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

[Jibbajabba]

they better learn it because if they want to keep using computers, at least microsoft computers, you better get used to it because this is the path they are going.

So rather than getting paid for downgrading someone's PC you tell them to FO and use it ?

It will be a LONG time until the touch interface is pretty much mandatory .. I mean we still have 2000+ XP machines for crying out loud, with NO intention to upgrade ANY TIME soon.

Plus, the only place where a customer is NOT right, is a tax office ..

 

[blackburn]

Do you have anything to back that up or are you just guessing? How do you know that most people do that?

Yeah. In my uni they install some free app to replace the menu on all new pcs, else people panic. And I've seen in various companies doing the same, it's either that or a 'downgrade' to windows 7.

I'm not really bashing Microsoft, hyper v support is a very welcome addition.
The fact is most people will freak out if they change the way they work.

And yes some computers still use windows xp, many companies are now migrating to windows 7, just because xp is about to lose support.

Just install startisback and relax they say.

 

[BC2009]

I understand why Apple might be doing this, but I don't agree with it. Perhaps it's because MS is dragging their heels with an Office for iOS app? In the end, consumers are the ones who suffer.

That would be a decent trade: make a deal with MS to provide a touch-based MS Office for iOS and exclude Android from the party and in return, Apple provides a fully-Metro-optimized version of iTunes (which would likely require a complete rewrite since the current iTunes for Windows is a port).

 

[apollo1444]

who needs iTurd when you have Spotify

 

[HenryDJP]

Of course it would be very profitable for Microsoft, primarily a software company, to make a version of Office for iOS. That said, it is not here, and iOS has been out since 2007. Do you not think Microsoft, a very large company, is capable of building even a strip down version of office for iOS in six years? Maybe you should take a class in Programming 101.

Reasonable Inference: MS is capable of producing Office for iOS within a few years.

Reasonable Inference: MS would reap a hefty profit from the sale of Office for iOS.

Fact: MS has not released Office for iOS.


If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

So Yes... MS is cutting off their nose to spite their face.

Okay here's the thing, it's not that Microsoft is incapable of creating Office for iOS, in fact I've never heard anyone say so, but them not making Office for iOS certainly isn't for personal reasons either, at least it shouldn't be.

Some people here are posting that Apple not bothering with iTunes in Metro would cause MS to take it personally and not create Office for iOS. That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Plain and simple, Office is not on iOS because MS is afraid of losing traction to Apple.....as if Microsoft ever had any traction against the iPod, iPhone or iPad. . At first it was the Zune and Windows Smart Phones and now it's the Surface and WP8. So people to need to remove the notion that MS makes decisions to screw Apple's customers because they are mad at Apple.

 

[AustinIllini]

My response for example ..

Anecdotal evidence does not constitute a viable claim. You need statistics.

Moore Insight and Strategy estimates that of the 100m Windows 8 licences, 44% of them are not running Windows 8.

I have never heard anyone claim that 44% of Apple systems exclusively run Windows.

 

[dBeats]

MS, when you sell enough Surfaces that it actually makes sense for some one to dedicate resources to it, then you can complain. But the surface is already DOA. But MS will drag it through the mud and bleed cash just like everything else they have done in the past 5 years or so....

 

[JoshAlfie]

I so agree. I work at Geek Squad right now (one more year to I graduate Purdue) and I am so sick of people bitching about Windows 8. It's not that bad if you just learn to use it. I get 4 phone calls a day with people asking us to downgrade to 7 or how to get there start menu back. I tell they they better learn it because if they want to keep using computers, at least microsoft computers, you better get used to it because this is the path they are going

Me personally, I have Windows 8 on my Gaming Rig and it is fantastic, better performance, file transfers actually work now without hanging up, boots faster, and some of the metro apps are nice such as messages and how facebook is integrated into my contacts.

It needs improvements, but people need to try it extensively before they complain.

It's not your right to try and force people to use something they don't like. Just because you like technology does not mean others are as excited about it as you are.

For many people (me included) productivity and getting work done are what matter. For this purpose it is a WORSE alternative to Windows 7. It takes much longer to do actual work on because of the extra steps needed or more inefficient ways of doing things for instance:
Closing a page in "Metro" takes longer
Switching between Desktop and Metro Apps creates 2 completely different work spaces with different dynamics
Switching between Apps is different in both Desktop mode and Metro
The location of the shutdown button is ridiculous
and many more

The inefficiencies of Windows 8 have been covered extensively in reviews and on Youtube.

 

[jMc]

They did indeed. This site itself reported it: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/64361/

Indeed. It was at the same time that HP were offering a co-branded iPod. Now who remembers that? I remember at the initial HP announcement they showed a hideously HP blue coloured iPod *shivers*, which luckily never saw the light of day. But they did sell a standard white iPod with both HP and Apple branding engraved on the back.

jMc

 

[guzhogi]

It might help Apple to port iTunes to Metro. Could sell a lot more music and iDevices that way.

I might upgrade to Windows 8 if/when I can save up enough money for a new rMBP as well.

 

[ValSalva]

I have to use Windows. I've stuck with Windows 7 and I'm thankful I have that choice.

I do feel badly for anyone stuck with a Surface. Here is some unsolicited advice: cut your loses and get an iPad. iTunes is never coming to the Surface.

 

[HenryDJP]

100 millon copies of windows 8 sold to date. I bet Apple wish they could sell that many OSX copies. Oh th irony if it all.

LOL, yep and the majority of that amount was sold to the retailers. Read your news, or did you read something that said 100million copies of W8 were sold directly to customers to install in their PC's or 100million W8 PCs were in the homes of families?

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I so agree. I work at Geek Squad right now (one more year to I graduate Purdue) and I am so sick of people bitching about Windows 8. It's not that bad if you just learn to use it. I get 4 phone calls a day with people asking us to downgrade to 7 or how to get there start menu back. I tell they they better learn it because if they want to keep using computers, at least microsoft computers, you better get used to it because this is the path they are going

I highly doubt you talk to customers that way telling them "They Better this and They Better that". You'd be out of a job ASAP.

 

[AnonMac50]

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

Yeah they did. It was part of Apple's attempt to increase its iPod and Music Store market share. That was around the same time they had the HP branded iPods.

 

[dustinsc]

I propose an exchange of prisoners. iTunes for Windows 8 in exchange for Office for iOS AND better support for Mac OS X features in Office for Mac (like versions).

 

[AustinIllini]

I highly doubt you talk to customers that way telling them "They Better this and They Better that". You'd be out of a job ASAP.

It's Best Buy. They aren't exactly the Customer Service giant they should be

 

[MadDawg2020]

Funny that there is a strong enough demand for iTunes that works in Metro that it gets an apologetic reply from Microsoft...
I wonder what the demand for microsoft media player is for iOS ? My guess is none...

 

[Carlanga]

The title of this story makes it sound like Micro$oft was the one that doesn't want to bring it to metro, but the story tells otherwise.

 

[antonis]

I think Microsoft and Apple do a lot of work together as they are now. I mean, Office for Mac is "pretty good", a lot better than Pages or Numbers. The two companies have an excellent relationship, given they are in direct competition. Even though I don't use Windows 8, or plan to, it would be nice to see Apple make a Metro app for Microsoft.

It's more a love-and-hate relationship. It always have had the "ups" and "downs". Don't forget that in similar situation, MS screwed Apple when discontinued IE for Mac. Good for us since Safari is way better, but it was kind of a backstab back then.

Funny that there is a strong enough demand for iTunes that works in Metro that it gets an apologetic reply from Microsoft...
I wonder what the demand for microsoft media player is for iOS ? My guess is none...

Yup, another MS product besides IE that was discontinued by MS all of a sudden.

 

[SockRolid]

... Apple is unlikely to fulfill Microsoft's request because "there's no reason for Apple to help make the Surface a better product.

Oh. So you buried a giant iPhone because you hoped Windows Phone would kill it.
And now you come running to Apple for iTunes on your new device.
Because you think it will save your Surface from an early grave.

Microsoft: "We need it. We gotta have it. Please give it to us!"

Apple: "What part of 'twist in the wind' do you not understand?"

 

[szw-mapple fan]

iTunes for OSX is in greater need of an overhaul.

Google products look better on iOS than android. I'd bet iTunes would look better on metro than OSX

How did you end up with that conclusion? It's just plain weird.

 

[bobenhaus]

LOL, yep and the majority of that amount was sold to the retailers. Read your news, or did you read something that said 100million copies of W8 were sold directly to customers to install in their PC's or 100million W8 PCs were in the homes of families?

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I highly doubt you talk to customers that way telling them "They Better this and They Better that". You'd be out of a job ASAP.

No matter you slice it 100 million copies is 100 million copies.

 

[i-John]

People actually use Windows 8?

More than Mountain Lion in less time. Not a stone to be throwing toward Windows. OSX users can claim a lot of things superior than Windows... market share isn't one of them.

I think it's a mistake on Apples side. They are cutting themselves out of a large market share. Simply ignoring Windows and pretend that it doesn't exist doesn't help their iTunes customers.
If it were me, and really put customers first, I'd make sure that the customer had the best possible experience, no matter what they were using.

 

[wiz329]

They should make a deal. Apple will make a metro iTunes app, and Microsoft will make a decent version of microsoft office for OS X.

Anytime I need to do serious work with Excel, I have to fire up Boot Camp so I can run it propertly.

 

[HenryDJP]

It's Best Buy. They aren't exactly the Customer Service giant they should be

Won't argue with that.

 

[Ballis]

What happened to handing a glass of water to someone in hell?

This! Apple should hand them the water. Then take their money.