iTunes Not Coming to Microsoft's Windows Store in 2017

[Winni]

I use Windows every day, and still feel that it’s inferior to macOS...

I would wager that a lot of people making these comments do as well.

I've been using Windows and macOS side by side since OS X Tiger -- and saying that Windows is inferior to macOS is utter nonsense. The user experience on macOS Sierra/High Sierra is about as cluttered as Windows 10: What is this useless Launchpad thing good for? Finder is a piece of junk compared to Windows Explorer. Using a Mac in a corporate network and accessing corporate resources is... An extremely inferior experience compared to the usability of Windows. What macOS has going for itself is a cleaner look, but that design is bought with a lack of features. Windows might not be sexy or pretty, but it definitely is the more reliable and more versatile work horse than macOS.

It's probably fairer to compare macOS with Xubuntu or any other flavor of Linux. In that comparison, macOS can at least trump with all the proprietary software in its AppStore that does not exist for Linux. But when we go down to the system level or compare pure system performance... Things won't look that good anymore for macOS -- it's still a capable Unix (client) platform, but not nearly as fast or flexible or powerful as its Open Source siblings.

 

[Phonephreak]

Apple has probably finally taken a look at "Microsoft Store" and seen it's a dumping ground for all the worst software ever created by humankind, and they've determined it's not worth the time and effort to add iTunes. They just haven't got around to telling Microsoft yet. Stay tuned!

Smh. We get it. you hate all that is not Apple.

 

[Winni]

Huh? This has to do with MS releasing a version of Windows that only works with their store. I wouldn't put it "all" on Apple.

No, it has NOTHING to do with that. Windows 10S is an almost irrelevant version of Windows for the educational market.

The "problem" is that iTunes is a classic Windows desktop app - and those don't meet the requirements for the Windows Store where only apps using modern Windows APIs/User Interfaces are allowed.

 

[chucker23n1]

No, it has NOTHING to do with that. Windows 10S is an almost irrelevant version of Windows for the educational market.

The "problem" is that iTunes is a classic Windows desktop app - and those don't meet the requirements for the Windows Store where only apps using modern Windows APIs/User Interfaces are allowed.

That's not entirely true — you can convert them using the "Bridge". However, there are probably components in iTunes that aren't allowed — the disc burning drivers come to mind.

 

[Futurix]

Apple fans talk about how apple software is superior to Windows but all windows users have to judge this by is ITunes which is utter crap.

To be fair, Mac version is much much better and faster. I suspect they haven't optimised it for Windows (judging by the amount of various compatibility frameworks present in the iTunes installation).

 

[ersan191]

I've been using Windows and macOS side by side since OS X Tiger -- and saying that Windows is inferior to macOS is utter nonsense. The user experience on macOS Sierra/High Sierra is about as cluttered as Windows 10: What is this useless Launchpad thing good for? Finder is a piece of junk compared to Windows Explorer. Using a Mac in a corporate network and accessing corporate resources is... An extremely inferior experience compared to the usability of Windows. What macOS has going for itself is a cleaner look, but that design is bought with a lack of features. Windows might not be sexy or pretty, but it definitely is the more reliable and more versatile work horse than macOS.

It's probably fairer to compare macOS with Xubuntu or any other flavor of Linux. In that comparison, macOS can at least trump with all the proprietary software in its AppStore that does not exist for Linux. But when we go down to the system level or compare pure system performance... Things won't look that good anymore for macOS -- it's still a capable Unix (client) platform, but not nearly as fast or flexible or powerful as its Open Source siblings.

I mean, I completely disagree on all counts. But that’s the power of having an opinion.

 

[Winni]

You do realize that a majority of iPhone owners are Windows users. Would be nice to have a stable application to reset their phones once Apple releases their next buggy software and bricks theirs phone.

The problem on this forum here is that most people simply fail to understand that. The Mac still is a niche platform with less than 10 percent global market share. The iPhone is doing better and has around 18% global market share in the smart phone market. And yes, most iPhone users do not own a Mac but run Windows on their computers and still need iTunes to manage their phones. By definition, that makes the Windows version of iTunes much more important than the Mac version simply because it affects more customers.

 

[chucker23n1]

I mean, I completely disagree on all counts. But that’s the power of having an opinion.

I'd say that as far as usability goes, compared to the 90s, Windows has gotten a bit better, whereas macOS has lost some of its lead. There are things I wish the Mac did as well as Windows (for instance, the experience of accessing a network folder share is far, far worse in Finder than in Explorer, and it's been that way for the better part of two decades), but there are also things Windows still utterly fails at (for instance, there still isn't anything resembling a unified UI theme for their main apps).

 

[chatin]

It's probably fairer to compare macOS with Xubuntu or any other flavor of Linux. In that comparison, macOS can at least trump with all the proprietary software in its AppStore that does not exist for Linux. But when we go down to the system level or compare pure system performance... Things won't look that good anymore for macOS -- it's still a capable Unix (client) platform, but not nearly as fast or flexible or powerful as its Open Source siblings.

Jobs said OS X was good for twenty years and it's been nearly twenty since he said that. The UI is not aging as well as Windows. UNIX started with a huge advantage but Apple has been sitting on that doing nothing but slowing it down with add-ons.

 

[chucker23n1]

And yes, most iPhone users do not own a Mac but run Windows on their computers and still need iTunes to manage their phones.

Most iPhone users use neither a Mac nor Windows to manage their phones. Nor have they ever touched iTunes. They use their iPhone. They get backups with iCloud, they get software updates right on the device, they get music from Apple Music or Spotify.

By definition, that makes the Windows version of iTunes much more important than the Mac version simply because it affects more customers.

Neither version is all that important any more for iPhone sync. This is about having Apple Music on more platforms at least as much as it is about iPhone sync. I wouldn't even be that shocked if the Windows Store version of iTunes has no (or very limited) iPhone sync at all.

 

[ersan191]

The problem on this forum here is that most people simply fail to understand that. The Mac still is a niche platform with less than 10 percent global market share. The iPhone is doing better and has around 18% global market share in the smart phone market. And yes, most iPhone users do not own a Mac but run Windows on their computers and still need iTunes to manage their phones. By definition, that makes the Windows version of iTunes much more important than the Mac version simply because it affects more customers.

I haven’t plugged my iPhone into a computer, Windows or Mac, in many years and most other people are in the same boat. If you want to manage your own collection of MP3’s there are programs besides iTunes you can use if you feel so compelled. The only other time you would need to is for advanced things like DFU restoring or offline backups which most people don’t need.

Your comments make me think you don’t actually own any Apple products.

 

[MrNomNoms]

If this is a full rewrite of iTunes for UWP I'll understand the delays and I'll be absolutely thrilled when it comes out. If it's just Desktop Bridge on the garbage iTunes for Windows that exists now then this shouldn't be taking so long (and I really don't care anyway).

I doubt it is a re-write but you have to consider the fact that iTunes depends on Quicktime, a kernel driver, Webkit for store rendering etc. The webkit rendering is a no-go so that will require a re-write to use the EdgeHTML engine, the kernel driver will need to be written again against the user mode driver API, and quick time is a hacked up piece of crap that I wouldn't be surprised if they're working on moving iTunes to sitting on top of AV Foundation/AV Kit. My frustration isn't necessarily about the delays given the complexity of the issue but why Apple has allowed iTunes to turn into a pile of crap by neglecting it for so long.

 

[chucker23n1]

I doubt it is a re-write but you have to consider the fact that iTunes depends on Quicktime,

It hasn't depended on (or even installed) QuickTime since version 10.4.

a kernel driver, Webkit for store rendering etc. The webkit rendering is a no-go so that will require a re-write to use the EdgeHTML engine,

They're pretty much just web pages now, for better or worse. Used to be a custom XML dialect.

Should be mostly unproblematic to move to EdgeHTML.

the kernel driver will need to be written again against the user mode driver API,

This is true. iPod/iPhone/etc. sync and disc burning may become problematic. I wouldn't be surprised if they ditch or severely reduce some of that functionality.

and quick time is a hacked up piece of crap that I wouldn't be surprised if they're working on moving iTunes to sitting on top of AV Foundation/AV Kit.

iTunes has been AVFoundation-based for years.

 

[25ghosts]

And we are all happy for you too.



Not in the US. I have never installed it and I don't know anyone that uses it. I've actually started shifting to FB Messenger however.
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Its called being fat, dumb, and happy. Companies that are very, very successful often are blinded by their own success. The company is being run by someone that is an expert in bleeding profit out of something... not innovating. This is especially dangerous when its a company that is known for not getting input from customers and rather prescribing what their customers want to them. Look at their new campus... its a symbol of something focused internally. Unless they get some kind of competitive shock, or Tim Cook leaves, I don't see anything changing with their trajectory.

WhatsApp is amazing. In many many many ways far superior to iMessage. In Germany and Europe this App is most used there is and it is 100% encrypted. Its free, and it runs on macOS and iPad as standalone as well as on iPhones for which is was created... Android and all the other os's supported as we'll...

If iMessage bothers you, use WhatsApp. Nothing better out there. Facebook messenger is BS in comparison.

 

[chucker23n1]

WhatsApp is amazing. In many many many ways far superior to iMessage. In Germany and Europe this App is most used there is and it is 100% encrypted. Its free, and it runs on macOS and iPad as standalone as well as on iPhones for which is was created... Android and all the other os's supported as we'll...

If iMessage bothers you, use WhatsApp. Nothing better out there. Facebook messenger is BS in comparison.

WhatsApp only runs on iPhone. You can run a satellite app on your Mac that will in turn connect to the iPhone, but it's a bizarre setup. iMessage, in contrast, has true support for multiple devices.

 

[dumastudetto]

Smh. We get it. you hate all that is not Apple.

Not at all. I'm just stating a fact. Windows fan boy Paul Thurrott has similar opinions about the Microsoft Store.

 

[convergent]

WhatsApp is amazing. In many many many ways far superior to iMessage. In Germany and Europe this App is most used there is and it is 100% encrypted. Its free, and it runs on macOS and iPad as standalone as well as on iPhones for which is was created... Android and all the other os's supported as we'll...

If iMessage bothers you, use WhatsApp. Nothing better out there. Facebook messenger is BS in comparison.

Why would I install a messaging app that is not used by a single person I'd want to message with?

 

[nocturnum]

Yep. Ran into this a few weeks ago when my wife got an iPhone X.

She didn't want to lose Health data from her Watch (which isn't backed up to iCloud). So she needed to restore her iPhone X from a backup of her iPhone 6S Plus. So she needed iTunes, which needed the latest macOS... Absolute pain.

I think they are doing it on purpose. I mean, why would something so elementary as a backup require software update? It's just moving files from A to B.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

How many people honestly miss iTunes? Hell, even my iPhone and iPad (fortunately) do not require it anymore. I honestly believe that iTunes (especially the Windows version but followed closely by the Mac version) is the worst piece of mass market software that exists. It is so bad that I would honestly prefer software written to run exclusively in Flash.

 

[ersan191]

I doubt it is a re-write but you have to consider the fact that iTunes depends on Quicktime, a kernel driver, Webkit for store rendering etc. The webkit rendering is a no-go so that will require a re-write to use the EdgeHTML engine, the kernel driver will need to be written again against the user mode driver API, and quick time is a hacked up piece of crap that I wouldn't be surprised if they're working on moving iTunes to sitting on top of AV Foundation/AV Kit. My frustration isn't necessarily about the delays given the complexity of the issue but why Apple has allowed iTunes to turn into a pile of crap by neglecting it for so long.

Yeah, I don’t expect it will happen. It’s nice to imagine though.

Hopefully they will at least consolidate some of the heavier requirements into user space because of incompatibilities with the Windows Store.
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How many people honestly miss iTunes? Hell, even my iPhone and iPad (fortunately) do not require it anymore. I honestly believe that iTunes (especially the Windows version but followed closely by the Mac version) is the worst piece of mass market software that exists. It is so bad that I would honestly prefer software written to run exclusively in Flash.

The Mac version isn’t really all that bad honestly.

 

[Altis]

That's what I said. The MS store only is for the low power app use. Maybe I should have said "optimized" power use like Microsoft does...

No, Windows 10S isn't just for low-power use. It's locked down deliberately -- you cannot install iTunes on 10S until it comes through the Windows app store.
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I don’t think macOS is headed there at all.

I don't know. iOS, watchOS, and tvOS are all 100% locked down already.

macOS needs terminal commands to allow installing apps from anywhere -- GateKeeper by default only allows for "App Store" and "App Store and Identified Developers".

I think the default is allow from AppStore only. Apple loves locked-down systems they have control over.

 

[ersan191]

No, Windows 10S isn't just for low-power use. It's locked down deliberately -- you cannot install iTunes on 10S until it comes through the Windows app store.
[doublepost=1513472305][/doublepost]

I don't know. iOS, watchOS, and tvOS are all 100% locked down already.

macOS needs terminal commands to allow installing apps from anywhere -- GateKeeper by default only allows for "App Store" and "App Store and Identified Developers".

I think the default is allow from AppStore only. Apple loves locked-down systems they have control over.

If they gimped macOS like that there would be very little reason to get a Mac over an iPad. I figure they’ll just stop making macs before it comes to that.

 

[MrNomNoms]

No, Windows 10S isn't just for low-power use. It's locked down deliberately -- you cannot install iTunes on 10S until it comes through the Windows app store.
[doublepost=1513472305][/doublepost]

I don't know. iOS, watchOS, and tvOS are all 100% locked down already.

macOS needs terminal commands to allow installing apps from anywhere -- GateKeeper by default only allows for "App Store" and "App Store and Identified Developers".

I think the default is allow from AppStore only. Apple loves locked-down systems they have control over.

And yet some how I can open up applications without ****ing around at the terminal - right click on the application then click on open, application opens without any problems.

 

[HallStevenson]

Almost 150 comments about a delay in iTunes on an operating system that no normal user uses. This is for locked-down "netbook" type machines where the user in all likelihood doesn't have permission to install apps anyway !

 

[Altis]

And yet some how I can open up applications without ****ing around at the terminal - right click on the application then click on open, application opens without any problems.

For a single run-instance, you can workaround -- but to set it as the default requires a terminal sequence to allow GateKeeper to show it as an option.

Either way, it won't let you by default and they're slowly making it more obscure.