When Windows 10 comes out on July 29, 2015, a new type of application - “Universal Apps” - will be released with it. At first glance, the old dream of Microsoft is coming true - the same applications will run on PCs, phones, tablets, and even the Microsoft Xbox One game console. For developers, this means that in order to ensure the compatibility of their software products with all devices running the new Windows, they will have to write code only once. In Windows 8, there was something similar, but developers still had to create separate packages for Windows and Windows Phone. With Windows 10, the situation will change - the barrier between the platforms will become transparent, and the user interface will change depending on what type of device the application is running on. In addition, instead of releasing new versions of its operating system, the company will simply update Windows 10. But is everything so simple?
This question was addressed by Mike Brown in an article published by IBTimes on "The Windows 10 App Problem: Will 'Universal Windows' Make It More Attractive To Developers?".
The software giant from Redmond hopes to attract developers to create applications for phones. The Windows mobile platform has a total 3% market share (in the US, according to comScore). In the app store there are only 20 thousand programs for this platform. Apple's market share is 43.5%. As of January 2015, 1.4 million apps existed for iOS. As a result, users simply do not want to buy phones for which there is so little software.
At the same time, Microsoft covers 91.23% of the global market for computer operating systems (according to Netmarketshare). If Microsoft succeeds in attracting Windows developers to create universal applications, Windows smartphones may become more attractive to consumers.
A new kind of application designed specifically for Windows 10, for some reason called not "9", and on previous operating systems of this family will not work. New applications may not like users. How to convince developers to create them, rather than separate applications for computers and phones?
What awaits the most popular software products of Microsoft itself
Office 2016, as is known, will be released in two versions: one designed for Windows 10, which can even manage the Internet of things, and the second for desktop computers. At ComputerWorld, Microsoft also explained that Office for Windows 10 will be offered in two versions: for screens less than 8 inches and for those displays whose diagonal is larger than this figure.
The small screen version will work like Office for iPad, which is free for basic input and editing, but requires a subscription to Office 365. It is currently unclear what the price of the large screen version will be, but it is expected to work as a replacement. "Desktop" version, which, in turn, is intended for earlier Windows operating systems.
With Skype for Windows 10, everything is even more complicated, and the company previously explained the future prospects of this popular application. The application for touch screens, which appeared with Windows 8.1, is a thing of the past, and there will probably not be a universal application. Instead, Microsoft is going to integrate Skype capabilities into the Windows 10 operating system, but this will be realized only some time after the release of the new operating system. Until that time, users can only use the "desktop" application.
From this it follows that the company's own applications will be released in various versions. And Windows 10 itself will be offered not in one universal, but in seven variations.
Why does a computer need “smartphone” applications if there are websites?
Duolingo, a free language learning site, currently has a Windows Phone app. At the same time, the company is showing interest in universal applications. Her communications director, Gina Gotthilf, points out:
We think that the [new] direction of Microsoft is interesting, since the creation of separate applications for each platform is a lot of work. The idea of universal applications is interesting because it will potentially allow us to effectively optimize our time.
However, there are some doubts regarding universal applications. Despite the enormous popularity of applications for smartphones and tablets, websites sometimes give users more options. Therefore, not all developers who have high-quality websites have a need to create applications not only for mobile devices, but also for desktop computers. After all, from a PC, a user can simply visit the site without referring to a special application that is more convenient to use from the phone. For developers, it is possible to simplify the transfer of Android applications to Windows 10, but this may not be the easiest task for them.
On the path to the success of universal applications, Microsoft has to overcome many obstacles. The company will demonstrate to developers the interest of users in such software. Only in this case, the creators of the software will see that their work will not be in vain. At the same time, the company should also be interested in a new type of software and users. Unfortunately, the approach that the company applies to its own applications does not give a clear understanding that it itself fully accepts its new concept. And only time can show whether developers will be creating universal applications.
Are universal applications exactly the solution that can make Windows 10 one of the most popular platforms for smartphones?
The article is based on materials .
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