts early, open-sourced Windows Bridge for iOS
Microsoft on Thursday released an early version of Windows Bridge for iOS, a set of tools that will allow developers to port iOS apps to Windows.
Previously known as Project Islandwood, Bridge for iOS is still in an incomplete form and won't officially launch until sometime this fall, Microsoft said. Developers can however look at open-source code on GitHub, and the company is inviting people to contribute with testing, comments, and their own source code.
The iOS version of Bridge currently supports creating Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 apps built for 32- and 64-bit Intel systems. Users will have to wait for things like compiler optimizations and ARM processor support, the latter essential for phones and some tablets.
Other versions of Bridge are targeting Android and Web apps. Although the Android tools are available only in a private technical preview, the Web app tools are live and fully functional.
Microsoft has plotted an ambitious course for Windows 10, turning it into an universal operating system that can adapt not just to desktops, laptops, and tablets, but also phones and other devices. The company is hoping to have it installed on 1 billion devices with the next two to three years.
Along those lines, it's hoping to reinvigorate the Windows Store by attracting mobile developers who might normally skip Windows in favor of iOS or Android.
Previously known as Project Islandwood, Bridge for iOS is still in an incomplete form and won't officially launch until sometime this fall, Microsoft said. Developers can however look at open-source code on GitHub, and the company is inviting people to contribute with testing, comments, and their own source code.
The iOS version of Bridge currently supports creating Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 apps built for 32- and 64-bit Intel systems. Users will have to wait for things like compiler optimizations and ARM processor support, the latter essential for phones and some tablets.
Other versions of Bridge are targeting Android and Web apps. Although the Android tools are available only in a private technical preview, the Web app tools are live and fully functional.
Microsoft has plotted an ambitious course for Windows 10, turning it into an universal operating system that can adapt not just to desktops, laptops, and tablets, but also phones and other devices. The company is hoping to have it installed on 1 billion devices with the next two to three years.
Along those lines, it's hoping to reinvigorate the Windows Store by attracting mobile developers who might normally skip Windows in favor of iOS or Android.
Comments
Still living the dream
This is a de facto endorsement of the concept of building for iOS first. Love it.
MS has had a long period of penance for all its past transgressions, but don't forget the tens of millions of PCs in the world that are running Windows. They're smart to capitalize on being a universal platform, because Google and Apple have definitely gone in the other direction. In the long run, open platforms typically win the game. Remember Classic Mac OS, it was totally closed and it is dead now. MS learned this lesson in time and by being more open. Not saying every single thing they make is wonderful, but they're back in the game for sure and they're in it for the long haul.
okay why would you want to port a Mobile phone App to windows 10 a desktop world. I really think this will end up be a poor experience for users. Not like there is window 10 mobile phone so the only reason to do it is for a convertable labtop or surface product and MS things users would like this experience.
MS should just look to what happen when Apple tried to get MS developers to port their apps over to Mac, did not go well at all.
MS has had a long period of penance for all its past transgressions, but don't forget the tens of millions of PCs in the world that are running Windows. They're smart to capitalize on being a universal platform, because Google and Apple have definitely gone in the other direction. In the long run, open platforms typically win the game. Remember Classic Mac OS, it was totally closed and it is dead now. MS learned this lesson in time and by being more open. Not saying every single thing they make is wonderful, but they're back in the game for sure and they're in it for the long haul. Wait...forgot I was on AI...yay, "gold" products and software releases that skip QA entirely!!
okay why would you want to port a Mobile phone App to windows 10 a desktop world. I really think this will end up be a poor experience for users. Not like there is window 10 mobile phone so the only reason to do it is for a convertable labtop or surface product and MS things users would like this experience.
MS should just look to what happen when Apple tried to get MS developers to port their apps over to Mac, did not go well at all.
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Windows 10 is not just desktop, that's why. Desktop/Laptop, tablets, phones, xbox one, hollow lens, and IoT. 1 app that runs on all of those, and 1 Billion potential new customers.
These tools have already been used - that's how candy crush got to windows phone 8.1 and windows 10.
Does it convert/bridge Swift code? If so, C# & F# are dead! Long live Swift and prosper!
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It does not do swift right now - though, it is supposedly something that may come later.
And Swift is no threat to the existence of C# or F#.
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Windows 10 is not just desktop, that's why. Desktop/Laptop, tablets, phones, xbox one, hollow lens, and IoT. 1 app that runs on all of those, and 1 Billion potential new customers.
These tools have already been used - that's how candy crush got to windows phone 8.1 and windows 10.
yeah we seen MS attempt this before Window CE, yeah that worked well. Right now their is what 1% of the world phones running a MS os. There is no signs that they will gain ground here either. Window will be a destop/laptop environement for the forseeable future and Most of those 1B computer are sitting on a desk in some company sure they want you using a ported IOS app on you work computer like Candy Crush.
Do you know how many Gig of HDD space Window 10 takes, so you sell phone will be weighted down with Windows that going to be positive user experience.
Bulk of iOS apps are written in C/C++/ObjC/ObjC++. The switch to Swift won't happen until Swift 2.0 or 3.0 meets the hype.
Having held conversations with some of the longest ObjC experts they aren't that impressed yet.
Yeah right. Ninety-nine percent of "Windows users" are on the desktop. Windows Phone? Is that a thing? And the rest of those device have zero Windows users. One billion imaginary new Windows users? You wish, don't you?
Funny, just upgraded to 10 (yesterday) and I'm pretty underwhelmed; MS reinvented the wheel if you ask me... Looks a lot like 7, with 8.1 underneath the hood. Nothing to see here.
Windows 10 privacy statement, according to BGR,
Finally, we will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to: 1.comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies; 2.protect our customers, for example to prevent spam or attempts to defraud users of the services, or to help prevent the loss of life or serious injury of anyone; 3.operate and maintain the security of our services, including to prevent or stop an attack on our computer systems or networks; or 4.protect the rights or property of Microsoft, including enforcing the terms governing the use of the services – however, if we receive information indicating that someone is using our services to traffic in stolen intellectual or physical property of Microsoft, we will not inspect a customer’s private content ourselves, but we may refer the matter to law enforcement.
A.K.A USA Government backdoor.
Just your wireless network passwords and probably some other personal information. Thanks, Windows 10.
https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/
Some of it is legally required cooperation with lawful authorities while the rest is for marketing and fulfillment, and to protect the company's interests as needed. Pretty much boilerplate IMHO.
A question ... these "tens of millions of PCs" out there are running what CPUs and what OS by enlarge do you think? What percentage of these "tens of millions of PCs" are in fact less powerful than the iPhone in your pocket? Remember those same data surveys touting the "tens of millions of PCs" choose to exclude iOS devices as even being 'computers'!
Microsoft is in a hole and digging. I say, send them more shovels.
Indeed. C# is used primarily by Unity, and damn near everyone is using unity for their cross platform mobile games because android is garbage to develop for. Unity makes it easy to develop something that runs well on iOS and OS X without resorting to having to create 100s of wrappers for devices that will be obsolete by the time you get to it. However Unity only uses .NET 2.0 so it's quite a bit behind.
However. I am a bit more interested in what Microsoft is doing here, because this is a direct attempt to go "hey look, it costs you nothing to port your iOS app to Windows" ... And therefor the windows store. Because up till now, the only people putting apps on the windows store was Microsoft itself and a few desktop developers. All the fun stuff is on Steam for PC/Mac, leaving Microsoft out in the cold with no easy-money revenue source like Apple has.
Most (game) developers are not targeting the PC as the first option,it's either iOS for mobile/touch games, Nintendo 3DS for AAA portable games, or PS4 for for console games. The only PC-first games are MMORPG's because most of them are in Korea and are played in PC-Cafe's on relatively mid-grade hardware.