Windows Bridge for Desktop

Trust_No1 · 31 Mar 2016

I see this as the beginning to an end of Windows of the past...

As early stated in other posts, Microsoft has had push back from game developers, because Microsoft has been pushing to remove Legacy support, as to make game developers only supply games via the Windows store. The caveat to all of this, is that Microsoft wants 1/3 cut of all apps sold in the store. So, lets say you used to pay $60 for a game, if you are forced to buy via the Windows Store, MS wants a 1/3 of that, so game developers now have to sell that game for $80 to make up the difference.

Now I see this article as basically saying, MS is trying to transition all the Legacy desktop applications developers into a new metro tiled app model form. Ultimately, doing the same thing, making things only available via the Windows Store, hence adding themselves as the new middle man for any Windows application. (whatever happen to 'cut out the middle man')

And some people wonder, why I am not a fan of Windows 10. FREE windows 10, LOL.

This MS spiel that Windows 10 is FREE, is bunk. Windows 10 isn't free, it is an exchange program. You simply exchange one license for another, and MS ultimate goal is to remove all legacy applications and support so everything is purchased via the store, costing the consumer higher prices. That is my opinion, and I think this article helps demonstrate that point.

Lee · 31 Mar 2016

Trust_No1 said:

I see this as the beginning to an end of Windows of the past...

As early stated in other posts, Microsoft has had push back from game developers, because Microsoft has been pushing to remove Legacy support, as to make game developers only supply games via the Windows store. The caveat to all of this, is that Microsoft wants 1/3 cut of all apps sold in the store. So, lets say you used to pay $60 for a game, if you are forced to buy via the Windows Store, MS wants a 1/3 of that, so game developers now have to sell that game for $80 to make up the difference.

Now I see this article as basically saying, MS is trying to transition all the Legacy desktop applications developers into a new metro tiled app model form. Ultimately, doing the same thing, making things only available via the Windows Store, hence adding themselves as the new middle man for any Windows application. (whatever happen to 'cut out the middle man')

And some people wonder, why I am not a fan of Windows 10. FREE windows 10, LOL.

This MS spiel that Windows 10 is FREE, is bunk. Windows 10 isn't free, it is an exchange program. You simply exchange one license for another, and MS ultimate goal is to remove all legacy applications and support so everything is purchased via the store, costing the consumer higher prices. That is my opinion, and I think this article helps demonstrate that point.

Here we go again. . .

BunnyJ · 31 Mar 2016

Lee said:

Here we go again. . .

I know.. the sky is falling,, again.

It's not like all of the desktop software is going to get ported over to apps.

Winuser · 31 Mar 2016

Trust_No1 said:

I see this as the beginning to an end of Windows of the past...

As early stated in other posts, Microsoft has had push back from game developers, because Microsoft has been pushing to remove Legacy support, as to make game developers only supply games via the Windows store. The caveat to all of this, is that Microsoft wants 1/3 cut of all apps sold in the store. So, lets say you used to pay $60 for a game, if you are forced to buy via the Windows Store, MS wants a 1/3 of that, so game developers now have to sell that game for $80 to make up the difference.

Now I see this article as basically saying, MS is trying to transition all the Legacy desktop applications developers into a new metro tiled app model form. Ultimately, doing the same thing, making things only available via the Windows Store, hence adding themselves as the new middle man for any Windows application. (whatever happen to 'cut out the middle man')

And some people wonder, why I am not a fan of Windows 10. FREE windows 10, LOL.

This MS spiel that Windows 10 is FREE, is bunk. Windows 10 isn't free, it is an exchange program. You simply exchange one license for another, and MS ultimate goal is to remove all legacy applications and support so everything is purchased via the store, costing the consumer higher prices. That is my opinion, and I think this article helps demonstrate that point.

Don't forget the ten device limit for apps in the store.

Trust_No1 · 31 Mar 2016

BunnyJ said:

I know.. the sky is falling,, again.

It's not like all of the desktop software is going to get ported over to apps.

I am not saying it will be all (at least not any time soon) but "One platform to rule them all" is their moto
Mark my words....

Why else has MS ventured into the Android world so much, and now trying to weasle it's way into Linux, everything I see points to this direction. I am not saying they will be successful, LOL, obviously thus far they haven't been (the Windows Store is a disaster). I just believe it is their desire to try and achieve it.

The Cloud and Store apps is their goal for the masses. IMHO

Night Hawk · 17 Sep 2016

UPDATE: Tom's Hardware just posted updated information regarding the completion of this project by MS as of late.

Microsoft Extends Windows 10 Features With Desktop Bridge

by Michael Justin Allen Sexton September 16, 2016 at 1:35 PM - Source: Microsoft

19 Comments

Microsoft announced that it has completed work on its Desktop Bridge, which is a software utility designed to port applications from older versions of Windows to Windows 10. Although the Desktop Bridge has several important features, it may negatively impact software performance overall.

The Desktop Bridge And UWP

Although porting software to Windows 10’s Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is a key feature of the Desktop Bridge, it actually contains several other tools to aid software developers. For the first time, you will be able to use the Linux Bash command on Windows. Software developers will also be able to share code with each other using a tool called Xamarin.

Of course, the real star of the show is Project Centennial, which is the desktop app converter. It can analyze older Windows applications and port them to the UWP. The tool also allows you to configure the software to work with Cortana, Windows Live tiles, and other Windows 10 features.

“Working in parallel with Microsoft, we are making it easy for our customers to transition their existing InstallShield MSI projects to build Universal Windows Platform and Windows Server App packages. InstallShield is the only product that enables developers to test their apps for compatibility with the Desktop Bridge and WSAs – saving countless hours of time, effort and investigative work,” said Maureen Polte, Vice President of Product Management at Flexera Software.

Once the software has been ported to the UWP, it can be uploaded to the Windows Store and used on essentially any device that supports the UWP. This technically includes the Xbox One, but it is likely that developers will need to make additional changes to their software in order to be fully functional on the game console.

Full report seen at: Microsoft Extends Windows 10 Features With Desktop Bridge

The TH report also links to the Windows Developer blog published 2 days earlier with an embedded video seen and read in full at: Apps built using the Desktop Bridge now available in the Windows Store! | Building Apps for Windows

September 14, 2016 9:00 am Apps built using the Desktop Bridge now available in the Windows Store!

By Kevin Gallo / Corporate Vice President of Windows Developer

(see embedded video interview)

A few months ago, during Build 2016, we announced the Desktop Bridge, enabling developers to bring their existing desktop apps and games over to the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) by converting their app or game with the Desktop App Converter and then enhancing and extending it with UWP functionality. This then enables the path to gradually migrate the app or game to reach all Windows 10 devices over time, including phones, Xbox One and HoloLens.

Last month, along with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update SDK, we announced a process for you to start bringing these converted apps and games to the Windows Store for easier and safer distribution to customers.
First apps available in the Windows Store

Today we’re pleased to announce that new apps including Evernote, Arduino IDE, doubleTwist, PhotoScape, MAGIX Movie Edit Pro, Virtual Robotics Kit, Relab, SQL Pro, Voya Media, Predicted Desire and korAccount will become available in the Windows Store within the next few days for Windows 10 customers running the Anniversary Update (if you haven’t updated yet here’s how you can). As the apps become available in the Store, you will be able to find them in a full collection of apps built using the Desktop Bridge in the Windows Store.

These are the same apps that customers know and love, but are now available for download in the trusted Windows Store. For your customers, the Windows Store is the safest and most secure place for them to find and manage content across a range of Windows devices, including PCs, phones, Xbox One and HoloLens. For developers, the Desktop Bridge enables you to make use of the new functionality available to UWP apps right out of the gate, including access to a host of new APIs like Live Tiles, Cortana and Action Center that provide best-in-class support for thousands of scenarios across all of Windows. Evernote is already taking advantage of the new APIs to bring innovation to customers.