Third-party Uber and YouTube PWA apps pulled from Microsoft Store

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by Radu Tyrsina 

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Easy come, easy go. Last week saw the release of new, unofficial YouTube and Uber apps in the Microsoft Store that had been developed in the new Progressive Web App (PWA) format. Both apps now appear to have been taken offline.

Because these apps were made by a third-party, it’s possible that Google/YouTube and Uber may have requested that they be removed but they were also mostly wrappers of the YouTube and Uber mobile websites as well so Microsoft simply could have removed them as some sort of quality control initiative. There doesn’t appear to be an official reason why.

PWA is a relatively new style of app that kind of work like mobile-optimized websites but have app functionality such as notifications and access to a device’s hardware. If designed well, a PWA can have just as much functionality as a traditional app.

Microsoft, Apple, and Google are all exploring PWA apps on their devices and numerous companies are already developing them due to the fact that one app will technically function on a variety of devices and in many operating systems. Making one PWA is cheaper than building multiple apps.

One example of a new PWA is the new Twitter app which is currently being tested with Windows Insiders.

Are you excited for more Progressive Web Apps? Let us know in the comments and then follow us on Twitter for more Windows 10 news.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina Shield

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.