Microsoft unveils ‘Universal Windows Apps’ for phones, PCs, tablets, and even Xbox

By Williams Pelegrin Published April 2, 2014

During Microsoft’s Build 2014 keynote, Microsoft corporate vice president David Treadwell announced that developers will have the ability to make what the company calls “Universal Windows Apps.”

According to Treadwell, the goal is to deliver the same app experience across different form factors, namely phones, tablets, PCs, and the Xbox One. Universal Windows Apps will have different views for each of the aforementioned form factors, with the bulk of the code remaining the same across all devices. This runs counter to how apps are developed for Google Android/Chrome and Apple platforms, which require developers to make one app on tablets and phones and another for PC.

Recommended Videos

Developers are free to use any language they’re most comfortable using, which include C++, C#, and HTML/JavaScript. Even though the bulk of the code is used to make the apps universal, developers can tune the user interface in order for it to play nice and make it device-specific.

Developers can start making Universal Windows Apps, which are based on Windows RT, when the Windows 8.1 update lands on April 8. Internet Explorer 11 and Paint for Kids will be the first set of Universal Windows Apps. No word on whether Universal Windows Apps will make their way to the Xbox 360.

Williams Pelegrin

Former Contributor

Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…

Topics

Phones

The best free VPNs for 2026

The best free VPNs still come with compromises, but a few offer enough privacy and flexibility to be genuinely useful.

Proton VPN UI

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server run by the VPN provider. Websites see the VPN server’s IP address instead of yours, and you can get around geo-blocks, censorship, and ISP throttling. The best VPN services are paid, but there are still a handful of free options that do the job well.

Most free VPNs come with a hidden cost, because running servers isn’t cheap and a company that doesn’t charge you has to make its money somewhere else. Many do so by logging your browsing activity and selling it to advertisers, while others flood you with ads and track you across apps.

Phones

The best Kindle in 2026: Here are the top Kindles for reading

From a pocket-friendly e-reader to a premium color notebook, Amazon has a Kindle for almost every kind of reader.

kindle colorsoft back converted

There's nothing quite like curling up with a good book on a cold evening. As much as I love the feel of a physical book, books take up a lot of space, and carrying more than one on a trip quickly becomes a chore. That's where e-readers come in, and the Amazon Kindle remains one of the best options.

Amazon just refreshed its Kindle lineup with thinner, lighter designs, a new flush-front display, and colors that wrap from front to back. Add the Kindle Scribe and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft to the mix, and you have more choices than ever before.

Phones

The best Android apps in 2026: I spent months testing dozens that truly earn their keep

From smarter task management to custom home screens, these 20 apps give you good reasons to install something new on your Android phone

Electronics, Phone, Mobile Phone

A good Android app should earn its place on your phone. It might make an everyday task easier, handle something the built-in software can't, or let you change an experience that never quite worked for you.

These 20 apps cover everything from quick notes and password management to automation and local file sharing. Some are free, others charge for advanced features, and a few take some effort to figure out. The point isn't to install them all. It's to find the ones that make your phone work better for you.