I've been to the Windows 8 developer conferences and worked on getting an app off the ground for launch... and I have to say the skitzo strategy of half tablet half desktop environment is so much of a headache I decided to abandon the platform. Designing a metro and desktop version of the app, then compiling it for ARM and Intel. On top of that having to rebuild it for a phone.
I wasn't willing to risk my teams precious development time on a store that is unproven and a product that looks confused and misguided. Several other developers agreed at the conference.
I really don't know what Microsoft was thinking blending the tablet/desktop and separating out the phone. It seems they think this will allow them to claim a larger install base for 'apps' as their phone has dismal sales performance. The evangelists kept repeating over and over that I'll have 500 million user audience as soon as it rolls out.
But the experience is a mess. Everyone in my office from seasoned techs to low level non-techy interns has made a terrible face at windows 8, constantly clicking around wondering what is going on.
For the record, I thought Vista was alright and Windows 7 was nice. But 8's bifurcated touch/desktop strategy is good at neither and heading in a worse and worse direction with each successive release.
I wasn't willing to risk my teams precious development time on a store that is unproven and a product that looks confused and misguided. Several other developers agreed at the conference.
I really don't know what Microsoft was thinking blending the tablet/desktop and separating out the phone. It seems they think this will allow them to claim a larger install base for 'apps' as their phone has dismal sales performance. The evangelists kept repeating over and over that I'll have 500 million user audience as soon as it rolls out.
But the experience is a mess. Everyone in my office from seasoned techs to low level non-techy interns has made a terrible face at windows 8, constantly clicking around wondering what is going on.
For the record, I thought Vista was alright and Windows 7 was nice. But 8's bifurcated touch/desktop strategy is good at neither and heading in a worse and worse direction with each successive release.