Windows 10 Will Get Android & iOS App Support

[dgstorm]

It looks like the rumors were mostly true. At their Keynote today, Microsoft shared that Windows 10 will indeed offer developers the ability to bring their Android and iOS apps to Windows. Here's a quote with the details,

iOS and Android developers will be able to port their apps and games directly to Windows universal apps, and Microsoft is enabling this with two new software development kits. On the Android side, Microsoft is enabling developers to use Java and C++ code on Windows 10, and for iOS developers they’ll be able to take advantage of their existing Objective C code. "We want to enable developers to leverage their current code and current skills to start building those Windows applications in the Store, and to be able to extend those applications," explained Microsoft’s Terry Myerson during an interview with The Verge this morning.

The idea is simple, get apps on Windows 10 without the need for developers to rebuild them fully for Windows.

It's impressive that Microsoft has the courage and foresight to see the bigger picture by actually giving developers tools and support to port their Android and iOS apps to the Windows 10 platform. By becoming truly cross-platform agnostic, they encourage developers to spread out their work and help Microsoft build up their ecosystem indirectly. Microsoft is basically building bridges for developers to incentivize them to try out more platforms.

Let us know what you think of Microsoft's more open strategy.

 

[sharpuser]

Somebody is thinking. This time, it is not only the customers.

 

[GreyFox7]

It's a sorta good move, perhaps not quite far enough but it's a step. Carrots are good, red meat is better, and desert would complete the meal.

 

[jnjroach]

What the press isn't reporting as much, there are two other SDKs as well, that allows Win32 .NET code to be ported to Windows 10 Universal Apps and another one that does the same for Web Apps (or sites).

 

[Kif]

MS is certainly building roads. The question is if anyone will take them.