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Tag: microsoft store

  • Microsoft Announces Plans to Bring Progressive Web Apps to Windows 10

    Microsoft Announces Plans to Bring Progressive Web Apps to Windows 10

    It was over a year ago when Microsoft outlined its plans to bring Progressive Web Apps (PWA) to Windows 10. Now that plan is becoming a reality, with Microsoft giving users a preview of PWAs and breaking down its strategy to bring them to the Microsoft Store.

    Progressive Web Apps are web applications that are run and delivered similar to a regular app from the Microsoft Store. These apps are built on or optimized by web technologies like Cache API, Fetch networking, Push notifications, Service Worker, and Web App Manifest. This suite of tools will all be automatically enabled when EdgeHTML 17, the latest version of the Edge’s rendering engine, goes live sometime in the spring.

    Users can download PWAs from the Microsoft Store. It will run in its own sandboxed area as an AppX file, doing away with the need for an open browser. Since these apps do not require any platform-oriented code, developers can design apps that can run on various platforms.

    In a blog post, the Microsoft team revealed that they have been using the Bing Crawler to search out and review PWAs that they’re thinking of offering in the app store. There’s reportedly a shortlist of PWAs that have already been picked for initial testing.

    Microsoft is also welcoming developers to proactively send their Progressive Web Apps to them. But the applications would have to meet certain standards, though. The Redmond-based company has set several quality control measures for developers building PWAs. Some of these measures include sites mandated to be secure and should take into account automated testing for quality. Web App Manifests should have quality and Service Workers should be viewed as an enhancement. Lastly, the PWA has to comply with the policies of the Microsoft Store.

    Submitting their PWAs to the Microsoft Store gives developers control over how their app would appear, along with other benefits like access to user ratings and reviews and analytics on the number of installs, uninstalls, performance, crashes, and shares.

    [Featured image via Microsoft]

  • Microsoft’s Flagship Fifth Avenue Store to Open This Fall

    Though Microsoft opened its first retail store in 2009, the company has never had a true flagship location. Last year, the company announced that it had singed a lease at 677 Fifth Avenue in New York City.

    That’s about five blocks away from Apple’s flagship NYC store, by the way.

    Now, that store will apparently open in the fall.

    The news came in a tweet from Microsoft SharePoint MVP Gokan Ozcifci:

    ” As our first flagship store, it will serve as the centerpiece of our Microsoft Stores experience. This is a goal we’ve had since day one – we were only waiting for the right location. And now we have it. Our Fifth Avenue location will be much more than just a Microsoft Store. In addition to retail, there will be experiential space for Microsoft as a company to further engage with our customers and partners in new and innovative ways. This is an important milestone for Microsoft overall, our Stores team and millions of our current customers, as well as the millions to come. We could not be more excited to join one of the most visited streets in America,” said Microsoft when it first announced the location.

    As ZDNet points out, “the date makes sense with all the rumors swirling about Microsoft’s plans to launch some new first-party hardware this fall — as well as to help its PC maker partners launch new Windows 10 devices ahead of holiday 2015.”

    Image via Microsoft

  • Xbox One ‘Forza’ Demos Available in Microsoft Stores

    With the launch of Sony’s PlayStation 4 now one week away, it seems that Microsoft is taking the opportunity to take away some of the spotlight with a few late announcements for the Xbox One. Already today Microsoft announced the “first wave” of video streaming apps coming to the Xbox One and released a long, comprehensive video showcasing the console’s user interface.

    Now, Microsoft has announced that gamers in major U.S. and Canadian cities can get their hands on an Xbox One demo starting today. All Microsoft Stores across the U.S. and Canada now have an Xbox One demo kiosk featuring Forza Motorsport 5. There are currently more than 70 Microsoft Stores in the U.S.

    Microsoft stated that the demos will be available for two weeks during store hours from today until the Xbox One’s November 22 release date. Presumably, the demos would also be available after the launch of the console.

    Sony announced back in October that PlayStation 4 demo kiosks will soon be showing up in retail stores. GameStop, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart stores should soon see PS4 demos across North America.

    In addition to the demos, Microsoft is running a Forza-branded sweepstakes from its stores. Anyone who tries out the Xbox One in a Microsoft Store will be entered into the contest. The grand prize is a Forza-branded living room gaming set-up, including a playseat, sound bar, racing wheel, and $2,000 toward the purchase of a TV.

    (Image courtesy Microsoft)

  • The Windows Store Is Coming To A Best Buy Near You

    Do you like shopping at a store while at a store? Microsoft thinks you might with its latest announcement of a Windows Store coming to Best Buy.

    Microsoft announced today that a Windows Store experience will be coming to 500 Best Buy locations across the U.S. and more than 100 Best Buy and Future Shops in Canada. In short, the Best Buy Windows Store will be “the premier destination for consumers to see, try, compare and purchase of range of products and accessories, including Windows tablets and PCs, Windows Phones, Microsoft Office, Xbox and more.”

    Microsoft even made a video for the announcement to show just how excited they are about this new partnership:

    Now, the Windows Store at Best Buy doesn’t mean that Microsoft is abandoning its own retail efforts. Microsoft’s Chris Capossela says that Microsoft Stores remain important to the company, but the Windows Store experience at Best Buy is all about hooking consumers up with the best Windows devices at the number one PC retailer in the country.

    By far, however, the most interesting thing about these new Windows Stores is just how big they are. Capossela says that the Windows Stores will take up to 2,200 square feet in stores so it will almost feel like you’re in an entirely different store. Best Buy is also hiring an additional 1,200 employees around the country to focus exclusively on selling Windows products.

    Microsoft’s partnership with Best Buy doesn’t end at the Windows Store either. Capossela says that “we will have a great Windows tablet inside the Best Buy tablet department, Windows Phones in their Phone Department, and lots of space for Xbox in their gaming and Home Theater Departments.” The online version of the Windows Store will also receive a major upgrade to mirror the resources being put into the retail experience.

    Of course, all of this begs the question – will it work? Windows PCs and tablets aren’t exactly in vogue at the moment. I hardly think that increasing their presence at an increasingly irrelevant retail outlet is going to do them any favors either.

    At this point, Microsoft needs to double down on its Windows 8.1 strategy. It’s pointless to sell Windows 8 devices to consumers wanting a more traditional Windows computing experience right now. WIth the release of Windows 8.1 later this year, Microsoft will be able to advertise the return of the Start Button and other requested features. In short, the Best Buy Windows Store strategy would be best for a soft relaunch of Windows 8.

    Regardless, the Windows Store at Best Buy will be coming to a retail store near you starting this July. The rollout will finish at some point in September. If you want a preview of the new Windows Store experience, check out the Best Buy Web site.

  • Xbox on Windows 8 Won’t Sell ‘Mature’ Titles

    Xbox on Windows 8 Won’t Sell ‘Mature’ Titles

    [UPDATE] As pointed out in the comments, the wording of the requirements implies that MATURE titles will be allowed in the store, though PEGI 18+ titles will not.

    [ORIGINAL]
    Microsoft has gotten tons of criticism for Windows 8. Much of the criticism has focused on the operating system’s tile-based user interface, but a significant amount has also focused on Microsoft’s inclusion of a game store built-in to the OS.

    Valve’s Gabe Newell criticized the game store because it could limit the access indie game developers have to the PC platform and make games in the game store seem more “official” than others. Valve’s own game store, Steam, recently launched a voting mechanism that allows users to choose what indie games are sold in the Steam Store.

    Today gamers have another reason to criticize the Windows 8 game store, which is rumored to be Xbox-branded. Rock, Paper, Shotgun this week pointed out that the Windows 8 app certification requirements require Windows Store apps to be under a MATURE or PEGI 18+ rating. From the requirements document:

    Apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB MATURE, or that contain content that would warrant such a rating, are not allowed. Metadata and other content you submit to accompany your app may contain only content that would merit a rating of PEGI 12, ESRB EVERYONE, or Windows Store 12+, or lower.

    It seems Steam might not have much to fear from the closed-off Microsoft Store. By shunning blockbuster MATURE-rated titles such as Assassin’s Creed III, Skyrim, and Resident Evil 6, and by making certification a barrier to entry, Microsoft is effectively leaving out a good portion of the PC gaming market.

    By going after the casual market, Microsoft has taken steps to ensure that their video game store on Windows 8 will be quite irrelevant to many PC gamers. That could be the plan, though. It would certainly leave the PC gaming market more open, comforting many developers that have their own platforms.

  • Microsoft Offering Windows 8 Upgrade for $15

    Microsoft is running a promotion surrounding the launch of its Windows 8 operating system, which will run from June 2nd through January 31st, 2013, according to The Verge. Customers of Microsoft Store who buy a Windows 7 machine after June 2nd can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99. The promotion is allegedly billed as the “Windows Step-Up Offer,” and is good through January 31st.

    Whereas Windows 7 has Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate editions, there are only two Windows 8 editions – Windows 8, and Windows 8 Pro. Interestingly, it’s been recently reported that DVD playback in Windows 8 will be a paid upgrade. Makes sense, as everything is shifting to the streaming format.

    Below is a clip describing the Windows 8 Consumer Preview:

    Those who purchase Windows 8 during the promotion will be able to attend workshops on the operating system, and will get a $20 Microsoft Store gift card in exchange for showing up. Essentially, Microsoft would be giving WIndows 8 away, along with $5.