First converted programs appear as apps in Windows Store
Microsoft revealed a program called Desktop Bridge this year that it designed to make the conversion of desktop programs to Windows Store apps easier.
Basically, what the app does is convert the Windows program to an UWP application. In best case, and if no add-on UWP features are required, that is all there is to it.
Companies and developers may add Universal Windows Platform features to the converted program after the initial conversion. Depending on a program's complexity, they may also need to spend additional time getting it ready before release.
Microsoft announced yesterday that the first batch of converted desktop programs is now available on Windows Store.
From a user's point of view, all that is required is that the Anniversary Update is installed. If that is the case, converted desktop programs can be installed on the machine.
The first converted apps that arrived in store include Evernote, Arduino IDE, doubleTwist, PhotoScape, MAGIX Movie Edit Pro, Virtual Robotics Kit, Relab, SQL Pro, Voya Media, Predicted Desire and korAccount. The company notes that these apps are already available in Windows Store, or will be over the course of the next couple of days.
Microsoft created a dedicated start page on its site for those applications that you can check out here. Evernote, the converted desktop version of the popular note taking service, is already available in store.
What is the advantage of converting desktop programs to UWP?
It needs to be noted that desktop programs remain available, and that UWP versions of those programs are added as another option to get those apps.
First benefit for companies and developers is that they may get more eyes on their programs. Since these programs become available in Windows Store, users who may have never stumbled upon a program may discover it.
This may be especially true for the beginning days, as Windows Store is quite limited in regards to apps. It would probably be a lot harder to gain good exposure on Google Play or iTunes.
The second benefit is that developers may tack Windows 10 specific features to their apps with little code. They may add live tiles, use notifications, or integrate Cortana.
Users may benefit as well. First, Windows Store is a controlled environment when it comes to what is being made available. While there is no 100% guarantee that you will never download a malicious app from the Store, chance of that happening is much smaller than on the World Wide Web.
Also, users who like Windows 10 features such as tiles or Cortana, may find the app version more attractive because of that if it supports those features.
One limitation currently is that you may run these converted apps only on PCs and not on phones or Xbox One.
Microsoft hopes however that companies and developers will migrate the app eventually so that it reaches all device types running Windows 10.
Concerns
One concern that users may have is that companies or developers may stop developing the desktop program once their converted application lands in Windows Store.
This would limit the availability of new versions to Windows 10 devices and shut out older versions of Windows from getting them.
Another concern is that Microsoft gets greater control over the software ecosystem if the Store becomes the primary source for application and game downloads.
Now You: What's your take on converted desktop programs in Windows Store?
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help