Microsoft Introduces Universal Apps Working on All Windows Platforms

[sujith]

Microsoft has announced the Universal Apps concept at the BUILD 2014 developer conference in San Francisco, a new initiative that allows developers to create applications working on basically all devices running modern platforms, such as PCs, phones, and tablets.

David Treadwell, Microsoft CVP of Operating Systems Group, revealed during the opening keynote of the event that each app will be further customized to fit every single device it is installed on, so a seamless experience should be provided no matter if you’re using a PC or a smartphone.

While the Windows runtime in the new Windows 8.1 Update will thus become available for Windows Phone developers, the software giant says that all software makers will be allowed to create app designs specifically for a type of device, in an attempt to optimize the final experience offered to the end user.

Streamlining the development process of Metro apps has been a priority, Treadwell explained, with the company focusing on five main areas supposed to enhance the creation of universal apps: user interface, app model, APIs, tools, and Windows Store.

Tweaking an app to work on a different platform should be easy, Microsoft said, as a big part of the code can be re-used.

“Yet today there’s no easy way to create apps that work across all form factors,” Treadwell added, “and all of us want the same app experience across all devices.”

Microsoft will offer an update to its Visual Studios 2013 development tools that will enable app makers to create software that will work across those platforms. It's certainly a big step towards what many believe will be a true merge of Windows and Windows Phone operating systems sometime in the future. In the meantime, the Universal Windows app program will be a welcome change for developers who won't have to work as hard anymore to adapt their apps for different systems.

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[Kaos]

The SINakool me thinks they will just be 3x bigger not 3x smarter.

[sujith]

Xbox One to Support Universal Windows Apps

Microsoft today announced the Universal Windows Apps concept at the BUILD 2014 conference, explaining that developers can now create programs that can be used on multiple platforms, as they can now re-use most of the code no matter if they are trying to appeal to PC, smartphone, or tablet users.

The company also revealed that Xbox One will eventually support universal apps as well, with Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s EVP of Operating Systems Group, explaining that such a feature is essential for the company’s plans to boost living room entertainment.

Xbox is currently being used in 80 million TVs in living rooms across the world, Myerson said, so such an implementation makes sense, he added.

Myerson used Visual Studio to demonstrate that building universal apps for the Xbox isn’t too difficult, showing a demo on the Khan Academy app to explain that much of the code can be re-used on smartphones, tablets, and PC projects.

Microsoft’s executive also added that Kinect for Windows v2 now uses the Kinect sensor that’s available on the Xbox One, so it can be used in smaller spaces as well. DirectX 12 technologies will also be part of future Xbox One improvements, he said, but also on mobile phones powered by Windows Phone 8.1.

[geeteam]

Interesting enough, so what happened to Xiaman a native app for the Windows platform. I understand it was used for the Nokia X app development. Does it also mean that Ms has no plans for the future development of the Nokia X?