Windows Bridge for iOS failure?

[SonicJihad]

Hi,

When Microsoft first started the 2 project with porting IOS and Android I couldn't wait to see what it was going to bring. Now the Android project is dead and the focus is on IOS and Win32 apps, is there any sign this will not meet the same fate? I'm saying this because I expected that by this time there will be plenty of IOS ports in the Store. But I can only think of a handful of apps that are 'probably' ports of the IOS counterparts. Is there anyway to see which apps are being ported from IOS or Win32 to the UWP? Cant Microsoft port some of them themselfs? Like for example the IMDB app. It hasn't been updated in years. So a port of the current version (I know the future updates will not be implemented by MS) is a huge step ahead. And that's just one of the 'old skool' apps that need an 'IOS' upgrade. Is it possible for MS to just at least do that?

Your thoughts please without shooting an cussing why MS is the best and doesn't have to do anything, please:wink:

 

[Nindza93]

You can't expect MS to port an app that isn't theirs. Developers of the IMDB app have to decide themselves if they want to port the app. Also, its probably not that simple to port the app, but thats just my guess.

IMDB probably can't be bothered to do it, since they don't see it as a profitable move given wp low market share.

 

[Cruachan 11]

IMDB probably isn't a great example, as they are owned by Amazon, although I'd be surprised if Amazon won't build UWP apps given the size of the W10 market as a whole.

 

[anon(3463402)]

What I think that most of iOS app makers doesn't even know that such project exist.
And then... where to find it, how to use it, is it something they want to do...

Tužna priča koja kraja nema.

 

[libra89]

IMDB probably isn't a great example, as they are owned by Amazon, although I'd be surprised if Amazon won't build UWP apps given the size of the W10 market as a whole.

Audible has a UWP either already out there or will be out soon. I don't get why Audible is by its lonesome.

Sent from mTalk

 

[cracgor]

IMDB probably isn't a great example, as they are owned by Amazon, although I'd be surprised if Amazon won't build UWP apps given the size of the W10 market as a whole.

On a computer the problem will always be competition for websites. If a company has a website it already functions for windows, linux, mac, etc. Unlike in the mobile universe (where apps are able to harness more features from the hardware), there is less benefit to an app over a website.

The other problem is W10 represents the most fragmented array of hardware on the planet which presents its own challenges for creating good experiences. There could be 10 billion Windows 10 PCs on the planet, but it doesn't mean as much if your app requires an accelerometer when most of those computers are desktops.

Also, Amazon tends to be one of the better companies at providing some of the basic features (shopping and kindle) on pretty much every platform right from the start. They do however stink at updating those apps for Windows.

 

[Cruachan 11]

On a computer the problem will always be competition for websites. If a company has a website it already functions for windows, linux, mac, etc. Unlike in the mobile universe (where apps are able to harness more features from the hardware), there is less benefit to an app over a website.

The other problem is W10 represents the most fragmented array of hardware on the planet which presents its own challenges for creating good experiences. There could be 10 billion Windows 10 PCs on the planet, but it doesn't mean as much if your app requires an accelerometer when most of those computers are desktops.

Also, Amazon tends to be one of the better companies at providing some of the basic features (shopping and kindle) on pretty much every platform right from the start. They do however stink at updating those apps for Windows.

PC or not, we now live in an app-centric world. Even on a PC and using Amazon, most people will have the Kindle app (Either desktop or ModernUI) and possibly also the Amazon Music app. Windows tablets are also a rapidly growing segment, and I am sure Amazon are aware of that and will at some point produce UWP apps.

They may not ever produce UWP or mobile apps, but even Apple support iTunes on Windows as it is a major revenue stream for them.

 

[runamuck83]

Microsoft's failure was expecting average-Joes to understand what "bridges" are. Listen, making an app is not something that you snap your fingers together and stuff appears out of thin air. The same is true for using porting-bridges. They're not magic wands. They HELP the process of porting an app, but it doesn't do all the work. A company still needs to invest time and resources to make sure whatever is migrated still works within the new frameworks, etc. Anyone who thought that the bridges were "magic wands" was hugely mistaken.

 

[Krystianpants]

PC or not, we now live in an app-centric world. Even on a PC and using Amazon, most people will have the Kindle app (Either desktop or ModernUI) and possibly also the Amazon Music app. Windows tablets are also a rapidly growing segment, and I am sure Amazon are aware of that and will at some point produce UWP apps.

They may not ever produce UWP or mobile apps, but even Apple support iTunes on Windows as it is a major revenue stream for them.

My brother is funny because I kept telling him to get the facebook app as it's much better than the website. And he just didn't bother. He opens his browser and it remembers his last tabs and facebook is one of them. And he has a 2-in-1. He still uses the browser in touch mode. Anyways, I installed it for him one day as I told him it's much better. It really is better from a UI, ease of use aspect.

Most people know windows for using the browser, and MS has done nothing to educate people on the store or how to use the store and how to make it so easy to use that you won't go to your browser.

I have pushed them in feedback for more tip bubbles. I really liked that when I first used my 950xl there was a bubble telling me about how to use the Navbar. It was helpful. Now if only all the features you come across had these bubbles. For example, "hold the action button to go to the appropriate settings page". I've come across so many people who don't even know you can do that. Same goes for desktop. Teach people to use start menu, pinning, store , grouping, settings, action center. People don't want to read a manual or go to some website, they prefer getting the info as they use it. If it works the way they always used it, that's how they will use it rather than reading some online manual.

My guess is anniversary edition will have Facebook apps pre-installed on the start screen. That's a good start I guess since if such a known app is availabe, people may go searching for others.

 

[cracgor]

My brother is funny because I kept telling him to get the facebook app as it's much better than the website. And he just didn't bother. He opens his browser and it remembers his last tabs and facebook is one of them. And he has a 2-in-1. He still uses the browser in touch mode. Anyways, I installed it for him one day as I told him it's much better. It really is better from a UI, ease of use aspect.

Most people know windows for using the browser, and MS has done nothing to educate people on the store or how to use the store and how to make it so easy to use that you won't go to your browser.

I have pushed them in feedback for more tip bubbles. I really liked that when I first used my 950xl there was a bubble telling me about how to use the Navbar. It was helpful. Now if only all the features you come across had these bubbles. For example, "hold the action button to go to the appropriate settings page". I've come across so many people who don't even know you can do that. Same goes for desktop. Teach people to use start menu, pinning, store , grouping, settings, action center. People don't want to read a manual or go to some website, they prefer getting the info as they use it. If it works the way they always used it, that's how they will use it rather than reading some online manual.

My guess is anniversary edition will have Facebook apps pre-installed on the start screen. That's a good start I guess since if such a known app is availabe, people may go searching for others.

I have the Facebook app install on my surface, but I never use it or the website. I really only use my phone for Facebook. The other funny thing is while we struggle to get Facebook in Windows, the younger generations don't even use it.

 

[libra89]

I have the Facebook app install on my surface, but I never use it or the website. I really only use my phone for Facebook. The other funny thing is while we struggle to get Facebook in Windows, the younger generations don't even use it.

Yeah I think some people really only use it for the messenger.

 

[Krystianpants]

I have the Facebook app install on my surface, but I never use it or the website. I really only use my phone for Facebook. The other funny thing is while we struggle to get Facebook in Windows, the younger generations don't even use it.

The younger generation seem to be about Twitter, Instagram and snapchat.

 

[realwarder]

PC or not, we now live in an app-centric world. Even on a PC and using Amazon, most people will have the Kindle app (Either desktop or ModernUI) and possibly also the Amazon Music app. Windows tablets are also a rapidly growing segment, and I am sure Amazon are aware of that and will at some point produce UWP apps.

They may not ever produce UWP or mobile apps, but even Apple support iTunes on Windows as it is a major revenue stream for them.

I have the Kindle app and was using it the other day. After Audible and the Amazon shopping app it's the worst of their 3 apps. But it works. Mostly. The book list is terrible as I have 1000 books and the list is just an infinite scroll list.... takes forever to locate a book.

I wish they'd spend some money on Windows 10 and write some UWP apps.

Small hint: on mobile you can get Amazon Prime videos to play if you switch to Desktop view. So the phone is 100% able to play them. Under mobile view you just get the 'unsupported device' junk.

 

[RumoredNow]

...while we struggle to get Facebook in Windows, the younger generations don't even use it.

I must be young. I never FaceTwit. Maybe a second childhood?

 

[Adjaero Pascal]

LMFAO!!

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

 

[jlzimmerman]

So, Umm, Where's the News on Islandwood?

With the news over the past week I began thinking that if WP/W10M disappeared, would I have been happy with a MS phone running Android offerings like Ballmer had suggested months ago. Then I remembered Islandwood. It's surprising that I almost forgot about it given its promise and how MS is moving on it. Or are they? I almost forgot because news on Islandwood has disappeared. I've read nothing. Is Nadella p!ssing on this also?

 

[final_fantasy781]

Re: So, Umm, Where's the News on Islandwood?

Why are they passing on Islandwood? Or anything? We don't hear about it because it's a developers tool, not a new app.

 

[justonlumia]

Re: So, Umm, Where's the News on Islandwood?

Why would any developer put effort into a market share of less than 1%

Best case scenario, WM10 makes a comes back in the corporate sector in the future drawing some developers to atleast port some apps

 

[Allen Rhodes]

Re: So, Umm, Where's the News on Islandwood?

Every candy crush update is due to Islandwood. I'm sure there are many others that we just don't know about. Regardless of Windows Mobiles future, Islandwood is still needed for UWP. It's not getting pee pee'd on.

 

[cracgor]

Re: So, Umm, Where's the News on Islandwood?

Why would any developer put effort into a market share of less than 1%

I second that. Even if you take all W10 devices as being equally compatible for running an app. That gives you 300 million devices to develop for. There are more than 100 million active iphones in the US alone and around 1.5 billion android devices. The picture painted on this fan site is better than it is in the real world.