Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

http://www.zdnet.com/article/google-chrome-wont-be-allowed-on-windows-10-s/

by 317070 • 9 years ago

39 52 9 years ago

lowmagnet2• 9 years ago

TLDR: Another recent ZDnet article explains that it's a rule for desktop browsers not being allowed by the centennial packaging process. Chrome, others are win32, and would be "packaged" if it weren't for this rule.

youdontknowtho4• 9 years ago

so, there's no reason why chrome couldn't be included in the store.

They should also get Opera and Firefox onboard.

h_r2• 9 years ago

Actually if you read the article, it clearly states another criterion which is the same on iOS and ChromeOS. That is, a web browser must use the HTML renderer and JavaScript engine from the host OS.

sibbl• 9 years ago

Isn't it just as allowed as it is on iOS for example?

jarym• 9 years ago

Have I understood correctly: if you have Windows 10 S you won't be able to get Chrome (or any app) not approved by Microsoft?

If that's true, then anti-trust issues will once again loom. This time, MS will not be able to drive their competitor (Google) out of business like they did Netscape.

lowmagnet2• 9 years ago

They may have to relax centennial rules to allow 3rd party browsers if there's enough pressure.

The motivation really seems to be pushing UWP, which sandboxes apps, and de-emphasizing the 17-year-old win32 stack.

youdontknowtho4• 9 years ago

The anti-trust issues aren't really the same on many fronts.

The current administration won't prosecute them. They aren't the majority platform anymore. They are actually working more in Open Source than is easy to convey in one comment.

objclxt• 9 years ago

The current administration won't prosecute them.

Anti-trust isn't the exclusive domain of the US, Microsoft have a long and storied history with the European Commission.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Corp_v_Commission

Keyframe• 9 years ago

How is that different from iOS and App store?

tantalor3• 9 years ago

The App store has a lot of users.

r3bl2• 9 years ago

That's essentially the same thing that Google is doing on Chrome OS and Apple on iOS. There's absolutely no difference between it.

I highly doubt that Google will sue them for doing the same thing they're doing on the same market even (cheap, affordable laptops).

kazinator• 9 years ago

Except that nobody wants Internet Explorer on iOS or Chrome OS ... or any other OS. So it's moot.

ungzd2• 9 years ago

Now it's an industry practice (iOS, Chrome OS) so they're not villains anymore.

Users that install unapproved apps (via jailbreaks and vulnerabilities) are villains now.

majewsky3• 9 years ago

s/villains/customers/

Windows 10 S is "only" 50 bucks away from running all those unapproved apps.

rootlocus2• 9 years ago

Windows 10 S, announced last week, allows users to install only apps that are distributed through the Windows Store.

What if I want to compile and run my own executables? How does this restriction work?

iplaw• 9 years ago

Likely signing by Microsoft? Based on what I've read, you will not be able to run your own executables. This is a big issue for University students who are often required to install textbook-sourced software for labs, class participation, etc.

Perhaps if you install a Visual Studio app from the Windows Store and use that to generate an executable, it will somehow sign the executable?

Meta: At what point does the post rate limit get lifted? If I post a couple of comments while browsing the articles and then attempt to reply to a comment with a question, I have already somehow hit the rate limit and I am blocked from posting for a few hours. It seems like there should be an exception for replying to a question on my own comment.

youdontknowtho4• 9 years ago

Its a combination of signing and app packaging.

The technologies to look into are APPX, app container, and the Centennial Bridge. Basically, any application can be included in the store. They are using application virtualization from a prior product called APP-V to protect the system from applications tampering with important pieces. It's long over due. It also provides a unified way to update applications through the store.

The store is how they distribute the Ubuntu userland that they ship with WSL...it's very capable.

Up until now they only let people publish a very narrow selection of applications to the store. That strategy failed and now they are going to start pushing Win32 developers to take advantage of the new servicing and packaging system.

It really is very good. I really, really, hope that this doesn't get shot down by herp-a-derp style Microsoft hate.

rem7• 9 years ago

Maybe some sort of self signed cert that only that machine will be able to run your executable?

h_r2• 9 years ago

One option, from the article:

  If people would like to access apps from other stores and services, they can switch to Windows 10 Pro at any time.

ungzd2• 9 years ago

This is a big issue for University students who are often required to install textbook-sourced software for labs, class participation, etc.

They will be able to code in Visual Basic for Applications. Why teach ancient languages for 70s mainframes in universities? Universities should prepare people for modern offices. Even MIT dropped Lisp long time ago. Why teach multiplication of columns of numbers when you can teach automated Mail Merge in MS Word? Why solve problems from chess when you can make Colourful Agendas with modern charts?

belltaco• 9 years ago

This is a big issue for University students who are often required to install textbook-sourced software for labs, class participation, etc.

How is this "big issue" almost never brought up in the context of Chromebooks eating up the Education market?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14231353

dragonwriter4• 9 years ago

What if I want to compile and run my own executables?

Then you pay money to upgrade to the real Windows 10.

geocar• 9 years ago

You can use Windows 10. Like iOS and Chrome(ish), Windows 10 S looks like it's designed for non-developers.

loki22• 9 years ago

Is Firefox allowed on chromebooks? I think the comparison with Chromebook is more appropriate than iOS devices.

tyfon2• 9 years ago

You can set the chromebook in developer mode and have a full linux system with all the software you want.

Or you can install the android version of firefox.

So yes, it is allowed.

jsjohnst2• 9 years ago

It's a minor detail, but I feel there's a difference between "allowed" and "possible". Developer mode has a bunch of caveats that neuter many of the selling points of ChromeOS and I'd argue is more akin to a "jailbreak", just one that Google doesn't play cat and mouse trying to stop you from using.

vurpo• 9 years ago

Firefox for Android can be installed on Chromebooks. So yes, other browsers can be installed on Chromebooks.

JakeWesorick• 9 years ago

Chromebooks do not allow any other browser besides Chrome. I don't see how this is different.

matt4077• 9 years ago

Currently, there's no difference because about equal numbers are using Chromebooks and Windows 10 S. But that may change in the future.

tantalor3• 9 years ago

No, you can install any browsers from the Play Store on a Chromebook that supports installing Android apps.

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7021273?hl=en

Firefox runs on a Chromebook just fine: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.fi...

r3bl2• 9 years ago

Well, it's the same thing: you can install any browser from Microsoft's Store on Windows 10 S.

So, Google will either have to release Chrome targeted for Windows platform (same way Firefox did on Android) or not be available to Windows 10 S users.

dragonwriter4• 9 years ago

No, you can install any browsers from the Play Store on a Chromebook that supports installing Android apps.

Chromebooks that support Android apps also support the "unknown sources" setting that allows sideloading APKs, so you aren't restricted to the store.

dragonwriter4• 9 years ago

Chromebooks do not allow any other browser besides Chrome.

Current Chromebooks support Android apps, including sideloading APKs, so that's not true at all. Not only can you install browsers from the Play Store, you can install a browser packaged as an APK even if Google policies would not allow it in the store.

pritambaral2• 9 years ago

In addition to all the Android runtime related ways mentioned:

With the Developer Mode toggled (free), you get full access to the underlying Linux system. You can even run a completely separate Linux desktop on it.

blibble• 9 years ago

    10.2.1
    
    Apps that browse the web must use the appropriate HTML and JavaScript engines provided by the Windows Platform.

and Microsoft is now completely back its 1990s behaviour

felixsanz• 9 years ago

They will change their mind I guess...

This is not an IE-6 time again.

TYPE_FASTER• 9 years ago

The developer in the article could convert his app from Chromium to UWP and resubmit: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/porting/hwa-chr...

Google Chrome won't be allowed on Windows 10 S

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