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This would be more believable if distribution of UWP software was possible without the Store, f.e. with sideloading like on Android.


That's the point. To get full access to Windows features you have to go through the store.


You can enable sideloading quite easily in Settings


Today you can do that.

This is a boiling-the-frog kind of situation. They do just enough to get people today to accept what they're doing, then the next steps come later.


Enabling sideloading is a developer convenience feature. It's not really meant for end-users. I don't think shutting off developer features is part of their future roadmap, and your certainty about it is unsettling to witness.


Did you read Microsoft's reply to Sweeney's article? They basically used sideloading as an excuse for why this isn't anti-consumer.


You can't install iOS apps without the store, and Microsoft definitely favors being more Apple than Google.




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