More old programs available in Windows 10 (finally!)

Windows 10 users will finally have access to more of their favourite programs in the Windows Store, after Microsoft announced that it has let companies adapt old software as desktop apps.

Microsoft previously let other companies create apps for its Store, but only if they were built using its Universal Windows Platform. This restriction prevented software developers from converting old programs built using Win32 into Windows 10 apps. But developers can now do this using Microsoft’s new Desktop App Converter (DAC).

In the long term, the DAC will make it easier for developers to update apps so they work the same across all devices running Windows 10, including phones, tablets and the Xbox gaming console.

Evernote is the biggest new arrival as an app (get it from www.snipca.com/21847, see screenshot). In its blog ( www. snipca.com/21846) Microsoft confirmed 10 other apps, some of which are specialised tools for programming. But there are several useful tools intended for more everyday PC use (see box below).

They are available only to users who have installed the Anniversary Update, which was released in early August.

Microsoft has already revived four of its old programs using DAC: ‘Windows Fax and Scan’; Wordpad; Character Map; and XPS Viewer (see ‘What’s all the Fuss About?’, Issue 477, for more information).

More in Store?

Microsoft will hope these new apps boost the popularity of the Windows Store, which has been heavily criticised for lacking quality programs.

Windows 8 was the first operating system to use desktop apps. Microsoft felt PC users would want to use apps on their PC as they do on phones and tablets, and so encouraged developers to

make them look the same, and work in a similar way.

But developers have largely shunned the Windows Store, prioritising apps for Android and IOS instead.

One of the advantages of desktop apps is that they can work better with Windows 10’s tools. For example, the Evernote app has been built specifically to work with Windows 10’s ‘live’ tiles and the ‘digital assistant’ Cortana.

Another advantage of apps over downloadable software is that the Windows Store keeps track of everything you install, making it easy for you to add them to a new computer.

We’ll test these new apps soon and give you our verdict.