What's more surprising is that Apple even agreed to such a move, given the company's general lack of enthusiasm for supporting platforms other than its own.īut Microsoft's willingness to embrace other companies' products clearly has its limits. Microsoft wants people on Windows, and it's taking the steps necessary to keep them there. Microsoft doesn't want to see kids and teenagers using Chrome OS for their computing needs, and ceding the education market to Google in the K-18 segment is practically giving away the collegiate market later. I think Windows 10 S, which restricts users to apps that they can download from the Windows Store, has a valid role to play, particularly given how Google has turned Chromebooks into educational devices. I don't use the word "persuade" by accident. And Microsoft needs quite a few more of these wins if it ever wants to persuade people that a laptop running Windows 10 S is a viable replacement for standard Windows. In the same way that Apple Macs gained market share once they were capable of running Windows (even if a majority of Mac owners don't use it), being able to advertise iTunes support in the Windows Store is a way for Microsoft to talk up the compatibility options and strengthening ecosystem of Windows 10's store, even if most people don't use it, either. What's less clear is whether those eyebrows went up in joy or horror - Apple's iTunes isn't technically required if you want to use an iPhone any longer, but it still enjoys widespread mindshare, and can be used for local backups, software updates, and playlist management.īringing iTunes to the Windows Store is a significant feat (Opens in a new window) for Microsoft, even if the actual need for the software isn't what it once was. Microsoft's Terry Meyerson raised eyebrows on Thursday when he announced Apple would bring iTunes to the Windows Store.
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