Desktop Apps Shouldn't Belong in the Windows Store

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Daily, I spend a LOT of time in the Windows Store, believe me when I say this. Searching and finding worthy Windows 8 applications might seem an easy job to do, but trust me when I say that it is not like that. And while doing this, I encounter on many new happenings that I share with the community. If you don’t see all the apps, then follow the advices in my recent article in order to overcome that.

What are Desktop apps doing in the Windows Store?

For me, the Windows Store was meant to be a place for applications that can be installed only from the Windows Store, both for Windows 8 and Windows RT. So, imagine my surprise when I found quite enough applications that were in the Windows Store only to guide me to a download link in the browser, informing me that it is an application that will work installed only on the destktop user interface.

Then, I found that Microsoft actually helped developers list their desktop apps in the Windows Store. What for? Just to gain some free publicity for their programs or Microsoft is simply interested in increasing the number of their Windows Store apps? Maybe I’m getting this wrong, but why should desktop apps be part of a Marketplace? If Microsoft wants to mimick Apple and Google in their Windows 8 strategy, why are they putting all these apps in the same place?

Imagine the confusion of users one year from now, when they will find in the Windows Store a lot of desktop apps and a lot of Modern UI-optimized apps. I see the good aspect in this, don’t you worry. Microsoft believes that by putting everything together, they’ll help the user discover apps and programs much easier. But I’m just not 100% sure it’s being done right. I don’t want to browse the Windows Store only to find a link to the official app. Or, do I? Opinions are divided here.

More about the topics: windows store