Why is there no natively built-in appstore for desktop applications in Microsoft Windows and Apples OSX?
Apples iTunes application store for iphone and ipod touch has demonstrated the value that a simple and integrated access/purchase/install/use/upgrade/uninstall life-cycle solution for applications can bring to a platform. Obviously Microsoft (Google has the Android Market, Nokia will launch Ovi Store) is now also introducing one for its own mobile platform.
The better user experience of the application life-cycle is becoming a competitive platform advantage
BUT: Neither on Windows (not mobile but the desktop OS) nor on Apple´s OSX there is a native built-in application store existing for those applications that run on those platforms.
That is not needed because you can buy and download applications everywhere on the Web?
This is precisely where the issue is: The user experience for nearly every application that you download, purchase, install, use, update and uninstall on Windows or OSX is left in a lot of aspects to the individual decisions of the various different software developers. Just look at all the different methods of paying and getting a license, serial number and/or online activation mechanism. Same for updates, some applications offer an individual check for updates others do not have even an option to uninstall easily.
To us it does not look like that this variety of different options to achieve the same goal (buy, install and use a new application) is adding any value to users.
Probably a good example of how an applications store on Windows could look like is Valve Steam platform. Steam is a platform for buying/installing/playing games and it runs on Windows. It covers the application (games) lifecycle in a similar way as Apple does with the iphone/itunes combo. But Steam is limited in scope and reach and because it is not a “natively build into the desktop platform” solution.
Microsoft would have to modify only slightly their announcements for the Windows Marketplace for Mobile like we have done below and we would immediately have to congratulate them for once delivering an innovation without the help of Apple:
“In the past, it has been challenging for developers to get their Windows Mobile applications into the hands of consumers. In addition to fragmentation in the distribution channels, there has been no definitive marketplace experience on the device desktop for users to browse and acquire applications and/or content. This has prevented developers from achieving broad reach with their application offering, and inhibited the user’s ability to leverage the power of their Windows phone. Fortunately, Windows Marketplace for Mobile addresses these challenges while also including a number of key benefits for developers. Examples of some of these key benefits include:
- An easily discovered on-device application that is installed on every Windows Mobile 6.5 device, and includes prominent placement on the Start menu.
- Leverage existing Microsoft developer tools, such as Visual Studio, for faster time to market.
As you can see, the opportunity for developers is quite clear. Windows Marketplace can help you grow your business profitably by connecting you directly with millions of Windows Mobile users that are looking for your applications. Whether you are a hobbyist developer or a large ISV, we’ll make it easy for you to bring your applications to market and manage them effectively throughout their life cycle.”
PS: Also desktop application users would very likely appreciate if Microsoft would help developers so that users would get applications with improved quality delivered:
“We want developers to focus on their core competency of developing innovative applications. At the same time we will work with developers to ensure that their applications run optimally on Windows phones. We will accomplish this by running a rigorous certification and testing process before applications go to market.”
Bookmark Buttons
März 14th, 2009 at 12:55 am and is filed under Good Ideas, Issues explained. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Subscribe via Feed Burner
Mai 16th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
[...] asked this simple question before: Why is iTunes only selling applications and games for iPod, iPhone and iPad and not selling [...]