Microsoft is really keen on getting everyone to use Windows 10. After last week's revision for the Windows 10 upgrade process, Redmond now announces the availability of Windows App Studio Windows 10 Store Support Release, which will enable interested parties to seamlessly develop and publish universal Windows apps without coding anything.
App developers can now have their apps listed on the Store catalog from the Dev Center. Microsoft also eliminated the intermediate step in Visual Studio and added some new features.
"This release builds on the foundation created with July's App Studio Windows 10 Preview release," said Microsoft.
Screenshots on Windows 10 Store Package
Windows App Studio has been enhanced to not only generate Windows 10 apps Store packages, but also to take screenshots and incorporate them into the app listing.
Full Screen Web View
The current release will also incorporates a sizable full screen simulator into the Windows App Studio, which will allow developers to build and test out their apps using full screen mode.
Collection App for Windows App Studio
The Windows App Studio Collection app eases the real-time management of collections for every app and does away with the need to visit the Windows App Studio. Simply put, by updating the data within the Collection app, the concerned projects and apps will also be updated.
Live Tiles
Dynamic Live Tiles for the Windows 10 apps can now be designed using Windows App Studio.
Microsoft notes that aside from Hosted Web Apps, the produced Live Tiles will work for any Windows 10 apps.
"[Fully-customizing live tiles] make your app more dynamic for your customers when they view it from the Start menu or on a Windows 10 mobile device," Microsoft concludes.
Other New Features
Advanced theme and icon editors, and Hero Image editor, along with better slideloading support for Windows 10 apps, were added. Some visual features to enhance user experience also came with the release. Initial support for Windows 10's IoT (Internet of Things) and NuGet packages of Windows App Studio were also added. The source code and sample apps were uploaded to GiThub.
Microsoft also reminds that projects built for Windows 8.1, granted that they were made through the App Studio, can be upgraded to work with Windows 10. The "Convert" icon on the Windows 8.1 Projects page can be used for this.
