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Microsoft Admits an iTunes 'Metro' App for Windows 8 Not Coming 'Any Time Soon'
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Interesting you should say that since my Windows 8 PC runs both iTunes and Steam with no problem at all.
I think you're misunderstanding the difference between the Desktop interface and the Metro/Tablet interface.
Not everybody would, but there are a lot of people who would. Somebody considering a Surface but who treats his tablet like a boombox might hold off because the iTunes app is subpar.
Google understands this. If you look at WP8, one of the biggest complaints is lack of Google Services integration. Google has done things to deny its services to the platform, like Maps redirects, crippling YouTube, ending gmail exchange support etc. It's obviously losing money by doing these things because if the service is gone, so is the portal to ad monetization. But it be better to lose a small amount of money than risk losing a large amount of money by helping WP8 penetration rise, along with Bing, Outlook, and all the other MS services that compete with G Services.
The problem with windows 8 is simple: hidden UI elements. iOS has the same issue with its scrollbars and arguably it's multitasking implementation. You should ALWAYS provide visual cues for anything the user might want to know. If the UI element is completely hidden, then you might as well not have it. Apple needs to stop using multitouch gestures for everything this instant, because there is nothing less user friendly or cryptic than an arcane combination of gestures required to operate a UI element (another example of hidden functionality). This is a bad trend in recent UI design, and I hope it stops.
I don't think anyone has ever said that.
What Windows 8 is supposed to be is a unified OS, one that works just as well on a desktop PC with a mouse and keyboard as it does on a tablet with touch.
What it actually is in practice is a hybrid OS. The desktop works great for the desktop, Metro works great for touch, and the start screen acts as the membrane between the two.
To some extent, it works. If you just use Metro apps launched from the start screen, and hide the desktop completely, you have a tablet OS. Same with the desktop. You remove all your Metro apps, and it feels more like traditional windows. Depending on what style of device you're on, you choose to one one or the other, but you're not locked into either/or.
Where it gets weak is when you start mixing and matching the two. You basically have two taskbars when you do this. One for your traditional windows applications, and one hidden off to the side for Metro apps. It's weird to say the least. And considering the two are blended together, people are just as likely to use applications across both platforms and make things confusing for themselves. This is Windows 8's biggest weakness in my opinion. If they built the OS with modes in mind, it wouldn't have been nearly so confusing. But instead they went with the everything and the kitchen sink approach, and it makes things goofy for non-techy users.
Windows 8 is really a half step towards something else entirely. MS isn't betting the future on a desktop or a tablet UI. They want something that uses the same OS, the same code base, and acts roughly the same no matter what platform you're on. It's a good idea in theory, but even I'm not 100% sure it'll work in execution. The UI at least has to be completely different depending on what you're using.
Funny how some of us Apple fanboys has to talk bad about windows 8
It's the biggest OS outthere - and probaly the best. Os X 10.8 feels like iOS 6 old now ... How 10.9 or 11 and iOS 7 will change that again.
At the moment I use my iMac, iPhone and my Apple TV3
But my iPad is sold... To boring and for work it's useless. Now on a Surface RT. More fun. OS looks better and is way stronger and faster. Only downside is battery use.
Windows 8 is more modern and better than OSX - Try it. And if you're not completly brainwashed, you'll find it quit handy and usefull. OSX 10.8 is soooo 2-3 years ago eventhough it's only a year old. Last OSX that felt WOW was Leopard. Since then nothing really new.
It's the biggest OS outthere - and probaly the best. Os X 10.8 feels like iOS 6 old now ... How 10.9 or 11 and iOS 7 will change that again.
At the moment I use my iMac, iPhone and my Apple TV3
But my iPad is sold... To boring and for work it's useless. Now on a Surface RT. More fun. OS looks better and is way stronger and faster. Only downside is battery use.
Windows 8 is more modern and better than OSX - Try it. And if you're not completly brainwashed, you'll find it quit handy and usefull. OSX 10.8 is soooo 2-3 years ago eventhough it's only a year old. Last OSX that felt WOW was Leopard. Since then nothing really new.
Did you actually write all of that and still maintained a straight face? Are you listening to yourself?
Your example, Microsoft sells Office on iOS for $100, they make $70 and Apple makes $30. You think Apple is robbing them? Gimme a break! Soooooooooo, I guess Apple doing the advertising by putting MS Office on front street so all iOS users can see it the moment the enter the store, then Apple taking care of all the POS paperwork, paying employees to maintain the server loads and make sure the customer gets emailed their receipts isn't worth $30????
OR....Microsoft could maintain their ego, simply sell Office 365 keep the profits....OH and use those profits to market Office 365, pay their employees to maintain their server overloads, sit on the a$$es hoping that iOS users would just simply surf to the 365 website and DECIDE to use their system, lose time and money from a lack of Office 365 subscribers because they may have not been able to attract enough people to surf to the site. All this may result in a loss of profits, loss of time, more overhead and a drop in marketshare, all because MS's ego was too large to accept $70.
Let's see which one is better, Microsoft getting 70$ and Apple getting $30 or Microsoft getting 100% of nothing in the end due to their selfish pride? Hmmm.
You don't know what you're talking about. A lot of OEMS pre-install iTunes along with the rest of the free/trial software they often include.
Just keep in mind that nobody makes money until a real customer buys something. Nice try giving MS credit for something they aren't really selling.
That's not true, that's impossible!
Here you go.
I use it just fine without any changes. It takes a few seconds to reach my desktop. I might spend less than 15 seconds a day in Metro.
Just keep in mind that nobody makes money until a real customer buys something. Nice try giving MS credit for something they aren't really selling.
If MS considers a copy of Windows 7 sold as a copy of Win8 to inflate their stats, that would be...what's it called...investor fraud, I think?
I'm a pretty big fan of MS and prefer Windows over OSX anyday.
That being said, I like this news and hope other companies also don't port their apps.
Windows 8 needs to go back into the hole from which it came from and anybody involved in the design process needs to be fired.
That being said, I like this news and hope other companies also don't port their apps.
Windows 8 needs to go back into the hole from which it came from and anybody involved in the design process needs to be fired.
I'll agree with you to an extent. My question to you is this, have you ever tried to design an entire computer operating system for the masses?
I'm not defending Apple but the Personal Computer Revolution happened in the 1980s, a revolution that Apple started by the way. Since then, not much has changed on the desktop/notebook font, it mainly evolved into what we see today on both OS X and Windows. Microsoft has tried to revolutionize the desktop with Windows 8 but it's not gaining any traction because all they're doing is putting a tablet interface on a desktop platform. The same goes with Apple putting iOS features on OS X.
There's only so much designers can do with a keyboard and mouse/trackpad.
HP and Dell are the only ones that I can say with certainty, I'm not sure about other OEMs because I never owned any of their products.
Did you actually write all of that and still maintained a straight face? Are you listening to yourself?
Your example, Microsoft sells Office on iOS for $100, they make $70 and Apple makes $30. You think Apple is robbing them? Gimme a break! Soooooooooo, I guess Apple doing the advertising by putting MS Office on front street so all iOS users can see it the moment the enter the store, then Apple taking care of all the POS paperwork, paying employees to maintain the server loads and make sure the customer gets emailed their receipts isn't worth $30????
OR....Microsoft could maintain their ego, simply sell Office 365 keep the profits....OH and use those profits to market Office 365, pay their employees to maintain their server overloads, sit on the a$$es hoping that iOS users would just simply surf to the 365 website and DECIDE to use their system, lose time and money from a lack of Office 365 subscribers because they may have not been able to attract enough people to surf to the site. All this may result in a loss of profits, loss of time, more overhead and a drop in marketshare, all because MS's ego was too large to accept $70.
Let's see which one is better, Microsoft getting 70$ and Apple getting $30 or Microsoft getting 100% of nothing in the end due to their selfish pride? Hmmm.
No, it isn't worth 30$ per piece of software. Microsoft doesn't need Apple advertising for them. If you think they do, you're kidding yourself. Office is a piece of software that is THE STANDARD for office suites.
You asked if I wrote that with a straight face, and I have to ask the same to you. Here are the things you're suggesting:
-Office needs Apple's advertising
-People wouldn't use a 365 app as a value-add to an existing subscription (as in, they go to the site and sign up)
-The current office suites (or what iOS calls an office suite) is going to at some point overtake Office.
It's much more likely that iPads will remain what they are. They will be given to the CEOs and board members while the average worker continues to use a Windows-based computer. This will likely have Office on it.
iPads not having Office will lose them money, sure, but it's not going to lead to a doomsday scenario. Office not being on the iPad will, however, slow enterprise adoption. So will a lack of a few other tools that certain professionals use.
Since Metro UI is a huge departure from previous UI designs, it wouldn't be easy to transform iTunes into a Metro app. And would there be two iTunes versions? I know that Adobe Reader has 2 versions, one is Metro and the other is classic desktop. One is very crippled in functionality. Also, what if I have a touchscreen laptop with Windows 8? It has a trackpad and keyboard. What version would I (or you) download? Both? The desktop one sucks for touchscreen use. But the Metro one sucks for non-touchscreen use. But given how Windows 8 is running on all kinds of devices and form factors, this is just confusing for the end user.
I am all for integration and convergence. But Microsoft just put all of their various problems from different market segments into one gigantic pile hoping they could get rid of it in one go. Now Windows 8 is just a huge mess. It's not going to get better anytime soon.
I am all for integration and convergence. But Microsoft just put all of their various problems from different market segments into one gigantic pile hoping they could get rid of it in one go. Now Windows 8 is just a huge mess. It's not going to get better anytime soon.
I'm jumping into the end of a conversation, so I may be missing something. But is your position that Microsoft shouldn't use any retail stores to distribute their products or just Apple? 30% isn't an unusually high cut for a retailer.
