Microsoft Extends Windows 10 Features With Desktop Bridge

[thor220]

There is zero advantage that I can see for anybody to convert anything already Win32/Win64 to UWP other than giving MS their cut and the stronger control over the distribution and use of their products.

False. You're stuck in the past AND you're looking at it from the point of view of a nerd. Distribution is actually BETTER and more familiar when looking at average users. My mom was considering an iPad solely because it's "easy to use like her iPhone". I got her a capable touchscreen laptop with Win10. Now she can snag apps like Netflix, Hulu, Kindle, etc easily and safely. She uses the heck out of the touchscreen but still appreciates the proper keyboard. I haven't had to act as tech support since - no more "I was looking for such and such "app" and clicked on a link" mess.

There's other advantages too. Cleaner installation and removal - the apps are self-contained. They can also be moved to other drives post-installation easily (this is useful on phones/tablets especially with SD cards). UWP supports touchscreen and multiple form factors MUCH better than Win32. For example using the same app on Windows 10 with a mouse, touchscreen laptop/tablet, phone, or XB1. You can build all that support into one app, along with on-the-fly UI changes for Continuum. Then there's the cross platform support and forward compatibility. UWP supports non-x86 architectures - it already works on ARM phones, and in future once there's enough UWP apps available they could port full Win10 to ARM or whatever architecture in the future. Otherwise there's Xamarin etc to share codebase amongst multiple platforms.

Win32 programs by comparison are not great on touchscreen devices (which no, are not a fad). Win32 is outdated and not well suited to a lot of modern programs. Not to mention that Win32 applications are often so far from forward-compatible as to break every major revision. UWP mitigates the vast majority of these problems. I don't understand how people can be so diehard anti-UWP when this sort of system is where ALL the major platforms are headed. UWP is much more modern and forward-thinking and in some form or another is here to stay. If it makes you feel better call them Programs instead of apps and call the Store "Software Repository". That fixes most hangups right there.

Are you suggesting that Netflix and Hulu was hard to access before on PC? Yeah, twas hard to type "netflix.com" and "hulu.com" in the address bar, because that's not totally obvious. I guess you also couldn't create a shortcut on your desktop to those websites either. No, having to install an app is pointless when you can get there with one click of the mouse anyways. The only thing your point has proven is that windows 10 has become more like a mobile operating system, it does not do it more efficiently or easily than what has already been possible.

"There's other advantages too. Cleaner installation and removal - the apps are self-contained."

Except these apps still use the registry, create shortcuts, and leave setting files and thus are prone to the same issues. It's a disadvantage that the apps are self-contained, when something goes wrong there's nothing you can do. We've already see the issues it causes with video games and modders cannot access game files to unlock 60fps and much more.

"UWP supports touchscreen and multiple form factors MUCH better than Win32."

It's the operating system that supports touchscreen. Any app developer can add touch commands to their software in windows 8, 10 and even 7 (more work required for 7 though). Supports multiple form factors better? FYI UWP is still x86, Win32 will work on every device UWP works on. The only difference is UWP gives you the tools to program for multiple devices more easily. A well programed Win32 app can be just as good if the devs took their time.

"Then there's the cross platform support and forward compatibility."

Technically Win32 apps are cross platform as well. They work on every x86 device and that includes windows phones and tablets. Forwards compatibility isn't something you can claim right now. It's like saying "hey this UWP apps is going to work on every x86 processor every released in the next 10 years" but in fact you don't know for sure. Although one can easily claim win32 apps have that very same thing. People can still run games that were designed for DOS, win95, ect.

"UWP supports non-x86 architectures - it already works on ARM phones"

Uh, no, no it doesn't
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/get-started/universal-application-platform-guide
WindowsRT supported ARM, and it only ran ARM based Apps. UWP apps, as stated in the provided link, only run on any device running windows 10. Microsoft stopped developing WindowsRT some time ago and there hasn't been any new devices coming out for that operating system for some time.

God though, for a guy hailing windows UWP apps as the next best thing you certainly had a lot of misconceptions about what the UWP platform actually is. Microsoft's whole platform for it is making one operating system for all devices but it only runs on x86 hardware. Maybe one day they will add support for ARM but that will take allot of effort on their part. UWP in it's current state is just an attempt by Microsoft to make a walled garden like Apple. That may be fine for mobile users but not something PC users want.

 

[Kimonajane]

Windows 10 should be called NSA approved OS for the masses.

 

[psiboy]

I'm loving Windows 10! All my old dos games and previous windows games/programmes work just fine! You've heard of dos box right? Compatability mode too right? So many people quick to whine about nothing. If you want to go and use Crapple then go and join the mostly ignorant legion who already do! A fool and their money are soon parted!

 

[Karadjgne]

I had issues with compatibility mode and older DX9 games. Programs worked ok, but theres specific references needed in those games that Windows10 does not have, since its devoid of DX9, no support at all. Just DX10-12. If you DL the DX9 end user files, it adds them to DX, no overwrites, since they are different files and labeled differently and don't get targeted by anything using DX10-12. Puts back full functionality of the games, same as if they were used in Win7