Per an earlier post calling for this change, among other things, I’m delighted that Microsoft is making this change:
Have you ever wondered why Microsoft renamed the Add/Remove Programs (XP and earlier) control panel applet to Programs and Features (Vista onwards)? It’s possible that Microsoft is considering its own version of something comparable to Linux package management systems. For those that don’t use Linux, think of it like a Windows Update for all your software. Such a system could completely revolutionize how users interact with software on Windows, not to mention the security advantages of only letting users install software deemed safe (which in turn could cause privacy concerns, of course). ^
They’re going to put in a single area from which all updates and software is acquired and managed and, if they’re really smart, they’ll provide a way for this to automatically update the software and sell software from third parties like the iPhone does. This is a positive development for the transparent operating system, which would put the focus on people getting things done instead of using the computer for the sake of fiddling with a gadget, which is the 1980s paradigm we’re replacing.