Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sun 6th Jan 2013 23:00 UTC
"It's taken longer than expected but it has finally happened: unsigned desktop applications run on Windows RT. Ironically, a vulnerability in the Windows kernel that has existed for some time and got ported to ARM just like the rest of Windows made this possible. MSFT's artificial incompatibility does not work because Windows RT is not in any way reduced in functionality. It's a clean port, and a good one. But deep in the kernel, in a hashed and signed data section protected by UEFI's Secure Boot, lies a byte that represents the minimum signing level." Good stuff. Very good stuff.
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RE[2]: Seems like a lot of work
by BluenoseJake on Mon 7th Jan 2013 09:43
in reply to "RE: Seems like a lot of work"
Member since:2005-08-11
RE[3]: Seems like a lot of work
by chithanh on Mon 7th Jan 2013 10:55
in reply to "RE[2]: Seems like a lot of work"
Member since:2006-06-18
Because desktop apps are Win32 apps, they aren't compiled to run on ARM.
But they can be compiled to run on ARM, and with the exploit now they will run. This is of course not interesting for commercial software vendors, but people who want to build Win32 desktop apps for the Surface RT now have the ability to.
RE[3]: Seems like a lot of work
by Nelson on Mon 7th Jan 2013 15:23
in reply to "RE[2]: Seems like a lot of work"
Member since:2005-11-29
Unsigned Windows Store apps have always been able to run (using the aforementioned Remote Debugger) which also allows you to use the full .NET/Win32 API in your apps for pure sideloading.
This facet of the Windows App sandbox is enforced only at Submission time by running the Windows App Certification Kit.
Its always been the case. And has therefore always been possible to run unsigned code for your own purposes on your own device (As I've been tirelessly saying for months, but which people conveniently ignore in their criticisms).
I just tested it and fired up an C++ app which uses a Win32 API (that also fails the App Certification static analyzer) and can be successfully deployed to my Surface RT.
RE[2]: Seems like a lot of work
by ze_jerkface on Tue 8th Jan 2013 06:06
in reply to "RE: Seems like a lot of work"
Member since:2012-06-22
Windows Store apps can be in .NET, C++, or JS.
Please stop spreading this myth.
.NET and C# are not the same thing.
Microsoft is not allowing .NET applications in Windows RT. C# is a supported language but without .NET that means existing applications have to be re-written in WinRT.
It's total bullshit really and an insult to .NET developers. Everything is expected to be re-written except Microsoft's software that gets access to the secret .NET/Win32 stash.
RE[3]: Seems like a lot of work
by Nelson on Tue 8th Jan 2013 06:24
in reply to "RE[2]: Seems like a lot of work"
Member since:2005-11-29
Please stop spreading this myth.
.NET and C# are not the same thing.
I'm well aware, and there is no myth.
From MSDN: (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/br230302.aspx
The .NET Framework provides a subset of managed types that you can use to create Windows Store apps using C# or Visual Basic. This subset of managed types is called the .NET for Windows Store apps and enables .NET Framework developers to create Windows Store apps within a familiar programming framework
And since you obviously are misinformed, here's a white paper for you to read: CLR and the Windows Runtime (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=243099)
Microsoft is not allowing .NET applications in Windows RT. C# is a supported language but without .NET that means existing applications have to be re-written in WinRT.
No. Microsoft supports .NET . It just supports the CoreCLR profile of the 4.5 BCL. That's a limited subset.
It also doesn't include WPF, WinForms, or any other things that wouldn't make sense for the Windows Store.
The BCL is there, the execution engine, IL, the JIT compiler, everything is there.
It's total bullshit really and an insult to .NET developers. Everything is expected to be re-written except Microsoft's software that gets access to the secret .NET/Win32 stash.
You want to know what's an insult to .NET developers? Your complete and utter ignorance on this subject matter.
The Windows Runtime and XAML stacks are for the most part native code. However, the WinRT projection library and some clever .NET Interop at compile-time manages the glue between WinRT and .NET pretty efficiently. A lot more efficiently than COM RCWs or P/Invoke.
You not understanding this only speaks to your ignorance as a .NET developer.
I shouldn't even have to be saying this, if you want a primer on the Windows Runtime (and judging by your sorry excuse for a comment, you need one) you can read the MSDN documentation.
Your blind, irrational, hatred for Windows 8 does not entitle you to your own facts.
Edited 2013-01-08 06:32 UTC
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
At an event earlier today, Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox - the third model, but confusingly named Xbox One. The big focus was TV, integrated Kinect, and all the other stuff we all expected to be forced down our throats. I think it took them 25 minutes to actually come to what should be the core of the story: gaming. Nothing groundbreaking in the gaming department, except for how Microsoft intends to handle the used games market and borrowing games from friends: pay up, buddy!
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/20/13 11:29 UTC
The day has finally come! Jolla has finally announced the launch device for its Sailfish operating system - and by god this is a looker. It's decidedly different from other phones out there, but it has good specifications and carries a relatively reasonably price tag - EUR 399, and it's up for pre-order today, shipping in the fourth quarter of this year.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/18/13 21:33 UTC
Why does Google get so much credit in the technology industry? Why, despite the company's many obvious failings, do many geeks and enthusiasts still hold a somewhat positive view on the all-knowing technology giant? A specific talk at Google I/O this week provides the answer.
Linked by David Adams on 05/16/13 4:23 UTC
OSNews is a sponsor of this year's O'Reilly OSCON in Portland, Oregon, USA. A lucky OSNews reader will win a free three-day pass, including two tutorials days. To win the pass, post a comment on this story saying something about Open Source Software or OSCON. We'll pick a winner at random next week. If you don't have an OSNews account, you may email us your entry. Part of the conference is the 9th annual Open Source Awards, and today the 16th is the deadline for nominations. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding open source contributor, do it here. Read on for more information about OSCON. Update: The 20% discount code for OSNews readers is "OSN."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/11/13 21:41 UTC
"Windows is indeed slower than other operating systems in many scenarios, and the gap is worsening." That's one way to start an insider explanation of why Windows' performance isn't up to snuff. Written by someone who actually contributes code to the Windows NT kernel, the comment on Hacker News, later deleted but reposted with permission on Marc Bevand's blog, paints a very dreary picture of the state of Windows development. The root issue? Think of how Linux is developed, and you'll know the answer.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/08/13 14:22 UTC
This is one of those news items that's fun to write, fun to read, fun to comment on, and where no one will be able to say anything unkind. It's all just one big ball of awesome fluffiness. TuneTracker, the BeOS radio automation software, has just released something very special: TuneTracker System 5, the first version designed entirely and specifically for Haiku. In fact, it actually includes Haiku in the software package. Better yet, TuneTracker also unveiled several system-in-a-box products - which have Haiku and TuneTracker pre-installed.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/02/13 15:28 UTC
Exactly twenty years ago, a document was published that played a huge role in establishing the web as we know it today. Twenty years later, and this simple and straightforward document is proof of an irrefutable fact: while closed technologies can change markets, open technologies can change the world.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/29/13 21:06 UTC
Oh multitasking. That staple of computing that got thrown out the window with many modern smartphones. We got some rudimentary thing in its place - but even as multitasking on phone and tablets improves, its user-visible side remains cumbersome. Windows 8 has a neat implementation, and now it's time Android follows in it footsteps.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/24/13 22:24 UTC
They're here! Whether that excites you or not remains to be seen, but the Galaxy S4, which will most likely become the best selling Android smartphone of the year by a huge margin, has been reviewed by all the major sites, and there's lots of interesting conclusions in there - although I think most of you will get the gist.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/18/13 11:21 UTC
Nokia has posted its quarterly results for the first quarter of 2013, and just like the quarters that came before, there's not a whole lot of good news in there. The rise in Lumia sales still can't even dream of making up for the sales drop in Symbian phones, and when broken down in versions, the sales figures for Windows Phone 8 Lumias in particular are very disappointing. In North America, Nokia is getting slaughtered.More Features »
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Member since:
2005-11-29
Windows Store apps can be in .NET, C++, or JS.