Why it issues: Putting in Home windows Retailer apps from the net is usually a problem for some people. Microsoft acknowledges that and is rolling out a barely extra user-friendly strategy to set up Home windows Retailer apps. It may additionally make it simpler for builders to distribute their software program with out relying solely on the native Home windows Retailer.
Microsoft has unveiled a brand new means of putting in apps from the Home windows Retailer by way of the net. As a substitute of utilizing “deep hyperlinks,” the corporate will as an alternative use an “undocked” model of the Home windows Retailer to facilitate app installs. Mockingly, the brand new means is extra akin to putting in common executable recordsdata and may lower down on the effort of putting in Microsoft retailer apps.
Beforehand, clicking the “Set up” button on the internet model of the Home windows Retailer would immediate the consumer to open the native Home windows Retailer utility after which click on “Set up” once more. It appeared like an pointless step to easily set up an utility. The brand new executes a light-weight installer that runs with one click on.
This methodology successfully reduces the variety of “clicks” from three to 2, which does not sound all that important however can not less than keep a way of seamlessness because it would not have to change from the net to the native retailer. Nonetheless, the standalone executable would not include the complete app installer (therefore the light-weight description). As a substitute, it downloads the remaining throughout the set up course of.
Microsoft claims that having an undocked model of the Home windows Retailer nonetheless permits apps to remain up to date with the newest options and even helps parallel multi-installations. The executable may work even when customers uninstall the native retailer app from their pc.
Rudy Huyn, a principal architect at Microsoft, famous that the explanation for the second set up sequence was to stop malicious scripts from profiting from deep linking. Deep hyperlinks are forms of hyperlinks that ship a consumer on to an utility somewhat than a web site or retailer. Nonetheless, consumer complaints about putting in Home windows Retailer apps from the net prompted a five-month experiment to see if a standalone installer was extra environment friendly.
Following the experiment, Huyn stated the brand new set up methodology led to a mean 12-percent improve in installations and a 54-percent improve within the variety of apps launched. Microsoft will broaden the hassle to further merchandise and markets because of the optimistic suggestions.
Not all functions work with the brand new set up methodology in the meanwhile. Tom Warren at The Verge may obtain Snapchat and GroupMe utilizing the brand new course of, however the Discord app defaulted to the previous methodology.
The quickest strategy to set up Home windows Retailer apps remains to be going by means of the Retailer instantly, but it surely’s good that Microsoft is making an attempt to accommodate builders who additionally need to hyperlink from a web site.