Windows 8 applications - what's different?

Still not going to buy Windows 8. Call me backward and old fashioned, but this silly new UI is not the way forward for PCs. I agree with some of the core principles that MS was trying to achieve with this, but it was just implemented horribly.
 
Which silly new UI? The tiles that you can bypass or is there something else?
 
The whole "Metro" UI. Personally; I find it a hampering, in your face mess that doesn't aid productivity at all. It isn't even intuitive.

(Edit) I'm talking strictly desktops here not tablets etc.
 
LiquidCow said:
The whole "Metro" UI. Personally; I find it a hampering, in your face mess that doesn't aid productivity at all. It isn't even intuitive.

(Edit) I'm talking strictly desktops here not tablets etc.
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I agree. For a tablet I think I'd enjoy the Metro but I like my normal desktop, for a desktop.
 
One topic that’s received a lot of attention already is that apps using the new WinRT application programming interface and Microsoft’s new Modern UI Style (formerly Metro) can only be distributed through Microsoft’s new Windows Store.
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This isn't entirely true. You may sideload app that are certified with a Certificate Authority that is also Trusted on the host computer.

This is particularly useful for business applications. (Restaurants etc).

You can also access the Windows 8 desktop side by creating a local-host WCF service running in the background of the computer, which you can design to access the full file system etc.

You then create your WinRT application to check if this local-host service is running and display appropriate messages to your user.
 
Before I sound like too much of a troll; let my just say that I like what windows 8 is doing behind the scenes (I.e. the core features and functionality of the OS). A unified OS across devices is an awesome concept. I even like the idea of the apps as long as it doesn't become too closed and controlled like Apple equivalents. I just don't like "Metro".
 
At the TechDay 2012 event I found the Office Store to be way more interesting.

You are able to create small applications that run on users office 2013 sessions.

For instance, and app that will load stock prices direct from the internet to your excel sheet. It has button and input fields with an OK button to run.

Very nice
 
LiquidCow said:
The whole "Metro" UI. Personally; I find it a hampering, in your face mess that doesn't aid productivity at all. It isn't even intuitive.

(Edit) I'm talking strictly desktops here not tablets etc.
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Many said the same thing before the touch UI based iPhone came along and QWERTY smartphones ruled. Now touch smartphones are the standard.

I personally think users will like the new interface IF they are given the right hardware to use it, ie multitouch trackpads or screens.
 
LiquidCow said:
Still not going to buy Windows 8. Call me backward and old fashioned, but this silly new UI is not the way forward for PCs. I agree with some of the core principles that MS was trying to achieve with this, but it was just implemented horribly.
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You're backward and old fashioned
 
Nether said:
This isn't entirely true. You may sideload app that are certified with a Certificate Authority that is also Trusted on the host computer.

This is particularly useful for business applications. (Restaurants etc).
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I guess it depends on your perspective. That's useful for custom developments where a handful of customers (or one customer) cover(s) your costs. If you're trying to sell an app to the public then you have to go through MS as, from what I've read, sideloading isn't an easy process. For one, you need a sideloading product key: http://social.technet.microsoft.com...l/thread/3092a681-b9cc-473b-83aa-b492ea7f3946

Nether said:
You can also access the Windows 8 desktop side by creating a local-host WCF service running in the background of the computer, which you can design to access the full file system etc.

You then create your WinRT application to check if this local-host service is running and display appropriate messages to your user.
Click to expand...

I don't understand how this relates to the question of distribution? The evangelist in Track 1 said your app would fail certification if you did this (i.e. it won't make it into the Windows Store).

It is something cool you can do with a business application if you want it to use WinRT on the front-end, though.
 
LiquidCow said:
Still not going to buy Windows 8. Call me backward and old fashioned, but this silly new UI is not the way forward for PCs. I agree with some of the core principles that MS was trying to achieve with this, but it was just implemented horribly.
Click to expand...

you're backwards and old fashioned.
 
LiquidCow said:
The whole "Metro" UI. Personally; I find it a hampering, in your face mess that doesn't aid productivity at all. It isn't even intuitive.

(Edit) I'm talking strictly desktops here not tablets etc.
Click to expand...

Then it's probably a good thing Metro was made for tablets, and desktops still have the classic desktop, and you'll pretty much never see the Metro interface.

I don't think you're backwards and old-fashioned, just misinformed - which isn't surprising considering the terrible coverage the tech press at large has given Win8/Metro.
 
elvis_presley said:
Then it's probably a good thing Metro was made for tablets, and desktops still have the classic desktop, and you'll pretty much never see the Metro interface.

I don't think you're backwards and old-fashioned, just misinformed - which isn't surprising considering the terrible coverage the tech press at large has given Win8/Metro.
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I've got Windows 8 loaded on a tablet PC and I don't agree with the statement that users will almost never see the "Modern UI Style". Every time you launch the Start menu you'll see it.

I for one quite like it, but I've always hated the old Start Menu.
 
Jan said:
I've got Windows 8 loaded on a tablet PC and I don't agree with the statement that users will almost never see the "Modern UI Style". Every time you launch the Start menu you'll see it.
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Precisely. That's it, really. one keypress, and they shouldn't see it for the rest of the day - I think that qualifies as "almost never". Most users launch apps from pinned apps and windowskey-start-to-type-app-name these days, you should only go to start menu/metro launcher for seldom used apps. The start menu is almost 20 years old - UIs have evolved and there's better ways of working now. The start menu's heirarchical structure is a throwback from a bygone era where we used 14" CRT monitors and needed something compact to hold all our shortcuts.
 
The whole "Metro" UI is designed to limit your choice and remove your freedom as you only allowed applications via the Microsoft Marketplace just so Microsoft can take their cut oppa Apple style. (Read no more GPL Open source)

Good luck with that :)
 
AlphaJohn said:
The whole "Metro" UI is designed to limit your choice and remove your freedom as you only allowed applications via the Microsoft Marketplace just so Microsoft can take their cut oppa Apple style. (Read no more GPL Open source)

Good luck with that :)
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I'm pretty sure MS has made spcifiic provisions in the Win8 store to be GPL/FOSS friendly. Remember, MS is open source's friend nowdays. They're not the open source hating boogeyman they were 10 years ago.
 
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