During last month's Windows Build developer conference, Microsoft introduced a tool that Microsoft plans to release allowing Apple developers to directly convert their Objective C code built for iOS devices to work on Windows 10 devices with "very few" modifications. The tool is a part of the Windows 10 Universal Platform. Windows 10 Insider Preview introduced an evolution of the existing scaling model. Microsoft notes that "In addition to scaling vector content, there is a unified set of scale factors that provides a consistent size for UI elements across a variety of screen sizes and display resolutions. The scale factors are also compatible with the scale factors of other operating systems such as iOS and Android. This makes it easier to share assets between these platforms." Today it's being reported that not many Apple developers are taking Microsoft up on their offer to convert their apps to Windows 10.
Reuters reports today that "Microsoft's plan to make its new version of Windows a mobile hit by letting it accept tweaked Apple and Android apps has met an obstacle: some of the software developers the company needs to woo just aren't interested.
Windows phones accounted for just 3 percent of global smartphone sales last year, compared with about 81 percent for devices with Google's Android system and 15 percent for Apple and its iOS system, according to research firm IDC. One reason is that Windows doesn't run as many or as attractive apps as its rivals.
To boost sales of its phones and new operating system, Microsoft said last month that it would provide tools to software developers to make it easier to design apps for Windows based on apps that run on Android or Apple. But because so few people use a Windows phone, most developers remain focused on the more popular systems and don't see a need to develop apps for Windows. They also said they doubt how easy the new tools will be to use."
Reuters adds that "Interviews with more than a dozen developers found just one planning to move an app from Apple or Android to Microsoft. That's King.com, which ported its popular Candy Crush Saga game from iOS to Windows 10 "with very few code modifications" and will be installed automatically with upgrades to Windows 10, according to Microsoft. King.com confirmed the move but declined to comment further." For more on this story, see the full Reuters report here.
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