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Windows 10 and Universal Concept of Windows Apps

Windows Apps are very popular in today’s world of apps, but with Microsoft bringing in the concept of universal apps, the entire user experience is going to change for the better. Read more about Universal Apps here.

Normally, when you write code for an app, you can make it work on the specific device that the code has been written for. Many organizations and developers want to change that, and have been looking forward to a scenario, which involves writing the code just once and making it run on various devices.

So, for the past many years, Microsoft has been dreaming about building apps that can be written once, and which will run on a wide variety of devices. Microsoft brought forward this concept since the launch of Windows 8.1, but with the introduction of Windows 10, the concept of Universal Apps is finally becoming a reality.

The Concept of Universal Apps

Microsoft Operating System Heads Terry Myerson as well as Joe Belfiore, at a recent Windows 10 event, brought forward several instances wherein they explained how Universal Apps would fit into the Windows Ecosystem. In what could be termed as the breaking of a technological frontier, Windows 10 apps will eventually be ported to Xbox One. Additionally, Belfiore also demonstrated how Microsoft apps seamlessly scale from phones to PCs.

Currently, if you would have examined, the mobile infrastructure is weaker than its desktop counterpart. However, it has become essential for a range of developers to make use of this new Windows development. Hence, it has become easier for you to convince someone to build an app for your platform especially when you know that it can be deployed across a wide spectrum of devices, given that Universal Apps is now an evolving reality with Windows 10.

Now that it is time for Windows 10, Microsoft has started presenting the Universal App platform (UAP) in the form of a consistent API surface across every Windows device. These devices begin from the humble desktop PC as well as Windows Phones to the Xbox consoles and iOT. Also included is the HoloLens Virtual Reality Environment. Hence, it is now possible for developers to compile an app, so that the resultant app compilation will run on any Windows 10 device, or even select which platform the compilation will support.

The Future of Windows Apps Development

Hence, according to Windows, Universal Apps are now the future of Windows Development. The Universal Apps concept was first unveiled in April 2014. The initial iteration of the Universal App allows developers to share code between Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1. At the heart of it, the UAP model hinges on the fact that it is built on the common core developed for its main operating systems by Microsoft. This model is more flexible that the original code-sharing technology, which is also known as Portable Class Libraries. Hence, Windows 10 Universal Apps are going to be the preferred way of building Windows Apps, which include iOT, phones, tablets, desktops, games consoles, wall displays, and a multitude of other things.

The Universal App Model

At the heart of it, the Universal App Model is very simple to understand. As part of this model, you just need to write your core code once, and then give it an appropriate user interface. However, the stumbling block is that though the user might want to use the same app functionality on a PC as on a phone or a tablet, they would want to use the app in a different way on different devices. Therefore, the interaction model will differ, and consequently, the user experience will also differ. Hence, as it prima-facea stands out, the “Write Once, Run Everywhere” model cannot work.

The Issues

However, as we can understand, the Universal model takes on a new meaning when it comes to cross-platform support. Nevertheless, there aren’t many Universal Apps in the various Windows Stores as of now. The technology is relatively new and many developers are still in the mode of supporting older OS releases or have yet to upgrade to the latest Visual Studio Versions.

As part of a better future for Universal Apps, it is essential to share controls between user experiences. It seems that developers do not have all the controls, as it seems that more will be coming in Windows 10. Since not all controls look similar across the platform such as the ‘calendar control’, and more fine tuning needs to be done. It still remains to be understood how Universal Apps will evolve in Windows 10, since the goal would be to do better automatic as well as adaptive layout.

Additionally, getting the UX right for different form factors is yet another problem. The phone is used differently from a phablet and there are still more differences between various tablet screens, aspect ratios, and especially in the case of hybrid two-in-one devices.

Actually, getting apps work across multiple form factors includes getting inputs right. This includes touch, mouse and keyboard, speech, and even pen. With Windows 8.1, there are options for dual support inputs, but there is no way to product how a user will interact with a Universal App and it also depends upon what type of computer they might be using. Hence, apps will need to handle input modes of all possible types. Furthermore, support will need to be built in the controls that will be shipped by Microsoft and its partners.

However as it goes, Windows 10 is a huge and brilliant opportunity for Universal Apps. Hence, Microsoft will be expanding the WinRT APIs in the next release and also open up more Win 32 APIs to Universal Apps. Also, it will be adding controls that well with the desktop as well as touch.

Conclusion

From a developer point of view, Windows 10 continues the work that they shared at Build in April 2014. Windows is in the centre of building Universal Windows apps that have the ability to leverage the same code to deliver ‘appropriately tailored experiences’ to devices of multiple types.

Nevertheless, there is more work left before Windows can share the details about the Windows 10 developer experience, but then, Windows 10 is designed to reach more customers as well as device types that consist of a common user experience (UX) that includes a multitude of ways that people around the world can discover and engage with the apps.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jennifer Brown .