Windows Universal apps will allow developers to create apps that work on both tablets and PCs as well as on Smartphones and share large parts of the code. Even for the Xbox One, Microsoft will consider the developers participation.
A new Windows run time environment will reduce development time for apps. Visual Studio 2013 will get for Universal Windows apps an update that is designed to simplify the transition from traditional apps on the universal format. In addition, there are new diagnostic tools that enable developers to figure out why an app has performance issues and how it can be easily resolved can be find out easily.
Microsoft demonstrated using a simple example application that converting an existing Windows 8 app into a universal Windows application has to go fast. The app then ran into a Windows Phone emulator. According to Microsoft, Visual Studio 2013 Update 2 is ready and released for the developer program.
This also changed the distribution channel: The apps must be purchased only once. Who buys a Universal App, can use it on all devices, whether console or Smartphone. A universal logo displays in the store that it is a versatile app. Universal Windows apps work on Windows Phone from version 8.1.
Whether the apps also require Windows 8.1 Update 1 is not yet known. In addition, Microsoft announced that the Windows Library for JavaScript (WinJS) is also a cross-platform tool to better cross-device web application development for the Internet Explorer 11 too.
