Neil Hughes
With Microsoft's forthcoming education-focused Windows 10 S operating system only allowing applications from the Windows Store, Apple will release its popular iTunes application on the official digital storefront, ensuring students will still have access to the media and management tool.
Microsoft officially announced that iTunes is coming to the Windows Store as part of its Build developer event on Thursday. Though the importance of iTunes on Windows was lessened greatly when iPhones and iPads gained the ability to be activated without a computer, it still remains a key part of Apple's ecosystem not only for device management, but also for purchasing content and using services like Apple Music.
Microsoft said iTunes will be on the Windows Store before the end of this year.
Until now, iTunes has been available as a separate download, not a part of the Windows Store. Its entrance into Microsoft's application store will ensure that iTunes will work with Windows 10 S devices coming to market this year.
Microsoft's Windows 10 S is a stripped-down version of Windows that will only be able to run Windows Store titles, reducing security risks and overhead.
It is still unknown whether Apple's other Windows applications will be headed to the digital storefront. They include AirPort Utility, and QuickTime.
Beyond Apple, Microsoft also announced that streaming music service Spotify will be on the Windows Store. In addition, three popular Linux distributions —  Ubuntu, SUSE and Fedora —  will be available to download.
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18 Comments
This is interesting: Microsoft has said that "Windows Store apps that browse the web must use HTML and JavaScript engines provided by the Windows Platform." I wonder if that extends to the many HTML-based views in iTunes? Does that mean that Apple will have to create a version that is not WebKit-based?
I'll bet Microsoft relaxed their rules to get iTunes into the store.
Note to the AI editors: QuickTime for Windows is deprecated by Apple, they are no longer developing/updating/securing it on the Windows platform. I know because I had to deinstall it on all PCs at my office (due to no more security updates for it). But there is still iCloud for Windows in addition to the AirPort Utility you mentioned.