This new change will benefit everyone in the long run, because Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is the direction the company is headed to deliver apps to Windows users.
What’s Desktop Bridge?
Desktop Bridge is a process where developers can use the Desktop Bridge Converter tool to quickly convert their desktop apps into modern apps. In addition, this opens the doors to further enhance converted apps with new modern functionalities, such as Live Tiles, notifications, and Cortana integration. Today there are a lot of great desktop apps that have been in development for a long time. These apps already work well on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and even Windows 7, and companies may not have the resources to create a brand new Universal app. The converter allows developers to bring their applications to the Store with little or no code, reaching millions of new customers.
The new change will also help developers to gradually migrate their apps to one day become one-hundred percent modern apps.
What’s the benefit of Desktop Bridge for users?
There are a few reasons for you to get a little excited about Desktop Bridge. Perhaps one of the main reasons is that you’ll slowly begin to see desktop apps coming to the Windows Store. This means no more downloading apps from an untrusted site, which many times can be source of malware infecting devices. Then there is quality control, as apps published in the Store have to pass a submission process. During quality control, Microsoft checks the app code to make sure it doesn’t include any dangerous code and works properly. In addition, there is the simplified installation process. In the same way you install modern apps, converted apps from the Store require one click to install. Developers can also distribute them as APPX packages, which only require a double-click to install.
Another great benefit is that the Store can track the apps you install on your devices. If you lose your device, falls into the water, or you need to start with a fresh copy of Windows 10, the Store can quickly reinstall all of your apps. It also means no more problems having to remember product keys or having to spend hours setting up desktop apps.
Are there any desktop apps in the Store right now?
Yes, at the time of the writing, there are a few desktop apps that you can get from the Store. You can download apps like Evernote, Arduino IDE, doubleTwist, PhotoScape, MAGIX Movie Edit Pro, Virtual Robotics Kit, Relab, SQL Pro, Voya Media, Predicted Desire, and korAccount, and you can expect more apps in the coming months. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that the Windows Store will feature every desktop app ever created, including the most popular ones, such as Adobe Photoshop, Apple’s iTunes, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. It’ll take some time before developers get used to the idea of converting their apps or go Universal directly. What do you think about Desktop Bridge for traditional apps? Tell us in the comments below. All content on this site is provided with no warranties, express or implied. Use any information at your own risk. Always backup of your device and files before making any changes. Privacy policy info.
