Comments on: Microsoft plans “Skymarket” apps store for Windows Mobile 7 in 2009

By: Windows Mobile 6.5 shows clever burst of originality. Haha no. — RoughlyDrafted Magazine

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:24:21 +0000

[...] Microsoft plans “Skymarket” apps store for Windows Mobile 7 in 2009 [...]

By: nat

nat — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:31:34 +0000

lmasanti said:

“1) Although everybody knows that software is “soft” be like the hard part: diskettes/cds/manuals! as a proof (at least to ourselves) that we paid a “high price”. Also, be have a 30+ years of picking the box out of the shelf! (Remember the lack of shelf space for Mac applications?)”

You aren’t really serious, are you? :D Many people never install software. Only those who need an Adobe or Microsoft piece of software that they can’t download (legally or otherwise) install via discs. How the heck could software piracy get any worse by providing digitally signed Macs apps on the iTunes App Store (within a specific Mac section)? Apple already has a make-shift app store here:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/

They could easily take that which they already have and put a pretty face on it in iTunes. It would be optional of course – Apple can’t condone P2P and such – but it would put a spotlight on Mac App Store developers, make updating third party apps easy with one click (rather than going from program to program), ensure the given app was not malware and make piracy rather difficult.

By: gus2000

gus2000 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:13:53 +0000

The Microsoft job posting sounds more like a cry for help. It reminds me of an email virus I received a few years ago:

“Hi, I’m new at the whole virus thing, so if you could format your C: drive for me I’d really appreciate it. Oh, and if you could forward this email to everyone in your address book first, that would really help me out alot. Thanks! You got pwned!”

By: lmasanti

lmasanti — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:36:32 +0000

quote:
“I have long wondered why neither Apple nor Microsoft have built a App Store for their Desktop OS’s. I see no reason why the finder can’t have a Store Button similar to iTunes. It can’t be that difficult. I suppose the reason is DRM. That is the main reason why the iPhone App store has been such a success. Developers are guaranteed that their software won’t be pirated.”

I think that there are a couple of points while this has not happened (although it can happen soon):

1) Although everybody knows that software is “soft” be like the hard part: diskettes/cds/manuals! as a proof (at least to ourselves) that we paid a “high price”. Also, be have a 30+ years of picking the box out of the shelf! (Remember the lack of shelf space for Mac applications?)

2) Although downloads are everywhere now, as you cited, piracy would be even easier. So, here comes DRM protection: in Apple’s case, it can be easy, because you use Mac soft in Mac hard (as in iPhone/iPod toucht platform). In Windowsland, every dev would have to pay Microsoft for the DRM… good for M$, bad for everyone else.

By: John E

John E — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:52:42 +0000

the revolutionary feature of the appstore is the one-click app purchase followed by auto installation at the next synch. just works, even for dummies. by the time winmobile 7 can do this late next year it will be too little way too late.

btw, i predict snow leopard will include a comparable desktop software appstore. will windows 7 add that also a year later?

By: limey

limey — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:07:44 +0000

“@ Daniel – like the short pieces but miss and loved the long packed ones… Should we expect to see frequent postings but short?”

If you increase the font size (Apple +) the articles become much longer (and more readable for us old blind bats.)

ps Let’s face it, Prince is a man of few words.

By: Berend Schotanus

Berend Schotanus — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:32:56 +0000

Is this really news? After Android Market and SkyMarket, Blackberry will probably follow with a “Black Market”…
I do feel sympathy for Amazon opening an MP3 store in competition with iTunes and sympathy for Google opening competition with the App Store as well, just for the sheer of competition and because both Google and Amazon deserved their traces.
But a Microsoft store – I cannot even explain why – seems to me so terribly sad. Will I have to choose between Home, Premium and Professional? Will I be caught in their DRM-web and get betrayed in a few years when they finnish support? Why would I trust Microsoft?

By: dallasmay

dallasmay — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:28:41 +0000

I have long wondered why neither Apple nor Microsoft have built a App Store for their Desktop OS’s. I see no reason why the finder can’t have a Store Button similar to iTunes. It can’t be that difficult. I suppose the reason is DRM. That is the main reason why the iPhone App store has been such a success. Developers are guaranteed that their software won’t be pirated.

By: lmasanti

lmasanti — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:56:20 +0000

Other than the irony on Microsoft “monetizing”, it seems just a rehash of other articles from the bloggsphere.

A “comparison” of stores/marketplaces would be nice (although you just only have one store and several promises!)

Apple: One hard/soft platform. Fixed charge on free price selection. Some restictions apply to submissions.
Google: Multiple hard/One soft platform. No news on charge. No (?) restictions apply to submissions.
T-Mobile: Multiple hard/Multiple soft platform. No news on charge. No (?) restictions apply to submissions.
Microsoft: Multiple hard/One soft platform. No news on charge. No (?) restictions apply to submissions.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:29:16 +0000

Is Windows Mobile the roadkill Nathan P. Myhrvold wrote about in September 8 1993 – Road Kill on the Information Highway? I foresee blood on iPhone’s home button! First Palm’s OS, then the various Linux derivatives (excluding Android), then Windows Mobile and finally RIM?

@ Daniel – like the short pieces but miss and loved the long packed ones… Should we expect to see frequent postings but short?