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Microsoft makes it as easy as possible. Developers can import Xcode projects directly into Microsoft Visual Studio. Microsoft offers a tool that can analyze the code and recommend alternatives for services. For example, if an app uses iOS Maps, it may recommend Bing Maps.
It’s important to note this isn’t really a port. Instead, developers write apps in objective C which access Microsoft APIs. There is still quite a bit of effort required, but developers can reuse a lot of their existing code.
The extra effort may not be a bad thing. We all know that mobile app stores host a variety of poor quality apps. When mobile computing was first hyped, a lot of web authors basically made a mobile app out of static web content. Most of these apps don’t sell very well. In my opinion, they shouldn’t be apps in the first place. I personally don’t download any app that just offers static content. It’s a waste of space on my device. That’s what web sites are for! Apps should be applications and not just static content. It’s wannabe developers trying to jump on the app bandwagon.
Don’t expect these “crapps” to be ported to Windows 10. This isn’t a bad thing. Only the best and most successful apps will be ported to Windows 10, due to the effort required. It’s like natural selection for apps. This should offer Windows 10 users the best apps from competing operating systems. I expect major software companies and successful individual developers to bring their apps to Windows 10.
I look forward to the Windows Bridge for iOS and Android. After using nothing but Apple products for the past 6 years, I am now considering purchasing an inexpensive Windows 10 2-in-1 notebook computer to replace my iPad 2. I found my iPad experience to be disappointing. The $700 device became obsolete in 3 years, but was never very capable. It’s just a bigger iPhone. A Windows 10 notebook may be a little heavier and bigger, but it is far more capable. It is a real computer that runs real apps, not watered-down mobile apps. You can run full versions of Microsoft Office and Photoshop. You can play real games, like World of Warcraft. A decent Windows 10 2-in-1 notebook costs half the price of an iPad.
As far as stability, Apple has proven, with iOS 8, to be no better than Microsoft. Some consumers will continue to buy Apple products with an almost Pavlovian response, much like a dog will sit even if you are no longer holding a treat. Apple has trained their fanboys well. I think Microsoft is finally moving in the right direction. Their market share has slipped a little, but they are poised for a major comeback. Hopefully, this will motivate Apple to improve quality.
I will still use my Mac and iPhone. I think they are excellent devices. But my adulation for Apple has come to an end. They fooled me with the iPad, but it opened my eyes. iOS 8 and Apple Music also showed me that Apple is capable of releasing deeply flawed products. There’s nothing wrong with owning an iPhone, Mac and Windows PC. If anything, it proves you’re not an irrational fanboy.