What is Digg?102 Comments
- LANjackal, on 01/22/2009, -1/+56I think developers will jump on board just as fast as they've jumped on board for Linux. Having your app in a software repository makes it easily found by all users of the world's most commonly installed OS. Which (Windows) developer wouldn't want that?
Besides, the existence of a software repository reduces the risk of malware via malicious installations of fake programs. Good move, MS. - wafflesomd, on 01/22/2009, -6/+32Hasn't Linux had this for years.
- inactive, on 01/22/2009, -2/+25appstore my ass. This is more like synaptics in ubuntu. Not every ***** thing is created by apple.
- kaeves, on 01/22/2009, -5/+28Is Microsoft finally trying to catch up with Linux? Nice. Even if they're doing it for the wrong reasons, it would be a good move.
- tyrulz, on 01/22/2009, -3/+23As many people that hate microsoft, 4x as many love it. It will find developers.
- Eezyville, on 01/22/2009, -1/+19Yes but its good that Microsoft is implementing it. It means that Linux is doing its job which is to innovate.
- krystalo, on 01/22/2009, -1/+16I can't think of a reason why a developer wouldn't want to join in on this (assuming Microsoft goes through with this). Good post as usual Ars!
- chewmanfoo, on 01/22/2009, -2/+12yum -y update
- briansearles, on 01/22/2009, -1/+10About ***** time.
- Newedge14, on 01/22/2009, -2/+11There would be so much good involved in this. The only problem is enticing the developers of third party software to sign on. I know a lot of them don't particularly like Microsoft to start with and even with the premise of having a software repository where people can buy your software but many developers won't want to put the effort into it.
- Thomaschaaf, on 01/22/2009, -1/+10I would love if all programms would be updated automatically and via one control panel!
- socokoolaid, on 01/22/2009, -1/+10Yes, in your own words,"Microsoft laid dormant for years" - and now it IS playing catch up!
Catch up by updating it's start menu to a style similar to what SUSE and other Linux distributions had for 5-10 years. Jumping on the boat of transparency window effects, which Linux has had since I can remember. Catching up to Compiz/Beryl by starting to dabble in 3D desktop features. The list could go on. Regardless of the Windows market share, in the last 10 years Windows features have always been 2 steps behind. - mithrasinvictus, on 01/22/2009, -1/+9Microsoft is no1 in marketing and licensing, not in technology. They buy or steal almost every feature.
- doshindude, on 01/22/2009, -2/+9Watch Firefox get added to the list...that would be mildly ironic.
- damien1989, on 01/22/2009, -0/+7yeh, it was said already...in every 2nd comment. thanks for that pointless tidbit.
- Balanced, on 01/22/2009, -0/+6App store is iPhone/iPod Touch only, actually. The closest ont he Mac is some links to Apple's store that ships you disks.
- inactive, on 01/22/2009, -2/+7better yet. Centralised update center. Thats one thing i always found to be superior in ubuntu but if MS can pull off something similar then it will be the best thing that has ever happened. No more will app developers club background updaters for their software. i always hated having this app running the background. Go Windows 7
- mvest20, on 01/22/2009, -0/+5You clearly don't use it, and have never tried. It's great, and far from having any practical function.
- Daemastrius, on 01/22/2009, -4/+9This is not a "rip-off" or a "stolen" idea.
This is an adaptation. - ortucis, on 01/22/2009, -1/+6Yes, switch to Linux for Windows only apps. I knew it all along that most Linux users were special..
- AberDave85, on 01/22/2009, -1/+5Good point, would Open Office go on or would that be too bad for Office sales?
- dwtc, on 01/22/2009, -2/+6But then software installation would be really really hard, like it is in Ubuntu.
/sarcasm - Yazilliclick, on 01/22/2009, -1/+5How so? Haven't seen anybody arguing that having a centralized area to install applications is bad. There are certainly worthy criticisms of the way it's implemented and the way installs need to occur under Linux and such. But haven't seen any significant group criticize the general idea.
- strevoir, on 01/22/2009, -2/+6How about XBox Marketplace?
- socokoolaid, on 01/22/2009, -1/+5Please die GoogleUpdater you vampire
- mithrasinvictus, on 01/22/2009, -2/+6Yes, but that will probably not stop microsoft from patenting it anyway.
- samanathon, on 01/22/2009, -1/+5I think that this would be a great move on Microsoft's part!!! The only issue that I could see is when there are newer version of programs on the net and not in the repositories. I'm Microsoft doesn't update the repository list often, there could be a revolt from the developers.
From the shear amount of software available for Windows, the logistical task of managing this/these repositories could be daunting.... - jer21, on 01/22/2009, -0/+4"You're"
- jamesmcm, on 01/22/2009, -0/+4Well that's the card manufacturer's fault for not publishing open specifications or drivers.
GNU/Linux was made to be a fully Free (as in Freedom) Operating System and it isn't going to lose that just for the laziness of some manufacturers' and consumers'.
Free Software is important as it guarantees the end-user rights (rather than proprietary software and DRM which takes away all your rights). Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html - Gauthic, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3You don't get it (at least it doesn't appear you do). You can still write software for Windows and distribute it per the current methods. This just gives a developer an option to sell and keep customers up to date software from a central location.
This would be FANTASTIC for the very good developers as their customers would rate it highly, while poor developers and software would have poor reviews.
However, the iPhone/iPod's App Store has taught us the underhanded tricks of competing developers rating their own products up and their competitor's products down with 'dummy accounts.' I'd like to see what solution Microsoft has (if any) for this scenario. - tech10171968, on 01/22/2009, -2/+5"Why is it so hard for people to give Microsoft any credit at all?"
Because, when you spread FUD and completely diss an OS, while borrowing concepts straight from its playbook and passing them off as your own "innovations", its hard for anyone to give you credit. - frequentFlyer, on 01/22/2009, -10/+13What genius! Where did they EVER come up with such... huh? apt-get install <app> && apt-get update && apt-get upgrade??
- socokoolaid, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3ndiswrapper
- Yazilliclick, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3It should be cheaper but price is hardly the only cause of piracy and steam addresses several of the other causes.
- pinchduck, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3Same mistake that Lotus and WordPerfect made: Not supporting Windows or Windows functionality. Developer A says "Screw Microsoft, I'll never put my stuff in their repository". Developer B says "Here you go". The typical user sees the repository, which is probably promoted via intercepted search, or a wizard, or a Clippy derivative somehow. When the users searches for "Foo" application, Developer B's application comes up. He gets the sale. Developer A is smug in knowing that he "outsmarted" Microsoft, but is also wondering why his sales have fallen off the planet. Unless you are a blogger, using your personal opinions and animosities as a marketing strategy is usually really bad for sales.
- cassaffousth, on 01/22/2009, -2/+5Synaptic? Is it you?
- Target91, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3Don't you mean filehippo.com ?
- gbkyle, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3wow...
- Ev3nt372, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3This would be great but for now there is the Hilehippo.com update checker which detects updates for most of my 3rd party non-microsoft apps.
PS : Hilehippo.com is probably one of the best free software repositories for windows. - santixx, on 01/22/2009, -11/+14If it's done most of the Windows fanboys who criticized the way Linux handled packages are going to have to change their words.
- Buckwyld, on 01/22/2009, -1/+3Steam for applications.
- Darkhacker, on 01/22/2009, -1/+3More like APT in Debian. Not every ***** thing is created by Canonical.
- inactive, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2you know what. i was thinking about the very same thing when i wrote that. Other offender Java updater, apple, HP....
- ZippyV, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2Powershell:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technol ... - socokoolaid, on 01/22/2009, -1/+3 Wine-ing about Windows only...
- HonoredMule, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2It would absolutely have to be open for all developers to use without restrictions, delays, or red tape. Otherwise it would be at best an incomplete solution shunned by some, and at worst an equivalent to Apple's app store.
If it fails to be just as good as Linux's package management, then it may very well do more to introduce Windows users to and familiarize them with Linux package management than actually benefit them on Windows. :P - Ev3nt372, on 01/23/2009, -0/+2oops yes i did.... wtf I misspelled it twice
http://filehippo.com/updatechecker/ - Daemastrius, on 01/22/2009, -1/+3I see this as Microsoft embracing the Steam platform and gathering information from their consumers to see how they can apply this to software distribution.
- ultrafez, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2We have a terminal. Press Ctrl-R and type cmd, then press enter. Voila.
- jamesmcm, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2Well it's just package management - it isn't exclusive to Ubuntu or even GNU/Linux.
I don't know how MS will do it though, because the software isn't Free and so there will be issues about giving advantages to competing software etc. -
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