The need for co-existence and interoperability- Metro and traditional desktop apps

Question

It seems to me that in defining the metro environment Microsoft was trying to create a safer environment for the user the presented malicuous applications.  In doing so, however, I think they went to far because Windows 8 will represent a transition.  In Windows 8 metro style apps and traditional desktop apps have to live together, co-exist and interoperate.  That means a metro app may need access to the registry keys/data created and updated by a desktop app.  it means that we need to do things like:

var ol=new ActiveXObject("Outlook.Application");

to access existing programs and information.  There are hundreds of thousands of Windows traditional apps that are not going to be rewritten overnight and even though a Metro Outlook or Office might be coming, folks aren't going to upgrade all of their systems with new software right away.  The restrictions in metro are too tight especially during the transition of the next 2-3 years.

 

Is Microsoft aware of this?   Your thoughts?

 

Answer 1

Thanks for your feedback.

I suggest if you have a specific scenario which requires interoperability, please provide the specific interoperability scenario via our feedback tool or through the connect site.

thanks

Frank

Answer 2

I think the ability to access OL (email, calendar, contacts) is a pretty common need.  How about addressing that?