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Windows Microsoft Technology

Microsoft Prepares To Kill the Windows 8 Store: No New Apps From November (arstechnica.com) 86

Posted by BeauHD from the funeral-planning dept.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Windows 8.1 dropped out of mainstream support earlier this year, entering the five-year extended support period in which it receives only security fixes. However, Microsoft is still accepting new software application submissions to the Windows 8 Store. Submissions for new Windows Phone 8 apps are also currently accepted. Today, Microsoft announced that this is soon coming to an end. After October 31, new applications will no longer be accepted for distribution through the store. Updates to existing applications will continue to be supported. However, there's now an end date for these, too: from July 1, 2023, Microsoft will cease to distribute any updates for Windows 8.1 Store applications. The deadline for Windows Phone 8 is sooner: updates for those apps will end on July 1, 2019.
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Microsoft Prepares To Kill the Windows 8 Store: No New Apps From November More

Microsoft Prepares To Kill the Windows 8 Store: No New Apps From November

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  • Ya know (Score:5, Funny)

    by Tablizer ( 95088 ) on Monday August 20, 2018 @05:54PM (#57162856) Journal

    I'm going to miss this as much as I miss my Zune.

    • Re:Ya know (Score:5, Insightful)

      by JMJimmy ( 2036122 ) on Monday August 20, 2018 @06:04PM (#57162928)

      People just roll with this shit without thinking about the millions in software licences that are forever lost. The store is so integrated into windows services now that the entire OS is likely to become unusable (well, more unusable).

      Store shutdowns like this should require DRM removed from anything sold at the very least.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward

        The store shutting down doesn't affect the OS is the least, what are you talking about?
        You can disable the Store and still use Windows 8.1 without a single issue, same in Win10. The Store isn't a "vital" component of Windows, nor is it tightly integrated into it. It's just another feature in the same vein as Media Player or Internet Explorer, if you don't want to use it, there's plenty of ways around it and the OS will never remind you that it exist.

        • Well, there's an end-date for update of applications too. That's a bad thing as it essentially means you upgrade to Windows 10 and redo all your apps, or downgrade to Windows 7 and go back to normal applications that are supported by their authors. Or don't keep the apps updated. Right now, I can continue running DOS apps if I want, though I have few of those; but I do run some applications that I got with XP.

          • There are other options too. Upgrading to a flavor of Linux, for example, it if you are ready to replace your hardware, OSX is also an option. As long as people keep seeing other versions of Windows as their only options for dealing with Microsoft's EOL decisions, what incentive does Microsoft have to keep their older ecosystems alive?

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by Merk42 ( 1906718 )

              Upgrading to a flavor of Linux, for example, it if you are ready to replace your hardware, OSX is also an option.

              What "flavor of Linux" is supported indefinitely?

      • Ignoring the rubbish that the OS will become unusable, I will point out that the 29 people who purchased an app from the Win 8 app store should have known better. And actually, they're okay too, as support is continuing until July 1, 2023.

        But I feel you, though. Fuck Microsoft in the neck, right?

        • Oh well if it's happening 5 years later it's so much better than if it's happening this year /sarcasm

          As to the OS becoming unusable - this is from personal experience with the OS utterly failing when the store decided it no longer wanted to function. Numerous attempts at clean installs were made and MS refused to support the issue because it was an OEM version. It's still not working to this day.

          • Re: (Score:1)

            by Anonymous Coward

            I had a laptop like that, fully functional mind you, the only thing not working was the store application itself.
            It would be fine, except this is Windows 8.0, Windows 8.0 doesn't receive new updates anymore - the important ones from Windows Update that patch the real OS - and the upgrade to Windows 8.1 is downloaded through the store.

            I updated someone else's laptop from Windows 8.0 to 8.1. Before that I uninstalled a McAfee expired since 867 days (thanks for nothing!) and made sure Windows Defender ran. It

      • Well, maybe it helps teach people not to buy (sorry, rent) their software in stores that can revoke the privilege of using software you paid for at a whim?

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        Windows 8 is already a second class citizen. A lot of new software and hardware doesn't support it. Take a look at AMD graphics cards, the 400 series was the last to support Windows 8. Now it's just 7 and 10.

        I have a couple of machines running Windows 8 and it's fine. Didn't want 10 because of the spyware, 7 doesn't support eDrive, Linux is still Linux... Fuck.

  • And nothing of value was lost... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by ELCouz ( 1338259 ) on Monday August 20, 2018 @06:03PM (#57162916)
    n/t
  • The two guys with 8.x on the Microsoft Store will be terribly disappointed. Then again, they are likely used to disappointment.

    Who did not downgrade to 7 or take the free upgrade to 10? Outside of rigidly controlled corporate machines that probably aren't buying much on the Microsoft Store.

    • Re:8 is great (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Faster than 7, less Googly than 10. No forced upgrades.

      • This is true. All you need to do is install "classic start" on 8 and you get something that is way better than Windows 7 or 10. Faster, less telemetry, less bugs and not that horrible black monstrosity at the bottom of your screen.

    • 2018 July

      Win10 - Win8 - Win7
      45.4% - 6.9% - 23.1%

      https://www.w3schools.com/brow... [w3schools.com]

    • I got the upgrade to windows 10, I just never installed it. 8.1 Pro is fine with me,and the $15 price was good. Smaller and faster than Windows 7, and yet it's not Windows 10 which is a plus.

    • One of my friends didn't upgrade to Windows 10 when it was first available. He's looking at doing it now, after other problems w/ his laptop.

      • One of my friends didn't upgrade to Windows 10 when it was first available. He's looking at doing it now, after other problems w/ his laptop.

        Too bad, the upgrade is no longer free.

  • Whats the point... (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    Of buying devices/software if they kill of its lifecycle. This makes me more inclined to move to Linux, and away from cloud based tech.

  • "And nothing of value was lost." -- The Critic

  • Umm (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    Can you please kill the Windows 10 one while you're at it?

  • Use proprietary stores, get locked out. Meanwhile Windows 98 still keeps going thanks to open source software like kernelex.
  • If people don't like the store on Windows, maybe the same is true of users of the Mac App store. The store worries my. I fear they are trying to force us to get our apps through their storefront like they do on iOS.

  • Great so all the software you bought for Windows 8 is now just gone. So I guess we know what will happen to all your software that you will buy for Windows 10, it's all gone in a couple of years.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Merk42 ( 1906718 )

      Great so all the software you bought for Windows 8 is now just gone.

      Yep, they come to your mom's basement and uninstall all the programs!

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by kbg ( 241421 )

        Yes kinda, when you want reinstall Windows 8 in your mom's basement the are all gone.

    • I bought all the DLC for Fallout 3 via Games for Windows Live (I didn't have a lot of options mind you) that service has since been discontinued and as a result I can't actually load the DLC anymore. Apparently the activation keys are installed as part of the software but unless I had the DLC already installed I couldn't get the keys back.

      So I ended up buying the "GOTY" edition just to get my whole game back, I don't particularly enjoy paying for the same game twice even at a significant discount but lesson

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by kbg ( 241421 )

        Yes we have to all realize that you are not really "buying" online software you are just renting it until the landlord decides to throw you out.

  • So after years of Microsoft trying to force their stupid store down people's throats, they're just going to shutter it and screw people out of their money?

    This is an important warning for people regarding how Microsoft operates. I hadn't planned on using any Microsoft store anyway (Microsoft has a long and cherished history of not supporting their non-core products), but this is just more evidence that Microsoft is no different than an abusive boy/girlfriend. They claim to have changed, but they really hav

  • I installed Windows LTSB to be rid of junk and nagware on my gaming rig. Popups to try Office 365 in the middle of VR can LITERALLY make you puke. But would prefer to have an official clean solution instead.

  • Though experts suggest both Windows 8 users may notice the effect within the coming months.

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