Windows 8 Metro - Crystal Ball Gazing

[Doogle]

Rather than send this thread:http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=660246 off topic I thought I'd start a new one:

I guess there's a long way to go yet, but the 'Microsoft Shop' sounds a bit like a Monopoly.

Have I got this right; if I develop a 'Hello World' Metro application, and want to install it on a friend's device - just to show them how clever I am - I have to go through all those hoops?

I guess that Commerical Developers are going to have to do some additional Risk Assessments when it comes to Metro Apps. Time to Market is going to be affected by the time it takes for the additional 'testing' and also the possibility of an up to 30% bottom line reduction in margin per sale, is, I suspect, going to push the prices up and knock the small businesses completely out of the market. We'll end up with just one or two big players in the Metro Development market place, I haven't seen any forecasts, but I suspect the market is going to be measured in $Billions. (Do I feel a Cartel coming on?)

Presumably the concept of Metro Freeware apps is a non-starter except for those companies wanting to emblazen their apps with advertisments and the like.

Being a cynic, I can see the possibility of 'favouritism', e.g. I offer Microsoft 31% (or a nice backhander to the appropriate person) and they push my apps through testing quicker than yours, because you only give them 30%. Or, I'm developing hundreds of very popular apps per year so it's in Microsoft's interest to get mine through quickly so they can maximise their revenue stream from my efforts; whereas you may only develop one or two a year and end up at the bottom of the pile. What if my app is in direct competition with one from Microsoft themselves?...... Oh, I can see some interesting times ahead.

I'm not sure it's very comfortable having Microsoft setting themselves up as the World Wide 'Metro-Police' without some sort of Independent Regulator setting the rules and making sure that they're abided by.

Does the US have anything like the Monopolies Commission we have in this country (ie a body that determines whether particular Business Practices / Market Share constitues a Monopoly or severly compromise competitiveness and have the power to make them sell off bits to widen comeptition?) They, and the EU have recently forced BAA to put some Airports over here up for sale, for just those reasons.

I guess that Microsoft have some sharp Lawyers who have it all wrapped up.

[Ludite]
Bring back the Mainframe and Assembler, ban all other languages, I say
[/Ludite]

[Shaggy Hiker]

Microsoft Shop sounds like the Apple Store, to me. I don't know much about either one, but Apple is restrictive and successful, so MS has probably decided to try the same thing.

[Jenner]

Yea, the "controlled software store" seems to be the success-model for the mobile industry. About 90% of all that software testing is to make sure the application isn't a form of malware. Standard drill: run it in a secure test environment, analyze any internet packets being sent from it, monitor system usage for exploitative behavior, etc...

[dilettante]

Probably other things get screened as well such as porn, illegally strong encryption, and who knows what else? DRM enforcement maybe.

[Shaggy Hiker]

I think they probably also screen for "Revenue Stream Control"

[techgnome]

I think you'll still be able to install apps in the traditional way... where the store comes into play is in distribution... if I create an app that I want to sell... the best way to get it out there will be to go through the MS App Store... as a developer, it's handy - someone else handles the file downloads, testing etc... and for their troubles, they get a cut of the price. Meh... As a consumer, I can feel better about the downloads knowing they've been tested and cleared of any malware.

-tg

[dilettante]

I think you'll still be able to install apps in the traditional way...

The story so far is that only developers and Enterprise customers will have any non-Storefront way to install a Metro app. A "developer" in this context has to have a "developer license" and the tools installed, and even then there are restrictions.

You cannot post an EXE, ZIP, etc. for downloading by Joe User - it won't work.