Microsoft Admits an iTunes 'Metro' App for Windows 8 Not Coming 'Any Time Soon'

[BaldiMac]

A whole lot more than use OSX.

People keep saying that. Any evidence that it's actually true? I don't know either way.

As I posted earlier, NetMarketShare has Windows 8 at 3.82% and Mac at 7.01% for April 2013.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

However, the report also note that Apple is unlikely to fulfill Microsoft's request because "there's no reason for Apple to help make the Surface a better product."

Frankly, I find the argument given above weak at best. iTunes doesn't make "Surface better". It makes people buy Crapola(tm) off the iTunes store instead of Microsoft's store and thus if anything, it would hurt Microsoft, IMO. Hell, imagine people using something like a Zune player to buy iTunes songs and Apps instead of using Microsoft's store (i.e. screwing Microsoft using their own devices and frankly, their own software model to some extent). Since iTunes movies are encrypted, they could only be played using the iTunes player. Apple would have even more market control.

 

[camnchar]

Windows made Vista. But the people said noooo give me XP instead.
Windows made W8. But the people said noooo give me W7 instead.

So do we have a trend where:
Windows makes X version OS. But the people say nooooo give me X-1 (ie the previous) OS instead.

It's more like the Star Trek movies, where every other release sucked.

 

[Thomas2006]

No, they don't "still" come with iTunes preinstalled. Nor did they ever. You either got a used and/or returned unit.

I bought a Compaq Presario in 2005 and it came with iTunes pre-installed, and it was not used/returned.

 

[ElTorro]

People keep saying that. Any evidence that it's actually true? I don't know either way.

As I posted earlier, NetMarketShare has Windows 8 at 3.82% and Mac at 7.01% for April 2013.

As of right now, Windows 8 has 1% more market share than OS X 10.8 and it won't be long before it has more than all OS X combined.

Fresh from the netmarketshare.com website:

 

[flottenheimer]

A day in Techutopia

Apple: If you bring MS Office to iPad and the Mac App Store we will port iTunes to Windows 8?
MS: Deal.

 

[sir1963nz]

Gotcha

Yep, looking into that ... The development period though will probably be the same as office for the iPad, so we are looking as some years away at this stage.... get back to us in say...2020

 

[AppleScruff1]

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.

It's not really a high percentage at all.

 

[Michael Goff]

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.

I do believe it would be best for Microsoft if they only sold it themselves (digitally or otherwise). That is my position.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

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.

I believe the issue is that if a user buys a subscription to Office 365 from an iPad, Apple gets their 30%. But then if the same user continues their subscription, Apple gets 30% again the following year. And again the next year, and again and again...

 

[lolkthxbai]

I think they 'll just bring back the start button on the metro ui as a shortcut, and where it was in the desktop, but it won't have the start menu. It will be just a button to switch between the two paradigms. That's what I am hearing at least, which is stupid imho. But it's a slippery slope, cause it they brought back full start button functionality, for searches and all, a lot of people would simple completely do away with the metro ui, and never visit it again...

Anyway, there are quite a few third party apps that mimic the start button with the menu that do the job just fine it seems.

Microsoft needs to move forward but their customers want to move back. And those $600+ Ultrabook Touchscreen PCs are NOT selling.

 

[APlotdevice]

You only have 10 mp3s? I've got over 5,000 and it handles it fine.

FYI, in some countries they use a period/full stop rather than a comma to seperate numbers.

 

[Treq]

FYI, in some countries they use a period/full stop rather than a comma to seperate numbers.

I know, I was joking.

Though, it sure can be confusing for those who don't know. Mathematical notation should be standard.

 

[pedrotaquelim]

Eat dust Microsoft.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Microsoft needs to move forward but their customers want to move back. And those $600+ Ultrabook Touchscreen PCs are NOT selling.

Could you post some ultrabook touchscreen sales figures? I'd be curious to see how they are selling. It seems like the brick and mortar stores are stocking more models of them than they did in the past.

 

[Eidorian]

Could you post some ultrabook touchscreen sales figures? I'd be curious to see how they are selling. It seems like the brick and mortar stores are stocking more models of them than they did in the past.

Too many models if you ask me. I want something with a discrete GPU.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Too many models if you ask me. I want something with a discrete GPU.

At my areas Best Buy, you may see the Asus G75 and a Samsung Series 7 17" with discrete graphics. Sometimes the 15" Asus G55. And of course the MBP 15".
I haven't been to Microcenter for a while, but I would imagine they would have a couple too.

 

[HenryDJP]

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.

I think you belong to the wrong forum. I think you need to sing the holy praises to a forum that's enthused by a product who's company is made up of 4 colored windows.

 

[iGrip]

That really doesn't prove anything.

The only hard numbers in the article show that Windows 8 is used on many, many more desktops than all of the versions of Mac OS put together.

 

[HenryDJP]

A whole lot more than use OSX.

Oh another witty defensive comeback when the conversation was not about Mac. I will say this, at least Mac adoption is by choice, the only reason why Windows 8 would have higher adoption than OS X (which is a completely lie...unless you meant Mountain Lion maybe?) is because people don't have a choice. If they want a cheapo crap PC the only OS that comes pre-installed is Windows. If they want a high-end NON-Mac machine the only OS that comes pre-installed is Windows. Customers are forced into Windows. Now, let's try to figure how many full version Windows 8 licenses have been sold to people that want to install it on their PC? Now that brings back the question, "Does anyone use Windows 8"? LOL.
The music recording industry certainly isn't using Windows at all, in fact it's Mac only so Windows 8 will never have a chance there.

 

[tech4all]

I use it. Best Windows OS I have ever used. People just need to get over the change and actually learn how it works. It is then, you realise it is probably one of the best OSs around.

That doesn't mean it doesn't need improvements though. Some things are questionable but they should be cleaned up in Windows 8.1.

Many would disagree.

I'm not about to get used to a change that shouldn't have been a change. Not going to work around the stupid metro when all items should be accessible from the same screen.

Heck there's rumors the Start Menu might return, thus even Microsoft admits it.

 

[iGrip]

Does iTunes really make Apple money?

I think that Apple does it out of the goodness of their hearts. Or maybe as a public service. Or because they are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Yeah! That's it! That's the ticket!

 

[BaldiMac]

As of right now, Windows 8 has 1% more market share than OS X 10.8 and it won't be long before it has more than all OS X combined.

Sure. But the question was whether more people currently use windows 8 or OS X.

Fresh from the netmarketshare.com website:

Same data I posted.

----------

The only hard numbers in the article show that Windows 8 is used on many, many more desktops than all of the versions of Mac OS put together.

Which hard numbers are you referring to?

 

[Renzatic]

If they want a high-end NON-Mac machine the only OS that comes pre-installed is Windows. Customers are forced into Windows.

So if they don't want a Mac, they're being forced to buy Windows? How does that make any sense? Wouldn't the same apply in reverse? If they don't want Windows, they're forced to buy a Mac?

I know what you're gonna say. Linux, right?

Then couldn't someone who wants to buy a high end NON-Mac PC also buy Linux?

So there are really 3 choices people can make, and only two of them are being sold widespread at retail. So I guess everyone is forced to buy either Mac or Windows, right?

But wait. That's not right. Because according to you, people choose to buy Macs.

...so why do Macs only make up 10% of the entire PC market? I mean hell, unless you play games, 99% of software on a PC is available on a Mac. They're not limited there. People can go for a lower end Mac Mini if they want a cheap option, and an MBA is roughly the same price as most PCs in the Ultrabook range, which are what are currently selling from Wal-Mart to Target to Best Buy to specialty stores at the moment. It's not like everyone is being forced to buy PCs because they can't afford a Mac.

Basically, you don't know what you're talking about. Your logic doesn't make any sense.

 

[topper24hours]

A big shame for them who want it, especially since I thought it would be in Apple's best interest to make sure the next generation tablet PCs are compatible with iDevices.

Good job I have no desire for iTunes at all.

How does iTunes on Windows 8 NOT having a Metro icon equate in your mind to incompatibility with iDevices?? That would only be true if a Win 8 user were somehow trapped in Metro, and unable to access desktop mode... I thought that was the "power" of Windows 8, that you could seamlessly switch between the two interfaces at any time.. or am I missing something?