Microsoft Preparing Updated Windows Store Application

[Uskompuf]

Microsoft is reportedly developing an updated Windows Store that will introduce a new modern and fluid design along with changes to how developers submit applications. The current Store has seen limited adoption and is criticized for its unintuitive design and slow loading times, the new Store will follow Microsoft's updated design language and will feature new layouts, designs, and fluid animations. The Store will continue to be published as a UWP app and will receive monthly updates to introduce new features and improvements. This update should also improve stability when downloading and installing large games and applications.

The current Store has seen limited adoption due to the restrictive requirements for developers, Microsoft currently only allows UWP (Universal Windows Programs) and packaged MSIX programs to be uploaded but will now allow traditional unpackaged Win32 apps also. Microsoft will also allow developers to host their apps and updates with private content delivery networks and integrate third-party commerce functionality. These changes will grant greater control to developers and hopefully entice more applications to join the Store. Microsoft is expected to officially announce their plans for the new Store at Build 2021 with a public preview following.



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[matar]

that's good news.

 

[s3thra]

Kind of related; I have been using Chocolatey for application management on my Windows PC's over the last few months any it seems to work pretty well. It's naturally very dependent on the community package maintainers to keep things up to date, but for the things I use everything is pretty much up to date all the time.

Chocolatey - The package manager for Windows

Chocolatey is software management automation for Windows that wraps installers, executables, zips, and scripts into compiled packages. Chocolatey integrates w/SCCM, Puppet, Chef, etc. Chocolatey is trusted by businesses to manage software deployments.

chocolatey.org

MS has their own implementation in the form of winget hitting a v1.0 release next month too and I'll be interested to give that a try:

GitHub - microsoft/winget-cli: WinGet is the Windows Package Manager. This project includes a CLI (Command Line Interface), PowerShell modules, and a COM (Component Object Model) API (Application Programming Interface).

WinGet is the Windows Package Manager. This project includes a CLI (Command Line Interface), PowerShell modules, and a COM (Component Object Model) API (Application Programming Interface). - micros...

github.com

 

[Vayra86]

that's good news.

You say that... but...

All I'm reading is we get a new super obnoxious Store icon somewhere in places we never wanted it, along with an 'app' store that has no place on Windows to begin with.

 

[BSim500]

You say that... but... All I'm reading is we get a new super obnoxious Store icon somewhere in places we never wanted it, along with an 'app' store that has no place on Windows to begin with.

Indeed. The only "good" MS Store version is the Enterprise LTSC one...

 

[R-T-B]

along with an 'app' store that has no place on Windows to begin with.

It has as much place as any launcher, honestly. It's main annoyance is that you can't uninstall it / it's integrated in the OS, not that it shouldn't exist at all.

Still, valid point is valid. How it exists now is just annoying.

 

[SL2]

It's been nine years since it was introduced (I think). It won't go anywhere, no matter if you like it or not.

 

[Chrispy_]

We need a TPU poll on the Windows Store.

I actively avoid it at all costs, and ignoring my principles, it's a dumpster-fire from a usability perspective.

We already have a store, it's called the internet and when you use it to buy stuff directy from the companies offering their software Microsoft doesn't get a huge cut of all transactions and your data to harvest for its own profit.

 

[samum]

Nobody needs the Windows Store. Developers don't need it to publish their work. Consumers don't need it to get software. It's just another example of Microsoft chasing that sweet Google money, along with Bing and Edge.

 

[Chomiq]

Oh yeah, Windows Store. How I love it when my 100+ GB games become unplayable after system restore.

 

[aktpu]

It's been Microsoft store, not Windows store for ages. But besides that I prefer to update my apps through that over the clusterfuck that is the app developers own implementation (I'm looking at you Slack)

 

[Chrispy_]

Perhaps I'll accept the Microsoft Store more openly when they open it up more. At the moment it's a walled garden for UWP apps and if you want to get out of Microsoft's publishing-fee/spyware/data-harvesting/profiteering prison as a developer, your best option at the moment is still the Win32 API.

 

[Vayra86]

It has as much place as any launcher, honestly. It's main annoyance is that you can't uninstall it / it's integrated in the OS, not that it shouldn't exist at all.

Still, valid point is valid. How it exists now is just annoying.

Its not only that, but the Store also forces what used to be a normal, open application into all sorts of limitations.

UWP...

And let's not even begin talking about how a Store app is the same but a different version that does not fancy updating with a non-Store patch. For example, Nvidia's drivers.
Its like MS loves to create extra work for no apparent reason except some fairy tale someone said in a board room about how they're dominating the world some day. Its an idea they can't seem to let go of, yet it consistently fails hard, losing share instead of gaining it against more modern devices and OSes.

And the cherry on top; this very same company at some point pushed the idea of a 'One Windows', the same OS everywhere. How's that turning out? I've never seen more Windows versions of 10 than any other Windows iteration tbh. Update policy... lel. How many branches are they supporting now? Okay, some go EOL faster But the fragmentation is just inherent to an os like Windows, it seems.

 

[Bruno Vieira]

I really hope the next one is something like the xbox game pass app, a lot more intuive to use, with clear buttons and easy to use. And the most important thing. STOP the FUCKING DRMS and encrypted packages. And please, just let me always download something when I have the right to do so, just like steam does.

Its not only that, but the Store also forces what used to be a normal, open application into all sorts of limitations.

UWP...

And let's not even begin talking about how a Store app is the same but a different version that does not fancy updating with a non-Store patch. For example, Nvidia's drivers.
Its like MS loves to create extra work for no apparent reason except some fairy tale someone said in a board room about how they're dominating the world some day. Its an idea they can't seem to let go of, yet it consistently fails hard, losing share instead of gaining it against more modern devices and OSes.

And the cherry on top; this very same company at some point pushed the idea of a 'One Windows', the same OS everywhere. How's that turning out? I've never seen more Windows versions of 10 than any other Windows iteration tbh. Update policy... lel. How many branches are they supporting now? Okay, some go EOL faster But the fragmentation is just inherent to an os like Windows, it seems.

tecnicaly is one windows, they are not charging for upgrades, you only 'pay once' and update it

 

[1d10t]

Wait, they could be even more scruffy than it is?

 

[XiGMAKiD]

Microsoft should offer basic Windows 10 installation and leverage their Store to deliver the additional feature when user needed it

 

[Mescalamba]

Ah, improvement to scam store. Think they should also control what they actually selling there too.

 

[Liquid Cool]

I voted No.

I don't like Microsoft and I never will. Their app store or whatever they want to call it is dead in the water with me from the get go.

Best,

Liquid Cool

 

[windwhirl]

We need a TPU poll on the Windows Store.

I actively avoid it at all costs, and ignoring my principles, it's a dumpster-fire from a usability perspective.

We already have a store, it's called the internet and when you use it to buy stuff directy from the companies offering their software Microsoft doesn't get a huge cut of all transactions and your data to harvest for its own profit.

If you're not running Enterprise edition, you're using the store services. Some Windows apps get updated through there. And others will be moving there soon (looking at MS Paint, for example)

 

[Arkz]

I don't understand how they've managed to have the current one be so rubbish for so long. Just the other week my Forza Horizon 4 installation decided it was broken. No reason, just broken. Wouldn't repair either. Had to uninstall and redownload.

 

[plat]

I hardly ever shop the Store, it was like shopping in Sears when it was still open and in Chapter 11--sort of there but empty of goodies.

Remember when the Store's Live Tile worked in the Start Menu? Mine hasn't flipped in years. Maybe the re-do will bring back the Store live tile. That's sufficient for me.

 

[lexluthermiester]

YAY! Microsoft is updating their too-little-too-late approach to mobile computing app store...
/s

 

[Chrispy_]

If you're not running Enterprise edition, you're using the store services. Some Windows apps get updated through there. And others will be moving there soon (looking at MS Paint, for example)

Yeah, those apps annoy the hell out of me. I have a bunch of powershell scripts that uninstall those (because you can't uninstall them via GUI) for every time there's a biannual feature update that reinstalls all that bloatware. Most of it is failed software that has no purpose being part of an OS and is barely-used b-rate stuff that attempts to compete with established, free, commodity staples.

 

[Nodrapoel]

What's the point of a Windows store now. It was only really useful for Windows phones and those are dead.

 

[lexluthermiester]

What's the point of a Windows store now. It was only really useful for Windows phones and those are dead.

It's Microsoft's attempt to force a default Windows software outlet. It works for some, not for all.