27 replies to this topic 1 votes

[Unrealistic]

I don't really understand the logic in this. What if I want my default browser to be Firefox or Chrome and still have IE 10 Metro?

If it is indeed the same .exe, then why does this behavior happen? I'm trying to get with this whole 'Metro' concept, but it's constantly pulling me out of it.

[Nazmus Shakib Khandaker]

Unrealistic, on 11 August 2012 - 00:58, said:

I don't really understand the logic in this. What if I want my default browser to be Firefox or Chrome and still have IE 10 Metro?

If it is indeed the same .exe, then why does this behavior happen? I'm trying to get with this whole 'Metro' concept, but it's constantly pulling me out of it.

Ask Microsoft why this is. But I am going to guess this is to prevent people from distributing metro apps outside of the store. All metro apps EXCEPT web browsers must go through the store. If the default browser rule didn't exist, people could have used this loophole as a way to distribute metro apps outside the app store.


In my opinion, forcing developers to the app store is the dimmest move MS made in Windows 8

[Unrealistic]

Nazmus Shakib Khandaker, on 11 August 2012 - 03:34, said:

Ask Microsoft why this is. But I am going to guess this is to prevent people from distributing metro apps outside of the store. All metro apps EXCEPT web browsers must go through the store. If the default browser rule didn't exist, people could have used this loophole as a way to distribute metro apps outside the app store.


In my opinion, forcing developers to the app store is the dimmest move MS made in Windows 8

If this is true then how will administrators deploy metro apps to managed users? I really hope you are slightly wrong because if not, the true ramifications of this decision are going to show themselves very soon.

[+Brando212]

Unrealistic, on 11 August 2012 - 05:17, said:

If this is true then how will administrators deploy metro apps to managed users? I really hope you are slightly wrong because if not, the true ramifications of this decision are going to show themselves very soon.

there is a specific procedure that enterprises will be able to do to side load their apps, this has already been explained by microsoft

[Nazmus Shakib Khandaker]

Unrealistic, on 11 August 2012 - 05:17, said:

If this is true then how will administrators deploy metro apps to managed users? I really hope you are slightly wrong because if not, the true ramifications of this decision are going to show themselves very soon.

Yes, enterprise have a way to deploy metro style line of business (LOB) apps. However, this requires, I believe, the enterprise versions of Windows to do the deployment. Also, it is not so simple that anyone can use this back door. There are strict rules and procedures that IT administrators to follow to deploy these apps to Windows 8 and RT devices. Bottom line: It's easy for IT to deploy apps in business. But for regular consumers, the only way to get apps is through the app store (which I am fully against). Web browsers are the only exception.

[Unrealistic]

Brando212, on 11 August 2012 - 05:21, said:

there is a specific procedure that enterprises will be able to do to side load their apps, this has already been explained by microsoft

Keyword being "their". You must be talking about this ( http://blogs.msdn.co...businesses.aspx ) and if so then my comment stands. You cannot distribute Metro apps. Apple allows you to freely distribute and update Mac Apple Store apps that are free and paid as long as you have the right amount of licenses. If Microsoft doesn't allow this then you basically cannot manage apps in any real way, much akin to the iOS App Store.

That's an instant deal breaker for my organization. Please correct me if I'm misreading the blog post.

[Nazmus Shakib Khandaker]

I agree. I am a die heart Windows 8 fan, as you may already know. However, I was always, since the developer preview, against the idea of only one source of app distribution. This prevents competion. How is Steam supposed to make their metro style app store? This is MS being stubborn, all in the name of "security". "Well, app store is secure, so that's the only way we will allow". But we should have a choice of installing apps from outside source because we are the users and shouldn't be told be be stuck under Microsoft's own app store.

Anyways, that was my big Windows 8 rant.

[Anthonyd]

Unrealistic, on 11 August 2012 - 00:58, said:

I don't really understand the logic in this. What if I want my default browser to be Firefox or Chrome and still have IE 10 Metro?

If it is indeed the same .exe, then why does this behavior happen? I'm trying to get with this whole 'Metro' concept, but it's constantly pulling me out of it.

You can have Metro IE and still using Firefox as your default browser, just check the options inside IE.

[FloatingFatMan]

Nazmus Shakib Khandaker, on 11 August 2012 - 05:37, said:

I agree. I am a die heart Windows 8 fan, as you may already know. However, I was always, since the developer preview, against the idea of only one source of app distribution. This prevents competion. How is Steam supposed to make their metro style app store? This is MS being stubborn, all in the name of "security". "Well, app store is secure, so that's the only way we will allow". But we should have a choice of installing apps from outside source because we are the users and shouldn't be told be be stuck under Microsoft's own app store.

Anyways, that was my big Windows 8 rant.

TBH, they're unlikely to get away with it for long. Not in the EU, at least.

[Mike Frett]

Nazmus Shakib Khandaker, on 11 August 2012 - 05:37, said:

This is MS being stubborn, all in the name of "security".

Nothing to do with security, Microsoft has always worked this way, it's their game. To stifle competition, to make software that blocks competition. People forget, Microsoft IS a Monopoly.

[Sekyal]

I understand the logic with having just one browser in the Metro interface. My issue with how Chrome "took over" was that as mentioned there was no warning. I did the update to Chrome on the desktop and suddenly it was there taking over as the Metro Browser.
It should be more clear when you first install a different Metro browser that it will not allow you to use Metro IE 10. Google is the first to include another Metro browser, they should have let users know with the update if using Windows 8 they would lose the Metro IE browser.
It is understandable when you install a desktop browser it will still keep other browsers available, just not default. Metro being different needed a "caution" message or something.
Sure you can change some default settings to use Metro IE with another browser, but it isn't obvious to the average user.

[Nazmus Shakib Khandaker]

When you loose the Metro IE and click IE from the start screen, it will give you a notice that IE is no longer the default browser. There is a big blue button to make it the default and once you do that, you get back your Metro IE.

[Matthew_Thepc]

Unrealistic, on 11 August 2012 - 05:33, said:

Keyword being "their". You must be talking about this ( http://blogs.msdn.co...businesses.aspx ) and if so then my comment stands. You cannot distribute Metro apps. Apple allows you to freely distribute and update Mac Apple Store apps that are free and paid as long as you have the right amount of licenses.

except that if users are using Gatekeeper the way it was meant to be used (the 'recommended settings') then you effectively can't distribute non-signed OSX apps outside of the Apple Store.

Quote

That's an instant deal breaker for my organization. Please correct me if I'm misreading the blog post.

the way I read it, if an IT admin wants to distribute Metro apps across his/her organization, they would:

• Develop the app
  
• Run the certification kit (which just checks to make sure it's technically able to run on the machines)
  
• Either purchase a certificate from a trusted CA, or use a certificate from the internal company CA (the former would mean you could essentially side-load it on all Win8 computers, while the latter would mean you could only side-load it on in-company computers with the internal company CA installed as a trusted root certificate on them)
  
• Enable (through group policy or registry setting) side-loading of apps on the target PCs
  
• distribute app packages