Microsoft has announced at Build 2015 that their new tools will allow developers to compile the Objective-C code for their iOS apps to work on Windows 10.
The new toolkit in Visual Studio will allow devs to build Windows Store-ready apps from Objective-C code used for iOS and OS X, and will support touch controls as well as keyboard and mouse. The tools also allow for integration for Xbox Live, as well as other Microsoft services and features. This technology is already be demoed with Candy Crush for Windows Phone.
No word on whether this will eventually include code originally written in Apple's new Swift language, but it stands to reason that Microsoft will eventually bring the ability to re-compile that code to Visual Studio as well.
For more from Build 2015, keep it locked to our Keynote Live Blog.
Reader comments
Microsoft introduces tools to let developers compile Mac and iPhone apps for Windows 10
Assuming that MS can actually pull this off, and the apps run and update just as well on Windows as their iOS and Android versions, this is a really, REALLY big deal. The app store selection shortfall can practically vanish overnight. That and Continuum can be groundbreaking changes.
The proof will be in the execution later this year.
For those familiar with using the WINE protocol to run MS apps on OSX and Linux, it's like MS just 'reverse-WINE'd' the industry.
I'm no MS fanboy, but I had a few /jawdrop moments from watching this presentation.
Agreed. I'm all for this working just because competition is great.
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Agreed with your agreement. Competition is ALWAYS a wonderful thing. It will push Apple to do better things as well.
Hm, this somehow reminds me of "Embrace, Extend, and Exterminate" ........
I've read a few "one ring to bind them in darkness" references already :P.
The only question would be... why? As in, why in the world would a developer want to attempt to send a Swift application back to Obj-C, then sell on the Windows platform, a platform on which most content globally is pirated?
Why not? Soon there will be a lot of Windows 10 users, be it PC, phone or Xbox. Also I very much doubt it is possible to pirate applications from the Windows store at this point or the foreseeable future. Look it up.
Those same applications are also capable of running on Xbox One. For games at least, you could theoretically create a game for iOS and Xbox at the same time.
Theory is one thing, practice is another...
I was on the verge of buying an iPhone today, but I'll see how this pans out. TBH, I'm yet to be convinced that MSFT reverse its decline into irrelevance (in the consumer arena.)
This is pretty amazing to be honest. Android and iOS?!
Not sure if you've noticed lately, but MS has been seriously turning things around in the consumer space for the past year. They're far from irrelevant. 3-4 years ago, sure, but not in the year 2015.
Yes, this is BIG news!
I grabbed a Nokia 1520 today to to see how this pans out over the next 6 months.
Still have iPhone 6 and S6 edge for apps, but I am a little excited to see more competition.
I would seriously consider porting my apps to Windows Phone (and Windows) if this really works. Color me skeptical for now but I am open to the idea. It is certainly an impressive announcement. Hopefully they will release more details later in the conference.
iOS apps should be able to run on all Windows devices, though there are a few issues to consider:
http://venturebeat.com/2015/05/01/everything-you-need-to-know-about-port...