With industry trends clearly moving towards digital distribution, Microsoft will also be making the move with an "App Store" in the upcoming Windows 8. Microsoft introduced the Windows 8 team in a blog post earlier today.
Amongst the different teams listed, Microsoft listed an "App Store" team, seemingly confirming previous evidence from an early Windows 8 screenshot which showed a "Store" button:
Windows 8 is a notable departure from Microsoft's latest desktop operating system, with many interface elements drawing from their Windows Phone 7 platform. The tile-based appearance offers an easy touch interface, while a more traditional desktop interface remains for legacy applications.
Apple has been a strong proponent of the App Store distribution model, moving in that direction faster than its competitors. With OS X Lion, Apple initially launched it as an exclusive App Store download, only offering a USB thumb drive option several weeks later.
Back in February we reported that Apple was making steps towards eliminating boxed software at their retail stores. In late July, Apple discontinued many of their boxed software items, leaving only the digital versions behind.
It's not clear yet if Microsoft will publicly brand their software store as an "App Store", as Apple has not taken kindly of the use of the term by other companies. Microsoft too had opposed Apple's "App Store" trademark application. In retrospect, their motives may have been due to this same intended feature in Windows 8. Microsoft already offers a store for apps called "Marketplace" in Windows Phone 7.
Apple may have canceled the super scratch resistant anti-reflective display coating that it planned to use for the iPhone 17 Pro models, according to a source with reliable information that spoke to MacRumors.
Last spring, Weibo leaker Instant Digital suggested Apple was working on a new anti-reflective display layer that was more scratch resistant than the Ceramic Shield. We haven't heard...
Apple has completed Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) for at least one iPhone 17 model, according to a paywalled preview of an upcoming DigiTimes report.
iPhone 17 Air mockup based on rumored design
The EVT stage involves Apple testing iPhone 17 prototypes to ensure the hardware works as expected. There are still DVT (Design Validation Test) and PVT (Production Validation Test) stages to...
Apple will likely manufacture its 20th anniversary iPhone models in China, despite broader efforts to shift production to India, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In 2027, Apple is planning a "major shake-up" for the iPhone lineup to mark two decades since the original model launched. Gurman's previous reporting indicates the company will introduce a foldable iPhone alongside a "bold"...
Wednesday April 30, 2025 3:59 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple is preparing to launch a dramatically thinner iPhone this September, and if recent leaks are anything to go by, the so-called iPhone 17 Air could boast one of the most radical design shifts in recent years.
iPhone 17 Air dummy model alongside iPhone 16 Pro (credit: AppleTrack)
At just 5.5mm thick (excluding a slightly raised camera bump), the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air is expected to become ...
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which launched on April 24, 2015. Yesterday, we recapped features rumored for the Apple Watch Series 11, but since 2015, the Apple Watch has also branched out into the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch SE, so we thought we'd take a look at what's next for those product lines, too.
2025 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple didn't update the...
Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.
Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025:
Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:36 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
All upcoming iPhone 17 models will come equipped with 12GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence, according to the Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station.
The claim from the Chinese leaker, who has sources within Apple's supply chain, comes a few days after industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all be equipped with 12GB of RAM.
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Seriously, we need to all stop caring about "oh, they just copied ____". or "oh, ____ had that feature first". It's nonsensical. I want products...from any company...that work. If that means they stand on the shoulders of who came before with features, so be it. If Windows wants an application store, why do I care if Apple had one first? If Apple is updating iOS to have more robust notifications, why do I care that Android had it first? Do they want a fricken prize?
Why not take it to the extreme? Why not criticize the iPad for using an LCD screen with "oh, Compaq had LCD screens on their laptops back in the 90's, this is nothing new, Apple is just copying others by using an LCD". Makes as much sense.
I believe it should be called Program Store for Windows. But i agree Apple doesn't deserve exclusive rights to that term.
It'll probably be Marketplace, like on WP7. And to all the people saying Microsoft is copying Apple, there were app stores before Apples one, they just weren't successful. Not a new concept. Apple copies just like everyone else.
Apple does not deserve exclusive rights to the term 'App Store'. This is almost as stupid as Cadbury wanting to trademark the colour purple, for chocolate wrappers.
Hummm.... can't seem to figure out why so many Windoze lovers and Android lovers feel compelled to come to an Apple enthusiast forum and rant and rave anti Apple junk???
I guess when you go from almost dead to one of the most influential, most innovative and most valuable company in the world in about 15 years you attract trolls and haters?
I just don't get why they feel so compelled to come here and try and convince us that Windows or Android is better? I don't hang out at the Android or Windoze forums and bash them?
This is a RUMOR site. For speculation and discussion.
Maybe your lost, can I direct you home to the APPLE FAN CLUB (http://www.fanpop.com/spots/apple) ?
Just because we are interested in Apple rumors it doesn't mean we should be frothing at the mouth with Apple rabid comments hating on other technology. Some of us are capable of having more than one company in our lives and aren't as "Dedicated" ....as you :rolleyes:
