Apple's iTunes will not make promised year end debut on Microsoft Store

Earlier this year, Apple and Microsoft announced plans to release iTunes on the Windows Store, now called Microsoft Store, by the end of 2017. That timeline has been pushed back as Apple works to deliver an optimal user experience.

Apple updated ZDNet on the matter on Friday, saying iTunes will not arrive on the Microsoft Store by the promised date.

"We have been working with Microsoft to deliver the full iTunes experience to our customers and we need a little more time to get it right," an Apple spokesperson said.

The company still plans to put iTunes on Microsoft's app storefront, but neither Apple nor Microsoft is offering a concrete timeline on release, the report said. Apple also failed to explain what, exactly, is barring iTunes from making the jump from a standalone Windows app to one distributed through the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft officially announced plans to bring iTunes to the Microsoft Store at its Build conference in May. By releasing iTunes through Microsoft's storefront, and not a standalone download, Apple ensures the software will work on Windows 10 S devices.

Aimed at the educational market and users who put a premium on security, Windows 10 S hardware runs a stripped down version of Windows that can only run software downloaded through the Microsoft Store. Similar to Apple's implementation of iPad in the classroom, the strategy reduces exposure to security risks and streamlines installs in mass device management scenarios like educational deployments.

Microsoft's Windows 10 S line is viewed as a competitor to Google's Chrome OS, which operates under similar restrictions.

9 Comments

lowededwookie 1174 comments · 16 Years

About 6 years ago

I suspect this is the most likely reason why HomePod isn’t going to be available this year.

To be on the Windows Store the app needs to be written for Metro and that will be where the issues lie. That being said once in Metro it should run a lot better than the current version of iTunes on Windows.

kkqd1337 468 comments · 12 Years

I can’t remember using iTunes since you stopped needing it for iOS updates.

Apple Music should be on a web app, and iTunes just isn’t needed

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

kkqd1337 said:

I can’t remember using iTunes since you stopped needing it for iOS updates.

Apple Music should be on a web app, and iTunes just isn’t needed

1) Not being able to buy iOS App Store apps via the iTunes Store portal means I'm buying fewer apps because of the rigamarole of having to saving the Reading List link in Safari on my Mac and then remember to open up Safari on my iPhone, go to to Reading List, and then click the link in order to have it load in the App Store app.

2) I'm all for Apple Music being a web app but to say that iTunes isn't needed is patently false. How will I watch TV shows, movies, and podcasts, or music I own on my Mac without it? Sure, I can load up iTunes, but that also means I need to open up Finder, locate the correct folders for the local content or networked content which is a lot harder than using Home Sharing, and QuickTime X doesn't show all the useful metadata and organization in Finder, and doesn't tell me the play count, keep the video on the last played timestamp, and other useful features. Then you have the Apple TV which also using Home Sharing to connect to a running copy of iTunes in my home.

Roxy Balboa 55 comments · 8 Years

Apple is doomed. What are they going to do now?

GeorgeBMac 11421 comments · 8 Years

kkqd1337 said:

I can’t remember using iTunes since you stopped needing it for iOS updates.

Apple Music should be on a web app, and iTunes just isn’t needed

I use it to play Apple Music from my PC... Also, for occasional complete backups of my iOS devices.