The Future Of Windows 8 Apps

One thing I've noticed that's lacking in Windows 8 is the lack of good full featured apps. You know what I mean, apps that are the equivalent to good desktop programs. There are actually a few, but most of the apps so far are cut down toy apps like you will find on Android or Ipad.

It doesn't have to be this way, and it can't remain this way. Actually, the toy apps are good to have, but good full featured apps will be what takes Windows 8 into the future. We all know, even though some of us hate the idea, that these Windows 8 apps will eventually replace the old desktop. But that can't happen until this new way is better than the old way. So far it's a good addition to the old way, but it's not better yet.

I think it will eventually get that way. Microsoft will continue to tweak Windows 8 until most of our complaints are addressed. One day we will wonder why we ever wanted to go back to the old desktop way. It will seem clunky to even think about it. We are already seeing a hint of this in leaks of the next version of Windows 8. I said hints.

But somebody has to be the first one. Windows 8 apps shouldn't be cut down versions of desktop programs. They should be better versions of them, or something entirely new. We should be able to compare them with the old way and be unwilling to go back.

OneNote is a good example of both problems. If you look at the OneNote app as a Windows 8 app version of the original OneNote program, you'll find it is lacking a few features. It's a good app, but it is still just a cut down version of the original OneNote.

But I don't look at it that way. I look at the OneNote app as more of a Notepad replacement. You can jot down notes with both, but you can also include links, pictures, and videos in OneNote. You also save your notes in the cloud so they are available on all of your devices. You can't do any of that with Notepad. I wonder if Microsoft sees this same comparison.

Until they see things the way I do, I will just have fun with the apps we have today. I will point out the best of them and ignore the worst. There are some great apps in the store, but they're still mostly toys. With a little bit of progress that will all change.