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.
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices.
Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of June 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 X through iPhone 14 Pro have a...
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve).
The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...
Alongside WWDC this week, Logitech announced notable new accessories for the iPad and Apple Vision Pro.
The Logitech Muse is a spatially-tracked stylus developed for use with the Apple Vision Pro. Introduced during the WWDC 2025 keynote address, Muse is intended to support the next generation of spatial computing workflows enabled by visionOS 26. The device incorporates six degrees of...
iPadOS 26 allows iPads to function much more like Macs, with a new app windowing system, a swipe-down menu bar at the top of the screen, and more. However, Apple has stopped short of allowing iPads to run macOS, and it has now explained why.
In an interview this week with Swiss tech journalist Rafael Zeier, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that iPadOS 26's new Mac-like ...
Thursday June 12, 2025 8:58 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup.
If you skipped the iPhone...
Apple's Terminal app is getting a visual refresh in macOS Tahoe, and it's the first notable design update since the command-line tool debuted.
The updated Terminal will support 24-bit color and Powerline fonts, according to Apple's State of the Platforms presentation at WWDC25. The app will also adopt the new Liquid Glass aesthetic with redesigned themes that align with macOS 26's broader...
Apple today provided developers with a revised version of the first iOS 26 beta for testing purposes. The update is only available for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, so if you're running iOS 26 on an iPhone 14 or earlier, you won't see the revised beta.
Registered developers can download the new beta software through the Settings app on each device.
The revised beta addresses an...
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to launch later this year, arriving two years after the previous model with a series of improvements.
While no noticeable design changes are expected for the third generation since the company tends to stick with the same Apple Watch design through three generations before changing it, there are a series of internal upgrades on the way.
By the time the ...
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:
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
