How does Metro work?

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Originally Posted by dilettante

Do you know whether Win8 To Go deals with this?

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I snipped a lot of what you asked.

I know that Win2Go requires a USB 3.0 drive and that there were only 2 such drives that were certified to be good enough to actually work. I would assume that Microsoft has taken care of some of the thrashing and such to reduce wear on the drive. Even so, the average USB drive would still get chewed to bits by running a system off of it. That is why only certain USB drives will be certified.

I also know that the device will use the computer's processors, peripherials, and such, but will not use the hard drive. From a booted Win2Go system, you can see that a harddrive exists on teh main system, but you have absolutely no access to it. There is a bit of an expectation that if you are using Win2Go, then you are likely to be storing all your data in the Cloud.

I made a few comments in my blog post on the topic (link in previous post). I can try to find out more if there is interest.

Brad!

Really strange that these 'metro' threads just don't get any input ?

I've never really looked at it yet but think it's about time that I did. Would somebody tell me if I've grasped the 'gist' of it.

1. We can use VS2012 to develop metro style apps.
2. All metro style apps must be signed and deployed via the MS App Store.
3. Companies who develop their own internal metro style apps can deploy them internally to their own employees without using the MS Appstore using some process called Side Loading ? (SideWinding or something like that that)
4. In order to run unsigned metro apps (presumably a developer who needs to test his app before deployment) can register for a FREE developer license which allows the user to run unsigned metro style apps without going through the app store.


My conclusion - if all of the above is true - is that everyone, and his dog, will simply register for the above mentioned 'free' developer license allowing them to run unsigned metro apps. Of course they won't be 'protected' by MS and we'll have to use our own judgement just like we do now when downloading apps from the internet. So, basically, I can simply start selling metro apps from my website because everyone will be able to run unsigned apps anyway.

Or - if MS notice that everyone - and his dog - are registering for free developer licenses will they do something to prevent everyone - especially dogs, from registering for a free developer license. ?

If you wanted to start selling an application, then expecting people to have a developers license obtained via Visual Studio, would be expecting a lot. Someone isn't going to jump through that type of hoop to play a simple game or run a simple application.

Besides - why not go through the store and make distribution easier? Yes, there is a small fee, but you also get your application reviewed (call it free testing).

This model of distribution is quickly becoming standard. Think about history -- you used to distribute by making copies and install programs onto 5-1/4 floppies. Eventually this gave way to 3-1/2" disks. Later these were replaced by CDs and finally DVDs for larger apps. As is obvious, all of these mediums are fading into history with digital downloads being next.

Granted, it seems like it would be easier to let people download from your; however, I don't know you. As such, I'm less likely to trust you. I do trust Google Play, iTunes, and the Microsoft Store, so if your app is there, I'm going to assume it is virus free and vetted for my use. As such, I'm going to download the app, but I'm going to download it from a safe location. As a consumer of other people's apps, I'm going to want to use trusted sources. As a developer, I want people to know my apps can be trusted.

Thus the new model replaces the old. CDs replaced diskettes. .NET replaced a lot of native apps. Evolution continues. You can embrace it or fight it. :)

These are, of course, just my opinions at the moment!

I also believe C++/CX is the language extension designed to support the WinRT API.