Microsoft Admits an iTunes 'Metro' App for Windows 8 Not Coming 'Any Time Soon'

itunes_11_iconIn an interview with CNN Money, Microsoft chief financial officer Tami Reller said that Microsoft has talked to Apple about creating an iTunes app for Windows 8, but that users shouldn't expect it to arrive anytime soon.

"You shouldn't expect an iTunes app on Windows 8 any time soon," said Tami Reller, chief financial officer of Microsoft's Windows division. "ITunes is in high demand. The welcome mat has been laid out. It's not for lack of trying."

Currently, iTunes 11 is available for Windows 8's "Desktop" mode, which is a traditional PC interface within Windows 8 that works well with a keyboard and mouse. Microsoft, however, wants Apple to create an iTunes app for what was once known as its "Metro" interface, which features flat, colorful blocks optimized for touchscreen devices.

windows_8_metro_start

Windows 8 "Metro" start screen

CNN Money notes that Windows tablet users are likely the ones who are requesting an iTunes app for the operating system, as well as users looking through Microsoft's app store within Windows 8. However, the report also note that Apple is unlikely to fulfill Microsoft's request because "there's no reason for Apple to help make the Surface a better product."

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
Apple Maps 2024

Apple Maps Might Start Showing Ads

Sunday February 16, 2025 7:22 am PST by
Apple is "exploring" the idea of showing search ads in the Apple Maps app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Back in 2022, Gurman said software engineering was "already underway" to display ads in the Apple Maps app, but Apple did not move forward with the idea at the time. Today, he said Apple is "giving this notion more thought" again. This time around, he said Apple has yet to...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
m2 pro mac mini

Apple is Now Selling a Refurbished Mac Mini for Just $319 (!)

Saturday February 15, 2025 9:58 am PST by
A few days ago, we reported that Apple's refurbished Mac mini pricing had a problem, and it appears that Apple has taken note. Apple was offering a refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $559, which was $50 more than a refurbished Mac mini with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. All other key specifications were equal. That's no longer...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech. iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
Tim Cook Apple Park

10+ Announcements Apple Could Have Rolled Into a February Event

Saturday February 15, 2025 8:00 am PST by
Apple appears to have enough upcoming product announcements to justify a full event this month, yet all signs indicate these reveals will be handled through a series of press releases instead. There are a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about specific announcements in the coming weeks, so here's everything that Apple could have feasibly included in a hypothetical February event: ...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

Apple's Next iPhone SE Launching on Wednesday - Here's What We Know

Friday February 14, 2025 4:04 pm PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an Apple announcement that's coming on Wednesday, February 19, and it's looking like that mystery announcement will be the next-generation iPhone SE. We've been hearing about the iPhone SE 4 for quite some time now, and we essentially know everything to expect. If you want a sneak peek at what's coming, read on. Naming Apple first introduced the iPhone SE in...

Top Rated Comments

guzhogi Avatar
154 months ago
People actually use Windows 8?
Score: 51 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
154 months ago
What happened to handing a glass of water to someone in hell?
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FSMBP Avatar
154 months ago
People actually use Windows 8?

Yeah just like people actually used Lion.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
camnchar Avatar
154 months ago
Microsoft pleading with Apple to make software for their operating system? My, how the worm has turned.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roadbloc Avatar
154 months ago
People actually use Windows 8?

I use it. Best Windows OS I have ever used. People just need to get over the change and actually learn how it works. It is then, you realise it is probably one of the best OSs around.

That doesn't mean it doesn't need improvements though. Some things are questionable but they should be cleaned up in Windows 8.1.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrNomNoms Avatar
154 months ago
Le Sigh - iTunes already works on Windows 8. The issue that is being asked is about a native (see ModernUI) iTunes for Windows 8 - I don't see it happening because Apple wants to maintain a consistent look and feel across Windows and Mac OS X as well as maintaining their own unique Apple branding when on Windows rather than it being subsumed into Windows 8 to the point that it loses its identity.

If the bigger point was Microsoft wanting iTunes on Windows RT (and thus needs to be using WinRT) then maybe Microsoft should provide the ability for application developers to write desktop applications using WinRT/XAML and then deploy it on Windows RT to be run in a desktop environment. Microsoft needs to realise that ModernUI isn't the be all or end all thus not always relevant to every software title.

Btw, anyone see the local IT rags raving about how "Apple is behind Microsoft" because Apple wasn't stupid enough to do the suicidal move of merging their tablet and desktop operating system together like what Microsoft has done with Windows 8? I really have to ask how the heck some of these so-called journalists get their job because I almost vomited in my mouth hearing someone defend such a horrible decision by Microsoft to merge two different devices operating systems into one then explain away claiming that a touch screen is useful of a desktop.

btw, if I was Apple I'd say, "sure, we'll do an iTunes in the ModernUI and in return we want you to do give us a feature complete version of Office that is feature for feature equal to the Windows version and not the half ass half baked crap being sold today".
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)