No apps, no success for Windows 8 and RT

[BladeVenom]

There are currently just over 1,000 apps in the Windows Store, a far cry from the more than 200,000 in Apple's App Store written specifically for the iPad.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231121/No_apps_no_success_for_Windows_8_and_RT_say_analysts

It's going to be slim pickings early on for anyone who gets a Windows tablet.

 

[pm]

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231121/No_apps_no_success_for_Windows_8_and_RT_say_analysts

It's going to be slim pickings early on for anyone who gets a Windows tablet.

Correction: anyone who gets a Windows RT tablet.


But, as I try to always mention, I work for Intel, and have been with them for over 17 years so I'm always a bit inclined to point out things that make our products look better.

 

[Phokus]

Yeah windows RT is going to suck. That being said, i'm going to probably pick up one of the normal windows 8 tablets. Looks great for One Note.

 

[Dominato3r]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/11/3317556/microsoft-windows-8-store-82-additional-markets-developers

MS is opening up more regions everyday. They have a large pool of Windows developers and the key will be to get them on board, I'm pretty sure they will.

Also important to make the distinction between Windows 8 and Windows RT. Windows 8 has access to some 5 million applications

 

[Ravynmagi]

There is no chance I'll buy a Windows RT tablet for this reason. It's a shame Windows Phone apps can't run on Windows RT/8. Even if it's a ugly looking experience like iPhone apps on iPad, it is still better than nothing, which is pretty much what Windows RT has right now. And that's the other thing, if I have a tablet I'd want to share apps with my phone. As an Android person it just seems weird that Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT apps are completely separate.

I'm looking forward to a Windows 8 tablet. I was tempted to buy a Ultrabook, but I think I'll get with a Windows 8 tablet and keyboard dock instead. I'm really impressed with how much more touch friendly Windows 8 is, especially the desktop apps.

PS... when I say no chance of me buying a Windows RT tablet, I meant this year. In time it could happen.

 

[Yuriman]

Isn't Medfield x86 with hardware recompile for ARM stuff? (or something like that)

Would it be possible in theory to run both x86 and ARM-based apps in an OS with a CPU like that?

 

[dougp]

There is no chance I'll buy a Windows RT tablet for this reason. It's a shame Windows Phone apps can't run on Windows RT/8. Even if it's a ugly looking experience like iPhone apps on iPad, it is still better than nothing, which is pretty much what Windows RT has right now. And that's the other thing, if I have a tablet I'd want to share apps with my phone. As an Android person it just seems weird that Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT apps are completely separate.

I'm looking forward to a Windows 8 tablet. I was tempted to buy a Ultrabook, but I think I'll get with a Windows 8 tablet and keyboard dock instead. I'm really impressed with how much more touch friendly Windows 8 is, especially the desktop apps.

PS... when I say no chance of me buying a Windows RT tablet, I meant this year. In time it could happen.

I was under the impression that all Windows RT apps (which are ARM based) would execute on Windows 8, Windows RT and Windows Phone. Basically providing a large system-base to allow you to share apps and data among all 3? Maybe I misunderstood my friend who was at a sneak peak ...

 

[Dominato3r]

I was under the impression that all Windows RT apps (which are ARM based) would execute on Windows 8, Windows RT and Windows Phone. Basically providing a large system-base to allow you to share apps and data among all 3? Maybe I misunderstood my friend who was at a sneak peak ...

Windows 8 and RT don't share and application store with Windows Phone. From a developer standpoint, apparently they've made it easy to port from one to another.

There is no chance I'll buy a Windows RT tablet for this reason. It's a shame Windows Phone apps can't run on Windows RT/8. Even if it's a ugly looking experience like iPhone apps on iPad, it is still better than nothing, which is pretty much what Windows RT has right now. And that's the other thing, if I have a tablet I'd want to share apps with my phone. As an Android person it just seems weird that Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT apps are completely separate.

I'm looking forward to a Windows 8 tablet. I was tempted to buy a Ultrabook, but I think I'll get with a Windows 8 tablet and keyboard dock instead. I'm really impressed with how much more touch friendly Windows 8 is, especially the desktop apps.

PS... when I say no chance of me buying a Windows RT tablet, I meant this year. In time it could happen.

MS seems to be doing is differently in the sense that your desktop and tablet share applications, versus Android and iOS where the tablet and phone share apps.

 

[ViRGE]

Isn't Medfield x86 with hardware recompile for ARM stuff? (or something like that)

Would it be possible in theory to run both x86 and ARM-based apps in an OS with a CPU like that?

WinRT applications (the API, not the OS) will have to run on both platforms regardless. So you won't need to have an x86 CPU dealing with ARM code.

 

[darkewaffle]

I don't think I'll ever understand app obsession.

 

[Red Storm]

Also important to make the distinction between Windows 8 and Windows RT. Windows 8 has access to some 5 million applications

Of which how many are optimized for touch? That's an important factor that I don't see mentioned. It's not enough to be able to simply install any application, it has to interface well. Any x86 app not optimized for touch is going to be like trying to use Windows via RDP on a phone.

 

[dagamer34]

Honestly, the Apple people keep throwing the "app number" argument in everyone else's faces, the same argument they derided back in 2005 when people asked them what kind of apps you could get on OS X. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Regardless, I think most people will survive if they have access to Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Amazon and a few games.

This isn't Pokemon, your goal isn't to catch 'em all.

 

[Dominato3r]

Of which how many are optimized for touch? That's an important factor that I don't see mentioned. It's not enough to be able to simply install any application, it has to interface well. Any x86 app not optimized for touch is going to be like trying to use Windows via RDP on a phone.

OPs title is terrible. I know what I meant.

 

[dougp]

Honestly, the Apple people keep throwing the "app number" argument in everyone else's faces, the same argument they derided back in 2005 when people asked them what kind of apps you could get on OS X. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Regardless, I think most people will survive if they have access to Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Amazon and a few games.

This isn't Pokemon, your goal isn't to catch 'em all.

I adopted WP7 early on, at release. I toughed out the remainder of the year (Oct thru Jan) with websites for fantasy football, but they wouldn't recognize the browser and go to the mobile site. I dealt with no notifications or live tile score updates for a majority of the sports I follow. Sure, I got achievement points from games that were 3-4x the price of their iOS and Android competitors. I'm not picky when it comes to apps, but I do need fantasy football and sports notifications since my team isn't always playing on TV. That and iMessage are what ultimately drove me back to the iPhone.

People aren't asking for *every* app.

 

[jhansman]

I don't think I'll ever understand app obsession.

Nor I. My brother in law, the least tech savvy person I know, just got a SG3, which he uses for a) phone calls, and b) his music collection. He likes it, but after nearly three weeks, he has yet to even visit the Play Store (sorry, that name just sticks in my craw). When I suggested he take a look, his response was "why?" I had no reason for him.

Sorry, but this utter obsession with the number of apps available for given device is just stupid.

 

[Red Storm]

Nor I. My brother in law, the least tech savvy person I know, just got a SG3, which he uses for a) phone calls, and b) his music collection. He likes it, but after nearly three weeks, he has yet to even visit the Play Store (sorry, that name just sticks in my craw). When I suggested he take a look, his response was "why?" I had no reason for him.

Sorry, but this utter obsession with the number of apps available for given device is just stupid.

I think it's pretty stupid to pay so much more in monthly fees if you're only going to make calls and listen to music. He could buy a simple phone and a dedicated MP3 (with much higher capacity) and save a TON of money.

OPs title is terrible. I know what I meant.

Huh? I wasn't talking about the OP, I was responding to your post.

People always mention how the Pro will be able to run every existing x86 Windows app, but have they considered that it's not exactly pleasant to try and use a touchscreen for applications that are designed for keyboard and mouse? All those millions of apps need to become optimized for touch or the experience is going to be no better than RDP'ing with a mobile device.

 

[dagamer34]

I adopted WP7 early on, at release. I toughed out the remainder of the year (Oct thru Jan) with websites for fantasy football, but they wouldn't recognize the browser and go to the mobile site. I dealt with no notifications or live tile score updates for a majority of the sports I follow. Sure, I got achievement points from games that were 3-4x the price of their iOS and Android competitors. I'm not picky when it comes to apps, but I do need fantasy football and sports notifications since my team isn't always playing on TV. That and iMessage are what ultimately drove me back to the iPhone.

People aren't asking for *every* app.

I'd say the app situation is a lot better since Nokia came around. They've been making a ton of apps you'd find useful, like a much better ESPN app and an ESPN Fantasy Football app.

My guess is the easy of porting a Windows 8 app to Windows Phone 8 will definitely help with the app situation. I know there are key apps missing, but I hate the argument of "600,000 vs 100,000! They'll never catch up!" because it really is about quality over quantity. Having more apps usually gives you more competition, but you only need 1 good RSS reader, 1 good Twitter client, 1 good sports client. You also need those branded apps that can only come from first party development like Facebook, ESPN, Instagram, Rdio, Spotify, etc... and people use those a lot more than the other 599,000 apps out there.

 

[arod]

I think you need to wait and see the launch day before saying winRT won't have apps. Quite a few big name apps have been shown but are not in the store yet (netflix/skype).... you would expect those to be in there by launch. Even still I would say the 1000 apps in the win8 app store is already more impressive than wp7 was because they are getting the actual companies to make the apps for this store vs. the random 3rd party that would do many of them for wp7.

The xbox launch lineup has been shown and looks pretty impressive and only a few of those are in the store. http://majornelson.com/2012/08/31/first-wave-of-xbox-live-games-that-will-be-coming-to-windows-8/

 

[Dominato3r]

Huh? I wasn't talking about the OP, I was responding to your post.

People always mention how the Pro will be able to run every existing x86 Windows app, but have they considered that it's not exactly pleasant to try and use a touchscreen for applications that are designed for keyboard and mouse? All those millions of apps need to become optimized for touch or the experience is going to be no better than RDP'ing with a mobile device.

Windows is going a different route, it's more of an hybrid operating system.

Having the ability to run legacy applications is an important part of Windows 8. This is also why I think bunching Windows 8 and Windows RT together is uninformed. Windows 8 will also run on desktops and laptops, just because it has changed it UI, doesn't mean those guys aren't going to run it. Windows 8 will have apps, I know so because I'm running it and I have all my OG Windows desktop applications.

The hybrid approach is also where the OEMs seem to be taking it as we're seeing a lot of laptops with touchscreens and tablets with keyboard docks.

My point is that too many people are thinking of this new Windows as something that works exactly like Android and iOS. In some respects, yes, but it's also very different and it's use case will be different.

 

[Deeko]

The Windows 8 app store just opened to public developers recently, of course there aren't many apps available. But then again, the tone of this thread does not surprise me, given the OP's history.

 

[Red Storm]

Windows is going a different route, it's more of an hybrid operating system.

Having the ability to run legacy applications is an important part of Windows 8. This is also why I think bunching Windows 8 and Windows RT together is uninformed. Windows 8 will also run on desktops and laptops, just because it has changed it UI, doesn't mean those guys aren't going to run it. Windows 8 will have apps, I know so because I'm running it and I have all my OG Windows desktop applications.

The hybrid approach is also where the OEMs seem to be taking it as we're seeing a lot of laptops with touchscreens and tablets with keyboard docks.

My point is that too many people are thinking of this new Windows as something that works exactly like Android and iOS. In some respects, yes, but it's also very different and it's use case will be different.

Ah I was talking about the Surface Pro specifically, or for that matter any touch screen tablet that will be running x86 Windows.

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

Correction: anyone who gets a Windows RT tablet.


But, as I try to always mention, I work for Intel, and have been with them for over 17 years so I'm always a bit inclined to point out things that make our products look better.

So you don't want to talk price then

 

[Zink]

Apple's stat for today was 250,000 iPad specific apps. Not that it matters, it is only the couple thousand best ones that 99% of people use.

 

[Shyatic]

The idea that Windows won't get a good app ecosystem is ridiculous considering the same apps are going to work on the desktop, and phone ecosystems as well. Windows 8 isn't even out yet, and the apps are already starting to come out. Big apps will come first (obviously), and smaller apps later. But the ecosystem of developers for Windows is far bigger than iDevices.

 

[Zorba]

Apple's stat for today was 250,000 iPad specific apps. Not that it matters, it is only the couple thousand best ones that 99% of people use.

One problem with having 10 Billion apps in the store is it makes it very hard to find the good ones. Never used the Apple App store, but I always think it is annoying to find good apps on the Play Store, usually have to do a google search.