Windows 8: the Windows Store in depth

In September of last year Microsoft presented which is undoubtedly one of its strong bets with Windows 8: Your own app store The so-called Windows Store was launched with the release of the Consumer Preview version of the new operating system. He did it in test mode, showing some free applications and giving a glimpse of what will be the main source from which to feed software to our teams. In these lines we will give a good account of how it is and how Windows Store works

The front page: a Windows 8-style store

The Microsoft team said their biggest concern in designing Windows Store was making it as easy for users to discover and access appsThis is something obvious to have a store in conditions, but also the biggest challenge to overcome to make it a success. For this reason, those from Redmond have tried to provide their cover with that alleged accent on the discovery and visibility of the software.

Following the style formerly known as Metro, now Modern UI, 'App tiles' fill the front page on a white background with no embellishment no type. As soon as we open the Windows Store, the first group of 'tiles' that appears to us consists of a series of applications highlighted by the store's editorial team. Knowing the importance of these first positions for both developers and users, Microsoft has promised that these will often vary so that some applications are not favored over others.

The rest of the cover is occupied by the main categories that are distributed to be able to navigate between them by means of horizontal scrolling We also have the option Zoom out to see more categories at a glance. Each category is grouped together showing a few featured apps, again chosen by the editorial team, buttons to access lists of the most downloaded or top rated apps, and the option to open the category page itself.

Categories or search results: the application lists

If the front page supports a low number of visible apps, the app lists more than make up for this. Both category pages and search results pages display these lists. Here the applications appear in small rectangles that, distributed in rows and columns, allow a large number of them to be displayed on the screen.

The scroll is kept horizontal allowing better use of the current screen diagonals. To help us navigate between all the applications on the lists, we can resort to the typical filters that we would expect to find in a store of this type: differentiating between subcategories, by price and by novelty, votes, etc.

Each application is displayed in a rectangle, like a table cell, with a solid background color that identify. Inside we find its icon, name, score in the form of stars, and price. The combination of these cells fits very well with the Modern UI style and allows us to show all the applications that respond to our interests in a clear and elegant way so that it doesn't take us long to find what we're looking for. Just click on the application you want to access its page in the Windows Store.

The application pages: straight to what matters

Once we choose the application we want, its page opens and the first thing that catches our eye are the screenshotsMicrosoft knows the importance of the visual to attract users and in the Store it has decided to give it a lot of importance by placing the images in a box of considerable size that stars in the main column. In the initial tab we also find a brief description and some of the application's features. Accessible from the top of the screen we have other tabs to consult: one with data and details of the application and another with the 'reviews' of other users and their scores.

But the important thing comes in the left column. Under the name of the application that crowns the page and with a box with its identifying background color we find its icon, its average score and the price at which it is available.Just below, and without further decorations that obstruct what interests us, we have the buttons to install (if it's free), buy or try the application. The compendium of information is finished off in the lower left corner of the box where we can consult the name of the developer and the recommended age.

What if the application uses the classic desktop format? At Microsoft they have thought about it and have created an application certification method so that they can appear in the Store like any other app designed following Modern UI. To differentiate them they have created the name 'Desktop Apps', which we can distinguish from the rest of the applications because they appear with a unique greyish tone for all of them. In addition, for these cases, the application page replaces the install or buy button with one that gives direct access to the developer's website so that we can purchase it directly from the developer .

Installing apps: Everything is faster in Windows 8

As we have seen, the Windows Store visually transmits a sensation of cleanliness and simplicity, and it is this same strategy that Redmond has tried to achieve when interacting with it to buy, download , install and update everything we want. Perhaps from this moment we begin to see that 'Next' button, those terms and conditions that nobody has read or those slow progress bars as a hindrance from the past.

To begin with, Microsoft wants us to forget about multiple clicks to get our programs running. It's all down to a simple tap on the Install button to have the app start downloading and automatically continue with the installation, so the step of discovering it is just using it is the bare minimum. In the same way it happens with payment applications, with the only exception that, for security, it asks us one more step to enter our password.But even this step can be disabled, allowing you to install any application in a single procedure.

So no going step by step with each installation that we do and no procedures that we skip without consulting. In addition, everything the download and installation process is done in the background so we don't have to be aware and we can dedicate our time to continue browsing the Store or continue with what we were doing. Of course whenever we want we can access a list of applications where we can see those that we are installing and their progress. In any case, a notification in the upper right corner will notify us when the application is ready and immediately we will be able to see the 'tile' of our new app appear at the bottom of the home screenso that we can relocate it wherever we want.

Save and update applications: following the path of mobile

And if installing is already a big change for the world of Windows on the desktop, updating is almost a revolution. The model that has prevailed in smartphones for years is transferred here with a similar update system to which is added the commitment to simplicity that Microsoft intends to implement your Windows Store. When an update is available for any of the installed applications, a notification will appear on the 'tile' of the Store so that we can access the update page.

On the updates page we will find a list of applications, in the same style that we have already seen, with all those that have an update selected by default. Again, the idea is that with a simple click we can perform the task. Just like installing an application all the process is done in the backgroundIn addition, the updates that appear will be previously downloaded when our equipment is idle, thus saving us the waiting time for the download.

In the case of those applications that we have purchased, the Windows Store will allow us to install them on up to five different devices with Windows 8, be they PCs, tablets, hybrids, or any type with which manufacturers surprise us. A list of the devices from which we are going to use each application will be associated with our user account, being able to remove and add another when we reach the top. Of course, all our applications will be synchronized between devices to always have them available no matter which one we use.

Security and parental control: the Microsoft guarantee

Microsoft has also thought of parents and has not forgotten to add the appropriate parental control measuresParents can block the Windows Store so that their children can only access those applications allowed according to the recommended age.

One of the advantages of this app store system is the guarantee that apps will be reviewed by Microsoft before appearing in the Windows Store The extra security that we gain with this can help us enjoy a fully satisfactory experience and avoid malicious software that in previous versions of the operating system has always been a burden for many users. Also, with Windows 8 on x86 platforms, those who want it won't be limited in their options to continue getting software in other ways

Windows is the most widespread operating system on the planet, so its new app store is a challenge for Microsoft. It won't be long before we know the result.The Windows Store will be available for good on October 26, with the arrival of Windows 8.

Special Windows 8 In Depth