Microsoft"s Metro-style interface for its upcoming Windows 8 operating system has generated a lot of press already. But if you want to make an app that will work exclusively on the Metro version of Windows 8, there will only be one legal option available to sell your creation. Computerworld reports that during the BUILD Conference last week Microsoft confirmed that its download app store will be the only place that users will be able to purchase and download apps made for the touch screen user interface. Microsoft will also offer non-Metro based apps via the app store.
In addition, Microsoft will take 30 percent of the revenues from sales of the Metro apps from the Windows Store. This is the same revenue cut that Apple offers creators of programs made for its iOS app store. Ted Dworkin, who heads up Microsoft"s Windows Store development team, reportedly told developers at the BUILD Conference, "We will examine every application that will be submitted to us [and] we will run a virus check and a malware check on every application." That should please consumers who have been using Android-based devices. A number of malware programs have managed to sneak into the Android Market before Google discovered them and pulled them from the download market.
In addition to the revenue cut, Microsoft is reportedly telling potential Metro app creators that they must offer five licenses for each app. That will allow the user to install the same program on up to five different Windows 8 devices.