Still not supporting most of the most popular apps

Computer Store News: The US PCWorld online version recently published an article signed by Gregg Keizer. The article claims that Windows 8 still does not support most of the most popular applications so far. In a short period of time, it is difficult to compete with iOS and Android on tablets. The following is the full text of this article:
One analyst said that Microsoft's Windows 8 application ecosystem still needs significant improvements to compete with iOS and Android on tablets. However, all this seems to not happen in a short period of time. “Win8 is still unable to support most of the most popular apps so far. "Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at market research firm Moor Insights & Strategy, said, "This is a major issue for Windows 8. Moreover, as we all know, Windows 8 does not have a sufficient number of applications. & rdquo; Even after the developers have developed some necessary applications for Windows 8, this reputation will continue for a long time. “Even after Microsoft enriches its application library, consumers will remain stuck in the lack of Windows 8 applications for a long time. & rdquo; Moore Head said. Only half of the top apps get Windows support As early as Windows 8 was officially launched last October, Moorehead has been criticizing Microsoft's application strategy. Last week, an article analyzing the current status of the Windows Store (a store that sells Windows 8 and Windows RT applications) caught the attention of Moorehead. Nick Landry, product manager at Infragistics, Microsoft's most valuable expert and user interface development tool development company, lists a "must-have app" based on the top 100 most popular iOS apps. List, then he looked at the Google Play, Windows Store, and Windows Phone Store app stores separately, and determined how many of them were Android, Windows 8, or Windows Phone. Of the 100 must-have apps listed in Landry (from ABC News to Citibank to HBO GO and Zillow), the Windows Store has only 54 of them, about half. For Landry, who leads the Infragistics mobile development tools team, 54% is really impressive. “I don’t know what you think, but I think it’s a good one for a new platform that’s been built less than a year, with 100,000 apps (including 54 most popular apps). Results. ” Landry said. Moorehead did not agree. “First, I pay tribute to Landry for this analysis. This analysis is very incisive and basically correct. "Morheide said, "But he said that the Windows 8 platform is less than a year, I can't agree with this." In fact, it has been two years. ” He pointed out that Windows 8 was first released in September 2011, when Microsoft released a preview version of the operating system at its BUILD Developer Conference. At the then conference, Microsoft also clamored for Windows 8's aggressive user interface and application patterns that might challenge Android and iOS on tablets. “A lot of statistics will only highlight the dilemma that Windows 8 faces in terms of applications. "Morheide said, "Windows 8 still does not support the first social app Facebook, the first paid content app HBO GO and the first sports app Watch ESPN and many other popular apps. . I have complained about this for more than a year, but they still don't get support from Windows 8. ”

Microsoft's Commitment and Goals Although Facebook has not appeared on Windows 8 and Windows RT so far, Microsoft said in June that the social network will develop a Windows application. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced at the BUILD conference this year that the company will launch Facebook applications and Flipboard applications in the future, but he did not specify the time. Landry pointed out that there are many other applications that are also absent from the Windows Phone Store. He concluded that the lack of these applications in the Windows Store is based on the same reason: "Because some developers like to deliberately slow down Microsoft, or they just think the platform is not important. & rdquo; Moore Head said. Moorehead believes that Microsoft has no excuses. Now, if it wants to compete with the big guys Android and iOS, it has to have these most popular apps, only half of them won't work. “If consumers have a reliable alternative to Windows, they will minimize the risk. & rdquo; Moore Head said that potential users refused to use Windows 8 and RT due to application issues, "This is more than just a digital game." If HBO is your favorite channel, what do you do? If you open a bank without Windows support, what do you do? "Unless Microsoft can overcome the shortage of applications, it can't change people's impression: it's just a lesser ecosystem; it's impossible to change this reality: it can't provide the most popular application. “ Take a look at the development of Android. “Morheide said, “Although its application coverage has been improving over the past two years, it still has a reputation for lack of applications. ” Of the top 100 apps in Landry, there are 95 apps for Android. Continue to launch the update program So what should Microsoft do? Of course, it is perseverance, this is the company's commitment. “ Dealing with consumers, you only have one chance unless you are ready to reinvigorate. & rdquo; Moore Head said, "But, you need to reinvigorate." Windows 8.1 may be the weight of Microsoft's re-issuance. "Right now, he is not sure if Windows 8.1 will impress people enough to convince consumers that this is the new era of Microsoft and tablets. He is also not sure whether many of the currently lacking apps will appear in the Windows Store this year. So far, Microsoft's tablet strategy has not yielded a big return. However, it has recovered some lost ground. Market research firm IDC estimates that in the second quarter ended June 30, Microsoft and its OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) partners have sold approximately 2 million Windows tablets, an increase of 11% from the previous quarter. . Windows’ market share has also increased, from 3.7% in the first quarter to 4.5% in the second quarter. Therefore, Microsoft is moving in the right direction. However, unless Microsoft narrows the gap with its competitors' applications, it will be difficult to climb out of a digitally growing dungeon. “They will go through a very difficult period, a period of lingering stereotypes of inadequate applications. They should try to let consumers know when they will start adding apps. & rdquo; Moore Head said.