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Attack of the Microsoft iOS Apps, Part Deux: Kinectimals

Dec. 13, 2011 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows
A year ago, a trusted source at Microsoft told me to expect a "flood" of iOS apps from the software giant in 2011. That deluge never materialized ... until now. In the past weeks, Microsoft has released an amazing array of iOS apps, including SkyDrive, OneNote for iPad, Halo Waypoint, and My Xbox LIVE, in addition to previous releases like Bing, Photosynth, and OneNote for iPhone. And now comes the most important Microsoft app for iOS yet.

I'm referring of course to Kinectimals.

kinectimals

OK, I jest. But Microsoft really has released Kinectimals for both the iPhone and iPad, in a single Universal app version, following a release last month on Windows Phone. The game, which debuted on Xbox 360 with Kinect last year, is basically a modern version of that Tamagotchi silliness from the 1990s, minus the lessons in responsibility. It lets you play with, care for, and, yes, fall in love with, a big cat cub of your own.

My daughter loves this game. Of course, she's 11, so that makes sense.

OK, Microsoft. We get it. You're embracing iOS. Now give us Office for crying out loud. :)

Discuss this Article 12

JimmyFal
on Dec 13, 2011
I thought your Kinect was "gathering dust"?
guruguru
on Dec 13, 2011
why would MSFT trade real dollars for pennies by going from platform marker with hit sellers like office and windows to irrelevant app maker like zinga which revenues won't be able to even pay the mortage on their redmond campus? making 20 bucks on ipad apps at the expense of the win8 tablets is like taking a reverse mortage in your home. great idea for quick cash until you realise you're homeless.
pthurrott
on Dec 13, 2011
JimmyFal: It is. My daughter plays the game on Windows Phone. Was that what you were referring to?
yoshipod (not verified)
on Dec 13, 2011
I always find it very interesting which apps Apple makes for Windows and which Apps MS makes for OS X and iOS. For Example, MS never made Access for OS X as part of Office. Apple never ported any of their Pro apps to Windows (FCP, etc.)
Waethorn
on Dec 13, 2011
@yoshipod: ...something about not stepping on the others' toes. Platform exclusivity still means something. OS X has Bento. Windows has, well, every other video editing program out there. (Vegas is my favourite, and is a big feature at NAMM - and the home version is far more powerful than iMovie)
roncerr
on Dec 13, 2011
I wonder why commenting is allowed on some but not all Winsupersite articles. For example, I couldn't care less about Kinectimals, or even game apps in general; but for the article about Skydrive, I have numerous comments and questions. Yet the latest Skydrive article has no place for comments.
BXP
on Dec 13, 2011
@guruguru: This is the line of thinking behind MS's "Windows everywhere" strategy and we could debate how successful that has been when looking at every other form factor but the PC. The only way to tether people to a platform is if you have a "killer app". But I think Apple has shown that the days of people begrudgingly buying Windows devices in order to be "compatible" are over. Apple's "killer app" is actually many things: it's design, ease-of-use, app ecosystem, etc. Consumers aren't going to give all that up just to run Office. Rather, the lack of Office will prompt people to look for alternatives and, over time, could render Office irrelevant. As a software company, MS's goal should be to have its software running in as many places as possible. Platform exclusivity is a driver, but unless it's a killer app, it's better people run MS software on a non-Windows device than to not run MS software at all. Instead, MS should find ways to make Win8 compelling on its own with or without Office. It should think of ways to ensure that Office runs best on Windows devices, but not in a contrived way where the version for other platforms is artificially crippled in features. Rather, the whole experience should just be better and leverage functionality that simply is not possible on other platforms for techniclogical or other reasons.
jagosilver
on Dec 14, 2011
I woud imagine the reason for the lack of Apple software on Windows is simple - Apple makes its profits on hardware, Microsoft makes them on software. Apple uses software to help sell its hardware, this is why OS X Lion only cost £21 and iWork is a fraction of the price of Office (I know it's probably not comparable software as well...). Microsoft uses cheap hardware to sell software - it's been in their interest for PC prices to drop as a cheaper PC means more people (or OEM's/businesses) buying Windows. They're pretty much opposite in that sense, which is why I think the next few years will be interesting as they come into even more direct competition with eachother (tablets/phones/PC's/OS/Cloud/TV)
Lindy
on Dec 14, 2011
So far none of these apps are really good. I have an Xbox and like it, but I can't see what the Xbox app will do for me. This app is probably ok for kids. The SkyDrive app....where is the iPad version? Dropbox or Sugar sync are way better. The OneNote Apps are very limited and useless. You can even add new notebooks. Links (URL's) don't show up. Formatting is lost. Evernote just kills OneNote when it comes to multi-platform. I love OneNote but it is only useful on a PC or Windows Phone 7. That is fine if you are pure Microsoft but that is not they way things are anymore. All in all the iOS apps are a bag of hurt so far.
Mustang17
on Dec 14, 2011
@Roncerr, its an attempt, I believe, in cutting down on some of the fanboy nonsense you can get sites such as these. Before the last makeover it was getting a bit rowdy and rather unnecessary. Remember Kimlecki? I think he was taken out and shot or something... by his mother, or so I heard. Oh yeah Paul, you recommended the windows phone, an excellent piece of kit. I am over the moon with it, well will be once my faulty lumia is replaced. Anyway in return I would like to recommend a book. I know your a WW2 officinado and somewhat a keen writer. Have a look at 'The Big Show' by Pierre Clostermann. French pilot in the RAF. His writing and descripitions are excellent and moving, you really feel your there with him. The only thing is I cant find it on audio or kindle, but the book is on Amazon. Happy Christmas!
Waethorn
on Dec 14, 2011
You think baby animals are cute when you're young. That is, until one of you grows up. http://i.imgur.com/2ZU50.jpg
MacLawyer
on Dec 14, 2011
Office for iPad would be awesome.

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