Microsoft Retires Zune, Puts 'Project Astoria' On Hold

Microsoft finally killed the lights on its rather problematic product, Zune. As previously reported, Microsoft has shut down Zune’s services, exactly on Nov. 15. The company has now integrated Zune’s services into the new Groove Music service. Existing subscribers of Zune will find their accounts migrated into the Groove Music platform.

PC World pointed out that Microsoft already ceased production for new devices way back in 2008 yet, meaning, Zune was already headed for the “recycling bin” a whole six years before. And indeed, Microsoft has recycled the product line, through Groove Music. Will it fare better than Zune? Only time will tell.

Read the previous report on the Zune shutdown: https://www.droidreport.com/time-tear-down-goodbye-amazon-fire-phone-microsoft-zune-music-11170

In other Microsoft news, the company inexplicably put “Project Astoria” on hold. Project Astoria is Microsoft’s Android compatibility layer, also known as the “Windows Bridge for Android.” This allows developers to convert Android apps for Windows. According to Engadget, though, Project Astoria is essentially just an emulator. Meaning, it doesn’t really let the apps run natively on Windows. And that means that the apps may not be able to take advantage of Windows’ best features. Thus, this design for porting apps to Windows may not be the most effective or efficient.

In spite of Project Astoria being put on hold, though, Windows’ other inter-platform compatibility effort, “Project Islandwood,” also known as the Windows Bridge for iOS, is enjoying steady progress and even emphasis and continued development from the company and the developer community.

Project Islandwood has different protocols for porting apps to Windows: It requires a developer to recompile the apps for Windows. The difference between using an emulator to run an app and recompiling apps for Windows is this: Emulators allow an app to run the way it was originally coded for the other platform, whereas recompiled apps are really built for and with the target platform, in this case, Windows, in mind. So recompiled apps run natively, more intuitively, and are able to take advantage of the target system’s best features. So in a way, it seems like Microsoft and their developers prefer Project Islandwood for its advantages in creating better apps. It also helps that most iOS developers also develop their apps for Android, so it makes sense to keep the Windows Bridge for iOS project alive, and possibly even improve it, as opposed to the less intuitive Windows Bridge for Android.

For the previous feature on Microsoft’s commitment to opening Windows to Android and iOS: https://www.droidreport.com/microsoft-will-be-everywhere-its-already-your-android-10296

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