1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,680 Thanks for watching Techquickie. Click the subscribe button, then enable notifications with the bell icon so you won't miss any future videos. 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:13,380 By now you probably expect to be able to run software and services on lots of different platforms. 3 00:00:14,180 --> 00:00:22,200 Facebook works on your smartphone and on your PC, and you can watch Netflix on your 4k TV, your computer, or your tablet. 4 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:23,880 But of course, 5 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:28,520 supporting all of these different devices means more work for software developers. 6 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:34,760 Sometimes to the point where they won't even bother rewriting a program that you like for a different operating system, 7 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,280 or if they do, it ends up being 8 00:00:37,860 --> 00:00:44,660 buggy and inferior as we discussed in our episode on Windows f- sorry, excuse me. I mean video game ports. 9 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,240 But fear not, the ever-merciful 10 00:00:47,940 --> 00:00:50,480 Microsoft has come to our rescue with its 11 00:00:51,340 --> 00:00:57,620 Universal Windows Platform, or UWP, an API that sits between the 12 00:00:58,000 --> 00:00:58,520 operating 13 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:06,700 system and the program to make it much easier for developers to code programs just once for a number of different devices. 14 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:12,780 Even if they aren't using traditional x86 processors from Intel or AMD. 15 00:01:13,380 --> 00:01:17,250 That is, as long as those devices are running a 16 00:01:17,870 --> 00:01:23,650 Microsoft operating system. So UWP will work on Windows 10, the Xbox One, and 17 00:01:24,170 --> 00:01:29,350 HoloLens, if that thing ever makes it to market. So UWP achieves this by 18 00:01:29,350 --> 00:01:36,270 having a number of core APIs that work behind the scenes to allow code to be understood and executed properly 19 00:01:36,810 --> 00:01:42,370 across these devices. And it's also got some features that are more visible to you, the consumer at home. 20 00:01:42,710 --> 00:01:45,950 Like an ability to scale visual elements properly, 21 00:01:46,250 --> 00:01:53,230 depending on whether you're using an app on a large screen with a keyboard and mouse, or on a much smaller device with touch. And 22 00:01:53,610 --> 00:01:58,730 if a developer wants to add additional features that are only available on a certain platform, 23 00:01:59,110 --> 00:02:00,210 like 24 00:02:00,210 --> 00:02:04,250 touchscreen toggles or keyboard and mouse support, he or she can use 25 00:02:04,590 --> 00:02:10,250 adaptive code that will only run if the UWP app is running on that type of device, or 26 00:02:10,530 --> 00:02:12,830 even restrict the app to one platform. 27 00:02:13,450 --> 00:02:18,970 You see this actually with certain games that are only intended to run on Xbox for licensing reasons, or 28 00:02:19,230 --> 00:02:24,370 apps that are locked to touchscreen devices because their UI design requires it. But 29 00:02:25,050 --> 00:02:28,010 while Microsoft's rationale is that making 30 00:02:28,010 --> 00:02:34,210 UWP apps only available through the Windows Store allows them to screen them for improved user security, 31 00:02:34,770 --> 00:02:38,290 this move has opened the program up to a number of criticisms. 32 00:02:38,630 --> 00:02:45,150 One huge one is that this UWP plus Windows Store system is a walled garden, 33 00:02:45,650 --> 00:02:51,490 meaning that this platform that Microsoft is actively encouraging developers to code for 34 00:02:52,530 --> 00:02:57,970 originally could not be updated or even loaded outside of the Microsoft Store. 35 00:02:58,370 --> 00:03:00,370 Making it a fairly closed ecosystem. 36 00:03:01,070 --> 00:03:10,030 This generated concern that Microsoft might be demanding too much control over what programs can and cannot be run on their devices and 37 00:03:10,190 --> 00:03:18,770 how they can be run. And although standard versions of Windows 10 obviously allow you to run compatible programs from any source, and 38 00:03:19,770 --> 00:03:26,470 Microsoft has updated Windows to allow loading of UWP apps directly from publishers without going through the Windows Store, 39 00:03:27,170 --> 00:03:33,750 Microsoft is still trying to find creative ways to encourage users to fulfill all of their software needs 40 00:03:34,090 --> 00:03:39,990 from the Windows Store. As with the stripped down Windows 10s, which you can learn more about here, and 41 00:03:40,430 --> 00:03:45,410 the more recent S mode for regular Windows that prevents outside 42 00:03:45,710 --> 00:03:52,930 executables from being installed. In fact, the CEO of Epic Games wasn't shy about sharing his disdain for UWP, 43 00:03:53,430 --> 00:03:56,330 despite the fact that his studio produced Gears of War 4. 44 00:03:56,330 --> 00:03:59,370 A major UWP title. 45 00:04:00,050 --> 00:04:07,750 Speaking of gaming though, although UWP does have the benefit of allowing you to play the same game on both PC and Xbox 46 00:04:08,390 --> 00:04:10,490 without needing to buy it twice in many cases, 47 00:04:11,490 --> 00:04:16,950 enthusiasts have noticed that UWP has a tendency to lock down games in some ways. 48 00:04:17,410 --> 00:04:25,990 Preventing them from being modded, working with multi GPU setups, or even simply not managing to play nicely with frame counting programs. 49 00:04:26,330 --> 00:04:28,230 And these are just a few examples. 50 00:04:28,230 --> 00:04:33,950 So combine all of this with the fact that UWP is strictly for Microsoft operating systems and 51 00:04:34,650 --> 00:04:40,570 won't improve the seamlessness of your experience if you don't use an Xbox or a Windows phone, 52 00:04:40,570 --> 00:04:45,090 it isn't too surprising that it hasn't thrilled either its users or 53 00:04:46,490 --> 00:04:48,490 developers. 54 00:04:48,490 --> 00:04:52,490 Developers! 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